blister in the sun &&KATHENA, CICYMYST

[Cloquet]

He leaned back onto the wall as he took another bite of the apple. Soldiers all around him were scrambling back and forth, searching every nook and cranny with in the city. Aldic was suppose to be doing the same thing, though he was on a break. The battle had been hard enough, did they really have to search so vigorously? Besides the only thing he had eaten for breakfast was a hard, buscuit, and a few sips of water. And even if there were soldiers then they couldn't pose any serious threat right? The enemy riders had all left, their curses echoing off the buildings as they left.

He smiled as he tossed the core of the apple aside. He was content that he had survived. He lived another day to feel the breeze caress his face. Everything around him had seemed colder now that the fighting was over, but he still felt warm inside. Even though there were bricks scattered across the streets, and many buildings had been damaged, he found the city to be quite peaceful when no one was trying to kill him.

He looked around a little bit, wondering for a second if he could spot the elf, and the half elf he had met, or spied on would be the correct thing to say. True, their aquaintence had been slightly awkward, but he did feel sort of bad that he hadn't been able to talk with them more. He did like talking, but he usually never saw the same people again. They might have headed back to camp, Amanes said something about that.

((this thread is open to katheena and cicymyst, it's not meant to last long))

[Kathena]

Amanes walked through the streets of Belatona, bored. After the battle had ended she had carried the wounded werecat all the way back to camp. Silis wanted Amanes to heal her, but when she tried the werecat protested and requested to sleep first. Amanes had demanded to know what happened to her adopted sister before she trailed off into sleep, and so did Silis. So that's what they did, they shared their memories of their journey before Silid fell deep into sleep. Then Amanes had wanted to do something besides staying in camp, so she went back to Belatona. The elf had originally thought about asking Cicymyst to come with her, but she couldn't find him before she departed. To tell you the truth, she hadn't been too happy about the end of the battle. Sure she had found Silis and met Aldric and Cicymyst, but she didn't like figuring out about her mother. Terrible dread come over her when the horrid memory came back to her...

Amanes glanced at Silis, who was laying in her bed in humanoid form. The sheets of her bed were messed up because of Silis's obsession over getting comforable. "Ok, I showed you my memories, now you show me yours," Amanes said smoothly, staring at her sister with piercing brown eyes. Silis sighed and explained. She told about everything, the rider helping her, Anserae and Azahel, and her year with the Varden. When the short humonoid looked up at her adopted sister she realized she was staring blankly at the wall of the tent. "My mother is gone..." Amanes whispered, tears clouding her gaze. Silis nodded and sighed. "I'm so sorry, Amanes Memorystalker. I did the best I could to save her, but without help I could not."

Amanes blinked the tears away from her eyes and sighed. It was her fault her mother didn't live. If he would have never gone with her friends to the Varden, Azahel would have lived. I should have never listened to anything but my own heart. She told herself. May this be a lesson for the future. The female elf strolled through the streets of Belatona, twirlling her curly, dirty blonde hair with her nimble fingers. She didn't pay any attention where she was going, and honestly, she didn't care.

[Cloquet]

Aldric looked over into the shop, at the few Varden soldiers gathering all of the supplies to bring back to camp. He finally felt as though he should do something so he grabbed a sack and started putting apples from the cart into it. As he started working again, he noticed somehting from the corner of his eye. Long curly dirty blonde hair.

He glanced up from is work and saw that Amanes was walking down the street. Not lookiing for anything particular, in fact she seemed almost bored. He grinned and almost shouted her name, but hesitated when he saw the look on her face. Is something upsetting her? Maybe she lost someone in the battle. It was the only reason he could see, but he deemed it highly unlikely since she had only recently come to the Varden.

He pursed his lips as he wondered how would be the best way to approach her. Then he finally grabbed an apple and walked in a calm fashion over to her. Then he realized he wasn't sure what Elves ate. They would most likely eat fuits and vegetables, considering how they always seemed one with nature. He almost dared to ask her before he handed her the apple, but then thought it to silly.

He stopped in front of her, about five feet away. He took a breathe in then spoke, "Hey, Amanes," Then he looked down at the apple, "Nice to see you again. Are you hungry?" He felt slightly awkward when he extened the apple towards her, but he supposed it was a reasonable question.

[Kathena]

The female elf looked up at the sound of her name to see a familiar face staring at her. Blinking slowly, she thought for a moment until the memory of the battle came back to her. Aldric! She thought suddenly, trying to forget about her sorrow. Wipping the tears from her eyes, she managed a smile smile. It was good to see him again. She truthly didn't know if she would after he left during the battle, but she had gotten a chance to see him again. At least there is something to be happy about. She told herself as she stared at her friend. Amanes sighed softly before replying.

"No thank you, Aldric. I am a bit hungry, but I don't feel like eating. Not now." The elf responded, her chocolate brown eyes filled with sorrow. "I'm sorry for acting this way, it's just that I figured out something that I thought would never happen in my life time." Amanes muttered. A cool breeze flew by and hit her face, making her relax with a small sigh. A strand of her bangs flew into her face, and she shooed it away with an slightly annoyed expression on her face. Her mind raced with thoughts of terror and dread, but the curly haired elf shook her head to get the bad thoughts away. She decided that she did not wish to ponder on a sorrowful idea that would most likely ruin the rest of her day. Besides, it was beautiful and sunny outside with only a few chilly gusts of wind. It wasn't that bad, and she wasn't going to let her memories mess it up. I curse memories, of their ways of turning you into someone you would never be, and the guilt they create that can overcome you. She thought.

Sighing, Amanes looked at Aldric, batted her eyes, and smiled. "Never mind about me. How have you been since the battle?" She asked softly. Her sword still was sitting in it's sheath in her belt, for she had not cared enough to take it out. She kind of enjoyed having her sword at her side, and who knows, maybe she might run into an Empire spy or something.

[Cloquet]

Aldric was a little surprised when she turned down his offer. Well maybe not completely surprised. He lowered his hand and awkwardly fingered the apple for a bit, he'd just hold onto it for the moment seeing as how he didn't want to go back over to where he had left the sack. He turned his gaze fro mthe apple, back to Amanes. Something was definitely bothering her, he could see that a few tears had run down her cheeks and she seemed... disconnected from everything around her.

His brows began to sink as she spoke some more. It was worse then he thought. Man, she really is sad about something or other. The look on her face, it reminded him of that one memory, the memory he had tried so hard to suppress lest he sink into a deep depression. It started to creep up again, he could see his mother by the pack mule barely managing to stay standing, his little brother weak from hunger, and himself so afraid and... No, no.. He shook his head before he got any farther into the memory. He would not let his past, or more specifically that time of his life, interpret who he was.

He looked away for a moment as she tried to move on from whatever was bothering her and try to have a conversation, the kind acquaintances were suppose to have. “Oooh, fine, fine... You know packing apples, searching alleyways...” He bit the inside of his lip as he finished. He never did like pleasantries, they were an attempt for people to hide what they were truly thinking by wearing the mask created by them. Of course that was his opinion. Still he didn't like it, “Listen, whatever it is that happened is important. You seem pretty upset about it. I don't care if you tell me or not, but you feel better when you talk to someone.” She had that were cat of course so he was content to let them talk about whatever it was. All he knew was that he had made friends at the orphanage to talk to which had encouraged him about that situation, until they left. That was probably why he liked talking to people. He was actually surprised at how sentimental he was being though, maybe it was because he didn't like seeing people upset, especially women, they always seemed to be more sensative then men.

[Kathena]

Amanes glanced up at Aldric curiously. He cared about what was wrong with her... Only a few other creatures had ever cared. Her expressionless face turned into a smile. "I-i think I would feel better if I talked to someone. Thank you." The elf whispered just loud enough for the human to hear. She sighed deeply and blinked slowly. She didn't feel like telling about Azahel, but it seemed right. He seemed to want to know what was wrong with her. I guess it would be alright. Silis was just as sad about Cyen, Shemis, Dubuer, and Verque. It only makes since I would be sad about someone I had known for all my life... She thought twirling her hair with her fingers. Looking up at Aldric after being deep in thought, she sighed, and began to speak.

"Yes, I am upset. You see, when we got back to camp Silis and I told each other what happened after we left Ellesmera. I told her of the journey four of my five best friends and I took to get to the Varden. I also told her about how the friends who came with me died," Amanes said hesitating. She hated that memory most of all. The last thing that anyone of them said to her was what Dubuer told her in her mind. He had told her he loved her before healing her wound and dying. He was someone she would never forget, but yet someone she would have to learn to forget. "Then it was Silis' turn. My mother was terribly ill once I left to join the Varden. Silis was left to take care of Azahel, and she couldn't do it without help. She had no experience with healing, and my mother died within a few hours. If I had known, I wouldn't have left.... If I didn't leave she would still be alone."

Amanes glanced down at the cobblestone in shame. What would he think about her story? Would he think it was her fault, or would he think of it as something that was just suppost to happen. She hoped he didn't think it was her fault. She had lost four friends lately, and now had three more. She didn't wish to have to give them up too. The dirty blonde haired elf looked at Aldric, staring into his eyes before looking away once more.

[Cloquet]

Amanes, did seem happy that he had made an attempt to help her out. He did feel better about it now that he had gotten that off his chest. Although he never did like to stick around for extremely sappy conversations and he didn't expect Amanes to say much more other then her short thank you. So he nodded then looked back over to where he had left the apples by the side of the building. He wasn't exactly ecstatic about the idea of going back to work. But he began to take a step back over to the sack of apples. His foot froze above the cobble stone street when he heard Amanes continue on with a story of what had happened. Alright... I'll stay a little bit longer... He turned back towards her and listened intently, a little embarrassed that he had been caught mid step.

He scratched his head as she finished up explaining. Well he had sort of asked for that with the whole 'what you're upset about is important' line. He still wasn't entirely sure why he had such a strong urge to say that. Baffled, he tried to form the right words to say, something that wouldn't sound offending or whimpy, “I'm sorry to hear that...” He glanced down at the street then back up towards Amanes, who seemed really insecure about what she had just told him. He realized how lonely she must be and how long it must have been since she had spoken with anyone about something like this. Elves were surprisingly more human then Aldric had ever comprehended. It would probably be best to say something more to her, but he wasn't sure what to say. He didn't want to give her his whole life story, at least not yet. “Eh... It doesn't matter what could have been. What is, is. I've lost a lot of people close to me as well and I find it useful not to dwell on the memories.”

It suddenly occurred to him that he had practically blocked out all of the thoughts from his childhood. The sudden realization shocked him, no less, had he really done that? How could he block out every thought of his mother, father, and brother? Because he was scared of a little pain? He felt his heart sink and his brow sunk slowly as he stared at a pebble between his feet. “It's hard, but it's good not to forget who they were.” He was surprised yet again at what he had just said. Oh man... I should probably get going, this might get to awkward... again. His face felt warm as he looked up at Amanes and scratched the back of his head again.