The Legend of Kyathro

Windancer · **Posted:** Wed Jan 04, 2012 9:10 pm

"Well, the soup's ready," Maiya said with a grin, still stirring the soup without thinking. "Though I dunno what we're gonna eat it out of...I suppose we should have thought that out first, huh?" she said slowly, a hint of pink tinging her cheeks.

MokiHunter · **Posted:** Wed Jan 04, 2012 9:38 pm

Aaron nodded, feeling light in his chest from the apology and the riddance of guilt. He finally felt as if a weight had been lifted off of his shoulders, and he loved it. When Sespyn's official joining of the group was brought to question, Aaron nodded almost immediately. "I'm all for it," he said, a bit too rapidly for his own pace and liking. He shrugged maturely after that, having decided that he was in no competition with Sespyn, and expressing his want for his new comrade to be apart of their team was nothing to be ashamed of. Besides, for what lay ahead of them, they would need all the help they could get.

He shook his head as Maiya was attempting to figure out what they were supposed to eat with. "Ah, who cares? It smells delicious!" He took a huge wiff of the stuff and breathed out with a smile on his face and closed yet delighted eyes. When he opened them, though, he could tell somehow that the others may or may not be as enthusiastic. He didn't know them so well that he could decide for them, so he decided to go out and look for something. As he stood up, an idea sparked in his head. His face lit up and he stormed out of the spot. Upon coming to his desired location, he snagged about 10 leaves from one of the trees nearby. These leaves were absolutely huge, and although they may be primitive for their future purpose, and he had taken some too many, he shrugged it off and headed back.

He sat down, putting out the leaves for everyone to take. "I know it's not first class, but it should do fine." He grinned, something that he never thought was possible to do around this group. He had barely known them and yet, it seemed as if they had all known each other for years. He felt as if he could purge his whole past to them. Almost.

Anaquine · **Posted:** Thu Jan 05, 2012 1:13 pm

Sespyn returned moments later, just in time to hear Aaron's acceptance. "Thanks," he replied meekly as he reclaimed his seat. He caught a whiff of Maiya's stew as a slight breeze trickled through their encampment; though the broth itself looked meager and the meat either mildly stringy or mushy, the spices themselves created an enticing aroma that caused his mouth to water. Sespyn couldn't help but wonder what Maiya could accomplish with a larger variety of more sophisticated ingredients.

"It smells delicious," he offered.

Lyllii cocked an eyebrow when she noticed Aaron's hasty exit. When he returned, she noticed his fist clenched around a large handful of stems, the leafy parts fluttering like a child's makeshift flag.

"Nice improvement," she commented. "Never thought my 'style' would rub off on you guys so easily," she added with a teasing lilt.

"Though, I won't be using one. I mean, I err, can't. Please don't take offense, Maiya!" Her face flushed with embarrassment as she hastily stammered, unable to express what she needed to say. She quickly cast a desperate glance in Sespyn's direction.

"What she means is, her body can't handle the mild toxins from meat. That's why she accidentally made the 'jerky abuse' comment. Like a plant, she absorbs most of her energy from the sun; unfortunately, she has a low tolerance for most kinds of foods. Think of it as a weird food allergy," Sespyn explained. "I, however, would love some."

Windancer · **Posted:** Thu Jan 05, 2012 8:17 pm

Maiya gave an easy smile. "It's no big deal," she said as she took the "bowls" from Aaron, passing them out amongst the small group, excluding Lyllii. "If there is anything you can eat, I can try to make it," she offered.

Anaquine · **Posted:** Thu Jan 05, 2012 9:46 pm

"Naww, I'm good for now, but thanks," Lyllii replied, relief flooding over her. Truth be told, the whole "meat thing" was a bit of a touchy subject for Lyllii -she was never certain how people would handle it, and the last thing she ever wanted was to come across as a snob. Needless to say, it was a relief to see that none of her new companions seemed to judge her for it, especially Maiya.

Sespyn accepted the makeshift dish of soup, blowing against the steam to cool the broth enough for a short sip.

Windancer · **Posted:** Wed Jan 11, 2012 9:26 pm

Maiya glanced at the group anxiously. "How is it?" she asked. "Does it taste okay?"

Kasha took a big sip of her soup, the broth almost scalding her tongue, but the flavor excellent for having been made out of jerky and crushed leaves. "It's fine," she mumbled around a mouthful of soup. "'S great," she added cheerfully.

Relief flickered on her face. She glanced at Sespyn and Aaron. "What do you guys think? Does it taste okay?"

Anaquine · **Posted:** Fri Jan 20, 2012 2:56 pm

Sespyn slowly chewed the meat after swallowing his mouthful of broth, his facial expressions almost ridiculously serious. He honestly didn't care much for jerky, especially pork, but he didn't have the heart to relay this to Maiya.

"I'm impressed," he said after a moment. "Those spices really did the trick. Next chance we get, how 'bout getting you some real ingredients to work with?"

Lyllii's eyes smarted from the effort of restraining her laughter against Sespyn's antics. "No need to act so serious," she choked between horse giggles.

Windancer · **Posted:** Sat Jan 21, 2012 11:01 am

Maiya glanced at Sespyn quizically. "Uh, thanks, but are you okay? You're a bit...stiff. Are you sure it tastes okay?"

Kasha stifled her laughter with another swallow of soup. "Why so serious, Sespyn?" she added, jumping in to the conversation. "It's just soup, not a death sentence."

Anaquine · **Posted:** Fri Feb 10, 2012 9:48 am

OOC: okay...I guess just ignore the posting order I PM a while ago.

Bic:
"It tastes fine," he quickly assured, nearly choking on the broth in his haste. "I'm not much one for jerky, but this tastes amazing, considering. I prefer fish. If you can cook it, I'll catch it."

"I can also get wild herbs and stuff for your stash," Lyllii chimed in. "Well, I can't really grow them -not unless you guys are desperate- but I can still find whatever's nearby," she amended awkwardly.

Windancer · **Posted:** Sun Feb 12, 2012 6:18 pm

Ooc:// Oh, sorry, you sent out a posting order? I must not have gotten it...D:

Maiya gave another easy smile, cheerful, relaxed personality prominent. "Thanks, Lylli," she said.

Kasha quickly drained what remained of the soup. "It's getting a bit late," she said, fingering her staff thoughtfully. "We should probably go ahead and go to bed." The anthro gave a subtle glance in Lyllii's direction, curiousity in her amber eyes. What was the nymph's story? A slight chill settled over Kasha as she realized she was going to share her own story too. She mentally shook it off; she trusted Lylli.

Anaquine · **Posted:** Mon Feb 13, 2012 9:47 am

OOC: Don't worry about it. It was my first attempt at sending a "mass PM", so it wouldn't surprise me if something goofed up along the way (it's happened to me more than once). Anyways, in hind sight, the "no-order order" would probably work best for this.

Bic:
Lyllii nodded slowly in response. "We should probably stay up in shifts," she replied, then shrugged. "It wouldn't surprise me if something else happens spontaneously. Kasha and I will take the first watch." The nymph maiden returned a knowing glance in the general direction of the anthro.

"Great! Wake me up for the second watch then," Sespyn replied with mild sarcasm. He then cast his leaf "bowl" into the dying coals before removing his pot from the makeshift spit; he'd scrub it in the morning after the metal finished cooling the rest of the way. Momentarily satisfied, he unpacked his bedroll from his rucksack, uncurling it a safe distance from the fire pit. "If anyone needs me, I'll be asleep."

Lyllii nodded in their direction before taking up her staff and trekking a short distance into the forest. From here, she had a perfect view of the tiny encampment. Lyllii inhaled a breath, then slowly exhaled it. The stillness of the woods settled over her, granting her peace that allowed her to think clearly for the first time that day. She turned her face fully towards Kasha, noting how different her dark friend looked in the moonlight.

"Now, where should I begin? I think it best to start with my beginnings, but I can skip to my first...encounter with 'civilization'," she murmured, spitting out the last word with disgust.

Windancer · **Posted:** Mon Feb 13, 2012 4:34 pm

Maiya, after putting her spoon away and cleaning up some, simply curled up on the floor, eyelids heavy. "G'night," she mumbled sleepily, stifling a yawn. Without waiting for a response, she was soon asleep.

Kasha quietly followed Lyllii, fingering her staff in slight nervous anticipation. A small distance away from the camp, they stopped, and Lyllii looked at her, beginning to speak. "Now, where should I begin? I think it best to start with my beginnings, but I can skip to my first...encounter with 'civilization'." The nypmh spat thhe last word out like a curse, and Kasha felt a mixture of concern and curiosity. "Begin wherever you want," she replied simply. "I'm here to listen."

Anaquine · **Posted:** Mon Feb 13, 2012 11:42 pm

Lyllii nodded her head, then bowed it slightly. "A mix of both, then," she murmured. "When a nymph is born, he or she is born simularly as other creatures. However, there are two major differences: the first, a nymph usually is born without parents; the second, the nymph can be 'born' at any physical age, and the rate of physical developement varies. A nymph can be a child one day, or an adult the next. Or, a nymph can live suspended in time for generations. That's why so many hate us," the nymph explained.

Her dark eyes then took on a wistful sheen; Lyllii tried to swallow the lump forming just below her windpipe. Her hands began to grow moist and her entire thin frame began to tremble. Though she trusted Kasha -needed to trust her- the nymph simply couldn't force herself to meet the amber gaze of her newfound friend.

"And then, I met him," she hissed. Her eyes squeezed shut and a breath sucked in sharply. "You remember when I said, 'he tried to hurt me, but he got hurt instead'? He was my first taste of other creatures that looked like me. Until then, I was blissfully naive and content to be alone. Needless to say, I was attacked. I didn't fully understand death; all I knew that the shiney object he was holding was carving deep into my skin. Somehow, I managed to wrestle it away from him. The next thing I remember, he has a sword blade impaled in his chest and my hands are around the hilt.

"And then they found me. His village. They wanted my blood because I had spilled his. They tied me to a stake...and tried to make me 'extra crispy'. They nearly succeeded, but obviously, they didn't. So I became their slave. There wasn't a moment when I didn't try to lash out at them. They considered me a monster...so I became one." At the word monster, Lyllii's voice cracked. She swiftly swiped a hand across her face to only find that fluid had been leaking silently from her eyes for a while now.

"Kasha," she croaked. "I'm a murderer. You could say that it was self defense, but I kept killing. Even after I escaped, I would attack anyone like a savage beast, and I nearly killed again today! And...that man has somehow been brought back from the grave. I thought I could escape my past, thought I could start over, but I continue to wallow through blood!"

Windancer · **Posted:** Thu Feb 16, 2012 12:01 am

Kasha said nothing for a moment, merely placing a comforting hand on Lyllii's shoulder. "Maybe I should tell you a bit about my past," she began slowly. Met with no resistance, she gave a hesitant flick of her tail, ears pressed against her head as she continued. "My father was a criminal. He was a thief, selling things through the black market, doing jobs for...certain people. He was sort of the man to go to when you needed something; he could get his hands on anything. The police knew this; they had heard rumors. Yet they did not act against him, because they had no real proof. I was raised a criminal myself, learning that I had to fight any way I could to make it in this world."

Kasha paused. "For a while, we were actually happy like that. No one bothered us, we got by easily. My father...he and I were sitting together in the small room in our house. A man suddenly burst in, knife in his hand." The anthro paused again, the memory clearly painful. "I never did get a glimpse of his face. But I do remember my father's face as the knife was plunged into his back." Eyes haunted, she continued a bit shakily. "I got actually see the tip coming through his chest, blood starting to spread over his shirt. I stood still, paralyzed by fear. Then the man left. The murderer was gone without a trace. My father...my father died in my arms within seconds after his killer left."

Kasha clutched her staff, claws unsheathed at this point. "That was bad enough, but then someone made the claim that my father was a terrorist, and had been killed by a previous partner of his because of that. I know my father, and that he would never do that. Despite his crimes, his wrongdoings...he had a sense of honor, in a way. He never once physically harmed anyone...he was my friend. My best friend. And then he was gone, blamed for something he didn't do."

Hatred and anger started to cloud her amber eyes as she recalled the memories that she had previously buried. "The police, who never really liked him from the start, believed this. They exiled me, shunned me, because my father probably 'taught me his ways'. I-I got mad. Too mad. That was the first time I had ever killed someone. I didn't even have a reason, other than being unjustly accused. But that doesn't give me a right to take a life...well, they basically banished me. If I ever go there, I'll probably be killed. And...I deserve it. And since then, I've just been hiding out on my own. I don't feel comfortable around people any more, afraid something would happen, or that I would be accused again. I became alone, training myself to fight, in case I ever ran into my father's killer again."

Kasha looked deep into the nymph's eyes, raw emotion clear in her face. "My past certainly wasn't as harsh as yours, I don't think, but...you had a reason. Self-defense, instinct, whatever. And no one can blame you for that after all you had been through. You didn't trust, because they would kill you. So you started to believe you had to kill them first. I killed out of anger, not out of defense, or justice. Just...anger. I was still grieving, I suppose. Anyway, now you know my story," Kasha finished with a deep breath, feeling vulnerable and concerned for Lyllii. "I don't know what to say beyond the fact that you had better reasons than I did," she confessed helplessly, "but know that you have changed. I do not believe you to be a killer now. You have had the strength to overcome that, which is more than I can say for myself, to a point."

Kasha hesitated, then wrapped her strong arms around Lylli, embracing her friend in a hug that was totally out of character. This situation was different, though, and it deserved a change of approach. Hence the affection, which wasn't usually that clear and open.

Anaquine · **Posted:** Thu Feb 16, 2012 6:16 pm

Lyllii startled, flinching at the sudden unorthodox behavior of her friend, before returning the embrace with all of its fierceness. "Thank you," she murmured before gently untangling herself from the anthro's muscular limbs. She gazed full into her friend's face. "But you're wrong. I don't have that kind of strength on my own; it was given to me by rare individuals like you who accept me for what I am. No, not even that is the full truth. The truth is that I met the Creator's son. I still don't know why exactly I'm here, but it helps to know that I'm not an accident -expecially for someone like me. It's that knowledge that gives me the strength to continue living, but most of all to try. And, I know you can do the same."

With that, Lyllii engulfed Kasha in another embrace, sudden enough that nearly its force nearly caused the two of them to topple over.

"Should we head back now?" the nymph inquired.

OOC: This universe is monotheistic, though I don't plan on exploring it too heavily in this particular RP. However, it seemed suiting to mention it here.

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The Legend of Kyathro