FE: A Reason to Fear the Dark

[Moonlight]

Alister smiled slightly as he moved over towards Elssandra, having been finishing his arrow where he'd sat before joining the group. The redhead offering his own bow for her inspection, simply to hear an opinion. It never failed to prove interesting to talk to another archer, especially foreign ones. His own bow being carved by himself, he was simply curious of her thoughts. "Mmm. A fine archer to do so. It took me years to learn that skill," the archer acknowledged, knowing it was not an easy feat.

Phobos finally entering the conversation as the young woman listened to the others' idle talk, his blue gaze settling on the archer again. "... Where are you from, out of curiosity? It seems the majority of us are spread out across one country, although Ezra has yet to mention his homeland," the mage murmured, feeling the aforementioned thief's glare in his back at his words.

[Zorayda]

(I had to do a bit of research for this, lol. If I state something wrong, just tell me and I'll adjust it.)

Elssandra didn't say anything, but she was glad to have Alister sit next to her. At least he had one thing in common with her; his choice of weaponry. Her face brightened when he offered her his bow for inspection, and she was positively beaming when he commented on her skills. Elssa had always been a sucker for flattery. She ran her fingers over the length of the bow, noting the smooth texture of the wood. She then twanged the string a few times, noting the knots and the tautness of it. Finally, she raised the bow and pulled the string back, checking the flexibility of the wood.

"Almost perfect," she said finally, eyeing the weapon one last time. "The tiller could use a miniscule amount of adjusting, but other than that, this is one of the best bows I have seen. It must have taken months or maybe years to get it this broken in." She handed the bow back to Alister, smiling slightly. "What type of wood did you use? It feels a bit like yew..."

She looked over at Phobos at his question, her eyes suddenly darkening with a hint of sadness.

"I come from a small town near Castle Paltina," she said. "But I haven't lived there for years. Ever since I was...very young, I've wandered and fended for myself." The chestnut-haired woman didn't elaborate, but she worried at the hem of the jerkin she wore. It had been so many years since she'd been suddenly orphaned and homeless--all in the same day. She sometimes wondered how she would have turned out it those thieves and brigands hadn't invaded her home...

[Moonlight]

The redheaded archer nodded after a moment, smile playing about his lips at her own compliment. Appreciative. It had taken him a good two moons just to carve it properly. But the bow had lasted him years. "Mmmhmm. I chose yew for the flexibility, and so it would last longer," the young man returned, accepting the bow again. Brushing his fingers over the smooth wood, testing to see if it needed to be oiled again. Maintenance ever important, as with any weapon.

Pausing at her answer to Phobos's question, however, the lilac tressed mage somewhat abashed by bringing up what seemed to be painful memories. Ones that their own liege was well acquainted with now. He heard Phobos murmur an apology, although he seemed uncertain of what to do.

While an uncomfortable silence persisted for a few moments, it was soon broken by Cassandra. The soft spoken healer offering a small smile to their new ally, her gentle hazel gaze far from pressuring. "Well ... We shall let you get some rest now. You seem to be rather weary ... We may talk on the morrow, if you wish."

[Zorayda]

"...Mmmm?" Elssa had been lost in thought, but she looked up when she realized that she'd created an awkward moment in the room with her answer to the mage's question. "It's quite all right, you were not aware of my...my past," she assured Phobos, offering him a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

She nodded at Cassandra's suggestion. "Yes, that would probably be wise," Elssa agreed. Normally, she would get undressed and sleep in her undergarments, being that she had always been alone, but of course that wouldn't be proper now. Especially when she was in the company of nobles. So she simply loosened the ties on her clothing and set her weapons off to the side before opening her bag. She pulled out her bedroll and shook it out before quietly lying down upon it, making sure that she had a few people between her and the two everto men she did not trust.

She did not say anything further to the group around her, hoping to blend in and become less noticed.

[Moonlight]

As the fire dimmed down, everyone else also settled in for the evening. None of them entirely disrobing, naturally, though many of them made themselves more comfortable. By the time the firelight had reduced to a warm glow in a bed of coals, only one was still awake. The burning coals vivid orange lights reflecting in his ruby eyes, sitting quietly in the near darkness.

Standing with a sudden flourish of his cloak, before slipping out of the room. Silent. It was but moments later that he landed outside, umber cape falling to the ground around him. The heels of his boots clicking on the cobbled road as he walked, the everto simply wandering. Tiring of company that was consistently wary and distrustful.

His stride was purposeful, however, moving back towards the more night-central sector of the town. Moonhigh light danced across the water of a fountain as he passed, though he spared it no second glance. Perspective gaze taking in everything.

[Zorayda]

(Post number 4450 for the whole site, yay!)

Elssandra fell into an uneasy slumber, her shoulders tense from stress and worry about her new companions. It was true that she knew they had good intentions and that they were led by trusted nobles, but the company they kept made her wary. She found herself thinking about the everto men, and what their presence meant to her. What was it that set her off about them? They seemed all right, like normal people, but how did she know that it wasn't a facade to fool the others? Obviously, they had to be borne from something evil and untrustworthy--why else would they be cursed with those horrible red eyes?

Her mind bounced back to when she met Liam. Ezra hadn't been very receptive to new members of their group, so Liam's introduction was much more memorable in her mind. Elssa had noticed the man's wariness and caution when approaching her, as if he knew that she'd be inclined to attack him or hate him. The archer woman searched her feelings and realized that she didn't hate him--Liam or Ezra. But she feared them. She feared them enough to distrust them.

As she sank into sleep, images of her home invaded her mind. The faces of her siblings, her parents, and even her horse, Timra, flickered about in her mind's eye. She saw them reaching out to her, and she ran quickly, crying out to them and trying to catch them...but they only gave her sad smiles and remained as far away as ever. She turned around to see her home, peaceful and beautiful and simple, when suddenly the entire structure burst into searing flames. She could feel the fire lick at her face and arms, but now she was unable to move. She saw rough men with leering faces run into her house, and a few moments after that, there were screams...

She awoke with a small start, the room around her still black and quiet. The soft breathing of her companions could be heard. Elssandra let out a sigh of relief before touching her face. There they were again...evidence of her sadness. She looked at her fingertips to see that they were sparkling with wetness. Sleep-crying once again. It seemed that these dreams would forever haunt her.

She couldn't remember the last time she'd actually cried while conscious. It was a self-defense mechanism; she would bottle up all of her thoughts and feelings, avoiding them at all costs. She didn't want to deal with the pain, especially not alone. Elssandra rolled over, her thick hair swishing softly over her bedroll. Her eyes adjusted to the very dim light, and she studied the faces of her sleeping companions. They were all so peaceful and quiet...but...

She frowned, her half-asleep mind warning her that something was amiss. What was it...? A moment later, the thoughts clicked together. One of the bedrolls remained packed in the corner, meaning that someone was missing. But which one?

She sat up quietly, trying to figure out who was gone. But she was only just introduced to everyone...and not all of them made a strong impression on her yet. She pursed her lips in frustration and gathered her knees in front of her, wrapping her arms around them. It seemed like her worry and anxiety would keep her awake tonight...

[Moonlight]

As the thief wandered, his thoughts drifted to the troop as whole. Liam had been accepted through Kendra's good graces, having known the other everto her entire life. But he still had to wonder as to why she was so persistent in getting the others to accept him. They tolerated his presence. That was about it. Shaking his head, the umber tressed everto continue on his way.

A cool breeze toying with his shoulder length locks as he walked, tugging at his long cloak as it swept above the ground. Mulling over his thoughts. He had been alone for five years - It hadn't made a difference. Why should it now? "Heh ..."



The night was half over before Ezra returned, his coin purse noticeably heavier. Pausing as he slipped through the door, noticing that the new arrival was awake. His ruby gaze was impassive as he moved across the room, noticing her stiffen. Humans - Always fearful or hate directed at his kind. It was typical. And disgusting.

[Zorayda]

"Oh!" Elssa was slightly surprised at the everto's sudden return into the room. Her head had been resting on her knees as she stared through the window and out to the stars. So that's who was missing. The other everto...

She saw his distant and cold look after she'd jumped, and she averted her gaze to the floor. She thought about what she would have felt if someone automatically hated her for something she couldn't control... but the evertos were simply naturally inclined for evil, she was sure of it. She had every right to be careful around them. She carefully avoided his gaze, suddenly very uncomfortable. She was effectively alone with him now--all the others were fast asleep. She wished she had her bow near her.

"You...you are Ezra, correct?" She inquired softly. She needed to get comfortable with this man, get used to him. After all, she'd be with him and Liam for a long while, now... "I am sorry if I offend you with my behavior..." her voice trailed off. It was pointless to make excuses as to why she was biased the way she was. At this point, it would simply be insulting. She stared down at her young, unlined hands, wishing that she were brave enough to look at Ezra and bear those accusing red eyes.

[Moonlight]

He moved quietly across the room, stepping over sleeping forms indifferently. With half of the night gone, it was not surprising that most were soundly asleep. The thief shed his cloak after a moment, tossing it over his bedroll. In the near darkness one could make out a single ring on a plain chain, but it was impossible to see the seal inscribed upon it. His sleeveless brown tunic was close fitting, although even in the dim light one could tell that the everto was well toned. Very well toned, in fact. But in his profession, it was for the best. Even more so what with traveling with a growing armada.

Regarding her with a single glance when she spoke, before nodding. "... That is my name, yes," he returned coolly, hardly willing to extend a hand of friendship. He could tell she was all but shaking. He could see the fear in her eyes. Ezra's eyes narrowed. He could've killed her while she slept if he had wished. But he had not.

The young man leaned against the wall, arms folded over his chest as he watched her. His ruby eyed glare formidable, hard as the stone they resembled. It was difficult not to scoff at her 'apology'. Few truly meant it. However, he would keep peace for Kendra's sake. Only because the myrmidon had stood up for his kind - Showing she meant her words.

"Words oft ring hollow - But we shall see if you mean yours."

[Zorayda]

The young woman winced at Ezra's words, knowing he was right. She opened her mouth to speak, but she knew that whatever she could say would ring out as hollowly as her apology. This man was as sharp as a tack. It didn't really help her to like him, though.

She met his gaze with her hazel one, her slight anger at his attitude causing her fear to be forgotten for a moment. "I do not feel comfortable around the two of you yet," she said quietly, glancing at Liam's sleeping figure. Her tone was a little sharper than she meant it. "However, I have already figured out that, in order to have a trusted noble family accept you, you would have to be at least somewhat decent. I may have been raised with certain beliefs, but I am willing to chance facing my fears in the hopes of helping good people do good things."

She suddenly realized that what she was saying would probably anger him...or would it? Elssa was never good at reading people... His impassive and hard crimson eyes finally silenced her before she said anything else foolish. She pressed her lips together and fidgeted with the locket she wore around her neck--the last heirloom she ever got from her mother.

"Good night," she whispered shortly, and she lay back down to try and get more sleep before they set out the next morning.