29 replies to this topic

[Liitha]

T'an watched the two legged from the hill above, they were coming from the other side, the one where she and her kin did not go unless told so. Tonigth she was alone though, well as alone as could be it was not far till the closest encampment of the beasts who were half two legged, but they werent her kin. She was merely scouting though, and this was what she been told, there was too little missions, and too much of this, there was no hunting on these walks.

It had been much of this the last couple seasons, but the two legged were busy, she minded not the ones not here properly or the ordinary two legged, nut some of them were not like the rest, and those she prefered not too deal with. She went down towards the camp, as she steped across a small stream her sences tingled, and she let out a growl before she could stop herself, then backed away and ran of in a half circle around the camp before circling back towards camp, then stoping, it was no use geting the beasts, not for this type of issue.

~~~~~

Cema jolted awake, she grabed the power and nudged her traveling mate in the site, then as she gained eyesigth signaled silence with hand language. She went over too the fire as if she just woke up and was puting on tea, her hairs was tingeling in the back of her neck, she waited too be joined by the fire. "Something broke the line, but only once, I sugest you go too take a leak and see if you can find what" she signaled the direction with her eyes "do a circle, and shield yourself, this is where it would been handy if you had brougth some hands, though it may just be a large animal".

ooc go ahead and find a rock if you want with a print or some such, T'an is a darkhound

[Kathleen]

Seheria wasn't sure how long she had dozed off for but she let out a groan when she was quite rudely awoken. It wasn't loud, and she would have complained more if it wasn't for her aching muscles reminding her she had spend the night on the ground. As she sat up and rubbed her eyes, still half asleep, she saw the unfamiliar woman wave a hand at her. Silence. The sign was the first thing she recognized, and it threw everything back to her. In an instant she was on high alert. Thank the Great Lord the one who found me taught me these bloody signs before she ran off. She didn't teach me much else, but they have gotten me far, and will hopefully take me a great deal further. Now was not the time for idle thoughts though. The woman she was with, Adelle, well, it wasn't her true name, but the only one Seheria had received, had seemed quite on edge and Seheria needed to find out why. She watched the other woman go calmly about her tasks to start the day and so she followed suit. She didn't waste time, but she didn't run straight over in her night dress either. Seheria may keep people waiting just to gain the upper hand, but to this woman she was Lian. Simple and subservient.

Adelle had tea started when Seheria did get to the fire but before she could take a cup the woman spoke, "Something broke the line, but only once, I suggest you go too take a leak and see if you can find what" Seheria just caught the shift in the woman's eye, but it was clear as day what she meant, "do a circle, and shield yourself, this is where it would been handy if you had brougth some hands, though it may just be a large animal".

The woman was obviously hinting at something, she wouldn't be this on guard at the chance there was a stray horse, would she? The first thought that sprung to her mind was a Trolloc, but Trollocs weren't known for their stealth and so Seheria tried to dismiss it, but if it wasn't a Trolloc, that would could it be?

She nodded at the woman called Adelle. If only she hadn't come out so much the weaker of the two, she would have told the woman to look for herself if she was so scared! But she had taken on the role of the sheep, she would let the shepard herd her. Plus this would give her a chance to show the woman she wasn't quiet as useless as she thought. As long as she found something. She wasn't a true tracker, she was a healer, usually the things she dealt with came to her or were easily enough found. But she had been out on her own before, and she wasn't stupid. If something came near them it would have left some trace.

Seheria smiled at the woman as sweetly, "I'll have a look around while you finish with breakfast. Though not too many things will come close to people and fire, we have both here. Since we're still alive, I assume whatever it was came and went and is long gone. Still, if it will put you at ease, I'll try to find out what it was."

She set off walking and looking for signs that something had been there. She hoped the woman didn't think she was trying to be sassy. She was playing dumb, that was her plan now. Play dumb to let the woman offer up the answers to questions Seherai didn't know she should be asking. There were the multitude of other reasons something would follow them and leave them alive. But perhaps there were reasons more than Seheria even imagined. Perhaps the woman wouldn't bite, but even so, if whatever had come too close was still lurking around, Seheria didn't want it know that she expected it. Still, she hope it truly was long gone.

Nothing.Seheria thought as she walked where Adelle had motioned. Could she have imagined it? But then why send me out.Seheria stopped. That woman! Was this her way of getting rid of me? Send me out in the morning on a wild goose chase and then pack up and leave? Her horse is ready to go. Seheria listened for a moment. She didn't hear the horse's hoofs, and she wasn't far enough away to miss them. Even as slowly and quietly as she could, Seheria would have heard the hooves on the ground in this silence. She carried on looking for the beast that had her out here. This is pointless. There a broken sticks all over, but they were in the woods. Nothing had come through here. But I can't go back with nothing. She sent me out after a large animal. If I can't find evidence of that how useless will she think I am?

Seheria pushed a branch out of her way and stepped past it. She stopped and stared in disbelief. She saw a large chunk of stone, with what looked to be a paw print stuck down into it. There was only one thing she could think of that could have done that, a darkhound. But how long ago had that happened? Was it what broke the line or had been there a while. Seheria studied it more closely and walked on a ways to see if she could find more prints and see where they lead. When she was convinced it had to be recent she made her way back to the camp.

With her guard up and being on higher alert, she scanned as far as she could see trying to find the beast, but she was more concerned with getting back to the camp. She couldn't go out after it. Was she even supposed to be against it? Darkhounds are minions of the Dark One. It had been instinct to think of them as the enemy. But she was a minion of the Great Lord of the Dark now herself. So did that mean that darkhounds were no longer a threat? Is that why it didn't hurt her companion and herself? Or had that simply been luck? There was far too much that she still didn't know about who she was now. How much of that could she truly let Adelle see?

When she made it back to the fire she poured herself a cup of tea. As she reached out for the cup she signaled Darkhound. "I didn't find much. A few things to say that something was alive and near us, but it looks like whatever it was is long gone." As her cup was filled and she turned back toward the other woman she darted her eyes in the direction she believed the creature had left, hoping the woman would catch it. Why she didn't just say it all she wasn't sure. Could the beast even understand her if it could hear her? Well, if she was trying to keep the woman thinking she didn't know a thing, she was off to a good start. It was supposed to be a just a cover, and Seheria wished it was only a cover. She hated not knowing what she felt she should know.

Edited by Kathleen, 13 November 2011 - 06:41 PM.

[Liitha]

Cema nodded "well if you found that you would found proof of other things if there were, so at least presumable nothing too close by, and the horses are calm, so it cant be trollocs nearby"

She setled down with a cup of tea, and broke some bread sharing it with the woman, darkhounds were serious hunters by those she run into and talked too which would know them more, she even seen some in the distance when in the fortress, if it was hunting them they would already been in a multitude of issues, so she relaxed.

"They generally hunt in packs, and I dont forsee there should be anything of imporance enough too send a team after this close too things if what rumors say is even remotely true" she dug inside her bag and found a small jar of honey, added some too her own tea and offered it too the other woman, they would need their energy, and for now was dependant on eachother as long as they stayed together, she had made clear where things stood, time too use some suggar, besides who knew the woman may have potential if instructed some.

"It does strongly indicate that there is a valid source behind rumors and not just fog someone mistook for smoke, and as such may be a sign we are about too cross over into shadow run territory, in which case I do hope you got a well trained horse, because if only a minority of some of the things I heard are true..." she let it hang a second "..well the last thing we need is a nervous horse too deal with"

She consulted her map, "there are a small village, more a collection of houses not too far off, I sugest we stop by there all consider, it may be worth the risk too gain some more info" She looked over at the sadlebags of the other woman, it really shouldnt be nesicary but could she run the risk, she sighed as she acknowledged she could.

"I presume you are familiar with the weave needed too conseal an object as another, make sure any.." she looked up from over her cup "item which can in any way affiliate you with your background is consealed with tied of weaves, there may be times where we are going it may be simpler too allow a look into ones bags then take a stand over principles, so make sure it wont be seemingly of value either"

Cema observed the woman out of the corner of her eye, sometimes she wondered if her life been different, if she had maintained her marriage longer, would she been able too instruct her own daugthers like this maybe, the regretfull events of her youth centuries ago was something she long since made peace with, but in some cases like this she couldnt help but remember what had turned her too the shadow in the first place.

[Kathleen]

Seheria took the bread from her new comrade and tried to eat as slowly and poised as she could. She had started noticing the hunger while she was off looking for the beast that had disturbed their camp in the night. She hid it well, but she wanted to just stuff the food into her mouth. She had spent a lot time out of the tower and on the road, but most of that time she held up at inns and the only time she stayed on the ground was when she absolutely had to. She didn't like living like a savage, but she could if she had to.

She picked at the food as the other woman spoke. Rumors? Seheria didn't say anything, perhaps the woman would explain. The woman held the honey out to her, and Seheria took it. She normally drank her tea without any, but she saw it for the gesture that it was. Even that was almost enough to put the honey off to the side, she couldn't be sweetened up and she certainly didn't want things sugar coated. Seheria was never one for sugar coating or sympathy. Lian was though, and it was only that thought that made her add the honey to her tea. It left an unpleasant taste in her mouth as it went down, but Seheria swallowed it just the same.

"If you think we can gain useful enough information in the village I have no problem in taking the risk. No one will find anything of interest in what I carry and my horse was trained by the best I could come by. It should be able to walk into almost anything and walk out with a rider in tact. If not, the trainers had better hope I don't make it out either." Seheria let out a gentle laugh. "While we make our way to the village, perhaps you could share the version of rumors you've heard?" She hoped she wasn't being too forward, but the worst the woman could say is no. Seheria finished her bread and took the last sip of her tea, just holding off from sneering as the sweetness stuck on her tongue.

[Liitha]

Cema was about too answer, figuring the more the woman knew the safer it was, well as much as she would allow too be known when the horses both sudenly snorted.
She frowned, "nothi.." she stoped as she felt the perimiter being breached, and stood up already having a weave forming in her hand as she turned too the direction it was breached and started scaning, she also put up a shield around the imidate area of the fire.

"Enough of this, get ready, what is rumored is the shadow is making its way more firmly into the mainland, and we have company again"

---
T'an had made a descision, it was too far off to the next circle and something about it all had bothered her, her instincts made her neckhair crawl the more she had considered the situation, so she headed back, she was fairly resistant and experienced enough too hold her own against a couple two legged if she just kept some of her distance.

She circled in on the camp from a different angle, closing up as a ghust of wind came from behind her changing the direction of the air for a moment on her, she could hear the fourlegged move, and set up the pace closing the gap of the camp, stoping just short of it, and moving in circling so the airmovement again was in her favor, what she saw when she crawled in on the camp told her she was rigth.

It was then a matter of what to do, she reconsidered the landscape and the best aproach of fleeing should it be nesicary, she knew this kind, the issue was whom they served, they were dangerous if not servants of her own master, but would have no reason too harm her if they were, unlike some of her kin she was among those in her pack which had had closer encounter enough times in the big mass in the landscape made by their kind in all likelyhood once, back in the bligth, but not all went there, all in all a lot she could do without but on the other hand if you knew how too behave they would leave you alone, her kin was valuable enough in their own way too be left alone as was as long as there was no conflicts.

She descided the landscape was in her favor, raised her head a little so she could see over the bushes and growled, waiting untill they looked her way, every muscle in her body ready too jump at the sligthest sign of any movement from their direction indicating the powers they had being at use.
------

Cema turned her head, and looked into the glowing orbs, in the bushes there was no way too see the contour of the whole beast, but it may be just as well, she only seen them from a distance before, and had always been unsure if she ever wanted too be up close too one. Her voice was cool but wraped in weaves too carry somewhat into the sorounding area without going too far as she spoke "Anyone else here?" no further breack of her ward indicated they either wasnt going too come forth or there was no one in the imidate area, she let the weave in her hands disolve.

"Well then, I sugest we continue our breakfast, I am not about too turn back needlessly, so lets just keep an eye on it and see what it descides too do, seeing as there is no one here we can actually effectively communicate with" She backed slowly down too the fire and sat down, keeping a hold of the power and readying a weave of water too hopefully sink into the ground if it should become nesicary too slow the thing down. Cema picked up her cup which was now empty yet whole, and refilled it never leting her eyes of the beast.

"As is it seems too be only this here, nothing else has breached the perimiter, so either if it have collected help they are staying outside it, or it is alone patrolling..."

She left it hanging in the air too see if her travel companion may have any comments

[Kathleen]

Adelle stopped mid sentance and whipped her head around, stopping and staring out into the distance. She grabbed hold of Saidar and Seherai didn't wait to ask why as she grabbed hold herself. The shield went up but Seheria didn't settle. That darkhound was back. What would the woman think of her now? She had just finished telling her that she thought the beast was gone! How could she have missed it? Still, it was here and there was no use focusing on where it had come from. She needed to focus on what to do about it.

As her companion returned to the meal and openly talking Seheria calmed just slightly. There was an air of danger, but that stubbornness that the Aes Sedai always had was there too. Was this one of those time when they really needn't worry and just go about their business, or was this one of those times when they bunker down and drink tea until the beast jumps on them just to prove that they can't be pushed out?

Adelle called out but there was no answer. She filled her cup and as if reading Seheria's mind she spoke, "Well then, I suggest we continue our breakfast, I am not about too turn back needlessly, so lets just keep an eye on it and see what it descides too do, seeing as there is no one here we can actually effectively communicate with. As is it seems too be only this here, nothing else has breached the perimiter, so either if it have collected help they are staying outside it, or it is alone patrolling..."

"I only saw the one set of tracks, but as I saw that, the beast was gone. Perhaps it had gone to notify others or perhaps it decided to come back on its own. I doubt we could out run them if they were after us. I don't know much about the way they work, but I would think if it wanted us dead we would already be dead. So, we'll finish up here and continue on to the town then. It shouldn't follow us there." She wasn't sure of that of course, but if it did follow them surely they would change their plan again.

[Liitha]

T'an observed as they sat down, they werent figthing, or screaming or running, not ordinary two legged even on the side she bellonged too in this world. These were higher ranking humans, and obviously one or both of them were of the kind who belonged too the place in the bligth. Well then, her instincts been rigth, and better make sure there was no trouble involved in it, here along the borders the other beasts sometimes got a bit antsy, those who werent fully four legged beings nor two legged, they werent always the smartest. She slowly got up and walked out of the bushes, laying down still a bit off from the people, and well clear of their fourlegged companions, which she knew did not like her kind.

............

Cema looked up "well seems that is setled then" there seemed too be a truce for now, the beast obviously wasnt hunting them, nor general food as it didnt make any attempt too get near the horses. It wasnt behaving like a wild animal either, nor really like a dog, who knew maybe this was one of the ones they kept around the fortress, and it got experience enough too recognise them for what they were.

She looked over at her travel companion, she seemed calm enough, but Cema wondered if the young woman must not feel somewhat unsetled, even with her experience keeping an outwards cool was ok, and she was fairly sure of her judgement, but that didnt mean she wouldnt prefered less company.

.....
T'an waited as they finished eating, packed up and got onto those four legged creatures they liked to travel on, but as they started heading towards the nearest gathering of two legged, where she knew there was a camp between with those beast she had no like for, she circled around stood in their way, then growled when they didnt instantly stop. She waited till they stoped, she had thougth about it, back too base, or rather their base for now, there was another of their kind she knew of, one of importance, she could handle this without it turning out too a mess. And while T'an normally wouldnt care and would be back in the bligth, this was the task they been set too, guard rather then hunt, help make sure things ran smootly, though of course there also now and again did get the option too hunt where the situation demanded, but far too little for her taste.

She moved a bit off, towards the rigth direction, looked back, moved some more steps, and looked back. Would they get it, two leggeds were sometimes easily offended like cubs, only this kind was far more dangerous then cubs, which made her rather vary.

[Kathleen]

Seheria's sences would not settle down. Knowing something was out there, hidden and watching her, put her so far on edge that it was all she could do not to react. The years of schooling herself through trials paid off and the only real worry was her ever increasing urges to let her eyes dart around in search of what she knew she wouldn't find. The simple fact that she knew she would see it even if she tried was enough to force her to not make a fool of herself by constantly searching. The temptation didn't stop, but her discipline stopped her. If it wanted to be noticed it would make itself known.

She finished the breakfast her traveling companion had so generously offered and tried to look casual as she rushed to pack up the small camp. As she started to disguise the fact that they had camped there she could help but wonder what the point was. They had been seen. Their location and campsite was known. But it wasn't known to everyone, so she carried on with trying to hide the evidence of the stay over.

When the horse was standing ready and other woman was ready to go Seheria took the reigns and waited for the other woman to start on her way and quickly fell in line behind her as they made their way to the little village.

Seheria Mori
Aes Sedai of the Black Ajah

[Liitha]

Cema changed the direction, she was not stupid, what little she had learned in the visitation she had was enough to confirm what she learned as an Aes Sedai. Furthermore they were not here to make war, and she was unsure how these beasts conected into the shadow, so the last thing she wanted was to draw more attention to them.
She mussed as she rode in the direction which was taking them slowly at an angle towards the mountains, not her planed entry point, but in the long run it didnt matter where she went, and there would be less traffic out here in the wilderness. Midday they rode past an old campsite, and she gaged inside at the smell of obvious kills, though was relieved to see hides indicating the victims had been animals. She was far to happy to be out of there to botter dismounting and studing the ground to determine what kinds of tracks were there, the smell of trollocs mixed with blood and scorched meat was one she was all to happy to leave behind.

As nigth time aproached she started looking for a suitable camp, they been riding constant and at times the horses was more then eager to set the pace up, something she suspected had to do with the periods the hound disapeared from sigth as she often felt her neckhairs rise during those times. They had made a choice, she was not going to back down from that, though she wondered about where to stock up food, she had seen little trails of villages, either they just was unlucky in not stumbeling upon a farm, or they were beeing lead away. She was sure she would have to stop when she saw ligths ahead and noticed a farm, as they came closer she saw more in the distance, and she started aproaching one farm when the hound apeared again, clearly indicating a direction towards something when she looked was taking the shape of a road.

She quickly refered with her travel companion, and a descision was made to see where this lead, as it was clear there wasnt a lack of options now for gaining food if need be. Soon enough she saw ligths ahead indicating a village or small town, "Seems we may be sleeping in beds tonigth, and finally find out whats going on". As they aproached the gate under reconstruction she noticed the beast was gone, and figured the problem migth be gone. She removed her hood in accordance to good borderland custom, and found what seemed to be a guard overseeing workers, asking about recomendations of an inn, and geting the description to a place called the black cat.

While it was dark, as always in a borderland town there were ligths to chase the shadows, and enough to see some destructions, but overall it seemed like normalday life was going on though with a bit of a hushed feel to it. She saw late workers walking home, and as they aproached the inn she saw what seemed to be workers heading in for a meal or a drink. She rode around the inn and they found a stableboy who could take the horses, walking back up to the inn she was slowly setteling more down internally which may be why it rocked her so when she missteped on a stairstep, looked down and saw the chip in it resembeling a partial paw. "Tomorow should be interesting indeed, and its time to figure out what is going on here"

ooc i figure they book a room, have some food or something and then someone is waiting on them in the morning when they come for breakfast and bring them towards the back of town laying against a hill, and a larger house there, where they can meet m'bela

[Kathleen]

Adelle took them off their planned path early in their journey and Seheria's mind screamed 'trap' for a while. She knew it was just a precaution, and as they slowly angled in to the town they were heading to her worry lessened. She had never been so fearful before she joined this ajah and she hated that she was overcome by it now. She had always held the power, or at least knew no one ever a true threat to her, since she was a child. No one ever truly hurt her past repair, but now that she was mixed up in this Ajah no one could be trusted, and if they did stab her in the back there was a good chance it would be literal now. Someday she would have the experience and knowledge to grow her backbone back, but having lost it was driving her mad. At least it worked to her cover.


It was a long ride into the village, with not much worth mention more than the uncleaned camp they passed at midday. The smell was enough to turn another's stomach, but she had dealt with many wounds over the years and her stomach was strong from it. Few smells and sights gave her any reaction anymore. The sent of trollocs made her hairs stand on end. Open bodies and rotting flesh didn't phase her, but the thought of having just missed a hoard of trollocs, knowing they must still be near by, was another thing. Perhaps they wouldn't attack a Black Sister, but they weren't known for their brains and she wasn't sure they could tell her from a sheep without a mydraal among them. Even with a mydraal she wasn't sure not being a sheep would make any difference. She and Adelle finished investigating quickly and were back on the trail.

The darkhound seemed to stay with them as they travelled, but the two pressed on past a few good places until the hound left them alone at the village. Seheria followed Adelle's lead removing her hood and fell inline behind the woman and into her full act of the tag along companion. She kept silent as Adelle found them logging for the night. She eyed the common people trudging blindly through the streets as their days wound down. Just another traveller in town. An Aes Sedai traveller, but that was common enough. No heads even turned her direction.

The sun was long down when they arrived at the inn, but they found a stable boy easily enough. She forced a 'thank you' for the boy before she left. Seheria didn't realize just how worn she was from the ride until she started walking to the inn. It all seemed to crashed into her at once, but it wasn't her first dance with exhaustion. She came back to full alert as her companion stumbled. She instinctively reached out a hand to catch the other woman and then followed her eyes down to see what she tripped over. If the stumble didn't fully push her exhaustion away the half pawprint settled deep into the stone below her feet surely did. She would have gasped if her companion hadn't spoken up just then.

"Tomorrow should be interesting indeed, and its time to figure out what is going on here" she said.

"It surely will be," Seheria replied, "that is, if we make it to tomorrow." She let out a short chuckle, but as she fell silent again she couldn't help but notice the small part of her that truly did worry that tomorrow may not come for her. Before she could let her mind take her too far into that thought she spoke again, "Well, if this is our last night, or if it is not, we may as well settle into it and enjoy what we can of it."

They entered the building and had to wait for someone to come to the desk, but when the woman arrived she appologized profusely. Seheria let her companion book them a room and followed behind as the woman bustled into their room. She seemed to move like if she got them to the room in record time it would make up somehow for the wait at the door, but it could have just as easily been that the sooner they were in the room they sooner she could be back to whatever had held her attention before they arrived.

Before the woman could leave them Seheria asked for two meals to brought to the room, if they were going to sleep in proper beds they ought to have a proper meal as well. This is how Aes Sedai should travel, with a roof above them and a mattress below them and food they didn't have to burn themselves over open flame. Surely that wasn't too much to desire. Seheria moved her bags nearer her bed and then dropped down onto it to wait for her food. There was some small talk between the women, but the ride seemed to take a toll on them both and tomorrow they would figure things out, tonight was for rest. The food came and discussion dropped off as they ate. It wasn't long after that before Seheria wrapped up in the blankets. The desire to enjoy the feel of blankets around her was all that kept her from drifting of the moment her head hit the pillow, but it wasn't long after that that she did drift off.

The morning came sooner than she would have liked, it is seemed it came sooner for her than it did for her companion. She smiled with satisfaction about being the first one up. Finally she wouldn't look the absent minded fool who was ill prepared. She was out of bed and dressed when her companion finally did get up.

"Good morning. I hope your sleep was comfortable." Seheria stumbled slightly with the attempt at sounding natural with the small talk, she really wasn't used to it. She rarely talked to others unless it was tell them what they ought to be doing or to inform them of something she thought they should know. The two packed the few things they had unpacked the night before and decided to head down to the common room for breakfast and a chance at overhearing something useful.

Seheria Mori
Aes Sedai of the Black Ajah