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Post by Artigas on May 6, 2016 9:25:42 GMT
As he felt her begin to kiss him back, his heartbeat grew ever faster as he realised that she reciprocated his feelings. The last traces of doubt evaporated from his min as she wrapped her arms around his neck and he felt her press her body closer to him. He hadn't felt this way about another human being throughout his whole life and the feelings that he had for her almost scared him. The burning urge to protect her was overwhelming despite the fact that she was a capable warrior and he didn't doubt for a second that she could protect herself from anyone that dared to challenge her. All too soon Mari pulled away from him and he smiled as he saw her raise a hand to her lips, a smile upon her face. Her face was once again flushed with colour and Artigas wondered if he'd ever get bored of seeing her smile, of hearing her laugh and noticing the blush that coloured her cheeks in moments like this, he didn't think so.
"I have waited five years for that…” she whispered to him and he let out a sigh of contentment, he didn't even care that they'd just had their first kiss in a dingy cell, all that mattered to him was that they were finally together after five long years of waiting. "As have I" he muttered a short reply as she heard her laughter and a chuckle escaped him. Her laugh was infectious, once he'd heard it he couldn't help but join in, feeling her hand slip into his, his smile broadened. Five years without even hearing news of her and now here she was and everything had just happened to fast, it was amazing when he thought of how he'd imagined searching Trishana territory for weeks trying to find her. He barely felt the pain from his injuries now and it was all down to her, she took away his pain without even trying, he couldn't put into words how he felt about her and he didn't think he needed to, she knew how he felt about her or at least he hoped that she knew.
Allowing her to lead him out of his cell, his brow furrowed in confusion "where are we going?" he asked her as he followed her, he was curious to see more of her land, to see the place that she called her home but he was also cautious, he didn't want to cause trouble for her with her people. She was their leader and they might not take kindly to her welcoming an outsider into their ranks. He would not allow their differences to separate them, however much people disapproved of their relationship he was determined that he would not be forced to leave her side again, the last time had hurt enough and he wasn't going to put her through that again, he didn't want to go through that again.
"Do you think now that I'm no longer a prisoner, you could persuade your warriors to return my weapons?" he asked her with a smirk, he didn't mind the hostile welcome he'd received upon entering their territory, he didn't mind that he'd been attacked or even that he'd been chained up. However he didn't appreciate his weapons being taken from him, he understood that it was necessary to ensure the safety of the Trishana villagers and he didn't blame the warriors treating him as they had but he would like the weapons back, they were a part of his clan and they belonged with him even if they were just tools to ensure his own survival. "What about your people? Your family... Will they approve of us?" he whispered the question to her, he didn't care about the judgement of others, he only cared about making her life more difficult than it needed to be and he was sure that their relationship would complicate things.
Mariahya |
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Post by Artigas on May 5, 2016 22:39:11 GMT
Their future couldn't be more uncertain, but there was one thing that Artigas was sure of and that was the love that he felt for this girl. He loved her so much that it hurt, it hurt to think that one day he might lose her. One day they might have to say goodbye forever and he didn't think that he could live with that, she was the only person who seemed to understand him, the only girl he knew that had ever cared for him and the only one he had ever cared for. He didn't care for the pain in his lip or his wrists, the only thing that could possibly hurt him in this moment was if she was taken away from him and he would not allow that to happen, nothing and nobody would ever come between them because he would not allow it to.
He felt her hands travelling along his arms and he smiled at how happy she seemed to be at finally being in his arms once again, he could feel her head leaning into his hand as he placed it on her cheek. I missed you more. The words made him chuckle at the very idea "I don't think that is possible" he breathed as he studied her face, taking in every last detail so that he would never forget her, he didn't need a memory when he never intended to leave her side again. He needed her to know that he would never leave, but it would take time for her to believe in his words, he knew that when the odds were stacked against them.
As she leaned her head against his chest, he was content to just stand there and hold her, he didn't need her to say anything and he felt no desire to speak and to break the peaceful silence that had settled over them. He felt his heart swell as she looked up at him and spoke about how she had thought about him each day since he had left and he couldn't help but smile when he realised that he had not been the only one whose thoughts were occupied by the other "You are all I seemed to think about each day" he muttered as he held her, feeling her hand on his chest. He still couldn't get over the fact that she was really there in his arms, but she was and he would never let her go, not again, not this time.
He felt her lips on his cheek like all those years ago and was surprised when her face remained close to him, her lips were only inches away from his and as he watched her, he knew what he wanted to happen and he could see it in her eyes, she wanted it too. Maybe she needed it to reassure her that he really wasn't going anywhere and that he was real and intended to stay with her for the rest of their lives. Whatever the reason he felt himself close the distance between them and suddenly his lips brushed against hers in a somewhat hesitant kiss, pulling the girl closer to him as he did so. He'd never kissed anyone before, he figured that he would have but the only girl he had on his mind was Mari and she was miles away from him.
Mariahya |
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Post by Artigas on May 5, 2016 21:52:39 GMT
He noticed her smile as it appeared on her face and it made him weak to see it again after so long, he'd waited so long to see her, to hold her and now she was stood in front of him and he could barely contain himself now, he'd never been this overwhelmed with emotion before. He held his breath as she walked closer to him and he didn't exhale until her hand touched his arm and he let out a shaky breath. He could feel the warm of her hand against his skin and it was then that he knew that she was really there with him in the cell and he wasn't imagining her. She said that he didn't have to apologise, but he felt like he did, for keeping her waiting for so long, for wasting so much time. They'd lost five years of their lives that they could've spent together if only they'd been born into the same clan.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and his whole body relaxed at the contact, he needed her to be close to him, he had waited so long to be with her and the possibility that now everything could be different was almost too good to believe in. He knew that now that she was with him and he had touched her again for the first time in five years that he could never let her go, that was not a possibility and he was not prepared to abandon her again. He would not be able to take that heartache. She unlocked his chains, freeing his hands and he let out a gasp as he felt the chains fall away from his wrists and she took his wrists in her hands. Seeing the sadness on her face, he let out a sigh "don't be... They were just protecting their people" he muttered as he watched her, unable to look away from this woman that he'd fallen for so many years ago. "None of that matters... Not now, all that matters is that I am here with you, things could be different now" he told her, his voice soft and gentle, reassuring her that he did not care about the physical wounds that he had received after entering Trishana territory.
His eyes locked with hers as she placed a hand on his chest and he smiled "I am real... You can feel my heart beating within my chest, you can hear my voice and touch my skin and I am never going to leave you again" he breathed as he brought a hand up to touch her face, stroking her face with a thumb as he gazed into her eyes. Her eyes were just as he remembered them, the same colour as they'd always been, he knew that it would be the little things that he'd miss most about her and this was no exception. He pulled her to him in much the same way that he had five years previously, holding her close to him and he just allowed his arms to wrap around her in an almost protective fashion. He was still larger than she was and he held her small form easily within his arms "I missed you..." he spoke the words that he had wanted to speak for a while, knowing them to be true. The years that he'd spent without her had been the longest of his life and he had no intention of ever going a day without her again.
Mariahya
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Post by Artigas on May 5, 2016 21:12:41 GMT
Artigas struggled against the chains that bound him to the wall, knowing that the warriors could return at any moment, his chains dug into his wrists making his stay in the cell even more uncomfortable than it needed to be. He had faith in Mariahya, it had been a while since they'd seen each other, it felt like forever but she would not allow him to die. He was sure of that much at least. A lot had changed through the years, but not the way that he felt about her, that would never change and he hoped that her feelings for him remained unchanged as well.
He hadn't been waiting long, he hadn't expected anyone to come for him so soon after his captors had left but sooner than expected he heard hurried footsteps on the stairs that led down to his cell. It was only one set of footsteps, they felt too light to be that of one of the men that had brought him there and already he could feel the spark of hope ignite within his chest. He heard the door of the cell swing open and slowly he turned to see who had entered the cell. Already his heart was beating rapidly in his chest as he spotted the young woman that stood in the doorway. She'd changed so much, she was older like him, taller and she looked more like a woman than the girl that he'd met in the forest five years ago but it was definitely her.
The moment he lay eyes upon her, he strained against his chains not caring that his chains were digging into his wrists, all he wanted was to be next to her, to touch her and make sure that she was real and that this was not a dream. "I told you I would" he breathed as he heard her voice, it was slightly different to how he remembered it but he was sure that his own voice had changed with age as well, it had become deeper and he now sounded like the man that he was. His eyes roamed over her body, taking in every little detail of her as if fearing that the time that he had with her was limited and he had to look at her for as long as he possibly could. "You've changed..." he told her, a smile appearing on his face as he spoke the words that played upon his mind. Despite his current situation and the fact that he had not imagined their next meeting place to be in a cell with him as a prisoner, it was hard to focus on the negatives when after all those years he had finally found her. "I'm sorry it took so long, but with everything that has happened... It was hard to get away" he wished he'd have come sooner, so that he could be with her for longer. He hoped that she had not begun to lose hope and that she wasn't angry with him for taking his time in finding her, she didn't appear to be mad but looks could be deceiving.
Mariahya
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Post by Artigas on May 5, 2016 20:17:09 GMT
Artigas had definitely grown since he had last set foot in Trishana territory, he was now twenty years old and was a great deal taller than he used to be. He was no longer the boy that had fallen in love with the Trishana girl, now he was a man and a proven warrior of his clan. The kill marks on his shoulder had more than doubled since he'd last seen Mariahya and he didn't regret one, each person he'd killed to receive such a mark had needed to die to ensure the safety of his people. The man was clad in the armour of a warrior and he'd swapped the spear that he used to wield for a sword that rested upon his hip.
Much had changed since he'd last visited Mariahya's land, not just with him. Five long years had passed and the clans were now at war. Everyone had believed that the peace would last and it should have, it would have if it hadn't been for the strange people that had fallen from the sky. Skaikru had shattered their peace, they'd slaughtered their people, massacred his village, everything had been ruined by these people. The war had kept him busy, his priority was to his people and protecting them from the many enemies they now had. If they were not at war Artigas would've tried to look for Mari sooner, he'd missed her. Not a day had gone by without the girl entering his mind, he figured that she would no longer be a girl anymore because like him she would've grown and matured and would now be a young woman, a leader of her people.
He could already see that familiar glow that told him that he was entering Trishana territory and cautiously he reached into his armour and took out the scarf that she had once given him with promises that it would keep him safe from her warriors and would one day help him to find her. He didn't reach for his weapon despite his obvious desire to do so, he did not want to appear threatening if he was discovered and if he had a sword in his hand it would look as though he'd ventured there to do someone harm. He emerged into the familiar glowing forest and smiled as he recognised its beauty, it had barely changed since the last time he'd been there. The only difference was that this time he did not see a playful young girl playing among the branches of the glowing trees.
Suddenly a figure dropped down in front of him, having come from one of the trees and before the warrior could react a fist connected with his mouth and sent him staggering backwards. He could taste the blood in his mouth from where his lip had split from the impact and he was vaguely aware of two more Trishana warriors having joined him and his assailant on the ground, quickly he held up a hand to show that he meant them no harm. Clearly Mari had failed in her aim for peace, the war had been too much to try for peace. He didn't dare speak as he saw his assailants eyes flicker to the scarf that he held in his hand. "Where did you get that?" the warrior questioned him and he took a threatening step towards Artigas "Who are you?"
"I am Artigas kom Trikru and I wish to be taken to your leader" he spoke confidently, determined not to show pain as his tongue flicked out to touch the cut on his lip, it was a minor injury and one that he should've expected having entered the territory of a hostile clan. "Our leader is not accepting visitors" one of the Trishana warriors sneered "especially not those from Trikru". Artigas let out a small cry of pain as one of his captors aimed a kick at the back of his leg, his knees buckled and he collapsed to the ground. He heard one of the warriors unsheathe their sword and he couldn't help but wince at the sound, so much for his safety being ensured by the scarf, he couldn't help but feel disappointed that he'd fallen at the last leg of his journey and he hoped that Mari would not think that he'd abandoned her after failing to reach her.
"Wait... The scarf" his assailant suddenly stopped the Trishana warrior that was about to end his life. Artigas tried to listen into their conversation as the warriors started to talk in hushed tones, but he couldn't make out what they were saying. Just when he was starting to lose patience, a voice spoke up "We'll take him with us, if she does not know him and the scarf is stolen, we'll kill him" the voice was that of his assailant and suddenly he was hoisted roughly to his feet and a bag was placed over his head. Yet he did not struggle, why bother when they were going to take him exactly where he wanted to go, the scarf was wrenched from his grip and he reluctantly allowed them to take it, knowing that he would be reunited with Mariahya soon.
It felt like they had been walking forever, he knew that they'd walked through the forest for a long time and then into a building and down a flight of stairs before the bag was tugged from his head. Instead of smiling though, Artigas looked around the dimly lit room in confusion and he realised it was a cell of some kind. His captors led him over to a wall and wasted no time in securing him with chains, not caring about how tightly they bound his wrists as he winced as he felt his bounds rubbing and pinching at the skin around his wrists. He struggled at first as his captors turned his back on him and left the cell, locking the door behind them despite the fact that he was tied up and couldn't escape even if he wanted to.
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Post by Artigas on May 5, 2016 18:36:17 GMT
As she placed his hand on her chest his smile broadened as he felt her heart keeping pace with his and he suddenly wasn't as embarrassed as he was before. "They match" he breathed, a small smirk played on his lips as his gaze locked with hers and he found that he didn't want to look away. They were so different, from two different worlds it seemed and yet he'd managed to fall for the one girl he couldn't have, the one girl that he had to leave behind. The one girl that his parents would never approve of, he was sure that all his parents wanted was for him to be happy, but he doubted that they'd be willing to approve of a relationship between himself and a girl from a rival clan.
Nodding sadly in acceptance the boy looked at the ground "I will return one day..." he vowed, knowing that he had every intention of keeping his promise. As she reached up on her tip-toes once again to whisper in his ear and to kiss his cheek again, the boy bit his lip. This goodbye was turning out to be much harder than he had originally anticipated and he felt that familiar ache in his chest. This time when she kissed him he didn't freeze as he had previously, he was now accustomed to the affection that she showed him and he felt a lump forming in his throat as she bid him farewell.
Releasing his hold on her, he retrieved his spear from the ground and gripped it firmly in his hand, this was not a battle he could fight with his weapons, the pain in his heart would not cease until he finally reunited with Mariahya. The wound would not heal, not yet, not until they met again. "As long as you believe that you will see me again, there is nothing to stop it from coming true" he whispered to her as he took a step towards her. Leaning forwards he kissed her cheek softly "I'll see you soon" the words were a promise, goodbyes were final, he wouldn't say goodbye, not to her. He turned to leave and with one final glance over his shoulder he held his breath and strode away, allowing the shadows to consume him knowing that if he risked another glance, he would never find the strength to leave.
Mariahya
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Post by Artigas on May 5, 2016 17:08:20 GMT
He smiled when she said that she would be staying in the village forever "at least now you'll have more people to talk to, you could make friends" he muttered, she wouldn't be lonely if she had people her own age to talk to. He just hoped that she wouldn't forget about him once he had left, because he knew that she would have to move on with her own life. "I hope that everything works out for you and that your people come to accept your ways" he told her with a dip of his head. He wondered about when he would next see her, what would have changed between them, how would she have changed and how would he have changed. No doubt by the time they next met, they would have both seen and done things that would change them.
Her laugh made the smile upon his face broaden, he loved her laugh, it sounded stupid in his head when he thought of it but he did. It was almost musical and he wondered if he would miss it when he was gone, if he'd miss the little things more than he'd miss the obvious details. He could feel his heart thumping in his chest as he heard her gasp as he drew her to him and for a second he thought that the contact was unwelcome, but she made no attempt to pull away and so he was just content to hug her like that, as long as she was comfortable with it.
A nervous chuckle escaped him as she commented on his heartbeat, in truth he had hoped that she wouldn't notice how fast his heart was racing, but of course she'd noticed. He didn't know how to explain it as his cheeks flushed with colour, he felt her hand on his chest and his arms tightened around her. He exhaled softly as he thought of what to say, how to explain why his heart was racing the way that it was "I don't know why... My heart just doesn't want to behave itself when you're around" he told her, his words sounded foolish in his own ears and he was internally kicking himself for saying such a thing.
Eventually he held her at arms length, the sad smile returning to his face "I have to go..." he muttered, looking up at the moon that was barely visible through the trees. At this rate he would never leave "I don't want to go..." he mumbled quietly, it wasn't fair that he'd finally met a girl that he could connect with and she was in a rival clan and they couldn't even be together. He knew that leaving her would hurt, more than any injury that he could sustain in battle, but wounds healed and the thought of one day seeing her again, gave him the strength that he needed to leave.
Mariahya
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Post by Artigas on May 5, 2016 12:13:01 GMT
"I just can't help but think of how hard it must've been for you" Artigas muttered as she spoke of how it was her destiny to go with her brother to train instead of growing up within a village like himself. "To only have your brother for company" he knew that the bond between siblings was like no other and that it was unbreakable for the most part, but he still couldn't see how that was a comfortable life. There must've been some things that Mariahya couldn't have spoken to her brother about, times when she needed a friend but didn't have one to talk to. "How long will you be staying in your village now?" he asked her, recalling that she'd spoken of returning to their mother now that her father had been taken by the mountain men, at least whilst she was in the village she would have other people to talk to. People to keep her company, that maybe could take part in her games and make her days enjoyable whilst he was with his own family. The fact that her whole life had been planned out for her even angered the boy, he'd had a choice. He could've trained to be a healer like his father, a scout, a hunter... But he'd chosen the life of a warrior, she had never had that choice.
He frowned when she revealed that a man had used her before, it saddened him to think that she'd been hurt by a man who just wanted to get close to her because of her position among her people. He'd never before been in love, he'd never even thought about another person romantically before. All of the girls in his village didn't look at him in that way and he hadn't thought about any of them like that either. He'd never had the opportunity to be hurt like she had and he had no desire to ever hurt like that either "I promise that you'll never be hurt like that again" he whispered to her, forcing a reassuring smile. He didn't know what the future had in store for them, but if he had any say in it then no man would ever use her like that, she was too kind to experience such heartache. "It isn't your fault, you did not deserve to be hurt like that and I meant it when I said that nobody will ever hurt you like that again, but he didn't lie about everything, you truly are extremely beautiful" he knew that there was a chance that they would never see each other again, he meant to keep his promise, he truly did, but the life of a warrior was full of risk and Trikru were used to war , it wouldn't surprise him if he lhe hadn't known her long, but he felt like they'd known each other a life time. A genuine smile appeared on his face when she said that he was different and that she believed his words, he hoped that he would never lose her trust.
He saw her cheeks flush with colour when he kissed her hand and he couldn't help but feel pleased that he had been the one to cause her to blush, he hated the strange feelings that he had begun to feel for this girl when very soon he would be forced to leave her and his smile disappeared as he watched her get to her feet. He knew that their time together was drawing to an end and he wished that he could just freeze time in it's place so that they could remain in this moment forever. He got to his feet after her and followed her reluctantly back towards where they had left their things, he felt her grip slip from his as she stepped out of the water and made her way over to her clothes. Stepping out of the water, he started pulling on his clothes and by the time he had fixed his armour to look like it had before they had gone swimming, he looked up to see her standing in front of him. He recognised the scarf that she held in her hand and felt her hand slip into his once again as she placed the scarf in his other hand. She wanted him to keep it? He was pleased that she wanted to protect him from her warriors if they found him on their territory and he was glad that he would have something to remember her by, even if he was sure that he would have no trouble remembering every detail of this girl that he'd met today.
He looked down at their hands as she gave his a soft squeeze and a sad smile appeared on his face as he slipped the scarf inside his armour, so that he could conceal it from his people when he returned to Tondc, his parents would question him if he suddenly gained a scarf that held Trishana colours. The fact that he knew she was going to one day be a leader of her people meant nothing to him other than the fact that it would make it harder for him to find her on the day that he chose to return to Trishana. Of course he knew that he could lose his life in battle before he had the chance to see her again. She told him that it was a good luck charm, for when he went into battle and the smile returned to his face "May your presence keep me safe" he breathed as she spoke of how having it with him meant that she would always be with him too.
As he felt her softly kiss him upon the cheek, the boy froze. He had not expected such an affectionate farewell from her, that was another thing that differed about them. His people, Trikru, they didn't openly display their feelings often. Hearty laughter and the occasional hug passed between families and friends, but nothing more than that. Mari seemed to be more willing to show her affection for those she cared about than anyone back in Tondc and for a while Artigas didn't know how to respond to it. It definitely wasn't unwelcome, he cared for this girl more than he cared for all of the girls in his own village and he'd only known her for a few hours. Turning to face her, her pulled her into a hug, holding her close to him, it was the only way he knew how to express his affection for her when public displays of affection were so rare within his own village. He felt that maybe, a hug was not enough for them to part with, but as he held her he knew that he'd have trouble letting go. She was this amazing, beautiful and funny girl and he couldn't believe that he'd gone so long without knowing her. "I will find you" he whispered as he held her, he was determined that this would not be the last time they saw each other, it couldn't be.
Mariahya
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Post by Artigas on May 4, 2016 22:03:16 GMT
Artigas smiled as she spoke of how she loved being a warrior herself, he was glad that she didn't think him a horrible person for enjoying the fights that came with being a warrior, that she even enjoyed it herself. He even admired her for not wanting to shoot at other people whereas some of his friends back at the village would probably laugh at her for being unwilling to kill another warrior. He thought that she was brave, for wanting to change the way her people thought, to change their beliefs and to help them to see that living in peace was better than living a life of war and violence.
"I'm sorry that you were lonely" he muttered, offering her another smile. He felt sorry for the girl and wished that he could stay with her, to keep her company if nothing more. It was clear that she cared for her brother, but to just have him to talk to for all that time, it was not ideal for a girl of her age. She needed the company of other children, to talk to and to play with them like she had just shown him. "Everyone needs people to talk to, if I had to go every day with just my parent to talk to, I think I would go mad... I love them but I need the company of people my own age, so do you" he told her to reassure her that she was not alone in feeling like this and so that she didn't feel guilty for wanting people other than her brother to talk to when he had done so much for her throughout her life.
When she gestured between them, he couldn't help but frown. He understood that her brother was cautious, it was natural for him to be protective of his sister. Artigas obviously did not know what it felt like to have a younger sibling to protect, but he knew the loyalty that siblings had for each other "I would never use you..." he told her with a sigh "I can't believe anyone would" he could take a guess at what the wrong reasons were, maybe they would use her for her rank, to gain power within her clan. However he had no interest in her rank, he'd felt drawn to Mari before she'd revealed her true identity to him and the feelings that he may or may not have for her had nothing to do with her position within her people.
As he saw the smile light up her face, the boy couldn't help but smile himself "I wish I could stay with you too" he sighed, he wished that they had been born into the same clan so that they didn't have to say goodbye at all. "I swear that I will return one day" he whispered to her, his eyes locking with hers as he took his hand from her arm and gripped her hand in his "I swear that I'll come back and find you" he felt an ache in his chest as he thought of leaving her, but he knew that he had to return to Tondc, his parents would worry about him and he couldn't allow them to worry about him for long, they were too good to him for him to torture them like that. Bringing her hand to his lips, he kissed her hand softly. Not thinking about whether or not his actions would make her feel uncomfortable, he knew how he felt about her and if this small gesture allowed her o know how he felt before he left her to return to his own territory then it was worth it.
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Post by Artigas on May 4, 2016 20:12:57 GMT
"I've never thought of it that way before" Artigas muttered in response to her words, the people he had killed in the past were just nameless, faceless figures. He didn't know their backstories, their families, what sort of life they led. He never thought about the families that he had been tearing these people away from. "I guess everyone has a family, everyone has people that they love and when you kill somebody, you cause somebody somewhere heartache" it was easier to kill when you didn't think about things like this, if you didn't dwell on the people that they were leaving behind then it wasn't hard to kill somebody, life was fragile.
"Being a warrior is everything that I've ever wanted, it's all that I can remember" He told her with a frown "I've always wanted to fight and to protect my people, it's all that I've ever known and I enjoy it, the excitement of battle... It's what I live for" letting out a sigh, he watched as she placed her hand on his and he made no attempt to move away from her "Should I feel guilty about liking it?" he asked her, unable to hide the timid grin that had appeared on his face. The killing was something else, he had realised that it was wrong, but the fighting and the thrill he got when he held a sword in his hand, that was something he enjoyed. He liked that she didn't have a negative view of him, that she thought that he was a good warrior, a brave and strong warrior.
As she took her hand off of his, he raised his gaze to look her in the eyes once again "I'm glad that I made you smile, but you don't need to thank me" he told her honestly, his grin broadening. He arched an eyebrow in surprise as she spoke of only having her brother for company "Did you ever get lonely?" he questioned her, the thought of her having nobody but her brother to talk to upset him a little, he got bored sometimes and he had a whole village of children his own age to talk to.
Frowning as she spoke about him leaving, he touched her arm lightly with a hand "maybe this doesn't have to be goodbye..." he ventured, he didn't want this to be goodbye. "Trishana life sounds so different from Trikru and I cannot stay here with you, but maybe we will see each other again" making the suggestion he was aware of how stupid it sounded. No matter what his feelings for this girl were, he had a responsibility to his people and to his parents, he was their only child and he knew how much he meant to them, abandoning his village and his people was not an option for him.
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Post by Artigas on May 4, 2016 17:36:13 GMT
She had a point when she pointed out that she wouldn't have entered the water if something was going to attack her and Artigas immediately felt bad for doubting her. She was too intelligent to go swimming in a river that was home to water snakes. Artigas smirked at her joke "I don't think I would trust water like this if you hadn't gone in first" he admitted, the fact that the rocks glowed made the water itself look like it was glowing. It was so weird to this Trikru boy, the most he'd seen glow were the strange butterflies that he had seen earlier and these rocks glowed even brighter than they did.
He wasn't sure how comfortable he felt with them both standing around in their underwear and he tried to stop his eyes from wandering, back in Trikru the warriors rarely removed their armour until they were safely back in their homes. The risks were too great to relax like this and remove their armour just for a late night swim, once the sun had gone down most of the villagers stayed within the village where it was well lit and safe from the dangers that lurked in the shadows. He watched as she swam away from him but she quickly returned to him and he felt his breath catch in his throat as he felt her fingers on his shoulder, softly tracing the marks on his shoulders and for a second he was worried about what she might say until he heard her voice in his ears. Me too. His gaze locked with hers as she took hold of his wrist once again and began to lead him towards the waterfall.
He braced himself as she led him underneath the falls, but the water didn't knock him off his feet as he had expected it to and his brow furrowed in confusion as he looked around the hidden cave that the waterfall concealed. He looked at the eight rock formations with curiosity and his eyes widened as he suddenly realised what they were "You remember each one that you've killed?" he asked her, his voice barely more than a whisper. He remembered the eight people he had killed in battle, each and every one of them. They did not haunt him, he didn't view their deaths as murder because killing was what he had been trained to do, it seemed that violence was all he knew. In his clan if somebody betrayed their people, they were tied to a tree and cut one thousand times for their crimes, this torture was even seen as a form of entertainment to some. Seeing justice being had was seen as something to be happy about and Artigas knew that he was guilty of feeling the same glee at seeing traitors pay for their betrayals once."Some people deserve to die..." he told her, confused by her words. She couldn't believe that they didn't deserve to die, could she? "If they try to hurt your people then they have to die, if they murder innocent people then they deserve to die" his tone became firmer as he spoke these words. He wanted peace, but some people could not be allowed to continue on with their lives after causing somebody so much pain. Her words made sense to him, but blood must have blood, that was the way, that was what he'd grown up knowing and what he had been taught. He believed that some of the people he had killed deserved death, others he wasn't so sure about. He'd once killed a wastelander that had come from the deadzone, their only crime was the facial deformation that they'd been born with, but his mentor had ordered him to kill that man. He'd said that he was a disgrace, a 'stain' on their bloodline and such an abomination should have died years ago. At the time Artigas had not questioned his mentors orders, he'd only seen it as protecting his people, but now he failed to see what he had been protecting them from.
Artigas felt guilty about once finding excitement in his training when all he was being trained to do was to kill "I used to be proud of those I killed, proud because I was protecting my people" he admitted, lowering his gaze "but you've made me question everything I once believe in, everything I have ever known now comes into question" he forced a smile as he spoke, he wasn't sure how he was going to act when he returned home to Tondc after meeting this girl, if he could change how he acted just because of a girl from a rival clan lived differently believing in peace. "These marks on my skin, it is considered an honour to gain them... But I see now that there is no honour in killing" the searing pain that came from receiving a new kill mark was not enough to erase the damage that was done by killing a person. However the priority was to protect his people, he knew that it wasn't murder, not really if he was saving lives by killing somebody who meant others harm but he couldn't help but feel bad after meeting Mari and after she'd shown him that there was more to life than just killing, that one day there could be peace.
As she patted the spot beside her, he hopped up to sit upon the rock next to her "You didn't ruin the fun" he hurried to assure her "You're fun to be around, I can't remember the last time I've had this much fun" he chuckled slightly as he looked down at his lap. It was true what he said, he'd never done anything like this just because it was fun and he certainly couldn't remember the last time when he'd left his weapon out of reach, he'd left his knife and spear at the rivers edge so that he could swim with Mariahya and he found that it was strangely relaxing, not having a weapon constantly strapped to him.
Mariahya
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Post by Artigas on May 4, 2016 13:09:07 GMT
"My people must know that war is not the answer to everything" he muttered as he thought about the kill marks that he had on his shoulder, the burns symbolised each person he had killed and although he had felt proud at the time, seeing his killing as a necessary thing to protect his people. Now that he'd met this girl, he felt a sickening feeling in his stomach, eight kill marks decorated his shoulder, each was considered an honour by his people. A sign to show that he was a brave warrior that was willing to protect his people. Each person whom he had killed had deserved death, they'd been a threat to his village but that fact did nothing to settle his stomach, if he had not met Mari then he doubted that he'd have realised that the killing was wrong. He'd been raised believing that killing was normal, it was the way of their people.
He couldn't help but smile at her words "Maybe games aren't just for children" he admitted, clearing his throat as he watched Mari, his hand tightening around his spear slightly as he glanced around at the looming shadows. The glow from the trees meant that it was not as dark here as it was in Trikru territory at this time of night, the only light that could be found in his own territory was from the torches that were lit in the villages. Still, he couldn't help but be cautious of the darkness and of the dangers that it could be hiding from them. He was unsure of what dangers Trishana territory held, but this place was so different to what he was used to and he wouldn't be surprised if they had other things to worry about, different predators other than Pauna and panthers. As she mentioned her brother, Artigas took a step closer to her "He must trust you a lot to leave you alone in the forest after dark" he muttered, he knew that their camp was nearby but he also knew that the world was a dangerous place and he was surprised that the girls brother had left her to wander around without coming to look for her yet, even if she was more than capable of looking after herself.
She mentioned her surprise at her brother leaving her for so long without checking up on her and Artigas nodded in agreement, the fact that he knew that her brother was so close to where they were talking put him on edge. Mariahya had been peaceful and welcoming to him, but he could not expect the same kindness from her older brother, he didn't want to be discovered by the man. Perhaps I'll show you. Those words brought a small frown to the boys face "If we meet again" he told her, he doubted that they would see each other again. They were just from two different worlds, she was the product of peace and play whilst he came from a world of war and violence. He wanted to see her again, truly he did, but he just didn't see how that would be possible.
Artigas felt her small hand wrap around his wrist and glanced down as she started to drag him away from where they had been playing, deeper into her territory. Usually if somebody had grabbed him in such a manner he would've tugged his wrist free from their grip, but he allowed her to drag him after her. As they walked, Artigas remained silent as he listened to her talk, chuckling lightly at her words "Somehow, I don't think you have to worry about me talking to your brother" he joked, knowing that he had no intention of allowing anyone other than this girl to see him in Trishana territory. He felt honoured that she was taking him to see her 'favourite place' in the whole of Trishana territory. Artigas was aware that as they walked further and further into Trishana territory, the light seemed to increase and he could see more easily. Suddenly they emerged into a clearing and Artigas felt his mouth fall open as he stared out at the sight in front of him in awe, it was beautiful. The water itself seemed to glow, he'd never seen anything like it, there was not such a place in Trikru territory, he was certain of that.
Mari let go of his wrist and walked forward to the waters edge, as she pulled her dress up over her head, Artigas was quick to avert his gaze, unsure of what she was doing. However, he looked up to watch her again once she started talking again and his heart jumped as he noticed that she was in the water and he took a cautious step forward "What about snakes?" he questioned her, eyeing the water suspiciously. There were certain places where swimming was foolish as the water snakes that lived within the water were extremely territory and wouldn't hesitate to snatch you if you were in the water. Slowly he put his spear on the ground, stripping down to his underwear as he debated whether or not to trust the water, he trusted Mari and maybe that was enough. However, the boy was already cautious having taken off his armour and now that the marks on his shoulder were clearly visible, he was wary about what she would think of him. They'd just been speaking about peace and one day living in a world where bloodshed would not be necessary and the marks on his shoulder each represented a life that had been cut short by his sword. He eyed her hand nervously, many people had been taken by the snakes that swam in the water in Trikru and he was unsure if Trishana had such beasts that lurked in waters such as these. After his initial hesitation, he reached out and took her hand, stepping into the water he was surprised to find that her words were true and the water was surprisingly warm.
Mariahya |
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Post by Artigas on May 3, 2016 12:46:06 GMT
He listened intently as she explained the reason behind the strange glow that the butterflies had, it amazed him that radiation from the explosions that the clan elders spoke of had caused all of this. Something so beautiful could not be the product of something that had cost millions of people their lives, something so destructive could not create something so beautiful, so peaceful. "Well you're an amazing person..." he muttered hesitantly, he wasn't just talking about the fact that she was an amazing warrior but also about her other qualities. "Our people are not the peaceful sort, we live and we die fighting... But you are different, you believe that there is a better way, a way that we can avoid all of this bloodshed" he explained his words to her, hoping that he wouldn't start to sound overly familiar with the girl, he admired her reluctance to accept their bloody lifestyle. Many of their people had died in wars that could've been avoided and he hoped that one day she would achieve her goal of peace.
He chuckled at her words, lowering his gaze as he handed her back her scarf "In Trikru you have to be observant" he muttered by way of an explanation, he knew that she hadn't expected him to be good at this game, it was something unfamiliar to him, there was no reason for him to be particularly good at it. However, in Trikru territory where Panthers lurked, you had to have your wits about you. From a young age he'd learnt to read the signs, tell when an animal had passed through the area and how long ago, he'd been taught how to tell when an area was simply too quiet and to pick up the slightest rustle of leaves on the ground. He noticed that Mari's cheeks were slightly flushed with colour and he wondered if he was the cause of this but he quickly pushed that thought from his mind. This girl was a leader of her people, he was from a rival clan, they couldn't even be friends and he certainly couldn't develop feelings for her. If his parents discovered that he had left Trikru territory then he would be in a whole heap of trouble.
"You seem to care a lot for your brother" he voiced his observations, the way that she spoke of her brother, it was clear that she cared a lot for her sibling. From what he'd gathered, he'd been her guardian and protected her since she was a child, trained her to be the warrior that she was today. He didn't know whether or not he should be cautious knowing that this brother of hers was nearby, he was obviously a talented warrior if he had trained this girl. However, he couldn't find the strength to feel afraid, not when he heard her speak of her training, shooting a deer blindfolded was no simple feat, he knew of many warriors that were older than her that could not do that, it was remarkable that she could do this. "I think it was more than luck" he breathed, smiling as he watched her "You're a talented warrior... You're special" never before had he met someone like her, she was intriguing, she was different and he liked this kind of different. She had a beauty that went far deeper than her external appearance, her soul was something else entirely.
Her words suddenly made him aware of the time and of how dark it had become, walking back over to where he had left his spear, he picked up the weapon before nodding "I guess... A few more minutes couldn't hurt" he gave a shrug of his shoulders as he spoke, he was reluctant to leave, not just because of the beauty of this forest that he had discovered, but also because of this girl that had offered him so much kindness when she barely knew him. He wanted to be a part of her new world once she achieved this peace that she spoke of, he'd allow her to show him the place that she now spoke of because he was curious as to what could be more beautiful than what he'd already seen, but he also had a desire to spend more time with Mari before he was forced to journey back to Tondc and his parents who would no doubt punish him for worrying them with his absence.
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Post by Artigas on May 2, 2016 13:12:44 GMT
His head snapped instantly in her direction as he heard her laughter and the sound of her voice, she was speaking about the butterflies and he immediately felt embarrassed at his reluctance to touch the insects. "What makes them glow?" he asked her as he changed direction and slowly began to walk in the direction that he'd heard her voice. He was fairly certain that this was not a part of the game, he was not meant to receive help in finding her and he wasn't sure how he felt about her aiding him. He was confident that he could find her on his own without her help but he was grateful that she had taken pity on him and wasn't going to watch him wander aimlessly around the forest for hours on end.
The fact that the butterflies glowed was weird but also strangely beautiful, there were a few areas in Trikru territory where things glowed but nothing to this scale. He smiled as he heard her voice again, closer than before and he stumbled forward in his eagerness to find the girl, having gotten absorbed in the game. Suddenly he felt the tips of his fingers brush against skin and his smile broadened "found you" he muttered, bringing a hand up to tug at his blindfold lifting it up over his eyes and squinting as he tried to focus on her face. Mari had roped him into acting like a child, he couldn't remember the last time he'd acted like a child or relaxed this much, if he acted like this back in his own village he would be cooled foolish and many would laugh at him and wouldn't take him seriously. He was amazed that here Trishana seemed to embrace the games that they played and weren't afraid to act like children sometimes.
"You play games like this every day?" he questioned her curiously and wondered what a life like that would be like, where he could act like a child instead of the man that he was expected to be. Running around the with the children in his village and fighting for fun, that was okay for a brief period of time, but there came a time when you had to question these games. He remembered when he'd received a black eye from a boy two years older than himself when he was a child and he wasn't even upset by the violence, he'd been excited and proud of himself because he'd managed to catch the boy in the face with his own fist. Looking at the games Trishana children played, it made him wonder if these were the right games he should've been playing when he was a child or if there was a better way to teach children how to become warriors.Mariahya
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Post by Artigas on May 2, 2016 11:16:19 GMT
The words that were meant to reassure him did nothing, Artigas had seen his father work before, the blood would not have worried him so much but the amount that she had already lost in such a short space of time gave him reason to be concerned. "You do not get to say that you'll be fine" Artigas almost snapped at her as he led her out of the door, sticking closely to the wall so that they could avoid discovery. Already he could hear the voices of more Azgeda warriors and his grip tightened around the sword that he was carrying, when people said that they would be fine, they usually weren't in the end, that's just how it worked.
When she said that she wasn't going to give up, Artigas nodded pleased with her words, that meant that she was willing to fight and maybe the adrenaline from their escape would be enough to keep her on her feet until they were clear of the Azgeda camp. If they could just escape the camp then they'd be safe. "Okay, here's what we're gonna do... We stick to the shadows, we need absolute silence and if we're spotted we run, we do not try to fight our way out of this" he told her in a hushed whisper. If they charged out there, swords raised then they'd be cut down before they'd taken more than a couple of steps.
Klara
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