What the Morning Brings

((OOC: RULES))

• 3-5 sentences at least
• Light/ semi-serious/serious RP - no excessive goofiness
• The 'weakness' refers to a period of time marked by extreme exhaustion and sometimes fever, an illness if you please, thought to be caused by his element (Balance) though this is uncertain. Auru is old after all. At this time, Auru is suffering a bit of the weakness but not much.
• No Shinlai Kill Zone - unless there is an agreement on both players behalf - fish/other prey is fine.
• Battles and injuries may occur.
• Humans are allowed, as are those from The Circle.
• I feel like a killjoy~
• Trust me I'm not cruel.

The sky was stained with the colors of a burning fire having been touched by the newly risen sun. Mist still clung to the surface of the river and in dips in the earth, drifting like ghostly wisps around the elder shinlai and dispelling into nothing as he passed alongside the steam of his breath. The slight dampness of the air made Aurudon's mask feel cold upon his face and the tender skin underneath was starting to numb though he cared little and in a way welcomed it. Around him the forest lay silent with only the barest of breezes to shift the ancient evergreens into a lazy frenzy along with the odd gurgling of the river. Most would find such disquieting, but for a wanderer it was not but the norm and if anything an odd comfort.

Drawing toward the edge of the water, Aurudon paused and bent down to take his sup of the clear substance, winching slightly at its coolness while it slid down the length of his throat, taking note as it hit his empty stomach. As it were, Aurudon spotted a fat cod lurking solemnly in the shallows and felt a frail smile curl upon his lips. How lucky of him to have found a meal so soon. Keeping his gaze upon the unweary fish the elder shinlai shot his head up to catch the cod in his jaws with a quick snap as he pulled it from the water with his element, crunching hard to ensure it's death before shallowing it whole.

As he made to move on, however, strength seemed to ebb from his limbs and the elder stumbled for a moment before catching himself and panted softly with the effort, confused over what had just happened. Was the weakness over taking him again?

"Just rest," he told himself aloud, "Just rest....all will be fine." Scanning the river edge the elder spotted an outcrop jutting over the river and made his way stiffly over to it and slowly laid himself over on his side, lulled by the sounds of the breeze in the evergreens and the fresh scent of water though he could not find it in himself to sleep.

Rubisa traveled slowly... she and Candy had been separated during the attack. She knew not who had lead the attack, or what they wanted... but their goods, supplies, food, and warm clothes had been left and lay now quite forgotten.

She was wounded, and beginning to tire from loss of blood, as she walked somewhat noisily though the fallen leaves.

Rubisa needed to find Candy, to survive...

Candy must have lead the attackers off she thought, panting. She felt weak, and all feeling in her right leg was numbed by a painful tingling sensation of pins and needles.

"Just rest... all will be fine" she thought she heard aloud, though she nodded. It was a good idea.

She was burning up.. what was this black liquid coming from the wound on her thigh? She dipped her fingers into the bloody ick, smelling of it...

Rubisa had been poisoned.

She leaned against the trunk of a tree, and slid down slowly, whimpering as she pulled the crossbow bolt from the wound.

"All will be fine..." rang through her head once more as she drifted off into a dreamless sleep.


~~~~~

Callandrea was battered a little, though she was doing well overall, as she went back to the campsite where she had last seen her human companion.

"Rubisa?" she called, smelling blood and something else... she didn't know what it really was, but only smelled 'death'. Her mind raced... she couldn't lose Rubisa.

She tried to follow the smell of the death as it traveled, though it took many paths... all of the attackers must have used the evil stuff on their weapons.

Their possessions were gone, as well.

"How could this happen?" she asked aloud, turning and following the smell of blood... the only trail she knew would lead to Rubisa, as she was wounded in the camp... the attackers fled the encampment area before Candy could catch them and make them bleed...

And she would make them bleed for hurting her friend, she vowed... Candy padded off after the blood trail. She knew Rubisa--a proficient private 'infiltrator' and assassin in her homeland--would not be easy to catch up with, leaving many false trails for her enemies to follow.