Wayward Path (Open)

[kai]

A wingless dragon wearing heavy plate armor stood before the temple quartermaster watching intently as a satchel was laid before him. "Its not much" The old dragon with whitening eyes said. "Buts its your basic issue travel pack. You have dried food, a firestone, a lodestone, basic first aid cloth packs saturated with healing medicine" The dragon went quiet before his face lit up. "Oh yes and of course a map. You cant very well leave without a map." Pushing the pack forward with a claw he added. "Good luck out there"

Kai thanked the elder and put on the satchel. As much as he had come to accept the temple as his home. He could not resist the call of the world. His spirit was to free to be kept in one place long. No matter how much his master wanted it. Still, the earth guardian had taught him much about his element. Sad as it was, Kai's arrogance was tempered with the loss of his home and family. A event that happened all because of him. Many would say otherwise. But Kai knew the truth. In the end it worked out for the better if one could say that. He was the perfect student. Eager to learn, and not so prideful as he once was.

He was ready to leave the temple walls for a time and do some good in the world. He passed through the passages wishing all he knew farewell. And they in turn blessed him with well wishes. It was rather straightforward until he got outside. Now outside Kai stopped to pause and think of the faces he did not see. And of the otherworldly creature he had come to call friend. His mind did not dwell to much on the matter. They had different paths in life to walk, or fly. He could not expect them to stay around. Much less see him off as he wandered into shadow seeker plagued lands.

Kai's thoughts were interrupted as a young dragoness came running up. He knew her well. Manerva was much younger then him and a very shy creature. "Whats this?" Kai asked with a smile as he took a brown travelers cloak. "We all made it for you" She said lowly. "Each stich was woven with magic to protect and bring fortune to you in your travels. Please take it and remember this will always be your home" Kai did not know what to say. He stuttered for a moment and just gave a nod and a pat on the head. "The temple is my home and all of you are my family. I will come back..... I promise.

"If you see master terrador please tell him I am sorry to go running off like this. Tell him I have to do what my heart tells me is right" Kai hoped his mentor would understand. He would do better good in the world then being cooped up at the temple doing nothing but training. "Now off with you" Nudging the childs rump with his nose. With a clear plan in his head Kai started the long journey that would guide him to the highroads where travelers and trading caravans were being beset upon by dangers of all sorts.

["Cosmos"]

as the sun shown down on the swampy realm, the was surprisingly clear of clouds or any weather. as the creatures of the marshy land went about their daily doings, the noises of the could be heard if one was near. while then went about their lives, many creatures grew silent as a figure jumped from mushroom treetop to treetop over them. having remembered a friend in the temple on the far side of the swampy land that next to the ocean, the figure was happy to visit him as it traveled from treetop to treetop. landing quietly on one treetop and standing up straight, the dragon-like female looked out over the marshy land as the temple loomed before her.

as she looked at the temple and the surrounding area, she caught the sight of a dragon that she know known was a Shadowseeker. able to smell the fresh blood on it even from this distance, she could make out that it was not a local creatures blood. keeping her wings tight against her back as the cloak she wore fluttered around her, she jumped to the next tree and began to make her way quietly to the Shadowseeker. taking a few minutes, she suddenly landed quietly behind the Shadowseeker, sounding only like the normal breezes that traveled through the mushroom like trees. moving right behind it, she saw the bleeding and non-moving body of a warrior, wearing the armor that belonged to the temple. clicking her tongue, she suddenly smashed her right arm into the back of the Shadowseekers neck, hearing the wet snap of its spine. summoning one of her strange weapons, she cut the head off the Shadowseeker, then kicked its body down to be claimed by the swamp.

picking up the body of the warrior, she could feel that he was barely alive, while he continued to bleed. jumping to the next series of trees, she made her way to the temple and landed on one of the guarded balconies that faced the direction she came from, instead of going out of her way to the main entrance. "he's alive, but barely," she spoke, before the guards could say anything. handing the warrior off to the guards, she let out a sigh as they rushed him to the healers. taking off her bloody cloak and clicking her tongue in irritation, she rolled up the cloak and put it into a small pack she had slung on her back. sniffing the air for the scent of the one she considered friend, she saw a female coming from the direction of the main entrance to the temple, and where the faint scent of the person was coming from. "excuse me miss, but have you seen a male by the name of Kai around?" she asked, hoping he was doing okay.

(hope its ok if i can join you once again. )

[kai]

The young child look at the ground at the question. "Um, I'm not suppose to talk to strangers" Playing at the ground with a talon and swishing her tail from side to side she finally added. "But if you know Kai, I guess its ok. He left the temple not a few moments past. He says he has to go away for awhile. I'm Menerva, who are you?"

Kai exhaled as the shadows passed him in the swamp. Coming out from his hiding spot among the tangled mess of roots he re evaluated his options. Sighing he mumbled "Willow Wisp Run it is" It was a cursed place bare of life. A place even shadow seekers avoided for good reason. The spectral spirits that haunted that place. Kai hoped that witch he took for a lover was not blowing smoke in his face about the rituals she taught him. Witchcraft was a whole different beast from magic itself.

Lurking away from the threats walking amongst the trees and water Kai made his way to Willow Wisp Run.

OCC: Sure. Sorry about the short post. Kind of sick.

["Cosmos"]

looking at the child with a sweet smile, the Dragonborn nodded at her when she said she shouldn't talk to strangers. flexing her wings slightly when Menerva spoke, she kept the smile. "my name is Akrina Darktalon, and yes, i am a friend of Kai's," she spoke, as she looked in the direction that the child had come from. "a few moments ago? dang, just missed him," she spoke, letting out a jokeful sigh. still getting his scent, she knew that she could track him easily, even if he had gotten a ways away.

(OOC: sorry to hear your sick. and its okay for short posts. mine may be short too in response, though. )

[kai]

Hearing the name Menerva perked up. "Oh! He spoke of you before. Your his friend from another world. I never really believed him. Not until now. Whats your home like?"

Kai paused to listen and smell at the air in a old dried out riverbed. Its edges were lined with the dead skeletal remains of trees. Even the very soil had the skeletal remains of animals and various other creatures that had fallen prey to this desolate cursed place. Resuming his slow walk Kai heard haunting childish laughter. Sighing he picked up the pace of his walk, not all to eager to face the source of the laughter. Bit by bit balls of misty white appeared bobbing and drifting in the air like leaves on the breeze.

Remembering his studies in the temple library Kai made a metal note not to let the wayward souls touch him. For they craved the one thing they did not have. Life. If given the chance they would drain it from his body. This was no foe he could defeat like so many others in the past. These creatures were only effected by magic. As one got to close Kai opened the flask of water he had prepared and showered the spirit with it causing the thing to let out a ethereal scream that chilled him to the bone.

He just hoped the others would keep there distance as well. Kai only had so much of the enchanted water. And it took him a long time to prepare it. As he kept moving Kai glanced at the corpse of a shadow seeker covered in the wisps that drained the life from him. At least Kai could count his blessings. He proved himself right in assuming shadow seekers would fear this place.

["Cosmos"]

smiling at the young dragoness as she spoke, the Dragonborn suddenly looked a little sad as she was asked about her home. "i'm sorry, but i'm not exactly ready to talk about my home yet," she said, then raised her head as she smelled Kai's distant scent mix with something weird. "Menerva, i'm sorry, but i have to go for now. but when i come back to the temple, ask me again, and i promise to tell you about my home," Akrina said, the waved at the young dragoness. running to the nearest balcony, the Dragonborn leapt off the edge and spread her wings wide, taking flight with ease. following the scent of her friend, she started to see the barren and life-striped location in the distance.

[kai]

It was a long way and there were quite a few white knuckle moments. But Kai at last made it through Willow Wisp Run. Looking up Kai was pleased to see a familiar figure coming in his direction. She was easy enough to recognize. Her figure was not like anything he knew of in this world. "Oh how I hate you" Kai said with a smile. "What took me hours of careful slow navigation you simply just flew over. Never take your wings for granted. It is good to see you"

Looking his friend over Kai saw she had hardly changed since last they met. Save for the slight weight increase near the hips. A side effect of endulging in mortal pleasures. Or baby weight. But he was to polite to say anything about it. Kai himself had changed a lot as well. He grew a lot and actually looked like most adult earth dragons of this realm. His voice had deepened and his body was ripped from the countless hours of physical training at the temple. Though she would not be able to see his new muscles under the chainmail and heavy plate armor on his body. Strangely enough Kai did not bear a helmet like those at the temple. Probably because he had not ''earned'' it.

Kai's horns had also grown. They were impressive enough to make him pleasing in the eyes of most females. But not so much as to limit his movement. His horns were also carved with runes that spiraled from the base to the tip of his horns. It was buetiful, but hard to say if it served any other perpose then fashion. The last thing about him that had changed was the black eye symbol painted on the red scales of his forehead marking Kai as a oracle, seer, there were many names. If Kai's friend did not know of his gifts before. She would now. Kai had accepted his born gifts and no longer resisted it. Mostly because had he continued to resist it would have killed him.

"So what brings you out here?" Kai asked.

["Cosmos"]

somehow unable to get into the area that she tracked her friend in, the Dragonborn waited and circled the area for a time until her eyes spotted the earth dragon leaving the barren area. flying towards him, she smiled as she slowly landed near him, listening to his words. looking his over quickly with darting eagle-eyes, she noticed that he had grown quite a bit. noticing the black eye symbol on his forehead, she blinked her eyes to break her examining gaze as he asked what brought her here. "well, i was going to see you off at the temple, but i missed you by mere minutes because of a wounded warrior and a Shadowseeker. so, here i am to travel with you for a short time," Akrina said with a smile, raising her right claw up to wave, the Fel green runes that once permeated her right forearm now a midnight-blue blue color.

[kai]

"Ah, so much as changed" Kai said as he watched. "I would welcome the company. The roads can grow lonely. But I would ask that you do not follow me to the journeys end. It is a path I must walk alone. My training at the temple is going well. Far more physically and mentally demanding then what I did before. But it brings me some manner of peace. My master does not know I have left. If he had his way. I would be locked away behind temple walls training nonstop. But the world out there needs me more I think. I cannot idly stand by knowing I would be of better use." Starting to walk now he continued speaking. "What of you my dear? What have you been up to. A lot of adventures I bet" With that he smiled. With him stuck at the temple all this time it was probably safe to say she had been up to much.

["Cosmos"]

smiling at him as he spoke, Akrina started to walk beside him as he walked. "i have been okay, though i may be better then that," she spoke, as she looked at her right forearm. smiling as she watched the midnight-blue runes, she rose her head up. "i have found a way to remove the majority of corruption from my body, but it may be a hard journey for what i need. other then that, i found myself a love," she paused, then placed her claw on her belly. "i also had a child, though you could say she was a child born from my corruption," she added, shaking her head as she gave Kai a smile. punching him in the arm, she gave him a grin. "you haven't forgotten what we promised when we were fully healed, right?" she asked, having not forgotten anything from their first meeting.

[kai]

"Love?" With that Kai let out a laugh. And not the joyful one he normally had. This one sounded more darker. "So you actually believe in that stuff?" Catching himself Kai's face softened. "I am happy for you. And may your love be blessed. If what you say is true then here is where we part ways. I go to a place that you cannot follow. Especially since you have a child. Surely they need you more then me" Shaking his head at his friends memory Kai turned his back to her. "I cannot, I need my strength for my journeys end. Now go home to your family.

["Cosmos"]

looking at him in the corner of her eye, Akrina frowned a little as she listened to him. "we haven't even even been traveling for more then ten minutes, and your already telling me to leave? i'm hurt," she spoke, not exactly hurt by his words. looking at him as she placed her claw to her chest, she turned her head towards him. "if you wish me to not travel with you, then so be it. but i might just say this, i need to go this way, since your kinda heading in the same direction that my mate and child are in. plus, if i travel with you until i need to head away, i can help with anything that could impair your strength," she spoke, as she summoned a strange spear that was taller then she was.

[kai]

Kai let a rumble echoe in his chest in thought. "Then who am I to send you away. Keeping true to my oaths at the temple I shall guard you until you reach your family. Then I must part ways and cross into shadow." Watching the weapon conjured Kai sighed again. He looked as if he was going to say something but backed down. After a period of silence Kai said what he wanted to. "I have seen such a weapon" Tapping the mark on his forehead he added. "It killed me." A strange thing to say. But who knows what such knowledge would bring in the future.

"The shadowseekers have grown bold to patrol this close to the temple. I wonder what they are searching for......" Looking to his friend he tried to lighten the mood. "Perhaps you, You do have a talent for vexing people. It must be your charming nature"

["Cosmos"]

looking at him in the corner of her eye again as he spoke, she gripped the pole of her spear. knowing the weapons she summoned were all from the Void itself, she didn't know if they were wielded by others when they weren't in her claws. not sure what to say to him about what he saw, she felt uneasy now. listening to him speak of the Shadowseekers, she mustered a grin as he tried to lighten the mood. "who knows, maybe they just want a piece of my otherworldly rear," she said jokingly, then playfully smacked her own rear with her tail. laughing at her words, she still kept her senses open to anything that might attack at them.

[kai]

Kai gave no answer as he just watched. "Uh huh.... Oh I'm sorry. Were you talking. I was to busy watching your other worldly rear" With that he smiled and shrugged. "What? Don't look so surprised. Remember before I became one of those so called temple brats as I said in the past. I was a mercenary. Your kinda bringing out my old self. I don't think that part of me will go away easily." Looking her up and down again he asked. "So who is the lucky guy that earned your love?"

Stretching his body in a pose to show off what muscles were visible out of his armor Kai said. "Is he dashing, witty, and as charming as me? I know it looks easy. But no one can rock this temple armor like I do. Heh, its a gift" Kai knew the vows the temple made him swear well. But harmless flirting was technically not breaking the rules. Just bending them a bit. However if for some unseen reason she turned out to be one of those types that were 'adventurous', mate or no. Kai would find his spirit truly tested.