Beautiful Ride(Elaniver:Open)

[Lady Nayeli]

”Nasuada… Is there really a reason why you brought me out to the desert?”

[/color] Turin was always worried about me and always wanting to know why, but I just glanced back at him, smiling before I pulled my face cover over my lips, allowing only my eyes to show. He chuckled, I could hear him as he traveled along the desert, where the grass and sand met. I had come out here months before and I enjoyed being able to relax for a change. As long as I looked like a common traveler, empire dragons would not come around, nor would their soldiers. I pulled the horse I was on to a stop, the dark gray horse stood still for just a moment before lowering his head and eating the grass. Turin wore the same bulky clothes I did, which protected us from the suns rays. He hid his face like I did mine, but slightly lower to allow more of his nose to show.

”Do I have to have a reason, Turin?”[/color] He shock his head, checking his sword and daggers which were beside his right knee tied to the saddle. He road a bay horse and I looked ahead. The desert and plains met and it was just so peaceful since not many people came this far east. We continued on from there, going south since we had already gone north today, it was time to head south, back towards the mountains and then west, back to Surda. I knew we have a few hours of travel ahead and I had already told Turin to be sure the guards knew if we were not back in a good time, they were to come after us, but I had a good feeling everything would go along fine.

”Nasuada… Storm clouds are heading this way, we should get some shelter,”[/color] I turned my head and nodded as I saw the dark clouds looming to the west. I urged the gray horse forward towards a small patch of trees, happy that we were getting closer to the mountains. The trees were a good sign, but the storm would hold us up big time. As we entered the small patch of trees, I was able to dismount the gray horse and watched as Turin did the same and took mine. ”Nasuada, do you need anything to drink?”[/color] I turned and nodded my head, taking the water skin and gulping down some water. The desert always made me thirsty, but I still loved it.

Maybe it was because my ancestors were from the desert and my father use to tell me stories of them. I took in a breath and thought I heard something. I went for my dagger slowly and held the pommel which was under the clothes I wore. Turin also heard it and grabbed his sword, taking it out and holding it firmly within his hands. ”Show yourself!”[/color]
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Word Count: 0.488
Tagged: No One
Status: Done::Elaniver::Open
Comments: Completely sucked, but it will get better
Color Code: Nasuada - E3E086 :: Turin - 4B63CD
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[Elanzaros]

Mizaros walked, something he rather liked doing in this part of the world, the fact that he could almost glide his way across such terrain as desert served to remind him just how special he was. Yes, they had ousted him all those years ago, but they would one day find themselves faced with an incredibly vengeful royal. That is, if his business in Alageisia was soon finished with, it wasn’t a particularly uneventful place, too many events were occurring for such a small place. Mizaros of course had grown up in the Beors, not exactly a crampt place to grow up. Still he had proven himself to be more resistant to the environment he now surveyed than the owner of the singular white hand, sticking claw like out of the sand before him, even now being slowly covered by the occasional shift in the sand. A smile crept across the elegant elflike features behind the long hair of Mizaros Xelsare, his almost scarily long sword jutting out behind him, thin, shining and light with the advantage of Elven smithing from beyond the Beors. He resumed walking, stepping with deliverance on the slightly twitching hand that would join the forgotten fallen.

It was not long after he had started walking however when he heard voices, just over the ridge. He continued, slightly more light footed, curiousity getting the better of him. There weren’t too many types who visited the desert nowadays. Those scum of the cutters wishing to dispose of those they had been paid to dispose of were just one of the classes. Another was the soldiers, the ones being punished for disobedience or daring to speak out of turn, prompting a couple of miles jog in the blaze of heat. Other than that however, Mizaros couldn’t think of any reason why anyone would want to spend too much time here. He was of course out for number one, it would take a lot to gain his loyalty and even then the wrong move could just as easily take it away. These visitors to the desert would have to be judged before action.

Just as he was nearing the voices however one of them raised to address what could only be him. So these were not standard thieves wishing to bury loot in the impossible hope that they would be able to recover it, neither were they poorly trained assassins disposing of another job. These people were something else.

He stepped over the ridge to see his quarry at the foot of it, one with his sword firm in his hands, the other with her hand in her clothing, assumingly holding a knife of some sort. Mizaros smirked to himself calmly, who were these people exactly? To be here now so alert. He slowly unsheathed the incredibly long sword at his side slowly bring it up and round to rest behind his neck over his shoulder. “Now...who would you two be?” He said thoughtfully, walking lightly down the ridge, still surveying them both. “Forbidden lovers maybe? Running from disapproving fathers...no, they never have swords like that...”

[Wild Dog]

The vulture looked distantly at its meal. Now, the vulture wasn't a messy, disgusting bird that we commonly think it as. Nor the stupid, flirty bird that commonly lands at your backyard feeder. No, this vulture was civilized and intelligent, like all of its brethren. They generally tried to keep out of contact of humans, so not to disturb them. They do, however, have a disagreeable habit of eating carrion. To them, it is not disgusting, just a fact of their lives, as it is to you or me. Some vultures are picky. Only going after the fresh, juicy meat that a new kill often offers. Then there are the vultures living in barren, food-starved lands such as the desert. Because the land could not offer much life, the vultures ate anything that they saw. But, they never lost their sense of propriety. This vulture patiently waited for the others to arrive. Since it saw the meal first, it would get first dibs, but it waited. No sense eating all this meat by itself.

Now, even though the bird was intelligent, it never tried to figure out why two men were laying in the middle of nowhere. One appeared too old for most birds. But, again, this was a harsh environment. The bird wouldn¡¦t know it, but the man was 1200 some years old. An elf, in fact. He wore a yellow robe, with designs all over it, depicting the sun in many forms. The other was another elf, but, to us, would have been quite a sight even if he was a human. The bird, however, didn't think that four arms on a human (or elf) were anything but ordinary. The vulture was interested in the four armed man, but because of the amount of meat on it. The extra pair of arms was just more meat. Nothing amazing. The vulture, in his cool, civilized manner, peered over the bodies. Many slash marks were on the bodies, but nothing too bad. The old one had a nasty bonk on his head. The vulture jumped back quickly. It was sure the four armed one moved. Then he moved again. The old one seemed to stir too. The vulture thought about it, and decided not to kill these people. They had enough problems already. If they would, say not make it, the bird would be back.

Who am I? The thought floated though my mind. Who am I? What is my name? All seemed of great importance to me at this time. Who am I? What is my name? Scholars and philosophers have debated the first question for a long time. If they can¡¦t come up with an answer, then why should I try? The second one, was one I could answer. My name. My name. Several came to mind, but I discarded those. They seemed almost friends' names. Shu'itan. Yes, that fits. Grand Master of the Sun. Yes, the pieces to the puzzle are fitting together. Through closed eyes, the sun still blinded me. Sun? Yes, that is right. The Sun is quite precious to me. Where am I? Again with the questions. Ah yes, the desert. I tried to open my eyes to confirm what my brain had come up with. They wouldn¡¦t open. Why was I here? I winced. My body felt like it was on fire. Why? My mind, flashed.

Puffing and running, we tried to escape from these slavers. They were too fast, and had horse. They chased us down, one by one, until the Spider and I were the only ones left. The rest, including the Snake, were locked away. I couldn¡¦t get them. The Spider fell heavily down, arrow in the ribs. I shouted, the desert exploded with wind. Sand pierced my eye. The blackness overcame me.

Yes, that was it. Now I remember. My fellow children, the Suncloaks, had been taken by slavers. The sinners carried them off, assuming we were dead. Without a knowledge of who they were, I could never track them. But, why were why in the desert anyway. No sane man would walk here. As I felt The Spider's arms grab me, my mind flashed again.

"I will go out into the wilderness, and find the Sun Children, the lost tribe of the elves, and bring them back. United, we will crush the Empire under our heel", I proclaimed. The audience went wild. Cheers and chants sounded though the streets. I stood there, sun blazing forth, as my mission began. To find the Sun Children, who guided me though their wisdom, was going to be a tough challenge. But I, Shu'itan, Grand Master of the Sun, will complete this task. As my memory faded away, the cheers still went on strong. They spurred my soul.

Yes, to find the Sun Children. The Spider grunted, his four arms around me, "Eh, wake up, Master. Wake up, they are gone" That explained the names floating through my head, they were the names of the people taken. I burned inwardly. Heathens! They caused my much pain. I won't rest until I find them. Finally, I was able to open my eyes. The sun burned down at me, but the landscape became clear. My whole body ached. But not as bad. The Spider, bless his soul, had tended them. We didn't have any water, but he tied them up. My staff lay in the sand next to me. Tentatively, so not to open any more cuts, I reached for it and closed my fingers over it's familiar shape. I needed to stay anchored in reality. Wincing, I leaned forward. Everywhere my eye pointed, I saw only sand. Except for a patch of what looked like glass. Remembering my fire balls being thrown at the slavers, it didn't come to a surprise to me. Heat plus sand equals glass, after all.

"Master, are you okay, I have been worried over you" The spider interrupted my thoughts. The elf was a brute, but sadly lacking in brains. His four arms caused him to be thrown out of his village. I found him and took him under my wing, so to speak. He and the Snake, were my trusted advisors, and friends, come to think about it. The Snake was just the opposite of the Spider. Thin, scholarly, he had a quick mind and a tongue to match it. He was my spy. And now, he was gone. I needed to find him. Badly. But, can I walk? No time for thinking, I used my staff as a helper, raising me up. My legs were weak, but I am alive. Such a feeling this was.

For the first time since coherency, my thoughts were clear. The land was quite beautiful, in a wild, dangerous sort of way. Many a traveler cursed what I admired, the sun. It shone brightly, illuminating everything. I felt so alive. And tired. Sitting back down again, I quickly evaluated what we had. The Spider had his pack, thankfully. In it, were food, a map, water skin (though empty), and two headbands. We used them to dampen the sun's rays. When tied over our eyes, we could still see, but everything was faint. Reaching for one, I tied it over my eyes. Noticeably, the world grew dark. Perfect. While I did this, voices came to my hearing. Tensing, I tried to grab onto my magic, but it eluded me. I was weak. Too weak. The spider grabbed his swords, two of them, in his four hands. We waited, trying to figure out if they were hostile or not. Friend or foe, we needed water. In the distance, the bodies that the voices belonged too materialized, but their were too far away for me to catch what they were saying.