One Life Ends, Another Begins (Open, Slave Sale)

[Elloria]

Samar was asleep when the Avitus group first entered the city of Teirm. She had been up the whole night before comforting an ill boy from the Crea tribe, only to have him die in her arms before the first rays of Mother’s Light had slipped across the horizon. Another soul left to wander the vastness of the Mother’s earth because they could not properly prepare it for the journey. It saddened her greatly. So, as she often did these days, she had let sleep take her and one of the strong men of her own tribe now carried her through Teirm’s gates. The sounds of the port city did not stir her, so heavily did she slumber. The journey had been long and exhausting, with many deaths - though not as many as that first trip to the Avitus camp.

She slept all that day and all night while the Avitus group set up its stalls in the slave market and registered each slave for sale. Indeed, it was not until one of the slavers shoved at her with his foot that she awoke at all. Very confused, she clutched at herself, terrified that perhaps this time it would be her who would vanish with one of them and return abused. But he didn’t force her to rise, choosing instead to slowly coax her to her feet. He then shackled her and led her out of the large underground enclosure that she had been in - along with the other 350 enslaved nomads of the Hadarac. She squinted her eyes against the sudden brightness of the Mother’s Light. After a moment of growing accustomed to it, she looked up at the sky and deduced that it was a little after mid-day. She felt too rested to think that she’d only slept a few hours.

She pressed her shackled hands to her bosom, feeling the pouch with the Mother Wolf amulet still nestled there. She let out a sigh of relief. That was good. Hinewai would have killed her if she lost it to the strange pale ones. She shivered. It was much cooler here than any place she had ever known. Even colder than the place of uncountable wooden tents. She felt herself jerked forward by the shackles and fell as her feet hit the stairs leading up to the sales block. She pulled herself to her feet and slowly climbed the stairs, moving until she was in the center of the block. There, she stopped at a harsh glance from the man who had led her and was spun around by a second man - whom she had learned early in the journey was the mkail of whatever tribe now controlled them. He was speaking that odd language now and as she looked out, she realized she was before a massive crowd of the strange pale ones. She felt very bare before them and shrunk in on herself slightly. Why did they not turn their eyes from her?

“This fine female, a product of the Gia tribe of the Hadarac, is young. Healthy as an ox and almost as strong. She can cook and clean and willingly obeys any orders you give her. Look at her beautiful skin, soft as velvet it is and smooth as silk. Observe her singularly lovely figure, full and sensuous. Quite a catch indeed, I can assure you. Shall we start the bidding at one hundred silver coins?”

What in the name of the Mother Wolf was he saying now?

[Kite]

*Clarus stepped into the slave market of Teirm and breathes deep the smell of greed and corruption in the area. It is a smell he knows well, and one that he enjoys every time he comes in contact with it. The Slave pits of Teirm... Hell, the entire city of Teirm reeked of it because of the black market. This was his sort of place, and he could not wait to establish a larger presence here for his company. Slaves especially, they were making a killing selling other cities but there was more to be had if they were able to sell in Teirm as well. That, however, was not his business today.

His business today was to check the slave markets for someone exceptional to purchase. Someone he could have around with him and use for a variety of uses. Carnal, maybe, if it was a woman who caught his eye, but that was not out of the question. Someone whom, in the end, he could learn from and have use of. Well, wasn't really that the same reason everyone got a slave? Clarus doesn't know the answer to that, but he does know thats why he wants one. It would be extremely useful to have someone whom he could trust, whom he knew wouldn't try to kill him in his sleep for some money, who might actually listen if he spoke to them for some reason. Most don't, and thats really why he wants it really.

As he scans the slave market, his eye finds a small stall where a beautiful dark skinned woman is lead to the top of the market. She is tall, taller than the man selling her but not quite his height, and she is of the perfect shape for desire. His eyes survey hers, and sees that she is slightly confused and a little exposed before the crowd, but seemed intelligent to him. The little man on the stage tries to sell her to the crowd, then offers the price of one hundred. A few people start bidding back and forth, and then one backs out around 1,000 pieces. Clarus then raises his hand and speaks loudly.*

Four thousand.

*He then looks around and waits to see if any contest him.*

[dantieduurden]

Darek walked into the center of slave market with a sullen face. He was not happy to be here but he had run out of choices. He needed a companion and none would stay with him due to his condition. So finally after much deliberation he had come to the slave market, but unlike the others here looking for a new play thing Darek was here for a friend and close companion.

And that is who the half vampire half werepanther came to the slave market. The smell of the poor was all around him, and because of this he had his face completely covered, only his eyes shone through the veil he wore around his face. As he looked upon the poor community of the humans he felt pity for them and wished a better life for them, but that was not why he was here. So without further waiting he looked up onto the stage. But while all the others bid on the woman on stage he looked into her eyes, searching them for any tint of darkness, when he was sure there was none he called out his bid. " 4,500 coins." Darek said not to the person on stage though but to the woman, mentally he reached out then to her and said, My name is Darek, and I will do all in my power to get you free." He hoped she wouldn't throw up mental barriers so that she would not hear him, but he would not know until she answered.

While Darek waited he looked for the man who had bid 4,00 coins and stopped cold. All inside him told him to kill the man, for he was very clearly a shade. " That describes the smell of death." Darek growled as he was filled with a new determination to save the woman on the stage above. " How can these humans not know, he smells of vile magic that should be left alone, hell it oozes off of him." Darek said to himself, then he thought about the situation. He was surrounded by criminals and all were human, why would a shade cause any trouble to them. " Figures." Darek said as his panther like eyes glared at the shade with an animal like fury. Quickly though he got over it and turned back to the bidding, the caller was now saying going once.

[Elloria]

“Four thousand five hundred silver pieces, folks. The bid has jumped to four thousand five hundred silver pieces. For the sake of easy transference, we’ll continue the bidding in gold now. So the current bid is four hundred and fifty gold pieces. Going once.”

“Five hundred!”

Samar was deeply confused by all the shouting. It was quite frustrating that none of these pale ones spoke the Mother Wolf's tongue. Most of the time, she couldn't understand anything they said - and she was sure they were speaking, because the pale ones babbled back and forth in that incomprehensible tongue. Like they were right now. Except the pale ones in the place of uncountable wooden tents were not quite this loud. She ducked her head and tried to place her hands on her ears, but the cold-metal-rings-that-bind held her hands too closely together. She began to wish that she had followed Hinewai and Shiar into battle. Then she would not be here enduring this.

But perhaps this, like the attack on her tribe, was simply a test from the Mother Wolf. Yes, that must surely be it. The Mother Wolf was testing her, as was sometimes Her Way. So long as she remained faithful to the Mother Wolf and Her Teachings, surely the Mother Wolf would provide. She had been spared from the abuse of those-that-bound-with-cold-metal-rings when so many of the women had not. She would trust the Mother Wolf, as she always had. She lowered her hands and straightened up. She stood tall before these pale ones, not attempting to cover herself in modesty any longer. She was a proud member of the Gia Tribe, once-beloved by the Mother Wolf. She would act like it.

“Seven hundred gold pieces for this beautiful woman. Do I hear seven hundred and fifty?”

[Kite]

*Clarus follows the bidding around between all of the people now that it has switched to gold, and he shakes his head. He also notices that one in particular is focusing in on him, and notices a mental probe extend from him to the girl. The girl didn't seem to react, though, and she stood up even taller now. He smiles at this and raises his hand once more over the sea of small people surrounding him, once again to bid on the woman. The seller acknowledges him once again, this time for a bid of 750 gold pieces, and he waits for the strange little man with the oddest of minds to take up the next bid on the woman, as Clarus knows that he will, and keeps his eye on the man wondering what his purpose is, staring at him like that, and he moves slightly close to the man, so that he is closer to him, and in front of him, looking back.*

[dantieduurden]

Darek smiled at the proceedings as the man said they would be switching to gold coins. " This will go much smoother then I..." And that was when Darek once again was out bid. And again by the shade. " 900 gold coins." Darek said as he saw the shade make his way towards him, if it came to a fight the shade would not be able to utter a word before Darek stabbed the abomination through the heart, but he would not initiate the violence. " What do you want shade?" Darek asked in a low tone so that none of the humans could hear his speech, he would not start any form of fight, after all many humans would find themselves being cheated if a shade with all the money they could accumulate was bidding on probably one of the fineness deals of the day.

While Darek spoke he put up mental barriers all around his mind, getting ready for his only weakness to be gone if a fight were to break out between the two long lived creatures. Though he did not move to shake the shades hand he did show him the respect he was given for surviving this long in a human world.

[Elloria]

Samar looked over the crowd, wondering what these pale ones were doing here. And why they were looking at her. Perhaps...they were bartering for something? She remembered when the many tribes would come together sometimes and barter with each other for little trinkets. It was a rare time of peace between them all. She'd always wondered about it because they had basically the same things all the other tribes had. The designs were different, though. Pretty, too.

But what in the name of the Mother Wolf could these pale ones be bartering for? She looked around the entire square. There were covered openings all around that must have led to many other places. She wasn't sure which one she'd come out of. That probably wasn't very important, though. She continued to search for what they might be bartering for, but there was nothing.

Nothing but her. That was an odd thought to Samar. Why would they be bartering for her? Or over her? Or whatever. True, she was the only child of the Gia mkail. But she doubted these pale ones knew about that. She did not feel the Mother Wolf in them. Well...in most of them. Two seemed to have been touched by Her paws. They had been drawn together, as well, and were currently standing side by side. Perhaps the Mother Wolf had sent them to free her? She thought perhaps she had heard something earlier. A voice saying it would free her. But it wasn't in the Mother Wolf's tongue so she had dismissed it as misinterpreting whatever the pale ones were babbling about.

Well, she supposed none of it really mattered. Whatever the Mother Wolf decided would be her fate, she had no right to fight it. She let out a deep sigh and stared straight at the two pale ones standing close to each other. They weren't too far from where she stood, so she was certain they were male. One was dressed in what appeared to her to be very extravagant and dream-like clothes, much more so than the rest. The other was in a dark cloak that hid much of his features. They really seemed different from the other pale ones

“Nine hundred gold pieces, folks. I’ve got a bid for nine hundred gold, do I hear a thousand?”

[Kite]

*The thing in front of him spoke as Clarus moved, and Clarus saw sharp, long teeth flash inside of his mouth as he raised the bid to 900 gold pieces. He then smirks as the thing readies himself, Clarus staring at him and gently casting his mind against the barriers that have now been thrown up, and smiles before opening his arms wide and speaking.*

Nothing at all, sir. Just needed to look at something...

*He turns his head momentarily.*

3,000 gold pieces!

*The man on the podium blinks at him before going on with the bidding, and Clarus turns back to him, his smirk blatant now.*

Grandma, what gigantic teeth you have...

*He points towards the man who had bid against him and steps back about a step, looking at the guards.*

Guards! Vampire in the market! Get him!

*The crowd around them jumps back, yelling, and the guards run forward, drawing their weapons and looking stern but a little bit flighty, and Clarus just smiles and watches waiting for the scuffle to end how it will, although he would put his money on the vampire escaping, and collect his prize.*

--- Kinda bad, sorry. ---

[dantieduurden]

Darek glared at the shade as he jacked the price up to three thousand. Darek had in no way been prepared for that sort of money and knew it, that is when he heard the shades comment towards him. " All the better to rip you limb from limb abomination." And just as Darek was about to scream out shade the man screamed out vampire. As the shade was distracted Darek let his hand finish its movement and stabbed five times at the shades heart. Not checking to see if he had scored any hits Darek unfurl his wings as the guards began to circle him. " I am not your enemy, that man is a shade." Darek tried saying but the guards would hear none of it so he took off into the sky and flew to where the slave woman was. " Don't move." Darek said as he cut the chains binding her arms together apart. Then he held his hand out towards her, " Come with me if you want a better life." He said out loud to her for he had no time for magic.

[ryan]

Samuel had been wandering around Terim for a while now. He had just arrived in the city yesterday, and he had spent the whole time exploring the city. He still had not been able to see all of it. He was looking for a place to work, he needed something to do now that he had abandoned his family. His dad was still in good health, his mother now pregnant with another, they did not need Samuel. So he left. It was as simple as that. He packed up his belongings, he had been planning it ever since he find out about the pregnancy. He could not sit around taking care of a kid. He needed to live his life, and he knew his father would not let him leave.

He had been able to scavenge a decent amount of money now. At least enough to keep him fed. Terim was were he thought he could try and earn a little bit more money now. He wanted to replenish his sack of silver pieces. Deer hide and meat only got him so much. But he looked the part of a well-trained hunter. He wore a wolf pelt over his back, and various parts of his clothes were made from the pelts of different animals. His longbow stayed strung across his back. He had his fathers sword around his belt now, and a few daggers hidden in his boots. He was not the most skilled with a blade, but he could hold his own.

As he continued to walk about the large city he noticed a crowd, there he heard numbers being shouted out. A large crowd of people surrounded a podium, and he watched as a woman stood on top of it, shackled up. She was a slave. She reminded him much of the girl he had run into before he left Aroughs. Her dark skin was the single most comparative trait. As he heard the biddings he quickly stuck his hand into his pouch. "Hah. No where near close enough," a few spectators looked at him in disgust. Most of them extremely wealthy citizens. He shot them a quick look and they turned back to the commotion.

Samuel continued to watch as the bids continued to grow. They were getting extremely high, just for one girl. He shook his head, the thoughts going through his head of what they would do with her. Both of them seemed to be male voices. Samuel spat in disgust. All of a sudden he saw many guards drawing blades running toward one of the bidders. The crowd was shrieking 'Vampire'. Samuel watched in awe as the creature took flight and flew next to the girl, cutting her loose. He stood where he was, his hand quickly going to his sword. He knew he was not involved in this, but he could at least be prepared for anything to happen. This was a dangerous creature.

[Elloria]

((OOC: "Italics" are her native language.))

“Vamm...paire?” Samar let the strange word quietly roll off her tongue as if she were sampling some strange delicacy. What was a vamm-paire? Clearly it wasn't a good thing, if the pale ones' reaction to the word was anything to go by. But why were some pale ones swarming the cloaked one? Was he the vamm-paire? But he had the Mother Wolf's touch, did he not? How could he be this vamm-paire thing?

In the next moment, her large eyes became wider still. This pale one had wings like the leather-armed-fliers of the caves-in-the-massive-sharp-hills. Like the demons from the legends, followers of the Mother’s Cursed Son. And it was flying straight towards her. She stepped back, nearly losing her balance in an effort to put distance between herself and this pale-leather-armed-flier. Were she made of weaker stuff, she surely would have screamed her fear to the heavens of the Mother Wolf. As it was, she began murmuring a prayer for protection. “Mother Wolf, look kindly upon your daughter and please show her your motherly love in this her hour of need.”

As she whispered, the pale-leather-armed-flier shattered her bonds. Her jaw nearly dropped as it spoke to her in the pale one's tongue and held a hand out to her. She backed away again, teetering now on the edge of the sale block. “Begone from me, spawn of the Son! It is not Her touch, but Her curse that is upon you! Leave me vamm-paire and return to He Whom She Despises, for I will not forsake the love of the Mother Wolf![/b][/i][/color]” Her voice was strong and without fear, though her heart quaked in her breast. First the death of her tribe, then capture by the pale ones, now this demon of the Son. If she escaped this, she would surely need to show her undying gratitude to the Mother Wolf for protecting her.

[Kite]

*Clarus moves back as the vampire starts to move and strike at him, and he slips to the right when he unleashes his blows at great speed, his reflexes as a Shade saving him from harm as the strikes miss to the side of him every time by mere centimeters and cuts his left sleeve twice. He then winks at the man and slips into the crowd off towards the slave podium and the girl atop it. He hears the unfurling of Darek's wings and looks back, seeing him take of towards the podium and roaring erupts inside him. He rushes forward, using his speed and strength to push through the crowd quickly and get to the podium, seeing him remove the bonds that bind her and yelling at her that he will give her a better life. Off to the side, he sees a man in hunting gear draw a sword and move towards the podium as well, but he pays it no mind as he vaults up onto the stage and moves up to the woman, speaking in the ancient language to her while he gathers his strength for spellcasting.*

Eka weohnata haina ono néiat.

*He then turns and releases the power he has gathered within him and molds it with the ancient language, speaking boldly and with power.*

Eitha, Lethrblaka! Edoc'sil!

*As he speaks, a barrier of all things surrounds Clarus and Samar, giving them protection from sound and wind and any harm around them. It is calm and peaceful around them and he turns to Samar and winks at her, and then turns and waits for the Vampire to leave.*

--- Translations:

Eitha, Lethrblaka! Edoc'sil! - Leave bat! Unconquerable!
Eka weohnata haina ono néiat. - I will harm you not.

The words directing the magic are in bold, specifically Edoc'sil. ---

[dantieduurden]

A big toothy grin erupted on Dareks face as he took of into the sky looking for the door where all the slaves were being kept. The shade may have one the battle, but he would not win the war. While Darek hovered above the podium doing as the shades spell had made him. There three feet behind the shade and the woman Darek saw it, a wooden door with with a wooden beam holding it closed. I the ancient language he said out loud for all to here, " Have fun with the shade." And with that he dive bombed at the door, his wings wrapping around him as he did.

As Darek came only a few feet from the door a warm light surrounded him and with a flash he was now the majestic panther with its pure white coat. With a mighty roar he landed, crashing through the door and splintering the wood. Into all the slaves minds he said I am here to set you free, hold out your chains and I shall cut you free." Darek then, still in his pure white panther form began walking down the long hall filled with slaves and using his mighty claws cut the shackles binding them apart.

For the whole tunnel he did this, even though he knew he was being persuade. " I rather set these ones free then let them have the same fate as the girl." Darek said to himself, reminding him why he had refused for so many years to go to the slave market. As he saw the glimmer of light that signified the outside world he let a mighty roar emit from his maw, trying to bring morale to those who were with him inside the slave complex. As Darek roared he began to break out into a dead run, his muscles working underneath his pelt as he came close to the door he leaped at it and put all of his feline weight upon it. With a loud snap the door splintered into a encampment of the slavers. " Great." Darek said as he thought about his next course of action and began counting up how many slavers where in his way, and how many more importantly had weapons.

[ryan]

Samuel continued to keep his eyes upon the vampire. It's wings were spread, and now he was on top of the podium speaking to the slave. She held such beauty, Samuel could not believe it. He stood his ground as the events began to unfold infront of him. He was not trained enough to take on this beast, but he could defend himself at all costs atleast. He did not want to leave. Something about her was drawing him in. Probably just a typical teen crush, he was still very young. Samuel watched as other man took to the stage as well. He was facing the vampire.

In an instant he saw the vampire shoot down towards the cells where the other slaves were being held captive. He watched as a flash of light almost blinded him, and before him there no long was a vampire. But a panther. Obviously this was magic Samuel had never even heard of before. The man on the podium was screaming in some sort of different language as well, one he had never heard of.

Samuels sword was gripped tight in his hand as he continued to watch the panther attempt to rescue the slaves. Guards were still running around in the chaos but no one seemed to know what they were doing. Samuel broke his gaze and made his way to the podium. Samuel watches as the two on the stage seem to disappear completely. They were surrounded by various things. Samuel could no longer get onto the stage. He stood there, watching, sword still in hand.

[Elloria]

((Again, "Italics" = native tongue))

Samar shivered as she dropped to a squat, covering her ears. Though silence had descended all around her, she felt as though something was screaming loudly in her ears. The other pale one had ascended the cold stone steps to stand near her. She hadn't understood what he had spoken to her, but she somehow knew she would come to no harm with him. It reminded her of a battle she'd survived a few years ago. They had been battling a small group of Kull and were being soundly beaten. It was as one of the experienced warriors fell that she'd heard a small voice whispering to her. She hadn't known exactly what it said, but she'd somehow known that if she didn't play dead...well, she'd be dead. To this day, she was certain it had been the Mother Wolf speaking to her in Her tongue.

She tilted her head to eye this pale one warily, unsure of how to react. His form was paler than all the other pale ones, made all the more obvious by his vivid red-like-blood-hair. He may as well have been a skeleton made mobile by the dark power of the Cursed Son, so thin and sickly did he look. Yet there was a dark beauty to him. She closed her eyes and shook her head vigorously. She was beginning to doubt her earlier assessment of both him and the other pale vamm-paire-demon-of-the-Cursed-Son. But he couldn't harm her. Some part of her was sure of that beyond all doubt. And he had banished the vamm-paire-demon-of-the-Cursed-Son. So, with little other options open to her, Samar straightened up and looked up into the pale one’s eyes. This was a somewhat new experience for her because in the tribes of the Hadarac, nearly everyone was either her height or shorter. “Do you come in the name of the Mother Wolf or are you sided with the Cursed Son?”

As she questioned the tall pale one, she knew nothing of what was going on outside the barrier. She did not see the vampire transform into a panther, nor see it shatter through the door that locked her tribe and so many others in the holding area. She couldn't hear the shrieks of terror and delight that emanated from the opening as her tribe and all the rest were released by the werepanther. She didn't see the Maeal and Wiog tribes banding together behind the panther while the Gia, Hashek, and Saei cowered against the walls and cursed the feline. She didn't hear the prayers to both the Cursed Son and the Mother Wolf.

She missed it all as she held the pale one's gaze. “What do you want with me?”

[Kite]

*The woman straightens up and stares him straight in the eye and asks him something very seriously in the language of her people although he does not understand what is said either time. She seems like shes actually fairly focused and a little serious. He isn't sure exactly what to say, either. This was going to be difficult for the beginning, but even now he was fairly sure it was going to be worth the work. He tilts his head just a little bit, then speaks again in the ancient language.*

Fricai onr eka eddyr. Eka lysta mor'ranr wiol ono un eka.

*His breathing is a little heavy now, his stores in the right ring finger ring are now depleted and he is now draining himself, and will not be able to hold the barrier for much longer, and he hopes that the words he speaks will answer what she asks, at least a little.*

--- Translations:

I am a friend. I desire peace for you and I. ---

[dantieduurden]

The slavers where just in the middle of planning there next raid when they heard a mighty roar come from inside the slave tunnel. " What...what is that." One of the smaller ones asked there leader. " We are about to find out ready yourself." The leader said as he took up a sword, and all those around him did the same.

As Darek came into the light he saw half the men armed, and the rest were either to young, or were women. Well lets make them drop there weapons. Darek said as he once again shifted forms into his elf form once again. " Throw down your weapons and move aside or I shall have no other choice but to kill you." Darek said as he let his wings extend to there full length and his yellow cat eyes, and his panther fangs show upon them.

" DEMON!!!" Some of the men shouted as they began to back away, but then the leader looked at them all with a snear and said " What are you doing, there is only one of him and twenty of us. Get him." the leader said as he charged Darek his sword raised.

"I gave you a choice." Darek said as he put his head down, gracefully, using all his muscles he grabbed the man by the neck as he charged and ripped out its jugular with his mouth, drinking the blood as it came out. Once finished he tossed the body into the wall behind him. " Run free," Darek said to the slaves. " Don't stay and fight, go back to your family's and home. I shall protect you." Darek said in the ancient language hoping some of what he said got through to them.

[ryan]

Samuel contiued to watch as the town seemed to just fall apart in this section. Civilians were running around as if they had their heads cut off. Guards were still trying to gain order, but even they were not sure what to do. Who would? Samuel stood motionless for a while. He watched as the whole slave deal here went to hell. The area around the podium was almost empty by now, Samuel continued to stand his ground. A few guards were running around, and now drawing swords trying to locate the two characters that had been involved in thise whole escapade.

Samuel quickly tucked his sword back in it's scabbard as a guard ran up to him. "Sir, we advise you to leave this area as soon as you can. It is not safe. We won't be responsible for what happens if you continue to linger in this zone."

"I believe I can hold my own, thanks," He muttered to the guard. He quickly shot him a look, in most circumstances the guard would, or could attack, but it was not the time to be fighting a random pedestrian. He had to much work to do.

"Very well," the guard turned and strode off.

Samuel continued to stand by the barrier that surrounded the podium. He wanted in, badly. He looked up, he was not sure how he could get in at all. There were various objects in his way, this had to have been some sort of magic. The element that Samuel had never ventured into. He was almost certain he lacked the traits anyway. Samuel withdrew his sword once more and started to hack into the various objects that surrounded the podium, not even sure if it was doing any damage.

[Elloria]

Samar shuffled from side to side a bit as she debated whether or not to approach the strange pale one. She knew nothing of the language he was speaking to her. In fact, it was more confusing than the tongue of the other pale ones. Yet she knew - somehow, just knew - that he wasn't lying to her. About whatever it was he was saying. Something about peace? She wasn't sure how she knew that, but she did. She hated not being able to understand! Why couldn't they speak Common like normal people?

She let out a huffy sigh and looked back at the pale one. She didn't have much choice, the more she thought about it. She had no clue how long this pale one could keep this barrier up - and she was certain he had something to do with it. She didn't know what was going on beyond said barrier or if the vamm-paire-demon-of-the-Cursed-Son was still out there. She had no way of protecting herself right now. She was completely helpless.

And she hated that the most. With another sigh, she moved close to the pale one until there was barely a few hairs’ breadth between them. Looking up into his eyes again, she said, “I will trust you.” She reached a hand up and gently touched his cheek. His flesh was warm, almost feverishly so and at total odds with his pale appearance. She briefly wondered if long-term illness had made him as he was. She traced the pattern of the Mother Wolf on his cheek. “Mother Wolf, I pray that I am not making the wrong decision,” she murmured, eyes now riveted on the pattern she traced.

[Kite]

*The woman before Clarus sighs a couple of times, and Clarus is a little unsure about what to do about it. He is a little… bleary now from the extreme energy required to keep this barrier up, especially with a pulsing on it, the pulses taking up much more energy than just sustaining and Clarus was sure that that was someone trying to beat their way onto the platform that Clarus and Samar occupy. His eyes flick to the source of the barrier and then back to Samar speaks and reaches up to touch him. He allows her and feels her slightly cool hands trace a pattern on his cheek that he doesn’t recognize and her eyes seem riveted on his cheek, murmuring something in her own language that he does not catch. Communicating with her will be difficult at first. I can always make her understand through the ancient language, but I can’t understand her… he thinks, but his thoughts are quickly interrupted by another bang against the barrier and his eyes flash in anger as they turn to the barrier and the source of annoyance, and then speaks in the ancient language to end the barrier.*

Letta

*His sense are then assaulted with the stimuli that they had been missing inside the barrier and he shakes his head side to side. The surrounding situation did not bother him right now, the source of the pulses did. He then turns fully to the man who was bashing up against the barrier, a man who seems to be a man of the road and wilderness or a ranger, and sighs before addressing the man in a tired, annoyed voice.*

What is your emergency?

*He looks about him, taking in the scene around him and the chaos of freed slaves and slavers fighting the vampire who seemed to have set the slaves free, and sighs once more in sheer surrender. A long day was coming, he could just feel it. He looks back at Samar and watches her to see what she does now that she can take the situation in, more interested in her reactions than the ranger with access to his obviously precious stage.*