Lunie
Nomad
A Bernese hunter that always seems to get in over her head.
Posts: 141
Profession: Wanderer
Affiliation: Bern
Guild: Order of the Bear
Affinity: Fire
Profile: ║ Selunae ♦ Journal ║
OoC Alias: Edgewind/Lunie
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Post by Lunie on Jun 4, 2017 7:49:37 GMT -6
Raeger kept watch outside of Selunae’s room, whether to make sure she didn’t bolt again or to be there if she needed him wasn’t made clear. It was likely a combination of the two, but the huntress made no move to leave her bed that night, much less leave the house. In fact, she had cried herself to sleep before Elle had returned home and only slumber brought an end to her tears. What else could she do but cry? There was no ambiguity of whose shoulders bore fault. There was no bright side to look for. People she loved died because she had left. If only she had said something, anything! Her guilt was oppressive and the feeling that she had betrayed them made her sick. It nauseated her and made her feel like vomiting. She was powerless, truly powerless.
Selunae was truly grateful for Kyra staying to comfort her. It broke her heart when she awoke the following morning only to find the exhausted brunette slumped over the side of the bed. The huntress wasn’t sure how she’d make it up to the novice, but she intended to find a way. As the morning sun filtered through old curtains in her window, Selunae rubbed her eyes and stretched her limbs with an emphatic yawn completing the gesture. She didn’t get up right away, however. This had been the first night in so long that she had spent in her own bed, and aside from wanting the moment last she also couldn’t bear the thought of rousing Kyra.
A gloom still hung over the huntress and the revelations of the previous night would still need to be addressed when she rose from bed. An enticing scent was filling the room though, perhaps it had been what woke Selunae to begin with. Breakfast was cooking and her mouth watered and stomach began to rumble, disrupting her pensive mood. The huntress had intended to eat with her family last night, but events had taken a different turn.
With another yawn, the huntress raised to sit up in bed. She blinked hard, adjusting to the brightening sunlight that announced it was still morning. She still didn’t want to get out of bed and for the moment she waited. Waited and worried about the hunters. Were any of them still alive? She hadn’t exactly asked questions last night. They couldn’t.. all be gone..right?
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Kyra
Myrmidon
A girl from Lucerne trying to find her place in the world.
Posts: 104
Profession: Wanderer/Mercenary
Affiliation: Bern
Affinity: Dark
Profile: ~Kyra~
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Post by Kyra on Jun 4, 2017 8:20:04 GMT -6
Kyra was fast asleep, exhausted from staying up last night, comforting Lunie until she was positive that she'd fallen asleep. Only then had she allowed herself to collapse into slumber, worn out from all the fighting and crying that had been done that day. Even Lunie sitting up didn't cause her to awaken, but rather it was a portion of the sunlight lazily shining into the bedroom that shone right into her face that caused her to open her eyes slowly, groaning a bit as she adjusted to a spot that wouldn't blind her.
She didn't sit up quite yet, instead laying in her side and propping her head up with one hand, turning to Lunie as the scent of what she presumed was breakfast wafted into the room. "How are you doing? I know what you were told last night isn't easy to hear. Just remember that I'll listen to anything you have to say. We're friends now, and as far as I'm concerned, inseparable ones at that. Two lost souls from the same city, searching for who they really are, that's what it seems like to me. I'll do whatever it takes to get you back on your feet, so that we can get back out there and do some real adventuring!"
Kyra wasn't sure if her little pep talk would come across as cliche or lame, but if it helped Lunie even a bit, then it was a good start. She moved over and gave her a tight embrace, embodying rather than saying the phrase It's gonna be alright... Kyra thought to herself as she was hugging Lunie, Is it gonna be alright Kyra? Is it really? You're not some prophet, or up amongst the gods. Are you really going to tell Lunie everything will be okay, when things could very well get even worse? Kyra retorted back in her head, arguing with her own oppressive questioning, I'll make sure it's okay. I'll.. I'll figure out something... I hope...
"L-Lunie, I know you're still probably very emotional now, and may not want to talk about it, but hear me out here. I have a bit of a plan. Your father said that a few hunters returned, didn't he? What if we could go and talk to them? Maybe they could tell us how many bandits there are, then we'd know what we're up against. I doubt us two alone could take out all those bandits, but maybe if we could get the help of some of the guards in town, or anyone able-bodied enough here in the outskirts, we could maybe drive them off for good. It's.. just a thought, though..."
Kyra could see her father's reaction now, if he was still alive. His own flesh and blood daughter, devising some tactical strategy, would likely have brought a smile to his face. If the plan could work, that is...
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Lunie
Nomad
A Bernese hunter that always seems to get in over her head.
Posts: 141
Profession: Wanderer
Affiliation: Bern
Guild: Order of the Bear
Affinity: Fire
Profile: ║ Selunae ♦ Journal ║
OoC Alias: Edgewind/Lunie
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Post by Lunie on Jun 4, 2017 9:48:38 GMT -6
Another deep yawn pierced the silence as the groggy huntress continued to resist the urge to scoot out of bed to find the source of the deliciousness that continued to distract her. Selunae didn’t even notice as Kyra stirred from sleep until the novice’s voice disrupted her thoughts. She wore a brave face, and even met Kyra’s gaze with a genuine smile, even if it was a little weak.
“It just doesn’t feel.. real ya know? I never knew that my father and I had been supplying bandits all this time. It’s..a lot to take in. I always felt so safe here. I’ve never even heard of skullhound bandits before, even. My life.. was it a lie? Just a lie that we all lived together here? I always felt so peaceful around here, but was it ever real? You’re the only thing that feels genu- ..genny- ugh.. real to me here now. I’m ..glad.. you were here with me.”
Kyra’s embrace came with perfect timing, as a couple silent tears rolled down Selunae’s cheeks. No other tears followed them, she’d cried enough over her woes already. She rested her cheek on the novice’s shoulder and took a deep breath, drawing reassurance from the steadfast words of her friend.
“Did he say that some returned? I was such a mess last night that I don’t even remember. I’m sorry you had to see me like that, but I don’t know what I would’ve done without you.. I guess this is what it’s like to have.. a big sister.” Selunae pulled back from Kyra and looked into her eyes with a warm smile.
“Yeah, that’s a good idea and maybe if we get some people to fight the bandits for us, we can sneak in and get the hunters outta there ourselves. Whaddaya think? First, though, I think I wanna go fight that breakfast. I’m starvin’!”
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Kyra
Myrmidon
A girl from Lucerne trying to find her place in the world.
Posts: 104
Profession: Wanderer/Mercenary
Affiliation: Bern
Affinity: Dark
Profile: ~Kyra~
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Post by Kyra on Jun 4, 2017 10:42:40 GMT -6
A big.. sister? Lunie hasn't even known me for one day, and she already sees me as a big sister? I-I don't know what to say.. I never had any siblings, so.. I guess if she wants to act like a younger sister to me, more power to her! Kyra smiled at the thought of having a little sister, even if she was only a year younger, and not technically a blood related sister. Who knew, maybe this would help bring them that much closer as friends.
As Lunie was questioning her past right in front of her, Kyra spoke up and said, "I know it's hard to believe anything after what you heard last night, but I'm sure that more of it was real than you think right now. Your family was real, the hunters you knew, this Master Flint you mentioned, all of them. It was just disrupted by the bandits. That doesn't mean your family didn't love you, or the hunters didn't see you as one of their own, alright?" Kyra made sure to be as gentle as possible in the way she was saying things, so as not to make Lunie even more upset than she already was. Giggling a bit, she also added, "I believe the word you wanted was 'genuine'. Don't worry about me correcting you though. It's a bad habit, I guess."
"And yes, if I remember correctly, he said there were a couple hunters that returned alive from the bandits. All the others are probably either dead, imprisoned, or working with the bandits. Although, if we could sneak into their hideout like you suggested, maybe we could bring extra weapons with us, and give them to any imrisoned hunters if and when we break them out so that we can all help fight the bandits from the inside. And I'm sure any of them working with the bandits would likely side with us, especially upon seeing you there." Kyra was getting surprisingly fired up thinking up this plan, and she wondered if her father had ever had a similar rush doing this sort of thing. Maybe that's why he stayed with the army for so long, and why he'd never wish to be seen in public without his sword on him. He had the body and soul of a formidable soldier.
Kyra's stomach suddenly growled aggressively at Lunie's mention of breakfast. "Um, yeah, breakfast sounds great. Gods, I'm so hungry, I feel like I could eat that wolf from yesterday!"
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Lunie
Nomad
A Bernese hunter that always seems to get in over her head.
Posts: 141
Profession: Wanderer
Affiliation: Bern
Guild: Order of the Bear
Affinity: Fire
Profile: ║ Selunae ♦ Journal ║
OoC Alias: Edgewind/Lunie
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Post by Lunie on Jun 5, 2017 8:20:05 GMT -6
Selunae gave a tired smile as she was corrected. “Sorry, I never had any fancy schoolin’ or anything and have trouble with big words sometimes. It just feels so weird now to know that the danger I thought was far away has been here the whole time. I once thought bandits were just something old people made up to scare children into behaving,” the huntress blushed lightly and turned to the side, embarrassed to have admitted that. Of course, it didn’t help that her grandmother did claim that if she didn’t behave bandits would come in the night and grab her, back when she was seven. She’d made her father check for bandits for months after that before bed. Raeger had never been too impressed with his mother-in-law, and this certainly hadn’t improved his opinion of her.
Relief washed across Selunae’s expression of concern as Kyra confirmed that not all the hunters were lost to the bandits. Aside from being vital to the foodstores of the immediate area, the hunters were her friends as well. The thought of rescuing the others was inspiring. Well, the thought that they could rescue the others was inspiring, especially with the fervor the novice spoke with. She felt like she could charge the bandit camp with her new friend, though that was a silly thought.
“Hmm, I’m not sure we’d be so sneaky if we were luggin’ a buncha weapons around, but I bet the bandits would have a few layin’ about the place. Some armor too. If we could find where the bandits keep their stuff, I betcha we’d have a better chance.” Selunae remarked, thoughtfully.
“That would be kinda moronic, since the wolf was tryin’ to eat you yesterday,” Selunae laughed, sliding out of bed. Of course the word she was looking for was ironic but she was none the wiser. “Ugh.. I slept in my armor last night. No wonder my chest hurts this mornin’. Oh, hey, could ya unfasten the strap in the back for me? I have trouble with it.”
Unfastening a couple straps on the front, herself, eventually she was able to slide the armor up over her head. With a somewhat exaggerated sigh of relief, she tossed the armor onto her bed and focused her attention on untying the lace that kept the bracer snug on her left arm. No sooner than she had begun working her fingers on it, the lace broke and the entire thing fell to the floor.
“Wow, guess the wolf did a real number on that thing..,” the huntress sighed, looking down at the ruined remains. “Then again, it was pretty badly damaged from a fight with bandits already. Definitely gonna need a new one now though.”
With that out of the way, it was just a matter of removing her glove and boots, replacing the latter with more practical shoes. It was off to the breakfast table afterward. There was a humble spread of bread fresh from the oven and a several fruits. In the center of the table was a carafe of fresh milk as well. Noticeably, there was a lack of any sort of meat. Before Selunae could reach the table to sit, she was aggressively pulled into her mother’s arms. Elle Velsonne was slightly on the plump side, a few inches taller, and had long hair the same shade of red as her daughter, wore in a bun.
“Oh, Lulu.. You are going to send your mother to her grave, you are, running off like that! I thought I had lost you forever!” Elle clutched the young huntress tightly to her chest as if she were going to suddenly slip through her fingers.
“Ow ow ow! Mama, I can’t breathe! Too..tight!”
At that, the older woman released the death grip on her daughter and placed her hands on either side of Selunae’s face, kissing her forehead several times. “Never worry your mother like that again, you hear?!”
“I’m sorry mama, I love you!” the huntress wrapped her arms around her mother in her own bear hug grip. Elle groaned from the effort, but didn’t complain.
“I love you too dear, now sit. Eat up while the bread is still warm.”
“Oh! My new friend Kyra is here, she helped me with a wolf. Or.. I helped her, I guess it was kinda..both?” she giggled excitedly and gestured to the novice that had emerged behind her from the bedroom.
Elle gave a rather neutral look to Kyra, relieved that Lulu was making friends with other girls for once but disappointed at the sight of dried blood on both of them. She recognized the girl though, having seen her from time to time. They’d never spoke to each other and she was much more familiar with the teen’s mother, but she knew Kyra’s face and more importantly was familiar with the murder of her father. “Pleasure to meet you, Kyra. Hope you’re not going to be getting my daughter into any trouble. Please, sit and eat with us.”
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Kyra
Myrmidon
A girl from Lucerne trying to find her place in the world.
Posts: 104
Profession: Wanderer/Mercenary
Affiliation: Bern
Affinity: Dark
Profile: ~Kyra~
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Post by Kyra on Jun 5, 2017 9:34:39 GMT -6
As Kyra helped Lunie unfasten the back strap of her armor, she got a bit of a giddy feeling inside. So is this what it feels like to be a big sister? It's kind of.. nice. I wouldn't mind filling this role in the future if I need to.
When they exited Lunie's bedroom, Kyra's mouth watered a bit at the sight of the food. Though it may have been fairly plain and lacking of meat, it was still food regardless, and her stomach wasn't about to put up any sort of protest. Seeing Lunie embraced so hard by her mother was both heartwarming and concerning, as it was nice seeing them reunited, and that they loved each other so much, but Kyra also feared Lunie might be strangled to death in her mother's bear hug. Thankfully, that didn't end up being the case.
When Lunie introduced Kyra, she simply waved and said "Nice to meet you as well." She sat down quickly and started digging into the food. Once Elle had made the comment about getting into trouble, she added, "Oh, don't worry about that ma'am! Together, we're both pretty capable fighters. I'll make sure to keep Lunie safe if anything arises!"
After a little bit, and probably a fair bit of awkward silence, Kyra spoke up, mainly looking at Raegar "So, I remember hearing last night that a couple hunters managed to escape the bandits and return here, of I understood correctly? Is there any way we might be able to speak to them? I was hoping that we could judge the exact size and location of the bandits' hideout, along with their exact numbers, and whether they held any prisoners, which the two of us could sneak in to free after getting help from the city guards, and... er.." Kyra realized she was rambling on far longer than she should have, and had second thoughts of even mentioning this to Lunie's parents in the first place. Now she was blushing slightly, waiting for an answer, which she now expected to be adamant protest.
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Lunie
Nomad
A Bernese hunter that always seems to get in over her head.
Posts: 141
Profession: Wanderer
Affiliation: Bern
Guild: Order of the Bear
Affinity: Fire
Profile: ║ Selunae ♦ Journal ║
OoC Alias: Edgewind/Lunie
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Post by Lunie on Jun 5, 2017 11:18:55 GMT -6
Selunae blushed and grinned, not expected her abilites to be praised, especially after being pinned down by the wolf she couldn’t even land a single shot on. Sure, she had prevented Kyra from becoming a meal, but had she encountered the wolf alone herself she wouldn’t have even lasted as long as the novice.
The atmosphere around the table indeed was awkward though, as both parents were awaiting an explanation of sorts as to the whereabouts of their daughter for the past month, and Selunae never offered one, nor had any intent of doing so. She did indeed plan on slipping away later, and the less danger implied, the better her chances were. Instead, Raeger and Elle both regarded the pair of adventurers with alternating glances, with the woodsman clearing his throat in an attempt to cue his daughter to begin. She didn’t respond to it though, and began avoiding eye contact as if the bread and fruit were suddenly fascinating to her.
It was Kyra who broke the silence, and, munching on a mouthful of bread, Selunae soon wished she had been the one to speak first. She choked suddenly, trying to swallow the bread and intercept Kyra before she said too much, but all she could do is grab Kyra’s arm and by then the damage was done. The huntress coughed harshly several times as Elle’s mouth hung open in shock, appalled at what the novice had just blurted out.
“Selunae Marie, you will not be running off to fight bandits! Ray, say something you old fool!” To call the seamstress’s reaction an adamant protest was just scratching the surface of the full blown outrage that was beginning. “Tell her she’s not leaving this house!”
Raeger could only sigh in exasperation, rolling his eyes both at the adventurers’ intentions and at his wife’s outburst. That woman needed a pet dog to coddle or something. “Couldn’t this have waited until after breakfast? I just want to eat in peace”
Selunae gulped down half a glass of milk, and finally managed to force some words out. “Oh, you’re such a kidder, Kyra. I can’t believe you managed to say all that with such a straight face all serious-like,” the huntress nudged the novice with her elbow with a nervous chuckle. “We aren’t sneaking into any bandit hideouts. Ain’t that right, Kyra?”
Elle leveled a soul-piercing glare on her daughter. “You’re right. You aren’t going anywhere!” The irate seamstress then turned her gaze to Kyra, somehow looking even angrier. “As for you, I think it's time for you to leave!”
Selunae’s heart sank like a stone in the ocean. “But, mother-!”
Elle turned back to her daughter, furious. “Don’t ‘but’ me! The only ‘but’ here is gonna be your butt going to your room!” She then looked back to Kyra, who was still sitting at the table dumbfounded by this development. “Why are you still here?! Get out of my house! ..Selunae! Room! Now!”
The huntress looked to her friend in desperation, too stunned to even speak. In the brief moment their eyes met, the impending tears were very apparent and Selunae ran to her room before she could give her mother the satisfaction of seeing them. What happened next should have been plainly obvious, but the huntress was climbing out through the bedroom window before either parent thought to check on her, carrying her armor.
Kyra must have expected it, as the novice was there waiting. Embracing her friend immediately, Selunae did something very unexpected. She laughed. Tears streaming down her face, she laughed. At first it was awkward, but her laughter continued to grow as if this had all been a big inside joke between the two of them. Thus ended the huntress's return. It couldn't have gone any worse if she had tried, but it mattered little at this point. They had a rescue to plan.
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Kyra
Myrmidon
A girl from Lucerne trying to find her place in the world.
Posts: 104
Profession: Wanderer/Mercenary
Affiliation: Bern
Affinity: Dark
Profile: ~Kyra~
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Post by Kyra on Jun 5, 2017 12:13:21 GMT -6
Kyra wouldn't stop hugging Lunie at first when she emerged from her bedroom. She had tears going down her own face as well, possibly more, and between choking gasps, she said, "L-lunie.. I-I-I'm so sorry! I don't know what came over me... I.. I started okay, and my mind just took off in excitement, and now I ruined your reunion with your family, and... Wait... you're.. laughing..?" Though she found it strange given the circumstances, Lunie's laughter was admittedly contagious and she started giggling a bit herself before shushing Lunie. "Your parents don't know you left yet. They'll come after us if they hear anything. The problem is that in my stupidity, we couldn't figure out exactly which hunters returned. I'd say to visit all their houses, but that'd just draw attention to us... Maybe we should head into town to see the guards first?"
Kyra's heart sank a bit at what she was implying. They'd agreed on the way here not to go into Lucerne proper, but it seemed they'd need to with the way things were going. If nothing else, it would provide them shelter from Elle's ire. However, that meant that they ran the risk of coming across her own mother, and Kyra feared whether or not she would act very similarly to Elle. Taking a deep breath, Kyra continued, "I know we said we wouldn't go into the main city, but we need the guards' help if we want to succeed at this. That does mean we should probably go see my mother though so that she doesn't end up finding us and making things worse... I.. I just hope she isn't angry at me for leaving..." Another tear fell down Kyra's face as she thought about the possible reactions.
Kyra began dragging Lunie by the arm towards the main gate of the city. "Unfortunately, I think we should maybe leave Starchaser here until we're done in the city. He might prove distracting or draw unnecessary attention in case your parents come looking. He'll still be here for you when we get back, I'm sure."
Kyra led Lunie into the city, the guards letting them in without a problem. It helped that they didn't make eye contact. Kyra wasn't sure whether her mother had informed the guards to look for her, so she figured the less they saw of her face, the better. Eventually, they arrived at a nice house built primarily of stone, far from a mansion, but more than what many in the outskirts had. Taking a deep sigh, Kyra brought her hand up to the smooth wooden door, waiting for what seemed like hours for someone to answer, when really it was mere seconds.
The moment that Diana's eyes rested on the face of her daughter, who had been missing for over a day now, she immediately started crying, rushing over and embracing Kyra with a more delicate hug than Lunie's mother had done, which was fitting considering her more graceful frame. Seeing the lingering injuries on the two girls, Diana finally spoke up, "Kyra, I warned you not to run off, didn't I? You've gone and gotten yourself hurt! Oh gods, I knew this would happen... Please, please, I won't make you stand there any longer! Both of you, come right inside and have a seat so that we can talk more!"
Kyra couldn't put her finger on it, but her mother's reaction was not how she had expected. Either way, she appreciated the kindness and hospitality, as she was sure Lunie did too, compared to the hostility of the morning. As Kyra sat down, she said, "Mother, this is my new friend, Lunie. She's a huntress from the outskirts, and she helped me defeat a wolf that tried to attack me."
Once Kyra had introduced her new friend, Diana gave a polite smile and said, "Why hello there, Lunie. It's good to see that Kyra wasn't alone for the last day, at least. I'm glad you two are both safe and sound, albeit a bit.. scratched up."
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Lunie
Nomad
A Bernese hunter that always seems to get in over her head.
Posts: 141
Profession: Wanderer
Affiliation: Bern
Guild: Order of the Bear
Affinity: Fire
Profile: ║ Selunae ♦ Journal ║
OoC Alias: Edgewind/Lunie
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Post by Lunie on Jun 6, 2017 6:14:27 GMT -6
“Don’t worry too much, it’s not my first time runnin’ off like this ya know?” The huntress nudged Kyra to cheer her up a little. “Sorta figured it’d turn out like this somehow. At least I don’t have to sneak out in the middle of the night now. Did you see that look on my mother’s face though? Priceless! And can you imagine when she realizes I’m gone? I suppose we coulda come away with a tiny bit more information if I had maybe warned ya how bad my mother can be, but don’t sweat it. We’ll make it work out somehow, the two of us”
Noticing the dampened spirits of her companion, Selunae took Kyra’s hand into her own and gave it a small squeeze and smiled at her. She doubted Kyra’s mother could be anywhere near as obstinate as her own, but she would support her all the same whatever may come. After all, Kyra had made it through the toughest test the huntress’s mother could subject her to.
“We’re running from my mother straight to yours? I hope ya know what you’re doin’. I’ll be with ya the whole way though. Don’t s’pose things can go any worse than they did with mine. Ya know, if I’m wrong about that please don’t tell me. Oh, I’m just jokin’ with ya. It’ll be just fine.” Selunae let go of Kyra’s hand and wiped away the tears from the novice’s cheek. No sooner than she had done this, she found herself being pulled by her arm towards the city gate. Selunae nodded silently, affirming Kyra’s evaluation that the horse would be more hindrance than help in discreetly locating the two hunters. Of course, she knew where they would be later. That information wouldn’t be helpful until evening though and the longer they waited, the more likely their plans were to be disrupted.
Strolling through the city, Selunae took in the sights as they went. She never really explored the city itself. The winding streets and numerous houses confused her when she was alone, so she always stuck to the paths she new. That was limited to reaching the marketplace from her home and the path from the South Gate to the North Gate. Once the pair had strayed from that limited scope of familiarity, the novice would begin to notice a gradual hesitancy in the huntress to continue following. It brought her out of her comfort zone.
When at least they stopped, Selunae stared at the house in wonder. “Is this your house? Wow.. it’s pretty. I want one.”
The huntress moved in closer as Kyra knocked on the wooden door, to make sure her friend wouldn’t have to face whatever was about to happen alone. When the door opened, it went.. well, much better that either of them anticipated. At least, from the huntress’s point of view, which may have been skewed by what had happened at home mixed with the initial plan to avoid this altogether.
Selunae immediately noticed that Kyra’ s mother was a more dainty and elegant figure than her own mother and was almost enchanted by the sight of the older woman drawing the novice away into a hug. She stepped back to give them space and took another look at the carved stone. It made her own house feel like a pile of sticks. Once inside, the interior and furniture was also much fancier and more expensive than anything back in the outskirts. While it really wasn’t like visiting a royal palace, it certainly felt similar to it in comparison to home.
At the mention of her name she perked up though, waving enthusiastically at the woman. “Hi! You shoulda seen Kyra, she fought that wolf with the fury of five men! It had me and she almost ripped it in half with just one swing of her sword. It was, like, the biggest wolf ever, too!” Selunae’s eyes glistened as she recounted the tale, embellishing maybe somewhat. Of course, the last thing she wanted was for Kyra to be looked on as a child. The pair had already dealt with one overzealous mother this morning and to Selunae, this seemed like the best way to prevent it from happening here too. Of course, it was up to Kyra’s reaction to really sell the little white lie.
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Kyra
Myrmidon
A girl from Lucerne trying to find her place in the world.
Posts: 104
Profession: Wanderer/Mercenary
Affiliation: Bern
Affinity: Dark
Profile: ~Kyra~
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Post by Kyra on Jun 6, 2017 10:42:11 GMT -6
"L-Lunie.." Kyra began blushing and trying to hide her face slightly as Lunie started to vastly embellish what they'd gone through. "M-mother, it really wasn't all that grand.. I was in just as much danger as Lunie was. I just had an opening when the wolf was pinning her down, that's all. She's not kidding about how big it was, though. I was very afraid for my life, but I knew I couldn't outrun a beast like that, so I fought." As Kyra finished talking, her hand almost instinctively fell down to touch the pommel of her father's sword, as if it was some good luck charm of sorts.
Diana seemed to have a mixture of worry and pride on her face. It was hard to tell which, as she started crying either way. Once she began wiping some of her tears away, she said, "And what now? Have you realized how dangerous it is out there, and decided to stay here, at home?" Diana had a sneaking suspicion what Kyra's answer would be, but decided to ask anyway, for her own sake of closure.
Kyra bit her lip, unsure of what to say to get her point across while also avoiding damaging the feelings of her own mother. "Mother... I'm sorry... But no. I'm not staying. I can't stay. The very core of who I am won't allow it. I can't stand to be shacked up in this city when I know full well that people are suffering on the outside." At this, she turned slightly to glance at Lunie, "I need to be there for Lunie, and I can't do that by staying here in Lucerne. There are bandits somewhere around here that are plaguing the outskirts, and Lunie and I have vowed to put a stop to them. Say what you will, but I won't let you get in the way of be discovering my place in the world." When Kyra finished, she finally realized how fast she was breathing, and she knew what she had done was the most she had ever said anything against her mother, and she was never that fired up before. Her face now turned slightly apologetic, but before she could say more, her mother put a hand up to stop her.
Diana, after a few moments, finally responded, not with anger, maybe with a little sadness, but was mostly content. "Kyra... My sweet, little Kyra... It amazes me how quickly you've grown. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were almost the spitting image of your father in his younger years, so full of energy and love for life, wishing to lay your claim to the world around you and shape it in ways that ordinary people can hardly ever imagine. You don't know how much it pains me to see my little girl run off into that dangerous world, and yet at the same time, I have comfort knowing that you won't be alone." Diana turned to Lunie now, tears starting to stream from her eyes. "You take good care of her, okay?"
Looking between both girls now, Diana spoke up, "You're both welcome here so long as you need, anytime. I'm sure you're in a hurry with that... bandit issue, but feel free to stay around if you want!"
Kyra was wide eyed in amazement at how welcoming and accepting her mother was. She never would have expected this, considering how she would always be scolded when she was younger just for walking off a bit from her mother. It was almost serene knowing that her freedom had been approved in a sense by her mother. She started to tear up herself, rushing over to Diana and squeezing her in a hug, crying into her shoulder, "Thank you mother! Thank you so much! I promise we'll keep each other safe, and I also promise to come back and visit you when I can!" At that, she motioned for Lunie to come with her outside. "So, um, what should our next course of action be, now that that went.. far better than expected?"
Diana stood up and watched the two young girls walk out of the house. She had a smile on her face, one she hadn't worn since her husband's death. Talking aloud, as if someone were in the room with her, she said, "Well, Veris, wouldn't you be so damn proud of little Kyra.. She's just like you, I swear. She's gonna be a fine warrior, I can tell..." Diana began hacking vigorously once she knew the girls were completely out of earshot. Some of the coughing even made her cough up a bit of blood. She had been coughing for a while now, but it was getting worse, and she tried her absolute hardest to make it look like she wasn't ill when Kyra was there. "I think I might be joining you soon, my love... I just hope I get to see our little girl one last time before I go..."
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Lunie
Nomad
A Bernese hunter that always seems to get in over her head.
Posts: 141
Profession: Wanderer
Affiliation: Bern
Guild: Order of the Bear
Affinity: Fire
Profile: ║ Selunae ♦ Journal ║
OoC Alias: Edgewind/Lunie
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Post by Lunie on Jun 7, 2017 16:29:59 GMT -6
It was somewhat disappointing, hearing Kyra not follow along with the tale of exaggerated exploits. However, though Diana seemed disheartened, she readily accepted Kyra’s decision in a way that Selunae could only dream of her own mother doing. The novice seemed to have her own way of appealing to the delicate woman that the huntress thought best not to disrupt with her own ‘help’ so she intently listened instead, hoping to glean something that would assist in dealing with the disaster waiting back in the outskirts later.
Kyra’s passion was inspiring, and made Selunae feel braver just being in her presence. The huntress felt ten feet tall, knowing she had the support of such a courageous girl. What had begun as despair the night before had blossomed into a great hope under the rain of tears and sunlight of youthful earnest. It shone in Selunae’s face and her eyes when Diana turned and asked her to protect the young novice.
“Don’t worry! You can count on me! I won’t let anything even touch her!” the huntress exclaimed with perhaps a little too much enthusiasm. Having Diana’s seal of approval made her all the more excited, though.
It was a very heartwarming scene, one that made Selunae deeply envious of how understanding Diana was of Kyra’s desire to leave home and make a difference. How quickly Elle had been to resort to anger, once the pair’s intentions were made known. Raeger was incomparably accommodating in that regard but the seamstress was such a hard counter to his acceptance that his opinion didn’t matter. The only hope for it was that, as with the hunting, Elle would accept eventually that she couldn’t change the huntress’s mind. There was a colossal difference between firing arrows at wild animals and taking on a clan of bandits that had already overcome the hunters that had been expected to keep her safe to begin with. No, there would be no swaying Elle on this particular subject.
As soon as Kyra had walked away from Diana, Selunae took an awkward step forward, then rushed in and gave her a brisk hug as well. No tears, just giddy excitement and joy at not being shot down a second time. As she just as quickly broke away, she grinned wide at her. “Thank you! I promise we’ll come back just as soon as we take care of the bandits, Ms. ...umm Mother?..” Selunae stumbled over the words at the end, having not realized she had no idea what her name was until she was too far in to stop. She blushed with nervous giggle and after a tiny hesitation, rushed out the door before Diana could actually give a name.
“I’m not sure where most of the hunters live, but they always go to the same tavern in the evening. I like your mother though, she’s nice. And pretty! She looks very tired though, I bet she was awake worryin’ about you last night..,” Selunae, crossed her arms and pondered for a moment. “Sometimes I see the some o’ the hunters fishing by the river in the mornin’, but if we go and my mother’s lookin’ for me, she’ll prolly catch us.”
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Kyra
Myrmidon
A girl from Lucerne trying to find her place in the world.
Posts: 104
Profession: Wanderer/Mercenary
Affiliation: Bern
Affinity: Dark
Profile: ~Kyra~
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Post by Kyra on Jun 7, 2017 22:12:13 GMT -6
Kyra kept silent as she juggled the two options in her head. On the one hand, they could head straight to the outskirts, hoping to come across the hunters, despite morning being over by now, and also risk Lunie's mother seeing them. On the other hand, they could head to the tavern, and if none of the hunters were there, they could stay at her house and wake up early enough to hopefully catch the hunters fishing before Lunie's mother caught wind. Having made her decision, she finally broke the silence as they walked."Okay, so I'm thinking it'd be best to head over to the Rusted Flagon on the edge of town, assuming that's the tavern you meant. My father actually used to go there when he was having a bad day, or just wanted to be around his old military comrades. My mother always told me that taverns were too rowdy for kids, and never let me in any of them. We don't have any other options though, cause the longer we wait, there's a better chance of bandits catching wind of our plans. Besides, how bad could it possibly be?"
Since there was still time before evening, Kyra took Lunie along the scenic route after noting her amazement in her house alone, and doubting she knew how to get to the tavern from where they were anyway. She made sure to show her various statues, shops, bakeries, etc. Maybe she knew some, maybe she didn't, but it was the best Lucerne had to offer as far as she knew. Eventually, as the sun just started to set, they arrived at the Rusted Flagon, the heavily weathered iron sign that hung above the door representing the name well. Upon entering, the two girls were met with the stench of alcohol, but also the scents of decent food. Accompanying these was the almost overwhelming overlap of dozens of people, mostly men, but a few women, having conversation with each other, some more drunken and loud than others. Kyra could've also sworn she heard someone break also glass on the far side of the room, but it was hard to tell whether it was on purpose or an accident. Hmm, I don't see anyone resembling a hunter... Maybe it was a waste of time to-
Kyra was stopped short at the sight of someone approaching her. Someone very familiar. "Hey, hey, hey Kyra!" A young man approached the two of them, looking maybe a year or two older than Kyra, with shoulder length black hair and dark brown eyes, and wearing a simple set of leather armor, with a fairly simple dagger at his side.
Kyra's eyes rolled, but she also got a bit of a wry smile on her face. "Hello, Devon. What brings you to such a... fine establishment this evening?" Kyra was mildly confused, as she had thought Devon had left for work in Bern a year ago, but she wasn't complaining. It was nice to see her old neighbor again, and it brightened up her face significantly, though she tried her best not to show it.
Devon laughed a bit, "I should be asking you two young ladies the same thing! What brings not one, but two angels down from the heavens and into my humble gaze?" If there was one thing Devon was good at, it was being a flirt. Or, trying to be one at least. For Kyra, it was always so over the top and embellished that she always found herself laughing or just shrugging it off. She leaned over to Lunie and whispered, "Don't worry, he's always like this."
Kyra debated whether to tell Devon what was going on. She did trust him. After all, who wouldn't trust a neighbor they'd been good friends with for nearly 5 years? She could afford to at least give him a very basic rundown. "Well, Devon, we came here, not to return your flirtations, likely to your dismay, but to find some hunters from the outskirts. Though it doesn't seem any are here at the moment. We wanted to ask them about the bandits plaguing the outskirts of our town so that we can try to help as best we can."
Devon perked up a bit at the mention of the bandits. "As a matter of fact, I saw a few of those bandits on the way back here from Bern. Seemed like they were leading some hunter lookin' types away somewhere due north of here. Last I checked, there's just some caves over that way. Could be that they're holed up in there, but I dunno for sure. Just my own guess."
Kyra wasn't sure what to make of that. While they did get help finding a possible location, they still had no clue on numbers. Maybe she'd just wait a minute and see what Lunie's thoughts on the situation were.
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Lunie
Nomad
A Bernese hunter that always seems to get in over her head.
Posts: 141
Profession: Wanderer
Affiliation: Bern
Guild: Order of the Bear
Affinity: Fire
Profile: ║ Selunae ♦ Journal ║
OoC Alias: Edgewind/Lunie
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Post by Lunie on Jun 8, 2017 14:30:06 GMT -6
“Rusted Flagon.. It might be the place. I know its the closest one to home. Everyone would stop by there on the way into the city. I tried to follow them there and sneak in, but they told me it’s no place for children. Psh.. We can take care of ourselves.” Selunae withheld the fact that she had just experienced a circumstance that disproved her claim not two weeks before returning home, but she hadn’t deemed it wise to say anything that might discourage her friend. The decision was made to go there though, to avoid the risk of being discovered by Selunae’s rampant mother. There was still the matter of time, as the greater portion of the day still ahead of them and there would be little point in going until evening.
Time lazily passed, with Kyra and Selunae enjoying a warm sunny day. It was reminiscent of nostalgic memories of childhood when Elle would take her as a little girl, back before her rebellious streak had kicked in. It was bittersweet to think back on those days. A few times throughout the day, Kyra caught Selunae staring wistfully insignificant objects or just sinking into melancholy thoughts, however she would perk up quickly as if it had been nothing. Eventually though, the day yielded to evening and the girls’ day out shifted from leisure to business. It was time to hunt a hunter and discover that they could. The tour had ended and the girls were faced with the old building that was the Rusted Flagon. The irony that a tavern with such a name had a rusty iron sign in the shape of a flagon was lost on Selunae. She had noticed the sign, of course, but she didn’t really connect the dots.
Kyra had entered first, with the huntress following behind. As soon as Selunae stepped inside, the stale stench of old ale overwhelmed her nostrils sending a mild wave of nausea through her. It was worse than the last place she had seen. Raising her hand to rub her forehead, she bumped into the novice, not noticing she had stopped to scan the room for the hunters they sought. “Oh..! Sorry..” The huntress’s apology barely reached Kyra over the din of the patrons carrying on their conversations and grievances at their respective tables.
Nervously glancing around, Selunae noticed several familiar faces. Some of them were people she knew by name, others were strangers she’d seen in passing. Most were content remaining ignorant to the underage additions to the establishment but a few, especially at the tables closest to the door began to quieten and stare at the pair, making the huntress less comfortable than she already was. She didn’t see the hunters here though, not a single one. “M-maybe this was a b-bad idea,” she mumbled, leaning in closer to Kyra. Suddenly as she did, someone began to approach them. Selunae tensed up and tried to hide behind the novice, but when the young man addressed her friend by name, the huntress relaxed a bit.
Now that she had a good look, she noticed the he was quite handsome and when he called her an angel, she blushed furiously and averted her gaze as her heart began beating quicker in her chest. While Kyra may have been used to this behavior from Devon, it was a totally new experience for her, and she had completely fallen for his line. With the novice’s attention on the roguish young man, it was easy for her to miss it, but not nearly as likely that it would slip by Devon. Selunae glanced back up only to make eye contact with him again, blushing once more and looking away.
After listening to what Kyra and Devon had to say, the huntress took advantage of the lapse in conversation and finally spoke up. It went disastrously.
“H-hi.. I-I’m Lunie’s friend Ky- I m-m-mean I’m L-Lunie...Ihavetogodosomething!!” Without the slightest warning, Selunae turned and ran in horror, tripping over her own two feet as she did. She picked herself up, leaving all her dignity there on the floor and barged out of the Rusted Flagon as quickly as her feet could carry her, a dull roar of laughter growing behind her. Not waiting for anyone to come out and find her, she sprinted around to the back of the building and slumped to the ground, burying her flushed face in her knees. Why do bad things have to happen to good people?
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Kyra
Myrmidon
A girl from Lucerne trying to find her place in the world.
Posts: 104
Profession: Wanderer/Mercenary
Affiliation: Bern
Affinity: Dark
Profile: ~Kyra~
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Post by Kyra on Jun 8, 2017 17:14:10 GMT -6
"L-Lunie..?" Kyra started to bring her hand up to grab her friend, but she was already bolting out the door before she could. Kyra let out a light sigh, turning back to Devon. "Now look at what you did, Devon. You made poor Lunie all flustered so that she ran off! What do you have to say for yourself?"
Devon chuckled a bit. "Well, you know full well that's not the first time I've had that reaction with someone. And.. Lunie you say? What a.. charming name! Hahah, in all seriousness Kyra, I am deeply sorry to have troubled your friend. Perhaps I can apologize to her? Would that suffice to purge my dastardly body of my sins?"
Kyra rolled her eyes again, not swayed anymore by Devon's way with words. "I suppose so, Devon, but for now, I think she just needs some time alone to.. cool off. In the meantime, let's discuss these bandits. Is there anything else you know of them? Oh, who am I kidding? I know how you are." Kyra took out a couple coins, handing them to Devon as she led him to an empty table in the corner nearest the door. "That should suffice for any more information that you may be less willing to share, I'd think?"
Devon smiled, gladly accepting the gold. "Kyra, Kyra, you know me too well. It's almost scary, you know? I suppose that's what happens when you're friends with someone for nearly half a decade." Getting a bit more serious, he leaned in a bit closer to Kyra, speaking slightly softer than before. "I was actually harassed by a couple of the bandits on the way back here from Bern. After a few minutes of my 'word tricks', as you oh so enjoy calling them, I was able to discover that yes, they are in fact held out in the caves just a few miles north of here, which may also explain why they've avoided notice for some time. Nobody likes going into those cold, dark tunnels. Not even bandits... usually. I'm guessing you've never been to the caves though, so you may not be able to did your way there. I've been there a couple times, obviously before there were.. other occupants, and I might be and be to even guide you around a bit, if you'll have me."
Kyra gave a sly glance at her old friend. "And what's the catch, Devon? You're never this generous to anyone, not even me." Devon looked back similarly, saying, "Any loot you find? I get half of it, the rest is yours and Lunie's." Kyra nodded in agreement, shaking hands with Devon, before saying, "Now I do believe that before we're off to get more possible help, you have an 'angel' to apologize to?" Devon groaned a bit as he rose from his seat to head outside.
Stepping out of the tavern, Devon glanced around, circling the tavern after not spotting Lunie immediately outside the doors. Rounding the back corner of the building, he saw the red haired girl with her face in her legs. He slowly and cautiously walked over, careful not to startle her, and sat down near her, but not too close. Quietly, he said, "Hey, uh.. sorry about what happened back there. I didn't mean to make you get all.. well, embarrassed like that. I hope it won'the bother you that I'll be coming with you two, at least until we find the bandit hideout. So, uh.. yeah..." He started to scratch the back of his head a bit, thinking of words to say, "I really am sorry, ang.. er, I mean.. Lunie."
As he finished speaking, Kyra began to round the corner herself, but staying back a bit until she was sure the situation had cooled down between the two.
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Lunie
Nomad
A Bernese hunter that always seems to get in over her head.
Posts: 141
Profession: Wanderer
Affiliation: Bern
Guild: Order of the Bear
Affinity: Fire
Profile: ║ Selunae ♦ Journal ║
OoC Alias: Edgewind/Lunie
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Post by Lunie on Jun 8, 2017 23:32:52 GMT -6
The huntress was aghast over the way her words had come out. A cute guy shows interest and then her brain turned to mush. To top it all off, she had made a complete fool of herself falling on her face on the way out. Life wasn’t fair. Nothing seemed to go right for her since she got back home. No, it was longer than that. Everything had gone wrong since she left home. Since Deen left, even. Gods, when she thought back further, when had things started going wrong? When did they actually go right to begin with? She’d made some good friends lately, sure, she had to admit that, but even then she seemed to cause more problems for them than anything. ‘When will Kyra suffer because of my friendship? What if she dies because of me? I should leave before something happens like with Ito and Dawson. Gods.. I don’t want to be alone again though.. What.. what do I do?’
Selunae sobbed silently to herself, hoping that the novice wouldn’t find her. That hope came true to an extent, as it was Devon himself that interrupted her. Before he could get far into his apology, she tried to stop him. “..go away..,” she muttered lowly, her voice muffled by her knees and further by her sobbing. To his credit the young man continued, undaunted by her protest, and as he announced his decision to join, Selunae finally raised her head and glanced at him. She had expected him to make fun of her, but instead he seemed sincere. Once again, she had allowed his words to win her over. She still worried though.
“I-if you’re sure..,” her soft reply came. Selunae scooted sideways next to him, and laid her head on his shoulder. Everything seemed to make an emotional impact lately, and honestly she felt like crying herself to sleep again. It was mentally exhausting her, trying to grasp the scope of everything that had changed in such a short time. Life was different for her now. She couldn’t look at her old life the same way. That was the irreconcilable problem between herself and her mother. Selunae’s old life here was gone.
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