[Burhan] Into the Vanwilds

[Vakhanor]

Arc 716, Ymiden 1

Dew clung to the crisp morning air as the first day of Ymiden dawned over the mountainous horizon. Awake with the rising sun Vakhanor stood at the gate eagerly awaiting the arrival Lady Elyna Burhan. Only a few days prior the boat from Andaris had docked into port and the two had agreed on a meeting to travel out into the Van Wilds on an adventure with Bjorn and in his ignorance of the area Vakhanor agreed knowing little of the dangers other than the woman had suggested taking her as a guide.

Among other things Vakhanor had taken the time to buy a few things including a medium sized, strapped leather satchel to place a few food items in just in case they got hungry and Bjorn started whining. Stood at his Bjorn's clung to his finger. The boy was still sleepy from only just being woken up and kept a drowsy silence "Vakh, when is the Princess going to get here?" he groaned rubbing his eyes.

"Soon," Vakh said with a large smile as he knelt down to fix the boys jacket "Make sure you are polite okay? Do what the nice lady says and no wandering off. You hear? You have gotta stick with me."

A little early in his arrival, the last thing Vakhanor wanted to do was make a noble wait. Skyrider or not, Elyna still held a title of status far above his station and anybody looking from the outside would have considered him lucky she even paid him any mind. Vakhanor had little fondness for noblemen and women, the cool reception of his father had taught him disdain for their attitudes toward the poor or more common folk. Not adverse to talking to them, on the rare occasion Vakhanor was in their company he often felt an eerie sense of discomfort around and Elyna had not been exempt. It was a long shot but if she was a woman of her word like most nobles claimed to be he figured she would at least be there.

A long pause of silence lead Vakhanor into a brief state of paranoia. Checking his inventory the smith sifted through things one last time to make sure everything was accounted for, including his longsword. If there was anything he knew about the world it was that most creatures either wanted kill you, fight you, use you or eat you which none of usually ended very well.

[Elyna]

It was the perfect distraction from the thoughts that just wouldn’t quit. Sleep for the past few trials hadn’t come easy for the Noble woman and she was tired to the bone. Really, she should have been dreading a trip beyond the wall, but instead it was a challenge and something she could focus on, blocking out everything else. She wore her usual clothing, dark breaches and shirt, jerkin. A bow and quiver of arrows slung over her back, sword at her hip and hair braided away from her face and out of the way. With a child in tow she had no intention of venturing too far into the Vanwilds, but she had promised an adventure and exploration. A distant part of her was looking forward to traipsing back through the game paths of her own childhood, it had been that excitement which had caused her to suggest the idea in the first place. Now she clung to it, a spark of light in a dark world.

Approaching the gate she lifted her hand in greeting and smiled at Vakhanor and Bjorn, “morning,” she called across to them and lifted her gaze, the mist would clear off quickly as the sun rose higher, “we just have to wait a little bit,” she explained and pointed to the grey cloud edging back from the world, “you don’t want to go out in the mist, makes you see all kinds of things,” and that was as much information as she would share with a child. She didn’t want to terrify Bjorn before they set out, or give him nightmares. But the mist could turn your mind and leave you senseless to reality. A quarter break should be long enough though. She knelt down and fixed the child with a firm expression, “you and I need to work together today…there might be things that we have to do quickly. Or you might suddenly need to run…so if I say we have to run, you have to make sure you run and that Vakhanor runs too, okay? I look after you, and you look after your brother…” She held out her hand to seal the agreement before straightening once more.

This was good. A way to forget the Immortal being that had appeared before her, a way to forget her regrets of that night when she’d sought trouble and found ‘Mac’. A way to most importantly, block out any thoughts of her future husband, the man she had met a few days before, Elyna shuddered and nodded to the guards to open the gates. It swung easily on oiled hinges, not at all like the creaking and groaning she remembered from her youth. Most of all…a way to forget what the Immortal had told her, that Malcolm had nearly died. All she wanted to do, was run back to Andaris and get caught up with him, make sure that he really was alive and he was alright. But here she was, trapped by her family and responsibilities to remain in Burhan for a few trials more at least.

Elyna realised she’d been quiet and forced a smile towards the tall red-haired man she’d come to know on the ship, “did you find what you were looking for? The smith?” The Skyrider led the way out of the compound and into the Vanwilds, it was only a few steps until they were surrounded by trees, reaching up towards a distant sky. Birds chattered and called down, undisturbed by the presence of the beings below, humans just beyond the wall were not uncommon. The Noble set out towards the North, weaving a slow path over well-trodden undergrowth. Ferns were springing up, knee height for Elyna and slowly unfurling bright fronds towards a sun that was breaking through in dappled spots of light as the mist continued to rise and ebb back from the world. Once it was fully burnt off, Elyna would breathe easier, as it was, she kept her hand on the hilt of her sword and her eyes scanning the track.

“Watch out for rabbits,” she told the child as he passed her, “they’ll be lots of young around and they’re silly, they stick to the path and aren’t quick to run away…” she glanced at the Smith, “you don’t want a pet do you…?” She asked quietly.

[Vakhanor]

Awe struck by Elyna’s presence Bjorn’s big innocent brown eyes starred at her like she was some kind of goddess. It was very rare that the child came into contact with females and when she took his hand he laughed and jerked his hand away with a large cheeky smile. Whether or not the small boy had actually understood anything that the lady had however remained a mystery, he appeared to be in an excited mood now that he was awake and was running around, jumping and much to the guards’ general amusement or dismay started pretending to be a dragon.

“Come on Bjorn. Take my hand,” Vakhanor called, beckoning Bjorn to his side. Uncertainty for his brother's safety brewed in the smith’s heart when Elyna spoke about the mist, it couldn’t be that bad right? If it was that dangerous she wouldn’t have invited him.

An eerie sense of quiet fell over group as they travelled through the elegant thickets of shrubbery and foot trodden plant life and Vakh couldn’t help but feel an increasing sense of unease. He could not place the feeling, yet there was something in Elyna’s face that made his insides churn, this was a bad idea.

“Nah we-“he was suddenly interrupted by Bjorn rushing ahead of the path away from them in search of the fluffy little creatures.

“Shit! Bjorn Baelithar, get back here right now!!!” his voice boomed through the trees and scared off the chirruping birds.

“No!” the child yelled back in the grumpiest voice that he could, still searching for that rabbits along the side of the pathway.

“Sorry Elyna,” he muttered as he carefully tried to make his way across the path without tripping and wandered a small way ahead of her “Come back! If I count to three you will not get any honey for next two seasons and you’re grounded.” Vakhanor almost never had to raise his voice or punish Bjorn for bad behaviour but there were times like these, particularly around women when the kid liked to show off.

“No!” Bjorn protested, the boy had finally found a bunny and reached out to pat it.

“One,” Vakh said in a stern voice, why did Bjorn choose today of all days to be a little shit?

Nervous under the pressure of Vakhanor’s count down the boy began to panic and the bunny, sensing his discomfort ran away “Bunny! Nooo don't run” Bjorn exclaimed, chasing after it.

Fear pounded in Vakhanor’s heart “Two!” he growled, following along behind.

Forced to a halt a look of sheer terror passed over Vakhanor’s face when he realised that Bjorn was no longer chasing the bunny. Curiosity overcame the child’s sense of fear and the little boy had naively run over to touch the mist.

Bjorn! can you hear me Bjorn? It’s you mother! a feminine voice rung in Bjorns's mind.

“Mother?” the child shouted in delight “where are you mother?!”

“Bjorn!!!” Vakhanor cried at the top of his lungs but within the blink of an eye his brother was gone. No, no, no, this could not be happening! The smith sought to the Skyrider for an answer, any answer, there had to be a way out “Elyna! What did you happens when you enter the mist?” the words rolled of his tongue as the sound of Bjorn’s deafening scream filled the air “Vakh! Help me!”

Tears filled Vakhanor’s eyes, what had he done? He knew this was a mistake the moment it had been suggested to him “I’m coming!” he called, hoping Bjorn could hear him.

“Vakh!” one final helpless cry came from the depths of the mist, and then there was silence.

[Elyna]

The Skyrider was not an idiot, and a native of Burhan she’d made sure the mist was risen before they’d left the compound. There were always a few small pockets that took longer to burn off, in the pits and valleys of the region, but she’d led them onto most traveled path through the woods, planning an easy trip along the route towards the river, a pause for a rest and she had intended to plot their route from there.

Never, in all of her Arcs, had she seen such stubborn mist lingering near the main route. She’d been looking for stray deer, or signs of badgers, owls and sparrows. It would have been rare beyond belief for anything larger or dangerous to approach the wall of the Fort, bears when they could would avoid humans, and so would wolves. She also hadn’t accounted for the unpredictable nature of the boy, let loose from the confines of the walls and the boat he reached out towards the mist and she was already running towards him.

Elyna didn’t pause to answer Vakh as the child was enveloped by a wash of the white cloud. She dived, skidding on her belly, holding her shirt sleeve tight to her eyes, nose and mouth as the other hand scrabbled blindly on the forest floor. Nails snagging on bracken and first before her fingers brushed warm skin and she gripped the boys leg and dragged him back in a swift motion, falling back onto the path as she did so. Her front was covered in mud, but she knelt up, checking the child’s pulse, “it makes you see things, nightmares…” she explained frantically, “he’s so young it shouldn’t...”

The Skyrider scrambled to her feet, “quick, grab him, follow me!” The child’s screams would haunt her and they dogged her feet as she ran, beckoning Vakh. When he followed she led the way down to the river, it was a sharp slope and she stumbled, skidding over the mud, arms outstretched for balance before splashing into the icy waters, “put him in the water!” Terror had knocked the boy unconscious, surely no more than that? Cleansing the mist-touch, it was the only thing she could think of. It had worked for Ed, when he’d fallen into a pocket of it as a child. Her heart felt as though it was going to break out of her chest, she couldn’t look at Vakh.

[Vakhanor]

Jerked backward by the touch of a hand around his small leg Bjorn fell to floor and with a loud thunk the force of the impact lodged the root of a tree into the back of his skull. Dead before they even arrived at the lake, the boy’s body lay lifeless “No,” Vakhanor whispered and waded through the water to stand beside Elyna as his fingers ran through the boy’s hair and over the wound. Wide-eyed in disbelief he starred at his blood soaked fingertips “…my boy,” his voice shuddered, tears welling in his eyes “not my boy.”

Vakhanor exploded in a guttural roar of emotion and clung to the dead body. There was nothing left, there was no cute and cheeky smile to remind him that he had something to look forward to, no hopeful little voice running around like a Jacabon or nag him for honey. Bjorn had been his life, he meant everything to Vakhanor and now he was dead.

Cold within the icy grip of the cool flowing river he looked up to the shadows of the looming canopy and prayed that this was only a dream. “I was yelling at him,” he said, lowering his brother’s corpse into the stream and watched the blood flow across the rocks.

Unwavering guilt stung like a dagger in chest “I shouldn’t have yelled… shouldn’t have taken him out here in the first place. What the fuck was I thinking?” his thoughts raced off his tongue.

He looked to Elyna almost as if he were in a trance and reached out, touching her to confirm that all this was real “What have I done?”

Shock finally sunk in “What have I done?” he repeated and stood stared blankly at the body held between his fingertips.

The day that most considered a celebration, the beginning of the hot season would forever be remember by him as the day he doomed his little brother to die.

[Elyna]

Elyna had no choice but to recoil, pressing her hands to the back of the child’s skull she realised when it was too late and she stumbled back out of the water as fast as her legs would carry her. She was shaking, knees threatening to give way beneath her, death. All she bought was death. An innocent adventure in the woods had turned so catastrophically wrong. What could she say, what could she do? There would be no apology that could undo this so she didn’t give breathe to one. Tears rolled in silent rivers down her cheek and she finaly dropped, sitting on the edge of the bank. The sunshine through the trees made a mockery of her shredded heart.

“It isn’t your fault,” they were the only words that managed to find voice. It was hers.

[Vakhanor]

Vakhanor could feel the warmth of his heart fade into the cold embrace of oblivion and for the first time he watched a noble cry. Lifting the small dead body of his brother out from the water he carefully set it down by a nearby tree, there was nothing left for it now.

“Goodbye brother,” he whispered underneath a saddened breath.

Shrouded by the cloud of fate’s harsh consequences, the light that split through the trees was dulled into a grey hue and the breeze felt like ice against his face. He turned his eyes to face his companion perched shivering on the riverbank, her soft voice whispering words of reassurance. It didn't matter whose fault it was any more, the fact was that his brother was dead and another did not need to die today.

Vakhanor removed the discomfort of his wet shirt and sat beside her. With nothing to say he wordlessly took her into his arms, holding her against the warmth of his unnaturally hot skin as he sat staring into the wild terrain reflecting upon the events that had happened. Signs of vibrant life sprung from beneath the undergrowth where the head of a doe popped out to inspect its surrounding and disappeared off into the trees the moment it saw them.

In a brief and gentle moment of calm the world came to a halt as two broken souls sat side by side in the unity of each other’s pain, branded into their aching chests by the bittersweet finality of death. He was consoled by the single solace that he had done what he could to give Bjorn a good life, and hoped the boy had enjoyed it.

“It’s not yours either,” he said, finally calm enough to shatter the silence.

[Elyna]

Retreated into numbness Elyna was pulled into Vakh’s embrace without resistance. It was a strange sensation, to have his chest against her shoulder. There’s was not an intimate friendship, and yet she didn’t feel she could push him away. She’d just killed his little brother, it would be too harsh and cold. Though she felt icy in comparison to the heat that emanated; and now she knew his secret too. It was too close to the heat of Malcolm’s skin for her to miss the similarities, the smith was art Aukari.

He told her it wasn’t her fault and she nodded silently. Let him think whatever he wanted, she wasn’t going to argue with him. But she didn’t believe the words, not for a second. She was responsible; wholly responsible.

Wrapped up in a strangers arms and trying to give comfort, when she had nothing left to give. Numb with grief and guilt Elyna closed her eyes. The world was falling apart around her, there was so little hope to grasp at and now, more than ever she was drowning. Looking out at the world, was like peering up from the bottom of the deepest pit. Ropes were thrown down occasionally and she’d start to climb up, only for the rope to be cut. She could throw her own lines up too, and start trying to creep towards the light, but the hope she risked extending was even quicker to fall. At the end of the trial, she remained at the bottom of her pit, more bruised and more broken than before. It was getting hard and harder to try. The visit from the immortal had cast down a rope of steel, a purpose, something she’d believed unbreakable. But why would it be any different? She could already imagine the threads fraying, she’d only start to hope for a better life, and it would be destroyed around her; so why try? She turned and pressed a single kiss to Vakhanor’s cheek before she stood up and offered him a hand once more.

“We should go back.”

Imagine what they would say, if she were found in the arms of a half-naked man? Imagine what her mother would scream, or how Marcus would look at her? Could she summon the energy to care?

[Vluharqih]

Rewards

Elyna

Skills
Persuasion +2
Field Craft +1
Medicine +1
Navigation +1

Basic Knowledge
Burhan: Changed since Childhood
The Mist: Slow to disappear
Specific Knowledge
Medicine: Mist Cleansing can only do so much
Guilt: Causing a Death
Bjorn: Young and Carefree
Bjorn: Dead
Vakhanor: Aukari
Vakhanor: Heartbroken
Rewards/Injuries
Mentally a little unstable, but that's all

Vakhanor

Skills
Leadership +3
Persuasion +1
Detection +1
Basic Knowledge
The Mist: Dangerous
Rabbits: The Young are Stupid
Specific Knowledge
Bjorn: Show-off
Bjorn: Dead
Pain: Death of a Son
Guilt: Causing a Death
Vahalar 1: Anniversary of Bjorn's Death
Elyna: Blames Herself
Rewards/Injuries
6sn for Leather Bag

Remarks:

The warning of "lots of feels" didn't prepare me for that. I wasn't expecting much, since I knew nothing about Bjorn before starting this, but you both wrote the sorrow your respective PC's felt really well. Just remember to do a quick once-over after you write it to catch any small spelling mistakes. Overall, it was well written, and I enjoyed reading it.