NationStates Jolt Archive

OOC: Waiting for Skadi 'fore i reply.

Skadi smiled as Qui dived into the water and indicated she should do so. She was about to remove her boots when that familiar voice arose again, this time it was closer and directed towards her. Before she could reply with her own spiteful comment, a large wolf jumped out of the bushes and clamped onto Alexander's leg, tearing at his flesh. She couldn't help but let a small smile cross her face.

Qui asked if he should have the wolf release the vampire, she decided he should suffer a little more first.

"Eventually. I'd say he deserves a little pain for the intrusion though. That one is a vampire from a guild in Valient, he has intentions of taking over the major Assingtonian covens, but he has to deal with my fledgling and myself first."

She continued to watch as Alexander suffered the attack of the canine...

Dirk watched as Skadi and Qui went about thier bussiness, thier apparent indifference didn't register with him. So he picked up a large, thick branch off the ground and another rock. He threw the rock and once again it struck the wolf. So he decided to try a new tatic.
"HEY! COME AND GET ME YOU UGLY MOTHER!"
He hoped his shouting would get the wolf off Alexander and give the man a chance to run.

(grenades obviously not allowed at the academy for obvious reasons. :rolleyes: Another thing that bothers me is that Qui and Skadi are a long ways away from the academy, if your in Telekenetics, you should be there right now, if not, its about 7:00 in the morning, and this is going on the other side of the lake, so unless you plan to cross the lake, its likely that the stone throwing would never reach, unless you used Telekenetics...but then you'd be in class right now. :headbang: )

IC:

"Is that so, Skadi? In that case, do you want me to deal with them? Might be more interesting then McCloud who won't kill him."

For some reason, the wolf didn't seem to care about the stones being thrown at it. There was blood trailing from its back, but the wounds seemed to close up.

"I really wouldn't throw anymore things at him. Alexander did not have pure intentions when he came up here. Throwing things just makes him more violent. Alexander won't die, that wolf is rather smart...graduated from here after all. He won't harm anything major. And if you want to hurt him, you'll have to use something bigger than a rock. "

Qui sighed. “McCloud!” he yelled, and the wolf’s ears perked up. “Get off ‘em” The wolf obeyed. But before they could retaliate when it became docile, it changed. The fur disappeared, some of it turning into cloth, other skin. Those green blue eyes shifting under his short blonde hair. The back of his shirt was torn open, and there was blood. He said something softly, and it healed. He walked over to Dirk, took his pen and a sheet of paper, and scribbled something on the rectangular sheet. He set it on Alexander, just above his left arm. Slowly, the paper melted into him, and his wounds healed…everything except his left arm.

“To give you something to remember me by,” Shane explained with cold eye. “And the next time any notion, idea, or thought crosses your mind to harm one of my students, I suggest you run.” He looked at Skadi, and smiled.

“Thanks McCloud,” he said, as he watched him walk back toward the academy, rather sore. He placed a hand on Dirk’s shoulder.

“Come, what is between them will be settled between them…” his voice was serene and soothing. "And you really shouldn’t put your image around those with malicious intent,” he called back to Daniel. He continued on leading Dirk back. They couldn’t go through the lake, so they very much had to go around it. It would be a good two hours before they could get back to the academy.

“It’s not safe for you there…trust me. I’ve seen the soul of that Alexander fellow, and he isn’t good news. Qui will be able to handle him. I suppose I owe you an explanation of why I attacked him.” He paused, and then continued. He was refined and rather eloquent at that. “You saw that student on the other side of the bank, speaking with Qui? She is one of my students. I saw Able and Alexander walking away from the academy, so I followed. I then caught sent of Alexander’s hostility, so I followed. When I was sure of his intent, I attacked him. I don’t let anyone harm my students, you see. I did not expect to see Qui there, and I do suppose he could have handled it….but there is a great difference between me and Qui. The greatest difference is that I will hurt someone if they threaten, but Qui will kill them.”

Qui now looked at Alexander and Daniel, the only two remaining besides himself and Skadi. Are you sure you don’t want me to take care of Alexander? he said to her, and smiled.

“Daniel, I’m surprised to see you with Alex. I would have thought you had more character in you. And as for you, lefty. Explain.”

Shane had to support Dirk most of the way, when he had seen Shane's transformation he had nearly fainted, and so far Dirk had yet to regain full use of his legs. The paratrooper was trying to comprhend what he had just seen. First a wolf, then a person. It didn't make sense. How could someone be a wolf one minute and be a person the next?
"But....how....you....but the wolf...ha....but....person.....what?! How you...turn wolf..." His voice trailed off into similar babble and stuttering concerning what he had just seen.

((Ha, just caught the StarFox reference. Nice.))

Elfira took an invoultary step backwards.

'Shapeshifers...everybody here has got a secret, it seems.' She thought. 'None of the others seem to have spotted me yet, I got my show, and I ought to be disappearing soon.'

It had taken a good couple hours to walk around the lake until she could find a spot where she could practice, and it'd be nice if she could avoid that inconvenience again. A coy smile appeared on her lips. There was only one more shortcut she could make, and it would be a good test of her skills. The Elf quietly disappeared back into the trees.

Several minutes of walking later, she was pretty sure she was out of the reach of prying eyes. She swept an arm out before her. A large ripple moved across the lake and crashed on the other side. She smiled and brought both her arms upwards. The lake trembled more violently, and began to foam. Sure of her grip on the water, Elfira thrust an arm straight foward. The water before her exploded upwards and formed two giant pillars, leaving a narrow strip of ground that was once part of the lake bed clear. She slid down the side of the lake onto her path and walked along it towards the other side as if it were just another winding trail. She serenely let her hand drift into one of the towers of water and grinned. A couple minutes later, she climbed up out of the lake, and turned back on her work. She gave a contented sigh and a wave of her hand, and the water receeded back into it's rightful place. She set off back to the Academy, writing of the day so far as a success.

Alexander flexed his left arm, which was still sore from the attack from the McCloud character.

"Ahhh, a Shentavo. I've heard a lot about your clan. I see that your reputation for being a gracious host was... misinformed," Alexander said, sneering at the figure beside Skadi.

"What are you doing here, Valientonian?"

Alexander looked at Daniel, and laughed out loud.

"Me? Why... I just came to visit my good friend Daniel. Why... he and I go way back, and have such a... future together."

Qui looked at Daniel, who could only avert his eyes.

"And of course, since I was in the neighborhood, I thought, why not visit my friend Skadi, as well."

Alexander took a look around, and withdrew his Upir. With an entire lack of care, he swung it around, regardless of the waried looks of those around him.

"But, here I am, going on and on about myself. How about you answer a question for me, Shentavo,"

With a quickness belying his age, Alexander stood before Qui, pressing the sword-tip to his throat.

"That McCloud fellow. Tell me about him - I believe that i know more than a few of his brethren..."


OOC: Is he a lychan?

Skadi didn't take her eyes off Alex as the wolf backed up and changed. She hadn't expected it to be one of her instructors, but she was thankful for his intervention on her behalf, even if she could handle Alex. Giving a quick nod of thanks to Shane, Skadi mentally spoke to Qui.

"No, don't kill him. He will die, but it shall be by either mine, or Hondur's (fledgling) hand. You're perfectly welcome to inflict large amounts of pain upon him though."

Skadi didn't pay any attention to Daniel as the pair drew closer, her eyes didn't move from Alex. Her menacing glare made it obvious Alex wasn't welcome and it appeared she was about to jump forward and tear out his throat.

"You be no friend of anyone here scum. Why don't you remove your filthy presence and return to your hole back home?"

She didn't move as Alex approached Qui. Instead she stepped back a little, to give Qui room to deal with the cocky vampire.

Shane smiled. “I’m a zoanthrope like Saria. There was a bit of testing of the crossing of DNA in a lab a few years ago. They tried to create the perfect fighter, like a superhuman almost, by crossing the strands. I was kidnapped, and taken to a lab where they did testing on my with wolf DNA. Saria was in the cell next to me. I believe they had crossed hers with that of a leopard. Anyway…we are able to change at will, but we have to have enough energy to do so. I won’t be able to change for a few days now.

“The only brethren he has is on my staff, and you would not like to encounter the other.” Qui chuckled, and looked at the sword. Alexander’s arm began to feel rather heavy. “You know, you should really should respect your elders.” He drew his right hand up and clasped the blade with his hand, pulling it away from his throat. With one hand on the sword, he threw a rather harmful thrust punch to the gut, settling toward under the ribcage, and ripping up ward. The sword seemed to grow extremely hot to clatter to the ground. That was Manavex.

“You know, Alex, you have a lot of nerve coming to this academy and challenging the headmaster of the school of all people. If you don’t leave, then I will show you what true pain really is. And if you haven’t been through hell, let me tell you from my experience, its not a walk through the park.”

"My god." Dirk mumbled. Dirk stared at Shane with a look of shock. He wasn't unfamiliar with DNA testing but, crossing with other species!? That was the part that shocked him. The only DNA testing or similar work in the Golden Simatar was to try to find cures for cancer and other deadly dieises. He could only imagine what this man and Saria went through for some person's wild dream of making the perfect fighter. They traveled in silence, Dirk now being able to walk fully. He remebered he hadn't introduced himself.
"I'm sorry Mr. McCloud, I don't think I introduced myself. 2nd Lieutenant Dirk Wolfe of the 17th Airborne Division."

"Nice to meet you, Shane McCloud, if you hadn't figured my name already," he paused for a moment, to shake hands. He was very refined and easy going, McCloud was. "The testing wasn't funded by the government, it was an underground process. But in the end, it did give me a lot more strength then i'm used to."

"Pleasure to meet you." Dirk shook Shane's hand as they continued to walk. The sun wasn't fully up yet, which was nice. Instead of being hot it was cool in the early morning. "McCloud, yes. Aren't you teaching Lore and Language?"

Alexander stumbled back, hand on his stomach, and the other reaching, grabbing for his sword.

"Hell... is... relative, Shentavo. I've... dealt with my demons, and you know... you know what? I... think I like them."

Alexander struggled to stand, but before he could advance on Qui or Skadi, a massive fissure opened between, he, Able, and the others.

Alexander turned and glared at the DEO agent, who only shook his head.

"No. No more fighting here today. We're out of here."

With a smooth gesture, Able pulled a comm out of his breast pocket.

"Ya, Chopper One? I need a pickup for two. Now."

As soon as Able closed the channel, a distinct Whup Whup Whup sound could be heard over the horizon.

"My apologies that I am unable to take advantage of your learned teachings, Qui. I guess that it was not meant to be..."

The Jet-black Mark II chopper landed hard on Alexander's and Able's side of the gap.

Alexander picked up his sword, and glared across at Qui and Skadi.

"Shentavo, one day, you'll regret what you have wrought here. Even immortals must die someday.

And Skadi... I'll be seeing you soon enough."

With that final threat, Alexander and Able took off, flying for Valient and towards a future that could no longer be stopped.

Skadi almost growled as he watched the two vampires leave in their machine, leaving the lake in peace once again.

"He is a troublesome one. Alone he is of no physical threat to those of our advanced age, but he has an entire guild of vampires behind him, many of which are closer to my age. He is a perfect example of why fledglings should be rare and chosen carefully."

The bottled up rage within Skadi was evident as the chopper disappeared on the horizon. She was sick of Alexander and his arrogance. She would have to end it soon enough...

Dirk looked up as he heard the chopper. Instictivly he dove for cover behind a tree and hugged the ground like he would a woman. He watched the chopper fly over him and Shane before dissappering over a slight rise to where the vampires were. Dirk didn't moved till he didn't hear the chopper anymore. He stood up and noticed Shane staring at him.
"Uh, training just...well kicked in." He said before he rejoined Shane and they continued to walked back to the academy.

McCloud laughed a bit. I can relate to that. he said to himself. They were almost back at the academy by this time.

__

Qui looked at Skadi. "Perhaps....but it is doubtful to find one of my age." He smiled. "Besides, I have an entire staff behind me. They are all that I need should the guild pose a threat."

He began to walk back toward the academy with Skadi. "Besides, I've been through hell before, and if he is still living, he hasn't seen the half of it."

__

ooc: The advanced combat thread is beginning and i'll post a thread soon. my comp crashed, i was going to start it two days ago. My apologies.

OCC:ah do't worry I'm bringing mine in for a fraging because of all the f**king evil spyware and god knows what else. And no it's not from my gig of porn j/k.
IC:
Joshua was well awake as the choper flew away the whirling of the blades when it aproched had awoken him. He lay in his bed stairing at the roof of his room quietly for several minutes before sitting up and putting on his pendent. It was a dragon. A gift from his best friend Echo. As he looked it over he smirked and began streching. Several minutes later he was finished his streching and fully clothed again walking towards his room door. As he reached it he looked around the room slowly and stoped at the floor dent and sighed slightly. He began to put as much distance from the room as he could at that point.

Skadi smiled as she began to walk with Qui.

"I'm sure you can handle him. He is a troublesome character, but hardly the biggest threat to our kind out there. One day, I will put him out of everyone's misery."

The pair were getting closer towards the academy buildings once again and Skadi had to be off to her first class soon.

"I'm afraid I didn't get to finish my story, perhaps another time?"

ooc: i really think its from all the porn, eh Josh? :-)


"Of course," he smiled at Skadi. "Maybe this time we won't be interrupted. Though it would have been really amusing to crash that helicopter. That or sic Shane on them." he chuckled.

Shane and Dirk arrived back at the academey, and Mc.Cloud immediately made his spot under the shade of a tree. He lay down in the grass and looked up at the sky, dismissing his watch over Dirk.

"See you later Mr. McCloud." Dirk said. He turned and headed back inside.

OCC:Na then it's my bothers cause I found his stash and I swear it's over 3 gigs. It almost puts the nerd guy at Mac Hall to shame (the nerd had 5 gigs in a desktop folder, "hand cream", and tissues wadded up in a garbage can. Funny ass issue)
IC:
As he walked he headed towards one of the feilds. He needed some time to think before classes began. He sighed slightly as he walked noting the group at the lake. As he walked he felt his scar caused by Qui again that area still was stiff and always would be.

Skadi smiled as she placed a lingering kiss upon Qui's cheek.

"Indeed, I would prefer if our time wasn't interupted so rudely. I'll see you later..."

Without another word, Skadi walked into the main building once again. She knew her first class started soon and would have to figure out where it was. The fancy decorations didn't phase the old vampire as she wandered through the halls, finally locating her room. Telekinetics.

Qui smiled, and watched her leave. He put his hands back in his pockets, his shirt all the way back there, and he had no desire to go back and get it. His hair was still wet, as well as his the rest of his cloths. He walked past McCloud with a nod, who chuckled. Qui shook his head, and continued on.

He entered the academy and immediately headed up to his room. Suddenly, he heard something. He stood and listened for a moment, then headed toward the telekenetics room to tell Saria.

If this was true...then...it wouldn't be good for him.

Dirk walked down to the student lounge with his violin. Since most people appeared to be in Telekenitics or sleeping, this seemed like a good time to practice without ineteruption. He sat down and started to play part of Beethovan's 5th Symphony.

Elfira walked into the student lounge, hands folded respectfully behind her back. The glint of a flute peeked around at Dirk.

"Um...do you mind if I join you? I've nothing else to do." She asked, turning down her eyes.

"Don't mind at all, please sit. Do you know any Baroque pieces?" Dirk asked.

She nodded and sat down, smiling at him. "Yes, a few. I've always liked "Let The Bright Seraphim," but I'll try my hand at whatever you have in mind."

A figure began to make their decent towards the academy from the east side, white cloak billowing as the air blew past, yet the face could not be seen.

"I believe the custom is, ladies first." Dirk said with a smile. "I'll give a whirl whatever you have up your sleeve."

Elfira laughed and began the enchanting melody of "Let The Bright Seraphim on her flute. She closed her eyes and concentrated in perfect serenity.

Dirk didn't play, he was nervous it might break her concentration. He was enchanted by Elfria's playing and leaned back against the couch's soft cushioned as he listened. It brought back memories, from his childhood to as recent as being with his deceased girlfriend. When Elfria had finished the melody Dirk clapped and smiled.
"Who taught you to play?"

As Joshua walked he sighed and heard music. "Calling calling in the depths of longing. Soboj ostat'sja dol'she. Naljubuites', aeria gloris," Joshua sang softly as he was reached the place that the music was coming from.

The Elf smiled broadly. "You liked it? Good, I haven't played for someone in a long time. My commander taught me to play. He may be a soldier, but he realizes to ultimate goal of any warrior is to lay down his sword." Joshua walked in, and she turned to look at him. "Hey there, Joshua. How was Telekinetics?"

"Dull," he replied before he begun humming the song that he was singing before. He then began to walk over to a empty seat and fell back into it. "I have a feeling it's gona be a slow repeat of last year's class."

Elfira gave a little shrug.

"Hm, nonetheless, you still seem exhausted. Something go wrong?" She asked, cocking her head to the side.

"Almost speared the teacher through her left eye with a pencil. Only toped about a milimeter away. I had to prove a point," he replies as he recalls the moment and smirked.

"You nearly poked your teacher's eye out with a pencil? You have a strange taste for humour if you think thats funny. Try that to my Sargent Major and you'd be falling up stairs faster than you could say 'Uncle'. Dirk said.

"I highly doubt that. I think that he would be the one falling. Actualy more like flying down the stairs. And it wasn't a joke. I was proving a point," he replied.

"Whoever said 'falling down'? I said 'falling up the stairs' not down." Dirk said, this time he was smirking enjoying the confused faces of Joshua and Elfria.

"Heh. I think he might end up going through the stairs if he tried that to. Or if he was realy unlucky slaptering against the stairs," Joshua replied with a evil smirk showing.

"Well, I got a little story behind it. When I was cadet there was this guy in the three story barracks I was assinged to smoking pot. I got Sargent-Major Logan, a big guy about 6'2 and bout 53 years old, he was much fitter than most of the young guys. I got him, a few privates and a corporal. We grabbed this guy, dragged him down to the first floor and tossed him up to the first landing, head first, he tumbled back down so we tried again. We do this over and over till he stops and falls on the landing and doesn't fall down. Then we toss him up the next flight of stairs. Colonel Rhodes came by, saw what we were doing, saluted and said 'carry on cadet'. When the guy went to hospital with several cracked ribs, a very bloody, broken nose, and stitches from bleeding from deep cuts in his forehead. Noone asked any questions. That is paratrooper justice mate." Dirk said.

"Heh you should have seen my unit's version of justice. One of us was caught drunk. So the result was him being thrown out of our baracks window....five times. It was on the fith story of the building," Joshua replies with a smirk, "That guy wasn't realy hurt. No broken bones just some shatered pride soem nice sized gashes. And we broke a car doing that. He also ended up draging me down with him on the last time. Well atleast he learned not to get drunk."

Skadi moved through the various hallways of the building until she found her room once again. Her first class, Telekinetics had been relatively successful. Skadi was older than most in the academy and she may have a stronger mind that others, but that was only due to her age. She had never sat down and attempted to discover all that she could do with her mental abilities, it was just something she did, hence she did appear inept in some cases compared to other students.

Skadi returned from her room, now bearing her diamond edged katana, sheathed in a jet black scabbard. The vampire passed the common room and gave the party of three a quick, cold glance. She didn't care for interacting with the other students, she had lived periods of solitude for almost 100 years in her life.

Moving outside, Skadi moved towards the woods in the hope of finding something to combat. If she couldn't find any animals, she would settle for testing her blade upon trees.

"Jesus man, throw out of a window?" Dirk said. When Skadi moved through he smiled warmly at her, only to get the cold glance. The coldness in her eyes shocked him. "Man, what's with her?" Dirk mumbled.

"We were trained since ten and that fall was nothing realy. Just a nasty one but nothing," Joshua replied with a smirk "I wen through the cars roof to during that fall. The sharper points basicly sliced a nasty seven inch gash on my side."

"Damn. The worst I've been hurt was getting shot by an AK round at 18. Man, I prefer to jump several hundred feet in the air with a parachute jumping from a C-130." Dirk said.

"Heh. I've taken a sniper round to the head and the other worst was a sword wound that sliced only a inch from my spine," Joshua replies slightly wincing at the thoughts.

Dirk's eyes grew as he stared at Joshua. "Damn." Dirk decided to switch the subject.
"Do you play any insruments?"

Elfira just rolled her eyes at the two as they went on and on. All this talk about debilitating injuries was making the scar on her shoulder ache again. Her left hand unconciously moved to her shoulder, and she winced for a second. She caught Skadi's icy glance as the pain subsided, and recognized her as the woman she saw Qui with back at the lake. Her attention was soon diverted back to Dirk and Joshua.

"Guess I don't have much to add." She remarked, sounding a little exasperated.

"Heh well that sniper round. It killed me. Rave brought me back. And Qui was hte one who nealry severed my spine. But No. I don't play anything. I'm more of a singer," Joshua said with a smirk as he rubbed his scar from Qui's attack from years before.

"Well this is my only scar." He took off his jacket and shifted the white shirt underneath and showed them the jagged scar on his shoulder. "Here is the bugger that did it. Keep it like my girlfriend's engadement ring." He pulled out a bent AK shell out of his pocket. "Hurt like hell, but since it didn't kill me, I consider it lucky."

The Elf smiled over at Joshua, glad he had changed the subject.

"A singer? I have to hear you sing." She told him, eyes twinkling.

"Opera, Rap, Rock and Roll?" Dirk asked as he put the bullet away and his jacket back on.

OOC: I suppose I should ask... Is there a forest on campus and am I likely to find any kinds of dangerous animals in there?

"More of a modern rock deal for me," he replies as his hand fishes into his pocket and pulls out a fairly dented 7.62 round and runs his fingers over it. "Heh I was just singing when I saw you two."

"I go for more, classic Rock. Bruce Springsteen, Bob Seger, that group. What about you Elfira? What kind of music do you listen too?" Dirk asked. He noticed Joshua holding a dented bullet, he decided not to ask where he got it.

"Heh you noticed my little pal," Joshua says when he notes Dirk spying his bullet, "This was the one that killed me. And that realy isn't rust on it. It's dried blood."

"I got the bullet that was in me.....but I washed the blood off. No offense man, but that is a little nasty." Dirk said.

"I've tried to get rid of it but it dosn't leave the round," Joshua replies as he places it back in his pocket. "It's not all my blood anyways."

OOC: No forest near campus. Maybe twenty miles off....

will post later

OOC: I see.

IC: Skadi realised there wasn't anywhere on campus where she could find beasts to battle. She pondered the problem for a few seconds before finally recalling a forest she had passed over, around 20 miles from campus. That was her best bet of a fight, and so the vampire ascended into the sky and began the flight towards the distant forest.

------

Twenty minutes later and Skadi stood stone still within an eerily quiet forest grove. The massive oak trees towered around her, obscuring her view of the sun. Within minutes of landing, Skadi had detected the presence of a wolf pack nearby, they seemed to be out hunting in numbers. This was exactly what she had been hoping for...

The figure which Skadi passed on her way to the forest was a peculiar one. Masked within the white robes, the identity remained hidden. The figure walked up to the front steps, and the door opened. Kurai sat at the desk, and the figure clasped one hand around her mouth and lifted the hood just a bit. Kurai's eyes widened, and she wanted to say something but was taken into the room behind the desk. The door closed and locked.

Elfira spoke after listening for a while longer. "I don't listen to much other than what I play for myself. Mostly classical, in that case." Her eyebrow arched upwards at Joshua. "Not all our blood? What'd it do, go through someone else first? I also would have expected it to fragment inside your head. How'd it stay intact?"

"It's a long long story. I And these rounds weren't designed to fragment. They were basicly designed to go in and out," Joshua replies, "Now if the sniper had a 5mm plasma injector round I wouldn't be here at all."

Kurai stared in awe as she sat across from the figure, unable to form any words but "beautiful." the figure stared back at her from under the white hood, berry stained lips parting to speak but a whisper.

Tell no one I'm here. If any student asks, I am merely a visitor.

Kurai could do nothing but nod unsurely.

____

Qui walked by Saria. The two were bickering back and forth. "I dont' see what the problem is. Isn't that a good thing?" Saria said, "It's not a problem, but if i'm right then they will definately want a display. big enterences seem always to be key...." Qui said.

McCloud joined in. "It would be interesting to have a talk with them about the languages...but do you think that that is even a possibility?"

"They just...suprise me. They have on more than one occasion. And with Kaos and Lotus showing up all of a sudden..."

"The counterparts to you and Azrael, right?"

"Yea...Lotus and I, and Kaos and Azrael...."

"So the four will be reunited, eh? The peaceful Lotus, Destructive Kaos, Devil of an angel Azrael, and mind breaker Cougaji..."

"Never call me that..."

"All right. All right... Sorry...why did you give the name up?"

"People know that name in conjunction with the other three. Same reason Azrael changed, er...was given the name Ravelyn."

"You're heritage confuses me."

"I know...."

The metallic chime of Skadi's blade leaving the scabard filled the air. She fastened the scabard to her back before breaking into a fast run, sword pointing behind her. Skadi knew she was faster than any wolf and wouldn't need to worry about sneaking up on the beasts, she would force a confrontation.

A swift leap into the air brought Skadi directly in front of the pack as she hit the ground, disturbing the meal of a large deer. The pack looked up in mixed surprise and anger at the intrusion. There were far more than Skadi had anticipated. In her desire for battle, she hadn't bothered checking any tracks to determine a number. Twelve pairs of eyes looked directly back at Skadi whilst four others sat off to the side.

Although she hadn't expected so many, Skadi wasn't put off, this just meant more blood would coat her blade today. Skadi stood stone still as the wolves watched her, attempting to work out how much of a threat she was. The vampire lifted her top lip to display her fangs and released a snarl. That was all the evidence the wolves needed, they attacked...

"I need Nagi to be brought here...no one else, understand Kurai?"

"Y-yes..."
_____________

"I was in the middle of teaching I really hope this is im---"

O_O

"Hello Nagi."

Dirk looked at his watch and stood up.
"I gotta go guys, talk to you later."

Dirk placed his violin back in his room and went to him Humvee, he grabbed a dark green plastic suitcase and went to a small hill near the parking lot and sat down. He pulled out a small dish and set up the LRSP, Long Range Sattalite Phone. He pressed several buttons on the console and set the dish. He heard a voice on the line.
"Is that you Dirk?" The crisp voice of Colonel Rhodes came through.
"It's me sir."
"Good to hear you, how are things?"
"Let me just say, I've met some interesting people."
"Any good looking women?" Rhodes asked.
"A few, one is a bit cold and doesn't seem to like to converse." Dirk said, remembering Skadi's cold stare. Dirk's voice came in lower and distant. "Yeah, a few nice women."
"I think you should know that I'm pulling all the rank I can to get FFBI off it's ass and find Jen's murderer."
"Thanks sir."
"Here is someone, I think you might know."
"Hey Dirk!" a bright upbeat voice said.
"Hey Ellie." Dirk said to his sister.
"How are you holding up?" She asked, her voice concerned.
"Fine." His voice came cross a little harsh and quickly noticed it. "Sorry, how are you?"
"Couldn't be better. Are you doing anything?"
"Just listening to you."

Dirk and his sister then began a converstaion from things going on at home, Ellie going through law school, and at the Shentavo Academy.

Elfira smiled at Dirk and gave him a half-wave goodbye. She placed the highly polished flute on the table in front of her and relaxed deep into the luxurious couch.

Elfira sighed and looked over at Joshua. "Would you like to go for a walk, Joshua?"

She gave him a soft smile and a wink.

Student Joshua Maxwell please report to the reception desk. Joshua Maxwell please report to the reception desk. :::end intercom:::

"Looks like I'll have to take a rain check," Joshua says, "I'll be back soon." He then turns and jogs towards the office stoping to wave. Wonder what they want? he thought as he jogged. Within a minute he was at the reception desk.

Skadi screamed in a mix of pain and battle fury. Whilst she had slashed the first three wolves coming at her across the throat, one had jumped onto her back during the process and began mauling her shoulder, tearing through her dark trench coat and into her tender flesh. The vampire lept into the air whilst pressing her weight forward, pushing the canine over her so she could see the creature's hind legs. Even in the air it still attempted to hang on, a quick thump to the chest changed its mind.

Bringing her sword around, Skadi began plunging back toward the ground, not using her ability to defy gravity. With a bone crunching thud, her blade hit the ground, the skull of the recently thrown wolf between the hilt and the tip. The snarls of several more wolves behind her caused Skadi to release her blade and spin around, unleashing a thunderous kick into the jaw of an incoming wolf. Bone and blood splattered across the grove, mixed with the yelp of the now seriously injured wolf as it hit the ground.

Another two wolves flew out of nearby bushes, snarling with lethal ferocity towards the slender woman. Where most would step back to dodge the attack, Skadi strided forward with her outstretched arms, grabbing the two dogs by their fury throats. The pair growled in surprise and attempted to kick their captor with their hind legs. Skadi could see the growing fear in their eyes, the realisation that they would die. Upon seeing such, she applied pressure and filled the air with the crunching of the canine windpipes.

Returning to her blade, Skadi sprung into the air, high enough for her to take a quick count of her remaining foes. Eight wolves in sight, yet she knew another was out there, waiting for the right moment. Skadi kept her eyes on the wolf directly below her, preparing to sever its head with her razor sharp blade. As she drew within meters of the creature, arms stretched back, ready to swing her blade. That's when the others attacked. She was slightly surprised at the intelligence of these creatures, yet it just made the battle more enjoyable. Skadi caught sight of one wolf launching itself through the air towards her, she heard the other one lift off, directly behind her.

There wasn't enough time to prevent the attack. The two beasts crashed into her, digging their teeth and claws into her pale flesh. Skadi released a scream as one of the wolves took a chunk out of her thigh whilst the other pawed her across the face, causing three long scratches to release blood down the side of her left cheek. As the trio hit the ground, Skadi quickly rolled to her knees with difficulty, now that her left leg was wounded deeply. Even so, she sprung forward with her blade, running it through the heart of the closest creature whilst spinning in mid-movement so she was facing the other wolf behind her. A powerful thrust of her right leg collected the wolf under the chin, the force snapping its neck with grueling crack.

Seven wolves. What appeared to be a young male came charging toward Skadi in an act of fierce determination. Skadi stepped to the side and swung her blade low, slicing through the wolf's legs and sending it to the ground with a painful thud. As Skadi began to rise, she changed the angle of her blade, facing the sharp side upward as she brought it through the chest and skull of yet another wolf.

Watching intently as three wolves approached with a powerful leap, Skadi reacted with a speed they had not been expecting. The katana soared through the air, collecting the wolf on Skadi's left through the heart, burrying itself up to the hilt. Seconds later she too was flying through the air, towards the wolf directly in front of her. Skadi dominated the clash with her superior force, pushing the wolf onto his back. She didn't even notice as the other latched onto her left ankle.

Skadi looked into the fierce eyes of the wolf, tasting the fear and anger on its breath. The split second that the wolf stared into Skadi's face, complete and utter confusion registered. The human had long fangs in her snarl, she wasn't ordinary. Before it could act, Skadi sank her needle like fangs into the neck of the beast, drawing as much blood as she could. It wasn't long before the wolf lay under her, near death due to blood loss.

Rolling off the body, Skadi sat up to realise the pain shooting through her leg, caused by the attacking wolf. Stretching forward, she took hold of the jaw ripping into her flesh. The wolf yepled in surprise as he was hauled through the air by his jaw, directly into the solid body of a massive oak. Skadi smiled as the satisfying crack of the wolf's skull filled her ears.

Two wolves...

Kurai was still in a state of shock. A blank stare was all that could be given to Joshua for several seconds. She then realized he was there, and grabbed his arm gently. Her skin felt icy, and she was very pale, as if she had seen a ghost. She opened the back door and led him in, closing it behind her. Nagi lay on a couch, asleep, and a figure sat in a chair. The white robes covered their body and the hood concealed the identity. The figure then gestured for him to sit. Kurai then left, and went back to the reception desk. All the figure did was sit there and lift their head to see the person in front of them, shadows covered the face, but the lips were exposed. They were glossed with a deep tint of red, and the teeth were a pearly white. Fangs were half seen but recognizable.

“Joshua,” the figure said in a velvety tone, the syllables singing through the air. “I am very pleased to see you again.” The delicate hand lifted, and was placed on the side of his face. The person was clearly female. “It…has been a long journey to get here. I am very tired, and very fragile. That is why my presence here must go unknown, do you understand?” She smiled. I know you do already…. She removed her hand from the side of his face and brought it too the edge of her hood. Slowly, she pulled it back, and smiled. A pair of beautiful crimson eyes looked at Joshua, and she removed the entire cloak. There were deep gashes along her stomach and arms that were healing slowly to reform the flawless skin. She wore a white floor length skirt with a white tank top. Specks of blood could now be recognized on the cloak as well.

“My child…” she said affectionately, like a mother to a son. “I need to ask a favor of you. I hoped that Nagi would be enough, but it isn’t. The regeneration rate is very slow, and I am in constant pain. I have lost a lot of blood, and I need…” She looked down as if it were extremely hard to say. She had never asked anyone of this until this day. “I do need to feed.”

Lore and Language (http://forums2.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=6930418#post6930418)

"I owe you my life and would do anything to repay you," Joshua replied softly. "What do I have to do?" he then asked. He was ready to do anything for her after she had saved him twice. In his eyes this was the least he could do.

Ravelyn nodded slightly, and walked toward Joshua slowly. She brought one hand on to the back of his neck, and one around his waist. Thank you...Joshua. Her crimson eyes delved into his. Just relax. It may be painful, I am not strong enough at the moment to quell the pain, but I'll do my best. Her fangs became prominant, and she bit down softly into the open flesh on his neck. She had given to Joshua before, to save him. He was doing more or less the same in return for her. She felt the blood trickle down her throat and closed her eyes, gently cradling him to stop him from falling.

As her fangs broke the skin Joshua felt a slightly sharp pain but ignored it. The feelings of weakness slowly began to come over him as she fed.Joshua felt his leggs grow weaker by each passing moment yet he knew she wouldn't let him fall. He smiled slightly and thought back to the time she had saved him now in it's own way he was saving her.

Dirk walked in the front door. His spirits raised by talking with his sister. He then noticed Kurai sitting almost in a trance at the desk. He walked up to her and noticed her pale skin.
"Kurai? Kurai? Are you alright?" He moved around the desk and put his LRSP suitcase on the ground and put his hand on her shoulder. "Kurai? Are you okay?"

"N-N-Never better," Kurai stuttered. "Never better." She temporarily came over the blank stare and managed a smile. Her skin had began to regain its color from the shock. She then realized Dirk was there. "what?" :confused: she asked, as if she hadn't heard him.

_____

Ravelyn drew back, catching Joshua before he fell. He was still conscious, but it was clear now that her wounds were very much healed, and her aura was beginning to return to normal. She smiled softly. Setting Joshua down at the edge of one of the two couches in the reception lounge. All the blinds were shut, and the door very much closed and locked. With Kurai just outside, she would be safe for the time being.

Joshua was strong, and she hadn't taken enough for him to go unconscious. She laughed slightly, with an all too familiar smile. "Apparently they don't want to let me die...I mean, I did, almost, but he was there to save me. God I haven't seen Kaos for the longest time..." she was rambling on, and it was doubtful that Joshua had the slightest idea what she was talking about. "My wings were torn off. Hurt like hell...but I'll tell you one thing I'm not regretful for letting him do." She winced slightly. A pair of wings appeared behind her, but they weren't of feather nor scales. They were of metal. Metal shards as feathers. "They were beyond repair after Vaughn..." she choked on the name a bit, but continued on. "Well...he...My wings were broken, and Kaos had done some surgury...and well....There you go."

She smiled her same half smile, with such hapiness in her eyes. I'm just glad to be home...and alive. She sat down next to him, her wings retracting she tilted her head back and inhaled deeply.

"Are you alright?" Dirk noticed her skin returning to its natural color. "You looked like you saw a ghost or something."

"Yea...i thought I did actually..." she said a bit flustered. "But I'm OK. What about you? You like it here?"

Joshua felt his eyes feel heavey as she laid him down on the couch. Only after her rambling did he tilt his head towards her and weakly say "Well I'm just glad to be able to return that old favor in your time of need." Then almost instantly he seemed to curl up like alittle child and his let heavy eyes gently fall ushering him into a sleep.

Two wolves stood together on each side of the grove. Skadi had moved into the centre to retrieve her blade and was now slowly keeping watch of her last two enemies. These two were bigger than the others and appeared to be the two pack leaders, the most dominant males. Skadi merely snarled at the creatures in return, displaying her own sharp fangs at the canines.

Skadi was now drenched in blood and panting heavily from the pain of her injuries. She could endure far more pain than this, yet she could not prevent the actions of her body. Her leather trench coat had been torn in many places, as was the flesh under the coat. Major injuries included her thigh and ankle, both on the same leg, her shoulder and deep scratches down her face. Nothing that wouldn't heal by tomorrow, especially since she had fed on a wolf.

Determined not to use anything but her physical ability, Skadi drew her blade up once again and awaited the obvious attack. The sprint forward commenced with an unearthly howl as the two creatures drew closer, pure rage reflected in their eyes as their lethal jaws hung open, ready to tear human flesh.

Standing perfectly still, Skadi waited until the final instant, just as the wolves were one more step from latching onto her lips, Skadi sprung forward then to the left, running into the side of one wolf with her blade, burrying it hilt deep through the body and out the other end. The struggle ended with a loud crack as the blade pierced another massive oak, pinning the wolf to the tree as it slowly bled to death.

Spinning around quickly, Skadi was knocked onto her as the last wolf landed atop her, pinning her right arm under the bulk of its weight. The beast made several snaps at her neck, luckily only causing minor wounds. The vampire brought her left arm forward, ignoring the pain in her shoulder and wedged her clenched fist into the powerful jaws of the creature, preventing it from biting her nose.

Wincing as the teeth dug into her skin, tearing her muscle, Skadi called upon all the strength she could muster in that arm and swung backwards. Intent on holding the arm within its grasp, the wolf lifted off her right arm and landed with a hard thud on the ground behind her, still clenching. Deciding it was time to end the battle, Skadi brought her right arm around and shoved with all her might. Seconds later her fand emerged just behind the right leg joint of the wolf, a large red muscle gripped within her hand. The wolf winced in surprise in one last act before plunging into an eternal sleep.

Struggling to release her left arm from the jaws of the wolf, Skadi had to end up breaking the bottom jaw to get her hand free. Another quick jerk removed Skadi's right arm from the wolf's body, now covered in wolf blood and gore. Rising with slight difficulty, Skadi used her ability of flight to lift some weigt off her injured leg as she hobbled over to her blade. The pinned wolf was now dead, allowing Skadi to easily remove her blade and wipe it off on her ruined coat before sheathing it.

It was time to return to the academy.

"I'm fine, lets just say I've meet a lot of intersting people and seen lots of intersting things in my short time here." Dirk said with a smile. Her orginally stammer made Dirk courious, but he decided to leave it be.

Rave smiled, and bent down to kiss Joshua's forehead. Have a good rest now, my child. She got up from Joshua. Nagi was still asleep as well. In Joshua's blood had traces of hers in it, so it had been more revitalizing then Nagi. The only other person who carried more of her blood in him than Joshua was Qui. She would deal with that later.

She made her way to the door, opening it to see Kurai and Dirk standing there. Kurai nearly jumped back at the site of her. She nodded to Kurai, and glanced at Dirk.

Kurai...I will need it to rain when night falls, can you do it?

"Y-yes m'am." she said, and watched Ravelyn pass from behind the desk and then ascending the main stair case toward the upper floors.

http://hometown.aol.com/genesisversai/images/rav1.jpg
Ravelyn Shentavo

The journey back had taken slightly longer, obviously because Skadi was tired and sore. The battle hadn't been what she had hoped for, whilst the victory had been easy enough, Skadi noticed her skills had diminished slightly over the few years of no use. Hence the exercise. The injuries didn't bother her, they would heal in time and she would bare the pain easily enough. Skadi enjoyed battling wild animals such as wolves, they were faster and tended to have a better battle instinct.

Touching down lightly outside the academy entrance, Skadi used her sheathed blade as a cane, hobbling through the front door and caught sight of Kurai and Dirk. Skadi was a complete mess. Her black leather trench coat was covered in a mixture wolf gore and her own blood. Her usually dark black hair was matted with more blood and her face was engulfed in patches and scratches, almost completely hiding her pale skin. Large portions of the coat were ripped, revealing messing wounds still oozing blood.

Skadi's right leg was the worst. The leg of her pants had been comletely shredded, revealing the sizeable chunk of her thigh missing, the muscle and tissue hanging out at odd angles. Her right boot was also shredded, revealing the mess of bone and muscle that was her ankle. Skadi would have to sleep tonight to be fully healed by tomorrow, something she rarely had to do. Both hands were completely red, as was the hilt of her blade and scabard. She was indeed a ghastly sight. Blood covered almost every other inch of her body, a mixture of hers and the wolves'. Fortunately, there were no other serious wounds upon the woman.

The room seemed a little too silent as Skadi moved inside, eyes turning upon her bloodied form. She merely returned with her usual cold gaze, not conveying any emotion or sense of pain at her present condition. A few silent moments passed before the cluttering of Skadi's supported limp moved through the entrance and into the mess room, where she took up a large armchair and rested her blade against the side...

Joshua seemed to blush slightly when she kissed his forehead and let out a soft sigh. It could easily be seen that he was dreaming about something that only he knew.

Dirk smiled warmly at Rave as she passed. He was about to go when he spotted Skadi walk in.
"Jesus, she needs some serious medical attention." he muttered.

Skadi was alone in that room after people began to flutter off. It seemed dark for the first time, as dusk was beginning to fall. A swift wind blew in through the open windows, brining a first cold chill that had been felt since the student's arrival. It seemed that a storm was brewing deeply in the cloud covered sky. The temperature seemed to drop. And no one but perhaps Dirk would have noticed the icy trance of Kurai.

Soon, the ran began to fall, and it crashed to the ground. It was only the beginning. The power went out. While the classrooms and dorms as well as reception area still had power, others did not.

Qui's immediate attention was stolen from the matters of the four, to matters concerning Skadi. Looking out the window casually as he passed by, he saw her enter not in the best shape. He turned from McCloud and Nikita, and walked toward the entrance. They did not question him. If he had been a second sooner, perhaps he would have seen Ravelyn. As luck would have it, she had just reached the third floor by that time and had vanished out of site.

He gave no notice to Kurai, nor the power going out in some of the rooms. The backup generator took care of the necessary space. If it was needed, they could have gotten the power back with effort. There were no classes going on now, so he did not see the point. His acute sense of smell led him to Skadi.

He lingered at the doorway for a moment, the dull moonlight encasing the room with a rather haunting glow. It seemed to illuminate his character more so then the sun did. He looked more at ease. He walked toward Skadi slowly, tilting his head. He looked at her wounds in a single glance.

“It looks like you need medical attention…” he said softly.
_____________

Strange, someone had said that earlier to another in the academy two years ago in that exact spot. However, the circumstances hadn’t been the same. Ravelyn Shentavo, or now Ravelyn Vaughn, had much work to do. Yes, Michael and Rave had both been restored to their original bodies, and got married. It wasn’t a formal marriage at a church. It was a marriage in hell. She had once been forced to walk beside Daja in attempt to fall her, however that changed when she found out Michael was still alive. And there in hell, when Daja’s life was taken, it happened. How sweet it had been to see him again, even if for a moment. She knew he was still there…somewhere. She didn’t give up her search, but hoped that it would come to her.

The devil of an angel opened the door to her old room. Everything lay untouched. Vaughn’s jacket was still on the chair, her bed still unmade and that black silk dress still on the floor. She picked it up, hanging it up back in the closet, made the bed, and took Vaughn’s jacket up, placing it on the coat rack at the side of the room. Her room did not have power. Her face was illuminated by the moonlight, her milky white skin shown soft in the dull light. She removed her white tank top, and after which followed suit. Her skin was now flawless as the fresh blood coursed through her veins. She was created to be perfect, though there are faults with every character, with the light and the quiet mood, she seemed awfully close.

She slipped on a fitting black leather shirt that hugged her skin tightly. She pulled on a long black skirt, slits on both sides up to her upper thigh. She hauled her black boots from the closet and sat down on the bed to put them on, lacing each tightly and with care. It was not what she wore every day, but it was familiar to her, especially for sparring matches. She got up and looked in the mirror. Her auburn tresses twisted softly at the bottom. Her hair possessed a natural lustrous wave to it. Her deep crimson eyes gleamed back at her. She parted her lips softly, and took in an unneeded breath. She looked beyond her window outside and saw the rose bush still there. She reached her hand out, a rose coming up from the ground and to her hand. She saved it from the storm, taking it with her as she exited. She walked down the staircase, looking one hundred times healthier and able then when she had ascended. She carried the rose with her the entire way.

The lights died a quick painful death, and Elfira merely sat against the couch and closed her eyes. It made no difference from the pitch blackness that engulfed the lounge. A golden tendril snapped into her conciousness, and she felt the swirl of euphoria that tickled her senses as Chimerea rose from her subconcious to meet her. Someone new was in the Academy, someone very powerful. Her conciousness decended to probe this new, bright energy, an exotic mix that shouldn't have existed. An energy of altruism mixed with selfishness, angel with vampire. Ravelyn would certainly feel the effects of this probe, as if someone was watching not only her movements, but her thoughts as well.

Skadi sighed as she noticed Qui, well before he spoke. She didn't bother turning around or saying anything until he finally spoke.

"That won't be necessary, I shall be fully healed by tomorrow."

Her wounds had already stopped bleeding and were now beginning the process of closing, repairing all damaged tissue. The cuts and scratches were of no real concern, it was her ankle that would require the most effort. Bone was always much harder to heal than tissue.

Skadi watched as her blade hovered within the air, directly in front of her. The blade emerged from the scabard with a metallic ring. It slowly spun within the air, allowing Skadi to inspect the blade. Patches of blood still remained upon the blade and a few new nicks were noticable under her keen eye. She would have to clean and sharpen the blade once again.

"I'll be fine."

"What the hell is going on?" Dirk muttered at Kurai. She of course didn't hear him. He rubbed his dog tag pouch, feeling Jennifer's engadement ring. He had a flashlight and night vision goggles in his room. He would might them. Dirk turned and moved to the stairway.

Joshua's unneeded breathing in his sleep was what little remained of when he wasn't a vampire. As the storm's first droplet of rain fell his breathing pattern seemed change. He slightly started to toss and turn and before long he fell off the couch and onto the floor. Slowly he awoke. His neck was still sore but had begun healing quite nicely but it seemed other things hadn't. His emotional wounds that he hid never had healed fully. The death of his sister still was there on his mind causing his dreams to turn to nightmares. Slowly he stood up his legs felt so weak but he forced himself to walk towards the door of the room. As he reached it he stumbled forward falling his legs giving out on him. Just a minor setback he thought to himself as he used the doorknob to pull himself up. After struggling to stand again he opened the door and weakly stepped out of the room using the wall to help hold him up. He walked slowly towards the soothing downpour. As the wall ended he began to stumble slightly regaining his balance only a split second before he would fall. He sighed deeply as he stumbled into the rain his memories bombarding his mind like the rain bombarded him. God make it stop. I just wish that never happened he cried out in his mind as the memories of his loved ones dead or dieing flowed through his head. Finally he fell to the soaking wet ground. Rolling over he began to sob quietly still crying out in his mind and out loud "Make it stop." The pain that echoed in his voice could be easyily felt even though the were being swallowed up by the raging storm. This was so unlike Joshua to let the past slowly kill him like this. He almost would seem human insted of a heartless super weapon to the untrained eye. But he knew this was just a small echo of what realy was tearing his soul slowly changing him, hurting him even more than anything he had ever known.

James sat on his bed, staring out the window. The rain was falling. Rain never fell back home. He was just amazed how the water simply fell from the sky. He knew that there was nothing mystical or mysterious about it, and that it was simply water coming to earth from the clouds. But still, after an entire childhood without rain, one marveled at it.

"Is it raining where you are?" He spoke into the darkness of his room, never expecting an answer. It never came when he questioned his former mentor. James fell back on his bed, holding the dogtags around his neck.

He closed his eyes and listened to the rain batter the window. He fell asleep, his dreams filled with the horrible images that plagued him every night.

ooc: Guess where my sig is from and get a cookie if you're right! ... :eek: O_O NO WAY. NO WAY! Sigma has the best cookies. and your new sig is from a TV Show....hopefully, can I have a cookie?


IC:

Qui obviously did not accept Skadi's answer of 'I'm fine'. The blade moved slightly to the side. Whether it was at Qui's or Skadi's will was unseen, but it was probably the former of the two. Qui sat down next to her, and looked out the window. I love the rain. Gives life, and takes it away. Of all things of simplicity, this one is the most complex. he leaned his head back, and closed his eyes.

___

Ravelyn felt her mind trying to be probed. What the person would find is not what they would have expected. They saw pain, terrible pain. But something was different about probing her mind...she let them. But Chimera did not just see the flesh being torn from her back. She felt every inch of it. She felt the pain of being half drugged, walking through hell in chains at the side of a man who's very glare made the flesh crawl and if you showed reluctance, you were whipped and beaten. Somhow you mangaged to live. She felt the pain of seeing Vaughn's body dead next to her, and the pain she brought on herself after this fact, her wings breaking. She felt her very wings being torn from her back in a ruthless manner, then the metal as replacement. Ravelyn had known what she was doing.

Keep your mind to yourself, Chimera. she retorted smoothly, and the pain was left as an ache of her body. Azrael had not flinched a bit, and continued to walk down the stairs.

Dirk came face to face with her. Her crimson eyes looked into his. Her form posssessed an ethereal beauty, and was rather entrancing. She simply looked at him, rose clenched within her hand, and moved toward the desk. Good Kurai, but you'll have to do better than that.

Dirk stared into her eyes, his mouth half-opened. He managed a polite smile and bowed his head before continuing up the stairs, he turned and took one last glance at her form. She is good looking, but would never equal Jennifer. He thought. Dirk walked into his room to find his flashlight.

The blade was sheathed once again and placed against the chair. Skadi remained silent as slid closer to Qui, placing her hand within his. The crack of her shoulder as she moved made it obvious she should be keeping still, yet she showed no sign of pain.

Skadi too enjoyed the rain. She had clear memories of sitting atop the high rise buildings of Assington, letting the rain trickle over her soft face, patter upon her usual coat and darken her already dark hair. Normally she would be in the rain at the moment, but her current condition was a problem.

"It has been some time since I stood within the rain, allowing it to wash over me. It rained the night I sired my first fledgling. An end and a beginning."

The probing sensation intensified as Ravelyn allowed the intrusion. Feelings swirled around in Ravelyn's mind that were not her own. Feelings that formed throughs and words in impossbily intricate ways. Elfira was the intruder's name, Chimerea merely the medium. The link gave Rave full access into Elfira's memories as well, a sight through the Elf's own eyes. Prisons and chains, smoke and blood from a past twelve years old, but that felt like a thousand. A consuming hatred that led to a wasteland where the wind is trapped by darkness and stagnation, and a revalation. A rush of pure innocence coursed through the devil of an angel, and formed a question.

You know what I am, but what are you?

Joshua's memorys kept bombarding him without mercy. The pain in his crys kept seeming to grow with each passing moment untill he cried out once more this time the storm couldn't swallow all of it. "Make it stop....please just make it stop," he sobbed quietlyas he curled into the fetal postion whimpering quietly. In his mind he still cried out for anyone to hear.


OOC:lol Rave I know that I jsut got bored besides that quote is funny as hell to see in the thing I'm tlaking about.

Dirk walked outside wearing his raincoat when he saw a form on the ground. He had intended to grab several CDs and Zip Discs from his Humvee when he shined his flashlight on the form. Joshua. Dirk ran over to him and rolled him over. He could hear him mumbling something, but he couldn't make it out. Dirk grabbed Joshua's right arm and slung the arm around his shoulders and with his left arm held Joshua as he half carried, half dragged him back into the Academy.

Dirk placed Joshua into a chair in the main hall knelt down in front of him.
"Joshua, can you hear me? Are you alright?"

"I'm fine he muttered weakly moving his head to hide the still healing bite mark. "Just some bad memorys....very bad ones." It was a understament. The memorys were the kind that would want to make a normal man kill himself after seeing such horor and knowing such pain.

"Joshua, Joshua, look at me man." Dirk could only get one eye to move to meet his gaze. "If something is the matter, it is best to let is out. Or at the very least, get some dry clothes on. You'll get very sick if you don't."

"I'll be fine," he replied weakly still, "Nothing is wrong." The memors still were flooding his thoughts the images never stoping. "It's nothing I can't handel." He was wrong completly wrong for once.

The deep well of Joshua's depression and anger bubbled to the surface of Elfira's conciousness, and it disturbed her enough to snap the tenuous link she had with Ravelyn. She focused herself, and sent a soothing sense of tranquility to Joshua. The Elf sat fully upright, leaving the golden universe of Chimerea behind.

'I'm coming, Joshua. What happened?' She questioned, the soft words caressing his mind.

The past. One of these days it is going to kill me, he replied letting the feeling of tranquility pas over him It was just some bad memorys surfacing again.

Dirk looked at Joshua.
"Fine, if you don't want to tell me that is alright."


Dirk looked Joshua over, no bleeding, that was a good sign, he hoped. He didn't see the bite mark healing on Joshua's neck. Dirk walked up to Elfria as she ran into the hall.
"Do you see anything wrong with him?"

Elfira looked around Dirk at Joshua.

Her voice was rife with concern. "I don't see anything wrong with him. However, what I feel is something else entirely."

'Please don't say that, Joshua. Nothing can kill you if you don't want it to.' She whispered sadly into his mind.

Trust me I've been long overdue for this, he replied still alittle weak I'll be fine again soon. Slowly he began to stand again the memories still fresh in his head. All the horor in his life compressed into single moments to torment him.

"Something in his mind then. I'm no good at that stuff. Do you think I should go fetch someone?" Dirk asked.

"I...I think he'll be alright." Elfira managed a smile. "Thanks for being here for him."

'What can I do for you? Surely there's something.' The mental reply echoed in Joshua's head, mixed with her own feelings of caring.

There is nothing you can do. It's just omething have to deal with,he replied. As he did the memories slowly began to stop tearing him up inside. "I'll be fine," he said aloud for Dirk to know.

Elfira sighed a little.

'If you feel you have to bear it by yourself, then fine. You wanted me to help you though, and I'm always here.' She told the stubbron Phalanixian.

Trust me. If you went trough this death would be so welcoming, he replied a weak smirk on his face. And I know you'll be there to help me.

'Good. You know you can always take advantage of my care for you.' She paused for a second, and a giggle ricochetted inside his mind. 'I...didn't mean it that way. Really. Don't forget I've seen a lot of horrible things that belie my outer self. I understand you.'

Heh don't give me ideas, he replied, But You don't know the pain of losing your only family. I had a unquie bond with her and she didn't know that I could feel her pull the gun out of her jewery box and pull the trigger. I felt so dead inside.

'I'm sorry, Joshua, but that's the past. There's nothing you can do about it. You're going to have to let go one day, or you'll never really be alive.'

I have let go. It's jsut the echos from it that won't leave me alone. I've always been sensitive to emotions, feelings and past events. Even if it is jsut an eco I can feel it like it had happened, He replied I just felt somethig more that woke something else up.

Elfira sounded exasperated, but a little playful as well. 'Augh, you're just impossible, Joshua Knightly! If you open up to me, let me know everything, then you can share the pain. You don't deserve to bear it all yourself. Like I said, something can hurt you only if you want it to.'

You arn't able to feel the echos that linger. The constant pain that I feel that still lingers, he replied, And I was ment to do he imposible. Well thats why my government spent about three billion blood crytals on me alone. He smiled slightly more and streched his arms out. "The rich bastards hate the fact I've bit them in the ass more than once."

Elfira grinned at him. 'You give me less credit than is due. I can do many things you would not expect, my friend.'

As can I. I only save my truely powerful talents for when I need them. Disturbingly enough they are the ones I truely fear. The ones that change me for the worse, he replied. He was still fairly weak but he was recovering slowly. He would need to rest again soon or use one of the injections.

Dirk gave Joshua a very doubtful glance.
"Alright, if you need me I'll be in my room."

Dirk turned and headed for his room.

Elfira gave Dirk a friendly nod as he left, and crossed the room to stand before Joshua. She stared up at him with eyes of liquid silver.

"So very competitive...trying to scare me?" She joked.

"No I'm jsut warning you of what I am capable of," he replied, "The only other person nearly capable of the things I can do is over fifteen lightyears away from here and is more dependent on technology than me."

"Alright, but you should get some rest. Please, tell me if you need anything." She gave him a sad smile.

"I'll be fine. I was resting well before this storm began" he replied as he placed a comferting arm on her sholder and huged her. "I still have things to do before something happens to me." And if it takes me a hundred years I'l finish it, he thought to himself.

The Elf smiled and returned the hug tightly.

"If you say so." She said, and gave him a little peck on the cheek.

"Don't worry. I'll be here for a long time," he said, "Besides I'll rest later. I just need to enjoy the storm for a bit." He looked out at the rain and smiled. Cleaning away the pain of the past for the next day, he thought.

Dirk lay on his bed, looking up at the ceiling. The lights were out, even the computer's monitor light was out. He lay there and thought. Many questions were running through his head.

What is wrong with Joshua? Who was that woman who came out of the room behind Kurai at the desk? Kurai seems a bit frightened of her, why?

Dirk took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a quick nap.

Her eyes followed his out to the rain, the eternal sheets of bone-chilling, life-giving water coming down, the potential for death and life stored within the same medium. The ultimate element.

She gave a slow nod at his words. "Want me to leave you then?"

"Only if you want," he replied as he let some of the rain fall down on him before he used his telekentic abilitys to stop the rian that would fall on him like a umbrella and letting it run off the sides.

Elfira's silence was her answer, and she gently laid her head on Joshua's shoulder.

He smiled and placed on of his hadns over hers and held it. He closed his eyes and let the gentle sound fo the rain sooth his mind slowly washing away the echos of the past the remained there.

The Elf closed her eyes as well, letting the roar of the rain consume her fully.

"So peaceful." She whispered. "If only humanity could learn something from miracles such as this."

James jerked awake with a scream. Following through from the dream he was having, he hurled a knife into the wall. He realized he had awaken and took in a deep breath. His clothes were soaked with sweat.

He got off of his bed and walked over to the wall. Clutching the knife, he pulled it out, surprised he had sunk it up to it's hilt. He spun it absentmindedly, remembering his dream. He stopped spinning the knife and tossed it onto his bed.

Even though it was still dark, he decided to take a shower. When he was done, he dressed in clean clothes and sat down in a chair in the room. He put his face in his hands, deep in thought, and let the time slip past.

"It's imposible. Human nature is to destroy. There are afew exceptions to this rule but it is there nature," he replied as he let soem of the rain drip down on his ahnd.

The delicate Elf turned her head slightly to look into his eyes. She saw deep inside of him, the despair he was brimming with, and it wrenched her soul to witness. A tear streamed down her fair cheek.

She began very slowly and sadly. "Sentient nature has not been in existence all that long. We can still change, towards acceptance. None seem to be able to walk that fine line, however. It is always racism or uniformity that seems to be the 'solution.'" She watched the rain again. "And the world weeps at this."

"It's just humanitys fear of being held down realy. And advanced for of humanity comes along and they decide that it is wrong. The ones that are against most other races and sciences are the ones that think there god or gods are right and they think that they are starting a holy war," he eplied as he brushed the tear aside, "I'm just lucky that I'm not completly human."

"I guess we're both lucky there." She whispered. "But it leaves us as outsiders."

"I'm more of an outsider than you," Joshua replied quietly, "I've got three types of blood in me and had over three billion crystals worth of training and augmentations done on me. God I've even died before now no one knows I exist unless they're some god damned top military brass. I got it just about as bad as Eric..."

Elfira laughed quietly. A cynical, bitter laugh. "That's supposed to make me feel better? I am the least trusted person in a nation of three billion. Not even the man who raised me can trust me anymore, not after what I did to them. It's truely a miracle I was allowed back into the team, much less not killed outright. I was impaled a few inches away from my heart, right here." She tapped her shoulder lightly. "It stings every day, every second of my existiance, as a reminder. If my mentor's aim was just a little off...we don't have things to bring people back."

Ravelyn sat at the edge of the north wall of the Shentavo Academy. She looked down where the ground dipped and swiveled. She saw those still about. She saw Joshua, and the one who had attempted to invade her mind. The link between them was severed. Elfira, it must be then. She looked down upon the two. Skadi and Qui were both in a room directly below her, two floors down. They didn’t notice. Kurai smiled softly as she continued her work. Mc Cloud looked outside and leaned back in his chair with a book. Saria was asleep at this point, because she could always fall asleep during the rain. Nikita was sifting through various documents on her desk, muttering incoherently. No one noticed her then.

Her tresses were glistening with the soft raindrops. They seemed soft to her, caressing her skin with a chilling touch. The rain beaded up on her dark lips. Her crimson eyes scanned the land, then closed to withdraw herself from the world. As she closed her eyes, she began to sing.

Eno kerimen privideyo
Ze de peh no to hilo
Le peh te yé
Suo

Her voice was smooth and velvety. It was rich in melody, but it was something more of a song. It was the type of voice that reached in to your heart and cleansed the soul.

Eno kerri puiyo hireyo
Hireyo
Virro hinmé

Somewhere else, Kaos smiled. Haven’t heard that for a while… he said to himself, and leaned back. What do you think of it Lotus?

Endon kiventé yeroseno
Firregeyo mno horó
Le peh te yé

Ravelyn lifted her hand, and the clouds parted slightly, exactly where the sun was. The rays filtered through the clouds and cast down upon the earth as it continued to rain. Kurai’s storm continued, and so did Ravelyn’s light.

Seia yonsó
Beiya deya perendo
Perendo vessun haré

Lotus leaned against a tree, listening to the melody. “I walk the earth… and touch the sky… I am an angel in your eyes” he closed his eyes. “Beautiful. That’s what I think it is. Now quiet yourself, and let the woman sing.”

Eno kerimen privideyo
Ze de peh no to hilo
Le peh te yé

Qui’s hand closed around Skadi’s. He heard a ringing within his ears, and winced. Then it was gone. “Did you hear that?” he asked, trying to concentrate, though not hard. It was nothing, after all.

Ravelyn opened her eyes to see the sunlight reflecting off the raindrops, the rose still grasped within her hand. She slowly let it slide from her hand.

(The quote is from Kane Phalanix :-P )

((Damn right Rave. Kane owns! Besdies the fact I'm a hardcore Fallout fan CnC just owns for me! -gives rave a cookie-))

Joshua heard singing and suddenly started piviting around. Whre is that coming from.. he muttered in his mind as he looked. "Do you hear some singing?" he asked Elfira. Joshua then noticed that the storm seemed to become a sun shower. Heh looks like someone is having fun.

Dirk opened his room window and listened, singing. Dirk went downstairs, throwing on his raincoat, and by the time he was outside, the singing had stopped. I think I'm going crazy, but I thought I just heard singing.

Dirk looked at Joshua and Elfria who also seemed to be looking for the source.
"Did you guys hear that?"

Qui’s hand closed around Skadi’s. He heard a ringing within his ears, and winced. Then it was gone. “Did you hear that?” he asked, trying to concentrate, though not hard. It was nothing, after all.

Skadi has noticed the ringing but wasn't too concerned. She was content to sit with Qui and enjoy the rain.

"Yes I did, but it is of little consequence. I believe I have a story to finish telling."

ooc: maybe you should have cookies imported from Sigma, then many more will be avid 'attempters' if you will. Sigma has better cookies. :-D its a neverending fact. :-P
++++++++++++++

Qui chuckled. "You are persistand, aren't you." he said it as a statement rather than a question and nodded for her to continue on. If it had been someone else, he would have probably wawlked away. Being the only other vampire able to carry on an intelligent conversation, to his knowledge at least, he was at her side with open ears.
_________

Ravelyn smiled softly, and set herself behind the edge and leaned over, her forearms resting on the stone surface. It had been a long time since the land had been cleansed. She saw the dying roses that bordered the building and just below her window. That would not do at all. They may not appear dying to the eye, but she knew that they were. And a rose, especially a rose, is very telling of the land and what’s to come.

Quod fuit est sicut quod erit
Et quod erit est sicut quod fuit
Quod fuit ad perpetranda
Miracula Aeternitatis

She continued her song, the clouds now rich with a purple/pink tint from the sun gilded in a circlet of ginger.

[/i]Quod superius set sicut quod inferius
Ad perpetranda miracula [/i]

The roses that were not bloomed burst into petals in an array of colors, taking in Kurai’s rain and Ravelyn’s sun. Those that were already opened seemed to radiate with life.

Quod inferius est sicut quod superius
Ad perpetranda miracula

The land itself seemed more peaceful. Even the trees, and the water. While it was extremely subtle, it was there. It was now how it was the first year.

Skadi nodded slightly as she resumed her story.

"As I was saying, the three of us travelled north, into a region known as Emerald. Most of the elves fleeing the south were also heading there. Throughout our travels we had heard news of the masacres in the south. Marduk and Svartel were responsible for such, we hadn't heard anything of Zardon.

Realising how dangerous the world was beyond our little village, especially for our kind, Uller decided to create weapons for our little group. To this day I still don't know where he got the materials or the design from, but he managed to forge three silver alloy, diamond bladed katanas. It was only later on in life that I realised they were so similar to the famous Asian blade.

Not long after the blades were completed, Idun and myself arrived from a nearby woods after convening with some elves to find Zardon feasting upon the mutilated body of Uller."

Skadi paused slightly, a flash of emotion crossing her face as she remembered the father figure of her early vampiric years.

The Elf smiled brightly and her eyes shone as she watched the light of the sun dance with the rain in tune to the song.

"yes," she answered both men, "beautiful, isn't it?"

"It is." Dirk said as he listened to the song and watched the sun dance across the heavens. "But, my question is, where is it coming from?"

Ravelyn looked at them for a moment, unnoticed, but her song was not. She leapt down from the edge back on to the roof top, the rain stopping. She knew Kurai did well, and would let her know later. She laid back upon the roof, looking up at the sky, and letting the rain fall upon her skin.
++++++++

Qui closed his eyes. "I really don't have pleasant memories of my father. He and my mother didn't really get along. It wasn't actually her choice to have him. She was very weak when they met, and he took that advantage. He and I fought constantly. He stabbed me through the abdomen with a sword. That was fun. My mother ended up ripping his thoat out at the end of it all and crushing his spirit. I wish I could have been there fore that. I don't really consider Daja my father."

"Hard to explain. After Daja left, ny mother met a man named Zacharian, and fell in love with him. He was a very ingenious person. Very dark sometimes, and I liked that. Before both of them died, I spoke with him more personally. I would not have minded him as a father, while he was my equal on all other levels."

Only a second after Rave had jumped Joshua looked in her original location. He smirked slightly and turned back to Elfira "Almost reminds me of a song I heard years ago. I can barely remember it," he said as he clsoed his eyes and elt out a quiet sigh.

Skadi could understand Qui's feelings towards his father. She had never been particularly close to her own. Uller had been more of a father to her than her own could have ever been. The memories of seeing his blood seeping onto the ground were still painfully recent, even though the actual event happened almost 2000 years ago.

"Uller wasn't my father, yet I was much closer to him than my actual father. We just didn't get on. He expected me to do nothing but marry a rich man whilst I wanted to get out of the village and see the world. Uller was much more understanding, he taught me about the world. As you can understand, I didn't appreciate what Zardon was doing, and so I made sure he would never do anything like that again."

The utter spite was now obvious in her voice. Zardon was someone she had truly learned to hate.

Dirk listened to the singing for a few more minutes before walking back inside. Bored, he grabbed his book and Mini-Disc player and sat down in the student lounge. He never got to read his book, no sooner had Layla come over the head sets he was asleep.

"Well, if you didn't kill him, that could be arranged." Qui said with a rather familiar smlie. He hadn't fought in a long time. Little did he know how soon it would be before it happened. He leaned back in the chair.

"So with family matters aside... is there anything else you wish to speak of?"

Skadi returned a sly smile.

"Do you think I would have left him living after that? Anyway, the rest isn't particularly important. Marduk was sealed away by the mages of Assington, costing their lives in the process. Idun and Zvartel are still out there, somewhere."

Skadi watched as most of her wounds began to seal completely. The bones and muscle would take some more time, but she would be fine by tomorrow.

"Do you have anything to say?"

Dirk woke suddenly. He decided to take a swim. Walking back to his room, he collected his bathing suit, t-shirt, book, Mini-Disc, and towel before heading down to the indoor pool. He put his things on a chair and slipped into the water. He rolled onto his back, enjoying the feeling of warmth all around his body. He gently backstroked to the other side of the pool. With his eyes closed he began floating in the water, 100% oblivious to the world around him.

OOC: Is this dead or what?

ooc: Sorry for my absense. Corococlavular ligament is messed up! Yay 6mm of liquid in my shoulder! w00t!I'm back now.

Ic:

"Well, there is not much I really want to say...." He smiled. "what I would like to do is an entirely different story."

_____

She loved the rain. She always loved the rain. Why was she the only constant that remained in this world? Why must everything change around her? And she be cursed to a never changing existance.

ooc: will respond more later.

OOC: Sounds nasty, hopefully you won't die on us... ;)

IC: Skadi looked up into Qui's eyes and gave him a seductive smile.

"Is that so? Tell me of this whole different story."

Most of her wounds were fairly healed and so Skadi was feeling much better.

OCC:gah I'm gona be alittle slow from now on posting. Even thugh Joshua has done jack shit lately. Only cause my two ligaments in my left middel finger are acting up (tore them both last summer) and some crazy shit is going on at school. But I'll be back with more Joshua than ever (jsut for Qui!)

OOC: Something seriously needs to happen or this RP can R.I.P.