What Lies at The River Bend {closed thread - Shukiern}

• This is a CLOSED THREAD
  
• Only for Shukiern/ ElysianImagery
  
• Kill-Zone for fish and other prey ONLY- Injuries, however, are allowed to the Shinlai.
  

Dapples of light played across his coat as he wandered through the woods, crossing under rays of bright light that leaked through the canopy. He walked alone and the boreal forest around him was still and silent, save for the soft murmur of his footstep on the damp, saturated earth. It must have rained not that long ago , and heavily, though the air did not hint at such nor did the tree's branches drip with clear liquid.

Between steps, the lone Shinlai's gaze shifts to spy his surroundings though he is unperturbed. Despite the brightness of the day there is a darkness that clings to the trees in the distance, like a thick fog, but it dwells on only one side of him as if it were the night coming but it neither draws closer or withdraws. It just lingers, waiting. This does not bother the Shinlai however, this strange anomaly, rather it is familiar, even expected.

Suddenly something flickers in the distance of the shaded wood, drawing the attention of the lone Shinlai and his icy gaze, causing him to pause. Nothing meets his eyes save for stillness and silence but he is aware then of something warm brushing his side and looks to see someone is next to him. The shinlai did not hear the other lai approach, nor could he tell how large it was, it's gender, or what it looked like in true despite being next to him for it is just a shade yet he knew who it was all the same but he could not name it. From somewhere a rain drop falls on the shinlai's mask, dripping into his eyes as the shade disappears and all at once...the dream ends.

It is bright out, perhaps mid-afternoon. There is a chill in the air but it is mild and only noticeable when the breeze kicks. The soft babbling of the rivers is prominent in the air and Aurudon's feet lay somewhat submerged in the shallows from where he lies curled on the river bed. He must have been here for a while for the sand has comfortably worn to the shape of his body. Blinking away the last of a tear a strange sense of cold and emptiness fills the elder lai from where the phantom in his dream had touched him, as if once his side had been supported and no longer was. The thought chills him and shivers chase through the length of his body.

" Dreams, all of it," He murmurs to himself absently. Stiffly, Aurudon rises to his feet, grunting with the effort. Beneath him his legs are unsteady and weak, half from sleep and half with age. For as long as he may have rested it, it might as well have been none for all the good he felt, but then it has this way for a while whenever he dreamt — however long a while was. Shaking himself, Aurudon rises one foot and steps timidly at first to test himself before wading further into the river till he is chest deep. The clear crystal water is a bit cold for the elders taste and gasps as it crawls over his belly and chest and drags wistfully at the worn scarf draped about his neck but for the moment he is thankful for the support of the water around him and content to wait until he shakes off the worst of his weariness.

swimming along the river was his absolute favorite thing to do. Rivers could take him deep into the main land with out him actually ever having to leave the comfort of his natural element. Sure he did leave the water occassionally, but it was only to warm his bones after a long cold swim. Sometimes sleeping on a hard surface was nice too and prevented having to use his skills to create the head bubbles that kept water from getting up his nose at all hours of the night.

It had been a long time since he had surfaced and he was about mentally tuckered out from having to constantly create his head bubbles. Sure he was good at what he did, but everyone needed to rest... and eat.

Peaking his head up above the water he saw a figure stand slowly and a bit stiffly. one of the elderly he thought to himself slowly swimming closer to get a bit better of a view. Shukierns solild blue fur and deep blue mask with his darker horns could blend easily with the water and he kept his head low. The old timer didn't look like he would be any sort of a danger. Popping up above the water a ways off, and popping the bubble from around his head, the deep blue, medium fur'ed shinlai called out to the old one.

"G'devenin'"

Once the old one had seen him he swam a bit closer till just his toes touched bottom,

"How does the evening find you old one?" He didn't mean his statement as a thing of insult, he was simply describing what he saw.

"Might I come join you, catch a few fish and I shall bring them to shore for the both of us."

Aurudon had known of the other shinlai's presence even before he had seen him. The vibrations in the water had made him aware ahead of time of a large body moving through the depths of the river so he was hardly surprised when the other male surfaced, just eyed the stranger warily through the shadow of his mask . By no means had Aurudon forgotten about the Darkblood Revolution and its cult of followers. This new lai could very well be among their ranks, or be an earnest wanderer like he just as likely, but in these days it paid well to front caution. The elder's head still pounded from his dream but his strength was returning to him faster then expected. If it came down to it, Aurudon had more then few tricks to aid his escape.

In answer to the other's greeting the elder called back his own.

" Hail, comer."

As the stranger swam nearer Aurudon was able to see him somewhat clearly for the first time and judged him to be a young adult, with a lean and supple build — no doubt from all his swimming. The coat of the other was an unusual shade of blue and his mask was transparent enough to see the face beneath. In all, a true Water element through in through.

With solemn grace Aurudon bowed his head to the Water lai, accepting his presence here. Hearing himself called an "old one," however, caused a faint twitch of ire though it was said with sincerity and was more then true. He was after all one-hundred-and-forty-one.

" The evening finds me well enough, youngblood." he replied earnestly, resisting a faint smile at his fun. Compared to most shinlai, almost all proved to be much younger then Aurudon and youth was what he saw in full in the stranger.

The request, though, took the elder a bit by surprise. Despite just meeting this lai proved to be a very open sort of folk and showed semblance of respect for him. Pity might even have spurred his actions to stop at this bend. No doubt more wear showed on the elder then usual since the coming of the dreams.

" Stay as you like...but care for yourself. Old be I, but I have tricks."

As it were, a school of herring tailed by a fairly sized salmon darted across the shallows near where both the shinlai stood. Aurudon had to but spot the chasing salmon before a sudden spike of water punched it out into the air flailing, right into Aurudon's darting jaws. A firm snap put an end to it's struggles but not the smile that crept on the elder's maw. It was a favorite water manipulation of his. Following the capture of the salmon, Aurudon eased a foot out of the water and traced a circle on the surface, ice forming where he had touched it and spreading therein to create a floating bowl in which he daintily placed his catch.

With his mouth free, Aurudon turned toward the blue shinlai.

" And by what to do I call you by, stranger?"