Predicament...

[silverdust]

((Listening to Panic at the Disco in the wee hours of the morning on my bus to school...and this scene popped into my head XD I just couldn't resist...))

www.geocities.com/flipside_yin/DE017M.jpg
www.geocities.com/flipside_yin/DE014M.jpg

The saloon doors swung open, spilling bright light and raucuous laughter upon the twilight streets. Two shadows stumbled from the blaze and into the fading dusk. The taller one was obviously in a far-gone state of inebriation, while the smaller one struggled to support him. Someone as young as he really shouldn't be allowed anywhere near a saloon, but it was in one of the seedier parts of town. Apparently pretty-boys walking into saloons wasn't an uncommon experience, even if it was obvious they were underaged. However as he had dragged out his companion, then the wolf-calls and lewd comments had started. It was times like this when his mother's deafness didn't seem quite a curse.

"Told you...shouldn't..." came the half-hearted mumble, one hazel eye opening and looking down at the boy, faded with alcohol where they were normally cold with a painful sharpness. "Not...Sundays..."

"It's Saturday, Obsydien," the boy corrected, blowing a hair out of his eye as he looked for the way he had come. His tone was an odd mix of annoyance, affection, and an undercurrent of fear. If mother found out, no, if father found out that he was not with Banteiro and instead was...here, well, he couldn't imagine it. Nor did he want to.

Left, definitely left, the sun was at his...back when he came, right? Well, it couldn't get much worse than this. He started along the path, managing the task rather well for one of such a slight build. That and his dark companion was at least trying to assist him by trying to walk, and doing a rather good job too except the ground wouldn't stop moving. Teluhdasca cast a glance up into the older man's face, only needing that much. He bit his lip. His mother had caused him more damage than the outlaw would care to admit. Vaguely, that rational part of his mind told him that it was not his responsibility to fix the shattered. He squashed it down and kept moving, wondering why the streets looked so much stranger in the dark...

[Vyn]

Kalieska sighed heavily, perched silently upon a wooden fence post as she took in the sounds of the saloon behind her. Not once tonight had she bothered to glance at the warm glow pouring form the doorway, trying to ignore the fact that her paternal-father was in there somewhere, indulging in one too many glasses of whiskey. Instead she continued to watch the rounded orb of the moon high above her. It's light filtered down around her, glistening beautifully off her golden gown.

Abruptly her attention was stolen from the stars and took up a more earthly interest. Two figures were moving away from the saloon, a boy and a drunkard. Such a pairing was rather uncommon, even for such a seedy place as the saloon they had just exited. A sympathetic smile spread over her feminine features as she allowed her blue eyes to trace them through the darkness.

How many times had she been the one to lead Lest back home after a night at the bar? How many times had she been the one to bare his awkward weight as he chuckled and babbled or, even worse, fell into the crushing memories of his past. Luckily for her, those times were rare and Teleold often came to her rescue. The handsome Chief was always quiet then and Lest would melt into his unspoken comfort in equal silence, allowing Teleold to lead him away into the woods.

With a brisk shake of her head, golden curls bouncing sweetly around her angelic features, Kalieska slipped off the fence post and made her way toward the two strangers. "Hey there!" Kalieska called out softly as she crossed the short distance to Teluhdasca, sliding up to his side though she gave him his space as well. "Looks like you could use some help." As she spoke, she allowed that sympathetic smile to cross her lips again, hoping he'd understand that she had been in his position before and was not attempting to tease him as some girls might.

_{Kalieska: 1}

[silverdust]

Obsydien's instincts were still as honed as ever, no matter his drunken state. Sometimes that was a blessing, at others, like now, a curse. If there could be one redeeming quality about the outlaw, he was protective to an extreme of those entrusted to him, and something in his haze had registered that Teluhdasce was not supposed to be here, because it was dangerous, and someone had just come out of the shadows. And his instincts were all but rational at a time like this.

Fioortunately, the young Chief knew this. He pushed hard against the man's body as he felt the hand move for the gun, almost slamming him into a wall. "Obsydien, no!"

Coarse was the command, as if barked to a dog, but long words wouldn't seep into the drunken haze. That and the sudden shove had caused a wave of nausea, and the older man soon found it necessary to empty his stomach contents into the gutter. Luckily he had enough sense to turn his head away from the two children as he retched, and let go of his leaning post. Teluhdasca sighed, in light disgust or pity, either one, and turned to the girl, understanding her smile for having worn it himself and offering her another, tired, in return.

"Hello," he replied, his voice sounding slightly old for one of such young face, its weary tone odd for its lightness. He tucked his longish, white-blond hair behind his ear and gave her a sympathetic shrug. "I'm sorry...for him. He doesn't get this drunk, not usually."

Not on Saturdays... echoed his mind. If this is what his...well, he supposed 'uncle' would be the right term for the outlaw, was like on Sundays, no wonder he had told him to leave him be. He shook his head lightly, clearing his thoughts. "I'm afraid this is my burden alone, you needn't bother yourself with it. Except tell me, is this the right way back to the Whispering Forest, my direction is off at night..."

Obsydien seemed to understand the young boy's asking for questions, steadying himself on the wall and putting on the resemblance of being only half as drunk as he really was. He was shimmering in form as night fell, being a Darkness type, the shadows looked as if they were swallowing him. He was nowhere near lucid enough to retain his solidity.

[Vyn]

Kalieska hadn't expected such a sharp remark to her approach, and it nervous jolt wretched through her for a moment but she relaxed her youthful frame rather quickly. She understood how some drunks could be, sometimes terse words were all they understood. For a moment she watched the older one, but she turned her head away from him to Teluhdasca as he began to wretch.

His voice was older than she expected, tired almost. It was the voice of one who'd been through a lot, though Kalieska couldn't honestly say she'd encountered anyone else in such a state...especially one as young as herself. "It's all right." That soft smile again, pleasant and understanding. "I believe I am too." She offered at the sound of Obsydien emptying his stomach into the gutter. Sorry indeed, poor guy.

Kalieska nodded to the shake of his head, if he wanted to manage the drunkard on his own, she wouldn't stop him. His question, however, brought a short lift to her brow. The Whispering Forest? Cionre and Humans tended to avoid that area as some said it was haunted, Kalieska personally loved it there...but she'd keep that to herself unless asked.

"Not too far off it seems." A soft giggle left her lips as the young Cionre brushed back her own golden locks. "If you'd like, I can take you there?" Kalieska knew the path from here to the Whispering Forest well enough to walk it blind, the darkness was no conflict for her.

A slight shimmer at the corner of her eye turned Kalieska's attention from Teluhdasca to Obsydien, her head tilting to the side in curiosity. That was not at all a human thing to do, and the type was easily recognizable to one who was fascinated by such things. Darkness, possibly a Cionre like herself...or perhaps a Hendunu. Her gaze returned to Teluhdasca with a smile, and he...was he one too?

_{Kalieska: 2}

[silverdust]

He followed the path of her eye, and blanched paler than he already was. That was bad, that was...really bad. He quickly turned back to his companion, and shook his shoulder, hard. "Obsydien!" he hissed.

"Stop that, the world's tilting enough already...shit..." the first almost semi-conscious statement. The voice was low but still struggling on the better edge of lucid.

Teluhdasca turned back to the girl, trying his best to cover the Darkness's disappearing act. His mind scrambled for an explanation, but another part of it, the...strange, cool rationality that sometimes occured in the strangest places and times. It had been born with Obsydien's arrival, and it had never gone away. She's not scared, it said, nor even shocked. Only curious. She could be one of us. Don't lose your cool.

He took a breath. He might as well take a shot at it, this night certainly couldn't get any worse. He nodded again in appreciation of her offer, trying to act as if Obsydien's fading were normal. "It would be great if you could guide me, I'm hopeless as of now. My name is Teluhdasca, I am a Chief, and that's Obsydien. He is my Rancher."

The occupations sounded regular enough. If she were one of them, she would know the meaning, and if not, she might just take them as strange travelers. More gently, he swung Obsydien's arm about his shoulders and lead him away from the wall. He flashed another small grin at the girl. "What is your name?"

[Vyn]

Kalieska grinned sheepishly as the blonde boy turned his attention upon his drunken companion and blanched. The expression was awkward, uncertain. After all, the last thing she had wanted was to upset them by having noticed the Darkness Cionre shimmering in and out of the shadows.

As he turned back to her, Kali tilted her head in a manner that caused her golden locks to shine in the moonlight. She had her paternal-father's personality, and her maternal-father's vanity and looks. A fiery child, and the jewel of her paternal-father's eyes.

"Teluhdasca, huh? Mind if I call you Dasca, or do you have a preferred nickname?" Her voice was as light and playful as ever, holding just a small hint of teasing in those lovely vocals. Nevertheless, she decided a display of manners might be proper (he was higher ranking after all) and slipped into a dainty curtsy, grinning back at Dasca. "My name is Kalieska, but you two can call me Kali if you'd like. I'm a Rancher as well." She nodded her head toward Obsydien, acknowledging the similarities in rank.

As she spoke she stepped a pace or two closer to Dasca, debating whether or not she should move to Obsydien's other side in an attempt to help support him. She quickly decided against that, considering how the young Chief had already protected her from him once. Instead she allowed herself to indulge in the childish actions she usually neglected for her silent contemplations, offering Dasca a playful bow before taking a step forward.

"Follow me, then, and we'll be there in no time!"

It was nice to be a child again. To not have to worry about her father's affairs, and the horrible possibility of what may come to be if her 'mother' ever found it.

_{Kalieska: 3}

[silverdust]

The young boy smiled in relief. The rationality seldom judged wrong, but he couldn't help his near constant tension. That odd anxiety had never really gone completely away after...that day. But he wouldn't think of that, not now. Now he had to get Obsydien home, or at least out of here. He couldn't count the number of times the Hendunu flirted with the danger of recognition in the loaded bars, sometimes with his wanted posters hung right in the window. The older man...scared him, or at least, made him scared for him.

He moved to follow the young Rancher's step, following the golden bounce of curls. He knew women well enough, but he was unaccustomed to girls of his own age. They seldom strayed near the place where his family made their home, so close to the Whispering Forest. But just because he was unfamiliar didn't mean he had to lack the courtesy. He was glad she decided against helping him with his burden, he wouldn't want her to soil her gown.

"Thank you, Kali," he spoke the name with only slight hesitation as he guided the older man to follow her path. "Dasca is fine, I know my name can be a mouthful."

He smiled lightly, shrugging his shoulder to adjust the small ache that was building. Surprisingly enough, Obsydien seemed to recognize this. Even if he were far from rationality, he shifted his weight, lightening the load on the young chief. It seemed they did this many times. He looked to their guide, glad that she was not a stranger to their tangle.

"I'm not one to speak on the matter, but you do not look like you belong here," he said softly, attempting conversation.

[Vyn]

Oddly enough for a Cionre child, Kalieska was more likely to be found on the edge of the Whispering Forest, or exploring the dark expanse of the forest itself, than she was to be found in town. The rowdy humans could be fun to toy with at times, but she greatly preferred the touch of the wild world. However, because of this, Kali had seen very few wanted posters and was very unlikely to recognize Obsydien as one of the wanted.

And, if she did, it would probably mean very little to her.

After all, her own maternal-father took great amusement in seducing humans out of bars and then robbing them. What difference would it make to her if Syd was a wanted criminal? It'd probably only fascinate her.

"You're welcome, Dasca."

Kali was delighted to have company that was so close to her age and variation, especially company that wasn't her own siblings. Arra and Lie were great, but it was nice to meet someone new.

His words brought a slight smile to her lips, though it held a mixture of emotion to it. She slowed her pace, walking at his side now instead of slightly ahead of him. "I suppose I'm here for the same reason you are." Kali tilted her gaze toward Obsydien and she smiled more fully. "I have a friend in that saloon, but he'll be drinking for a while longer. He only just arrived."

Despite having golden hair instead of the fiery red her father possessed, they were a striking resemblance to one another in human form. She had acquired his lean build, his charming elegance and the fiery aura that surrounded her was almost always present around him. It'd be quite easy for Dasca to recognize the family resemblance between Kali and the beautiful red head who had been happily drowning himself in whiskey and tequila.

"But you're quite right. I don't belong here." She was smiling still, unphased by the fact that she was here only to later escort her wasted father back to their home. "I prefer to the scenery of the Forest or the Prairies." Her gaze flickered to him for a moment and tilted her head lightly to the side. "Would I be wrong to assume you relate?"

_{Kalieska: 4}

[silverdust]

"Not at all," he grinned gently. Now that he knew they were relatively out of danger's way, his usual personality began to emerge. Soft-spoken, calm, with an odd touch of melancholy that even he himself couldn't place. "The forest is my home, I grew up playing in those woods. Though my brother is far more familiar with its secrets than I."

He winced slightly as Obsydien's stumble caught his hair, but the outlaw quickly corrected himself with a low string of curses. Obsydien was an odd drunk, seeming almost lucid in action while his mind wandered. At least he did not get in a rage, at least not most of the time. But he did have a tendency to...hurt people, like their first meeting. It was one of the few times Dasca valued their odd, and in a way intimate relation. He shifted his eyes to Kali as she moved to his side, returning her smile in kind with a touch of sympathy.

"I hope you're not going out of your way for us," he said, his tone near apologetic. He hadn't lingered long enough to notice the bar's denizens, but it wasn't as if the redhead could escape notice. His daughter probably, but he wouldn't delve into her affairs. He knew well enough that such subject matters should be taboo to them, but here they were thrust into its heart.

You of your own choice, echoed that annoying little voice and once again he suppressed it. He had come here because Obsydien had missed their lesson, and he never broke promises easily. At least not promises to him. But then, what about the first few times, and the nights after that?... Don't know, don't care at this point. Maybe because I'm destined to be a Chief and I have to learn to take care of my Caravan, that's all. That's all...

"You are Cionre or Hendunu, if you don't mind me asking?" he looked to the path, trying to pick out the forest trees through the dark. He wondered how she knew the way so easily. Until that point he had thought he and his brother and mother were the only ones who dared to live so close, the rumors often dispelling any Cionre interest.

[Vyn]

Dasca was not the only one touched by a faceless form of melancholy, though Kalieska's was hard to see and merely held her back from being a wild troublesome thing. Like her siblings, for example.

"I live here in town, with my mother and sisters." It'd be best to simply call him mother, elaborating was occasionally confusing, even with her own kind. "Father," She paused, glancing back toward the saloon for a moment. "he tends to wander between town and the forest. I suppose I grew a fondness of it because of him."

Her mind wandered back to the Nindian Chief who made his home within those woods. Teleold... He was the real reason she returned to the woods time and again. She did not love him. No, she would never trespass upon her father's feelings like that. But he had caught her curiosity since the night she first encountered her father with him.

The sympathy in his smile brought her back from her thoughts, allowing her to brush away the unpleasant images once again. His company was more help than he'd probably ever realize, especially tonight when she had nothing to do but watch the moon and think. She did far too much thinking lately.

"Not at all." She laughed softly. "I'd rather take a walk to the forest than sit on that fence post all night watching the moon set."

A part of Kalieska found it miserably pathetic that she would return to that post soon. Once Dasca had reached the forest's edge and had no more use of her, she'd be back to watching the silvery orb. She had too much energy to spend just waiting around for her father, and all it did was allow her to think on things she did not want to think on.

"Cionre." She affirmed his question pleasantly, tilting her gaze to peer up at Dasca and Obsydien. "And you two?"

Kalieska knew all about the Forest's rumors, but she did not bother to hunt for truths herself. Haunted or not, the Forest was peaceful and it gave her time to herself. Time she occasionally needed to escape when the burden of her thoughts became too much.

_{Kalieska: 5}

[silverdust]

He grinned again, a little truer than before. To meet another so like him, it was pleasant to say the least. He hadn't known that people could have so much in common, but then again it brought him a little pain. To know that other children held a burden like his. But he wouldn't dampen the situation with his thoughts. "I am Cionre as well, Obsydien is Hendunu."

He squinted his eyes agin at the path. He didn't know why his vision fell so in the dark; his eyes were too attached to the light, picking it out of the haze of the moon, the shine of the girl's hair, even the glow of his own pale skin. It did not pierce the dark at all, funny. But he wouldn't let Kali know of his struggles. Instead he followed the low gold shine of the moon on her hair.

"We live very near the Whispering Woods, nearly in it even. My brother and parents, that is. Banteiro and I have played in it since we were tiny children."

Or they had used to. It hadn't been the same after the day Obsydien had come, his brother had changed, his whole family really. It wasn't as if they never spoke or anything, it was just...less perfect he guessed. The veil had been removed, reality had seeped in, and there were no more golden afternoons. But that was life, he had to grow eventually. But it had been too fast. A month before he had been wandering with Banteiro, caught in their roving play, and now...now he had snuck out of home to lead a drunken outlaw from the saloons.

He gave a rueful half-smile, more to himself than anyone. At least Obsydien was quiet, if not half-asleep.

"Where are we exactly? My vision fails at night sometimes."

He didn't wish to part her company so soon, indeed he enjoyed interaction with someone else his age, other than his brother. He hoped his tone conveyed that. But the tension would never fully go away. There were so many things that could go wrong, actually. Hopefully his family would be sleeping, or at least didn't notice him gone.

[Vyn]

Kalieska was never hesitant to smile, and returned Dasca's grin with ease even though her thoughts continuously drifted to Lest back at the saloon. Perhaps, when they got to the Forest's edge, she would encounter Teleold and send him back to tend to her father. He was a more reserved creature now than when he was a cub, but he had not lost any of his prior skills. There was no doubt in Kali's young mind that Tele would be able to slip through the seedier part of town without notice.

"A Hendunu, really?" Her smile brightened pleasantly, she didn't know many of those. "I know a little Ash Hendunu, but her abilities are a bit...limited I suppose." Kala was determined, yes, but it didn't deny the fact that she was lacking in the typical Hendunu abilities.

Kalieska did not have the best skills for seeing in the dark, especially not as a human, but she'd walked this path many times with nothing more than the glow of the moon to guide her and was quite familiar with it. Little landmarks here and there ascertained she was still following the proper path.

"Sounds nice."

Kaleiska's words were slightly mumbled, but the wistful sigh was more obvious than she would've liked. What she wouldn't give to live on the forest's edge, to rove the forest with her sisters...but she'd always been too curious for her own good. She couldn't just allow sleeping dogs to lay and simply ignore her paternal-father's wanderings. No. She had followed him and, in doing so, ruined her own perfect lifestyle. Innocence could only survive so long when your father was Dakelest, but her knowledge of forbidden things would allow her to better protect her family from it.

"We're nearing the edge of town, the main buildings will be behind us soon and we'll be entering the less used paths from town to the Forest." Kalieska had caught the undertone in his voice, the silent longing for company that she echoed so readily. She'd be happy to stay with him as long as she could. "It shouldn't be much longer now." She added happily before glancing over at Obsydien.

The outlaw seemed half asleep and Kalieska fell back to wondering. Should she help him? It would be so easy for her to simply slip to Obsydien's other side and give Dasca a bit of weight relief, but she stayed in her place by Dasca's side. She wouldn't interfere unless he asked for help, it'd be rude otherwise. As if she thought he couldn't handle it himself. Which was not at all the case.

_{Kalieska: 6}

[silverdust]

He could feel her concern over his burden; reading the emotions of those around him had become a rather honed skill of his, in the tentative tangle that was his family. He smirked to himself. It really shouldn't have to be so easy, so familiar this weight and his ability to bear it. The ache was almost comforting, his own cross to bear. (Why do you punish yourself like this?) But he wouldn't let her sully herself with it.

"Are we?" he flicked a strand of Obsydien's ebon hair away from his face. "I suppose that is somewhat of a relief. I've never entered the forest from this part of town before, and my sense of direction has never been great at night."

The trace of odd forlorn in her voice as he mentioned his home caught his attention. Cionre like himself usually stayed away from forests, whereas he could not imagine life without it. With Kali's love for it, it must be hard for her. He would be sure to extend an invitation to her, after this was over. He also caught the brightness of her voice at Obsydien's variation. Well, at least she wasn't put so off by his inebriation.

"Obsydien has his abilities, but they're limited to dark and earth magics," he didn't stray into exactly what the man did with them, that was behind him...he hoped. He continued, his tone remaining light and conversational. "He's my teacher of sorts. My father is Hendunu, and I inherited a fourth Ninidian blood. I have a light control, that's all."

He wondered if she would accompany all the way into the heart of the forest. He wouldn't have minded, but he didn't want to impose on her anymore than he already did. Besides, what would Obsydien say when he was lucid again? Well, he could deal with that later, the outlaw couldn't being himself to hurt him. Not more than he already has...