Quest for Life and Death

[Felypsa]

Istariel stopped when Hawk stopped, worried for a moment that he might be angry. But the moment of disbelief passed, and she delightfully received his affection, returning it by licking his cheek. “I am excited,” she whispered sincerely. “I figured it out back there…oh, Hawk, I was so frightened. I was going to—to—” It all came rushing out of her, all at once. “I was going to end it all, back there, even though I knew my condition. If you hadn’t showed up…Hawk, oh Hawk, I am so glad you did—!” She nuzzled him and licked him and began to cry into his fur again. It was ambiguous whether the tears were of grief or joy—possibly both.

Azarak nodded sedately as Akuma gave his brief answer. “That’s all I can ask for.” He was silent a moment as they traversed on. Behind him he could hear the whispers of excitement of the two lovers, and figured that Istariel had finally spilled the news to Hawk. Where there is death, there is also life, he reflected, comforted by the thought. Phoebus did not just save Hawk and Istariel—he saved the lives of their unborn pups. The realization made Phoebus’s sacrifice that much more noble, and Azarak again felt a rush of gratitude and admiration for the guardian bird. “In any case,” the lizard said to Akuma, “I would like you to stick around—for Ammolite’s sake, if nothing else.” He did not elaborate.

Ammolite looked over at Yoshika again, seeing her gaze directed to the empty bracelet. The symbolism of that piece of jewelry, which no longer glinted with ethereal life, brought on a fresh tide of sorrow. Phoebus, why did you have to leave us? she cried out silently. Why did it have to be like this…that the only way to save Hawk and Istariel was for you to give your life? Why couldn’t there have been some other way? Unanswerable questions, all. In Ammolite’s grief, she dimly heard the exclamations of her two friends behind her. Again she felt that strong combination of emotions: happiness and defeat, excitement and even anger. What right have they to rejoice at such a time as this? she thought bitterly. What right does anyone have to be at all happy now? “Why?” she murmured aloud.

[Relairah]

Ears flickered about, listening to the wolves about him. Azarak, the lizard that had decided to come ride on him for a while now, was speaking to him once again. He paused briefly, glancing toward Ammolite, then turned his gaze ahead once more and continued. "Ammolite's sake?" He'd glance toward Ammolite once more. He didn't know why, but he felt rather comfortable talking around and to Azarak. It was odd, he hadn't felt very comfortable very often, but he just did. He didn't want her to catch his gaze and suddenly do the same Yoshika had done, thus didn't keep his gaze upon her long. "Uhm, I'm not sure what you mean, but okay," he murmered. He pondered on Azarak's words silently to himself. What did the other mean? And he suddenly wondered, how much had she exactly been through? If he left... would that be like something hard on her emotions? He was unsure, but he wanted to find out...

He glanced at Azarak. He was quite unused to starting anything, but, he had a question. "If you don't mind... could you explain to me some of the history of Hawk, and Phoebus, especially Phoebus, and maybe something about Istariel. I feel like I want to understand things, and... I don't know anything at all about Hawk's mate anyway..." he said softly, giving a slight smile.

[Monkey Monk]

Protectively and soothingly, a golden feathered wing extended to hover over Istariel. Gently he let his head rub against her own, softly cooing into her ears words of comfort and love. His mind began to create forth images of what he would have done had his mate and un-born children died. However, he quickly pushed these thoughts aside. What mattered was Istariel was safe, as was their children. Gently he drew his tongue over her neck, trying to aid her in ceasing her tears. It pained him to see one he loved so much in such sorrow. Yet he knew she needed to vet. Hell even he needed to let loose the emotions he felt. Undoubtedly, so did everyone else.

Yoshika let loose a forlorn sigh. Slowly she continued to tread forth. Her mind was at it's weakest, making it so that nearly anything could send her into tears. The femmora hated being like this. She had lived so long on her own, having to provide for herself all those years. It made it hard for her to show emotions around others. In some places it had been that just a tear could cause others to think one weak and attack them.

[Felypsa]

Istariel drew warmth and solace from Hawk’s loving embrace, and eventually her tears subsided. Sniffling, she managed a smile for her mate, then murmured, “Hawk, our pups will be so beautiful. They will be worth it. They will be worth everything. I…I am so glad to share this with you…” If it seemed that the princess was seesawing between overwhelming joy and overwhelming sorrow, she was. There were just so many powerful emotions she was experiencing that one or the other would overtake her in a matter of seconds. It was a sign of tiredness, for despite the half-immortal life that now thrived within her, she still needed natural rest. Hopefully they would be home soon.

Ammolite struggled with herself and the rushing tide of emotions that threatened to overpower her. At last, they relented, and she was able to be a little more in control of herself. There was still that omnipresent grief that permeated the air ever since Phoebus gave his life. Ammolite felt it was time to get some things off her chest, and so turned to the only other one who seemed to be sharing her sorrow, Yoshika. “Yoshika, this is so terrible,” she whispered. “I don’t understand why—or how—Phoebus—” The words became lodged in her throat. She coughed before going on. “Is there any hope that we’ll see him again?” she asked, sounding like a child who did not understand death. And in a way, that was what Ammolite was. Experience, then, did not necessarily bring wisdom, for despite everything she had undergone, there was much she did not understand.

Azarak was silent a moment as Akuma made his request, then gave a wry little laugh. “To give you their histories in full would require far more energy than even I could muster, indeed more energy than ten of me could. I suppose I could give you a little background on them, however. I won’t be doing justice to what they’ve been through with my little narrative, so keep that in mind.” The lizard took a deep breath, and began. “Hawk lived in the desert with his family, including Yoshika, which was guarded by Phoebus. At a very young age, Hawk was Chosen to be a member of the Elite, a group of wolven fighters who oftentimes resorted to bloody violence and immoral acts to accomplish what they needed to accomplish. At the moment of his being Chosen, however, his family was brutally murdered by other current members of the Elite. Yoshika, luckily, escaped, but he did not know that until very recently—in fact, during this mission to rescue Istariel. In any case, Hawk fought with the Elite for many years, until they rebelled against their unethical methods and reformed themselves as the Defenders. They, as their name suggests, defended the defenseless and fought for the weak. But then one of the members, as I understand it, went rogue and began to destroy his own comrades. He killed Hawk. But Hawk was reborn, for the Old One, the leader of the old Elite, decided that he still had a role to play and needed to be alive. It was around this time that Ammolite encountered and eventually befriended Hawk, and Hawk accompanied her on her journey to find her father, Fiendark, who was trapped in the Spirit World. Hawk met Istariel when he went Underground for the first time. Hawk also retrieved his bracelet and thus summoned Phoebus, who had accompanied us ever since. Hawk got to know Istariel when they returned to the Spirit World to rescue Ammolite, who became trapped there so that her father could return here. Ammolite was kidnapped and nearly destroyed by a resident of the Spirit World, who had a history with Fiendark. We defeated Ammolite’s kidnapper and returned home, and by then Istariel and Hawk had fallen in love.” Azarak shrugged. “There it is, in a nutshell. I’m not sure if that is enough for you to understand, or if you want to know more, or if I only confused you more.”

[Relairah]

Akuma listened silently as Azarak answered his request. It didn't confuse him at all, but rather helped with many of the questions in his mind, and put some of the puzzle together, so to speak. "No, that's enough for now... uhm, thanks," he said with a smile, glancing at Azarak once again. He silently went over all that Azarak had just told him in his own mind. And, he began to understand the grief the others all felt. "You don't really appear to share the same grief as the others..." he suddenly murmured, hoping the other wouldn't take it the wrong way...

[Monkey Monk]

Hawk gazed at his lover, happy to see a smile form upon her lips. Gently he continued to administrate his love to her in nuzzles and other embraces. As she spoke, he felt his natural humility take effect within himself. He looked into her eyes, his own just as full to the brim as her own with a swirling mass of emotions. "Our children will be beautiful, just like you my love. I am just as glad that we get to share this together. We get to be together for a long time. That...that was a what Phoebus said.. He told me that he gave his life force to both of us, splitting it in two. Even though had he given it to only one, that one would be immortal. Because he gave it to us both, we will live longer lives..." His voice trailed off, obviously uncomfortable talking about the things Phoebus had told him for now atleast.

Slowly the femmora raised her head to look to Ammolite. Had the other just spoken to her? It was hard to recall the words, her mind foggy with grief and tiredness. After a moment she remembered, holding back tears when she heard the name of the deceased bird. For a while, watery eyes were all Ammolite would get for an answer. At last Yoshika would let a sorrowful sigh pass her lips and look back to the ground to which she stepped. "I don't know how he did it...I know why though...He wanted to keep Hawk and Istariel alive...I'd wager that he thought he had lived too long.. I..." There was a pause as she fought to recompose herself. "I hope we do see him again.."

[Felypsa]

Istariel smiled and received Hawk’s loving embraces, rejoicing in his presence and in his words. At the mention of Phoebus, however, her smile became sad, and her eyes sorrowful. “Oh, Phoebus—if there were only a way to thank him for everything he’s done for us,” she said quietly. However, she sensed her mate’s discomfort on the sensitive subject, and so she changed the topic. “Our children will be wonderful, beautiful…half-demon, half-wolf. I hope they are anything like Ammolite.” Istariel looked over to her dear friend, who had her head bowed in grief. A wave of sympathy rushed through her momentarily. But then the princess turned back to her consort, walking at his side. They were almost home.

Ammolite was at once sorry to have brought Yoshika out of her grief-stricken reverie to speak to her. “You and me both,” she murmured, her throat swelling with sorrow. “Oh, Yoshika…the words do not exist to express how sorry I am.” It was an apology as well as it was empathy. After that, Ammolite fell silent again, sensing that Yoshika was not quite ready to talk about it yet. She bowed her head, staring at the ground as she trudged along. She wasn’t even paying attention to where she was going, just silently making her way down the same road they had come before.

“Good.” Azarak yawned. “Because I wasn’t going to clarify anyway.” He listened to Akuma’s next question, and was silent for a moment. At first it seemed like he wasn’t going to answer at all. Finally, he said, “Different people grieve in different ways, Akuma. Some show it in tears, some in stolid silence, some avoid the topic of grief altogether…I am not saying I grieve one way or another. But just remember that appearance is not always reliable to judge one’s inward feelings.” There was something else, too, but Azarak was not going to disclose that to Akuma. The lizard could see farther ahead than they could, and what he saw made him calm and tranquil. There is always hope…

[Relairah]

Akuma grinned slightly when Azarak mentioned he wouldn't be clarifying anything of what he had said, the grin not remaining on his face for very long. What the lizard had said was amusing... but, even if he really wasn't grieving at heart too heavily, it was hard to smile or laugh in a grieving atmosphere. He was little now paying attention to Hawk and Istariel, nor to the fact they were almost home, or moreso home to Hawk, Istariel and Ammolite. Surely Yoshika would consider it home as well, now that she was with her brother and such. And, he would consider it home, being as he wouldn't be leaving this group anytime soon... His ears shifted, constantly listening to Azarak. Akuma nodded slowly when the other finished. He had never been one to really hide emotions, although he was good at controlling them. He was silent a while longer, fluttering his great butterfly wings now and then. "Do you think we'll encounter anything that will lead us on another adventure, or will we be able to rest a while?"

[Monkey Monk]

At the mentioning of Ammolite's name, Hawk raised his gaze as well. When he saw his sister talking to his dear friend in such a sorrowful way, he slowly let his eyes move away. He felt that watching the two would be like intruding on their conversation. With a loving gaze he looked over to Istariel, reveling in her beauty, her perfection, and her loving aura. Being with her made him feel amazing and powerful. Looking at her like this allowed him to forget their sorrows for a time and simply smile. The next time that he spoke, his voice was slightly more cheery. "Us bearing our children will be part of our thanks to him. I...I think that if we have a son, we should name him after Phoebus.." He felt like someone else was speaking for him, as if the idea had not been his. However it did appeal to him and he did desire it.

Silence was how Yoshika responded to Ammolite's words. She hated being so secluded from someone she knew would become a good friend, but at the moment she could not help it. For a while, the femmora simply strode in silence, her gaze looking up to the night sky. As she watched the stars, her voice rang out lowly in a sing-song way. "Time to us, is all there is, passing us by, so quickly. Fame and fortune, so useless now, honor has fled. Bring to us, the one we need, the one who will, bring us life. Make haste, for time is short, and soon the light will go out..." The words were part of a song she barely remembered, a song from her travels.

[Felypsa]

Istariel looked back at Hawk when he turned his gaze to her. For that moment, they just stared into each other’s eyes like the passionate lovers they were, overcome by the other’s presence. I cannot live without you. She returned the smile, feeling all the inexplicable emotions expressed in the simple gesture. Hawk’s words brought tears to her eyes, but they were tears of a kind of happy sorrow. “Yes, let us do that,” she whispered. “It is the least we can do.” She wanted it as much as he did. It was a good idea, as if it come from some divine source.

Azarak rode on Akuma’s back in silence, lost in reverie. The lizard’s face was expressionless, so it was impossible to tell what exactly he was thinking about. Indeed, he seemed detached, disconnected, as if he were listening to something no one else could hear and seeing something no one else could see. Akuma’s question brought him back to the present, and he blinked slowly. “How in Korian’s name am I supposed to know that?” he asked, back to his usual snappish mood. “The future is what it is. I certainly hope that nothing else will come up, because this group needs rest more than anything. But if there is an adventure waiting around the corner, in no way can I sense or prevent it. Just keep walking, when all else fails.”

Ammolite felt lost in a dreamlike world as she trudged on, as if she were not apart of the current plane. Especially when Yoshika began to sing. The melody and the words wove into Ammolite’s trancelike state, as if background music to a dream. They expressed the despair and hope that rushed through her. When it was over, Ammolite came back. As she reoriented on reality, to her surprise she saw the oak and the water-rock before her. They had arrived at the tunnel. Home was only a few steps away. “Here it is,” she said, speaking for Yoshika’s benefit, who of them all had never been here before.

[Relairah]

Paws came to a stop briefly when Azarak snapped at Akuma, more so rather startled, but soon returned to their moving steadily along behind the others. The other was right, but he had only been wondering. Besides, it was something to ask to fill in silence, or so he told himself. He nodded, and was about to respond to Azarak, when Ammolite spoke. Ears twitched toward her, and he at last did suddenly realize they were home. Time sure had flown by since they had left that dreadful mountain, he thought to himself. He hadn't really paid much attention to the underground lands when they had been racing below in hopes of getting to Istariel in time, but now as they plodded slowly, but steadily through he was more observant. He had to admit he was amazed. "Wow..." he murmered softly. Being as he hadn't ever seen this before, or anything similar or like it, he found himself curious and intriguied.

OoC: Well, guys, I'm leaving here in a bit. If you guys don't want to wait a month for my next reply, kind of doubt ya do xP then just go ahead. If you don't mind, I'd like it if you just sort of pretend Akuma's still there just being his silent self, but I can always catch him back up if you guys don't want to. Well, talk when I get back ^^

[Felypsa]

oOc| Hmmm. So I guess we'll just end this for now...they go Underground and sleep. I guess the next thread we'll begin (eventually) will be Defender training, and we'll do that till Hikaru gets back. >.>'

Edit: Haha, did you know we've managed to wrack up 32 pages and 460+ posts with this thing? -shakes head- Sheesh...we're kind of a little insane.

[Relairah]

OoC: OMG! Waow! That's a lot e.e; Well, uhm, I guess there's not much point in me doing TOOO much while I'm back, seeing as I'm leaving this Saturday and won't be back till the end of July... but I can still have fun with some rps xD Sorry I'm gone so much you guys... don't have much of a choice ^^; But hey, its more fun than I had expected so, it'll work out...