Stories:KirstensTale
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A Dark Night
It's dark.
Too dark, especially for the being so full.
A shaft of light streams down from between the canopy of trees. It's difficult to see, so difficult. How had night fallen so quickly here she thought as she squinted to see in the dimly lit forest. And where the hell did that ratman go.
She rests the palm of her hand aginst a tree, resting for a moment, the only sound being her own heart beating quickly. From the complete silence comes an awful sound, the sound of someone... something, crying out. Kirsten no longer wonders where the ratman went, she only wonders what could cause it to make such an awful sound.
Her pulse quickens as she pulls her hand from the tree back to her shield, taking a cautious step backwards. The night falling silent once more as the gurgeled screams subside. She's once again alone in the darkness as she starts to retrace her path out of the forrest. Where did that breeze come from? She swore the night had been calm all evening. Why DID it get so damn dark so quick. She mulled it over in her mind, carefully inching closer to the edge of the forest. Leaves rustle in the distance. Her pulse races in her throat as she tries to swallow. Her feet start to move more franticly. Gazing up through the trees she can see the silouette of the moon dancing among the canopy of trees.
The feeling of being watched unnerves her, she listens intently, hearing only the pulse of her own heart. The light of the moon flickers as the tree above her rattles. Turning quickly she spins to start running, tripping over something covered in the dark. The moonlight seems drawn to that particular spot, covered in darkness moments before. Her mouth stands agape at the sight. The Ratman, or the remains of what mightbe mistaken as one, most certainly the one she'd been chasing, and the source of those awul screams...
A ratman. Or what used to be, it was lies mutilated in a pool of it's own blood. Her mind races running through the posibilities of what could do this to a creature. Another warrior? Not like this, this wasn't for survival, this was for the hunt. A slash compleetly evicerating the beast. She fights the urge to gag as she forces herself to turn her head away from the gruesome sight. That noise, again, not too far away, the thought races through her mind, the hunter has become the hunted.
She hasn't been this scared since she was a child. Scrambling up franticly, almost leaving her sword behind she turns and starts to run. Not five steps away she hears more rustling behind her. To frightened to look behind her, running as fast as she can. What the hell is that she wonders as the sounds get closer. Her pulse races in her throat as the edge of the forest rushes closer. If only I can make it out of the forest, mabye then I'll be safe. The thought rushes repeatedly in her mind as she tries to stay focused.
A blur in the darkness. Only 10 steps to go and I'm clear. A growl in her ear. She spins, her sword slasing in a circle around her. It hits something solid, a tree perhaps, she begins to pull as her world seems to move in slow motion.
The eyes of this... beats, feral, small yellow slits, she seems to stare into them forever. Her sword pulls free, she'd almost forgotten she was still holding it. It slices into the side of the creature, and it howls in pain. A moment of clarity, she runs, if you can callit running, her left leg barely works. She looks down, her armor is nothing but the colour of blood as she holds her abdomen, and she's afraid to think of why.
She reaches the edge of the forest and falls to the ground. More rustling behind her, it's not dead, and it's pissed. She watches as it comes towards her, almost a blur. She stares at it forever, into those yellow slits for eyes as she manages the weak words across her lips "kal ort por" as she vanishes.
Home, her home, she notices the bright white marble of her steps. That being the last image she sees as her world goes dark.
The Dream
A cold sweat.
She feels herself stand slowly, the grass soft underneath her. She looks up to see the clouds covering the sky. From somewhere behind them she knows exists the moon. It's as tho she can almost feel it's presence. Looking around there's noone to be seen. A light breeze wafts across the land.
She feels a growling deep within her gut, instinctivly placing her hands over it and glancing again at the sky. The clouds race past with a heated passion as the moon slowly comes into view. The growling within grows stronger as she breaks out in a sweat. No longer able to stand of her own accord she falls to the ground. Her mind races, wonder why she feels so strange. The grass begins to feel less than soft, her clothing almost restraining. She scrambles to remove them as the growling within her grows so fierce she can barely stand it. Rolling over to lay naked on her stomach, she feels her mind slipping with confusion, being replaced only by humger.
In the back of her mind she hears a faint calling "Kirsten... Kirsten, can you hear me?" She trys to speak out, only managing a howl. The growling and her hunger consumes her as she smells the night air looking for prey.
A rustle in the bushes, she freezes compleetly still. A hare hops out around it's edge, chewing lightly on the berries of the bush. Her mind react. Her body leaps towards the hare on all fours. She sees a breif glympse of terror and confusion in it's small eyes as she pounces on top of it, her jaws instivly wraping around the animals neck. A sharp pop is heard as she feels the warmpth of it's blood trickle down her throat. A happy growl comes from within as her meal is devoured.
She looks up at the sky, only to see the fullness of the moon beating down upon her. She rises up on her hind legs and lets loose a bone chilling howl before darkness once again consumes her.
The Day After
The door opens with a creak as Mitrian exits the house. Her face instantly pale at the sight before her. She crys out in fear and anger as she rushes to the side of her friend.
She kneels over Kirsten, her mouth agape in shock. Kirstens body is covered in blood, her own or not it's difficult to tell. There's a tear running through the front of her platemail obviously cutting much deeper. Her face, her beautiful face is covered in scratches, a large gash runs along her hairline. Her leg, armorless hangs at an almost awkward angle.
Mitrian quickly reaches into her pack, quickly and methodicly wrapping her dear friends wounds, oblivious to the people around her. Alderon stands there calmly, a great look of sorow in his eyes as he chants the words for healing. A tingling across Kirstens body causes Mitrian to look up at the old man, there eyes meeting both filled with great sorrow. The spell seems to have no affect, as Mitrians fingers run to the nape of Kirstens neck.
She whispers softly "She's alive.... barely"
They both stare for a moment in almost disbeleif as Alderon raises his hands slowly lifting Kirsten off the ground. He moves ever so carefully into the house, with Mitrian at his side as Kirsten is layed down gently upon the piles of furs that adorn her flor.
"Let me fetch the others" he says, pained.
Mitrian nods slowly and sits carefully by Kirstens side. Her hand taking Kirstens gently, as she begins to stroke along her knuckles.
"Kirsten... Kirsten, can you hear me?" she whispers.
"You'd better not die on me you hear, you can't, I won't allow it" as she fights back tears.
Kirstens limp form growls softly, a very feint smile crosses her face. She shudders and falls limp once again.
Daybreak
Arlik tosses a glance over to a weary Mitrian.
"How long?" he asks.
"Three days... her pulse is stronger, and she's healing quickly now" she replies.
They both look down at the sleeping Kirsten, who is lying flat on her back on the furs. A light blanket barely covers her, arranged in such a fashion as to leave her wounds visible. Mitrian takes a damp cloth and carefully wipes the sweat from Kirsten's brow.
Unsettled by the sight of her, Arlik shifts his weight, his dark eyes returning to Kirsten's wounds.
"I have to go; please let me know if her condition changes," he says as he turns to the door.
Mitrian nods, not taking her eyes from Kirsten's still form. She sighs as her weariness overtakes her, and sets the cloth aside. Lying down next to her, she begins to hum softly, fighting her exhaustion.
Interlude
Kirsten shudders, the form lying next to her startling awake. Her eyes open slowly and begin to look around the room, landing on a weary face of Mitrain.
"Mitrian?" she manages, her throat dry and her voice hoarse.
"Yes dear heart?" her voice trembling as she offers some water.
Kirsten sips gently at the mug, washing the water around her throat.
"What, what happened?" her voice still soft but less hoarse now.
"I don't know dear heart, I found you.. " She pauses and shivers.
Kirsten just nods sipping more water, laying back to rest and think. Her last memories a complete jumbled blur racing in her mind.
"I.. I remember hunting" she remarks.
Mitrian just nods and eye Kirstens wounds, compleetly healed =, as they have been for the past day and a half. She traces her fingers gently over where the wounds had been, across her forehead, her abdomen and down her leg, pausing slightly at the tatoo of the rose on her ankle.
"But... that's all I remember... it's just all nothing from there.. I dunne e'en know" Mitrian places two fingers to Kirstens lips pausing her train of thought.
"Hush dear heart, it's alright, your safe now, that's all that matters" she continues.
Curling up next to Kirsten, she speaks softly "Rest now dear heart, you need to get your strength back, I'll have you some food ready when you awaken"
And with that, Kirsten fades slowly back into darkness.
The Awakening
Kirsten awakens and sits up slowly, her muscles ache slightly at the motion, but she manages to prop herself up against the wall. She gazes at the far side of the furs, wrapping the blankets about her. The sleeping form of Mitrian lays there peacefully. She wonders if Mitrian has been here the whole time.
She relaxes against the wall, reaching up to the table to pour herself some water. Mitrian startles awake at the soft noise and scans the room, her gaze landing on Kirsten.
"Dear heart, your awake... " she says, half relieved, had upset she fell asleep.
"Ai, I'm feeling much better now" she says, nodding.
Mitrian eyes Kirsten caringly, noticing as there gazes meet, Kirstens light grey eyes are now flecked with gold. She smiles softly, just glad Kirsten's alright.
"How do you feel?" she asks
"I feel great actually, a bit sore, but not terrible" she replys as she begins straightening out her limbs and moving her muscles.
"Good, the others have been worried as well"
"Ai?" Kiri cocks her head at the statement. "How long have I been down?" she asks.
"A week. Almost to the day."
Kirsten begins to frown when Mitrian continues.
"Which is fairly miraculous if nothing else considering your wounds"
Kirstens brow furrows and she shrugs a bit "I've always been a fast healer" as she gives a pixie grin.
Mitrian just shakes her head and watches as Kirsten gets up slowly shedding the blanket and picking up her tunic. She sighs softly as her sore muscles manage to slide it over her head.
"Just where do you think your going?" Mitrian inquires.
"To the guildhouse, to let the others know I'm alright" she replys.
Mitrian just shakes her head knowing it's futile to argue as she gets up and gets dressed to join her. Making certain to watch Kirsten as they head outside and over to the guildhouse.
The guildhouse doors open. As they walk in all eyes are on her.
"What?" She asks as most just shake there head.
Arlik steps up and holds out his arm, she reaches out as the clasp arms.
"Glad to see your up and about"
She smiles warmly in response. "Not nearly as glad as I am"
Arlik chuckles and smiles dryly, pulling back slightly to motion at the table. "We figured you might be a bit hungry, so Calypso had some things prepared"
Kirsten smiles brightly sauntering over to the table, Mitrian close behind. Smiling at seeing Calypso arranging the food and replacing what those present have already eaten as she comes over and gives Kirsten a gentle hug.
"Glad ye are better dear, please help yourself" Motionaing to the table.
Kirsten nods and smiles, famished,feeling as tho she's not eaten in months, begins to feast.
After a joyful time of feasting and chatting with her family, Kirsten, yawns an streatches standing slowly as she wishes everyone a good eve an the promise of seeing them on the morrow heads back home.
The weary Kisrten heads inside and flops on the floor, watching Mitrian quickly locking the door and coming over to sit next to her.
Kirsten nods and smiles "Thank you dear, I can only imagine the extent of what you've done while I've been out."
Mitrian flashes a bright smile and kisses her on the cheek "Was nothing dear heart, I'm just glad your all right, although we should talk later, after you rest."
Kirsten yawns streatching again and nods before curling up on the furs. "Yes Mitria" is her only reply before falling asleep, a big goofy grin on her face.
Nightmares
She awakens with a start. Covered compeletly in sweat.
Her body trembles as she hops up from the furs she was sleeping on. Her body trembling wish some unknown desier. She leaps towards the door, over a sleeping form. She grabs the handle as her gaze turns to see Mitrian resting peacefully on the fur. A growl escapes her throat as a intense fire courses through her veigns. She reels in pain as she throws the door open rushing out.
She hits the bottom of the stairs and colapses onto all fours. She screams from the pain. She launches herself up and starts running, the cool brease against her skin little comfort for the pain.
Her body on fire, she leaps over a log, landing on all fours not losing pace, she runs off into the jungle.
And so the nightmares begin...
~Fin~
