Deep Within the Recesses of my Mind (Spritz)

[• Echo]

Mist curled over the mountains, spilling over like soft cotton fuzz to settle over the tress of the forests, wrapping around the trunks and branches like a silvery wreath. The ancient trees mostly consisted of pine and redwood, but clusters of aspen, birch, and weeping willows lined the banks of the white-topped rivers and streams that wound throughout the woodland. The forest felt alive; a certain air of energy tingling throughout the forestry, as though it were waiting for something that had yet to come or happen.

Arya lifted her head to look up at the green leaves overhead, weak morning light so far devoid of true sunlight leaking through the holes and gaps, sending rivets of light down onto the damp forest floor. Inhaling deeply the scent of the musky forest, she looked around one last time before starting off away from her village. The others would all be out and about before long, and she honestly didn’t want to have much to do with them, at least, not today.

Tying her dark hair back from her face, she lowered her blue-green gaze to scan over the trees surrounding her, most trunks being far too large for her to wrap her arms around, and only becoming wider and taller the deeper into the ancient forest one traveled. Straining her ears, she picked up the distant sound of water and altered her direction to head towards it, soon coming upon the new variety of trees that always grew alongside the water. Weaving past the trunks, the running stream came into view, boulders lining most of the bank. Leaping lightly atop one, she sank down to a sit, crossing her legs and leaning forward, elbows propped up on her knees and chin dropped into her hands.

[Spritz]

Arandur~

Fog settled over the forest, making it almost impossible to see where the figure was going. Arandur didn't have troubles navigating the forest however, his keen elven eyesight making it easier for him to pick out the route he needed to take. Traveling swiftly, his bare feet landed down onto the ground, pressing into the soft dirt before lifting up once again. The male never risked traveling on horse back, as it was too significant. The animals were wonderful, he didn't deny that. But where he was traveling, a horse would only be in the way, and an extra being to care for. The halfling's hand rested on the hilt of a dagger, that was strapped tightly to his side. Wearing no shirt, his toned muscles worked under his skin as he moved swiftly through the trees.
No path guided him where to go, but the male knew this forest by heart. The sunlight of the morning pressed down onto the fog, trying to break through the heavy grey barrier. All foliedge was coated with shimmering drops of dew, casting a slightly enchanted look on the glade.
Arandur stopped moving suddenly, coming to a swift halt where he was. His dark eyes were narrowed, long hair falling down over his forhead and shading his face from view. Crouching down, his open palms pressed into the soft dirt as he listened intently, hearing the soft sound of trickling water nearby. The flapping of wings overhead made his head snap up, his eyes taking in the figure of a large bird. It was perching lightly on a branch above him, it's feathers wonderful shades of pink and yellow. The avian cocked its head to one side, eying the stranger with an intent glare. Arandur relaxed slightly, a small smile touching his lips. The animals of the forest were starting to show themselves, and Arandur looked to his right. A light scuttling in the bushes caught his attention, and a small rabbit hopped out of the underbrush, its small nose twitching in anticipation.
Arandur sensed that everything was peaceful, and he pushed himself off of the ground with a light movement. His throat was dry, yearning for water. Making his way swiftly towards the sound, he soon emerged out of the trees. A small river came into view, and he knelt down near its edge. Clasping his hands, he thrust them under the surface. As the water filled his palms, he brought them up to his lips and drank.
(Sorry, my imagination is not working right now.)

[• Echo]

Where Arya sat, the river was wide and filled with rocks and little waterfalls, the current strong and fast. Sprays of water misted into the air around her, and she found herself inching forward slightly over the mossy rock, peering into the fast-moving stream before her until she was amidst the spray. Sitting back again, she blinked a couple times as she peered across the stream to the other side, watching the trees. Although the water was not exactly quiet, she was still aware of everything going on around her, from the fish swimming beneath her to a rustle in the bushes to the rabbit that was eating grass at the water’s edge a bit farther down, where the stream was calmer. The light, feathery sound of a bird’s wings rustling against the wind caught her attention, and she tilted her head back to examine the small falcon that flew by overhead, gliding easily on the wind currents with its wings spread wide.

Rustling in the bushes a bit downstream caught her awareness, and her eyes flickered down where movement in the trees was slowly appearing. The figure was too tall and broad to be an animal. Shrinking back away from the water, Arya slipped off her rock and into the underbrush, where her forest green tunic blended in with the shadows and the foliage. A bare-chested elven man appeared from the trees, walking over to the water where he crouched. His cupped hands brought water to himself and he drank. Shifting, Arya debated going to greet him. She did not want to seem rude if he discovered her presence, but neither did she really want to interact much with others. Today was not one of her favorites for socializing. But this man did intrigue her, as she had never seem him before. There weren’t many who wandered around out here on the northeastern end of the forest.

Shaking her head slightly, Arya slowly stood, taking in his appearance. His feet were bare, as were his chest, and a dagger was strapped to his waist. Instantly, Arya wished she had brought her own from where it was put away in her home, but she brushed the thought off. She was confident she could overcome any dangers she found in the forest, if by flight if not fight. Hesitating only a moment, she started her way towards the male.

[Spritz]

As Arandur watched, fish swam gracefully below the surface of the small creek. The water flowed over smooth rocks and stones, and Arandur drank once again, letting the cool water soothe his partched throat. The sky was blue overhead, the fog finally starting to subside and grow thinner, allowing the golden morning sunlight to seep through and start to warm the forest beneith. Birds chirped and sang their tunes, the sound of waterfalls filling the male's ears. He lifted his dark eyes to see a beautiful sight a bit down stream, and he pushed himself off of the ground to go closer. Large willow trees grew near the bank, their long fingers trailing in the water. Branches obscured the sky from view as he started to near the small alcove, rocks coated with soft green moss. Mist swirled in the air, caused by multiple waterfalls that gave way into a calm shallow pool. Silver sided fish swam against the current, all working as a group to get upstream.
Arandur looked in awe at the place, his dark hair falling down over his forhead. His senses were alert and keen, but he didn't sense anything out of place or wrong. Looking above him, he spotted a nest of beautiful orange and black birds, high up in the treetops and nestled in the crook of a branch.
He marveled at the tranquility, the way the forest life thrived and grew here. Looking down, he took his hand off of the hilt of his dagger, letting it run through his hair. Sitting down on a large rock, he bent down and picked up a few stones from the ground, flipping them in his palms. The smooth rock fell back onto his skin, and he ran his finger over it. His eyes were slightly troubled, but he let himself relax in this place, if only for a few minutes. Any rest would be welcome to him, his very soul was weary and tired.
A slight shifting in the bushes made him suddenly stiffen, his hand flying to the dagger. His calm and relaxed disposition flew into one of malace and threat, his eyes suddenly growing hard, holding shards of uncertanty and anger. Again, a soft stirring made him stare hard at the underbrush, green morphing out into its own figure. It melted into something completley different, not an animal. The figure was slightly hidden in the shadows, its face unseen. It was tall and slender, but some how made him feel a bit at ease. His fighters spirit protested against it, making him push himself off of the rock and drop the stones from his palm. They fell back onto the ground with a slight clatter, and he narrowed his eyes as the figure started to approcach him.
He would be able to throw the knife at any second, but didn't make the move yet. His hair ruffled gently in the breeze, slightly falling over his forhead. Arandur didn't take kindly to strangers, as he was usually not accepted from any of them. Being half elf, half human made him an outcast, seemingly treated as an animal, a beast that no one would ever near or speak to, lest they become like him. Half breds were a discrace in his village, and he was glad he had left. Arandur wasn't even sure if he would return, but now he had to focus on what was at hand.
"Who are you, show yourself!"

[• Echo]

As she stood, brushing her fingertips over the length of a leafy plant, the male seemed to notice her and tensed, whirling to face her general direction. Arya paused, recognizing the deadly behavior of a cornered animal. He seemed unsure of where she was, and Arya pondered if fleeing while she still could would be a better option at this point.

Stepping forward, she slowly started to walk towards him, her footfalls light and nearly silent against the soft dirt of the forest floor. The sun’s rays were breaking through the fog now, scattering it away up higher into the sky and nearly into nonexistence. Streams of light dappled the ground and the greens now, creating streaks of different shades and hues out of more simple colors such as green and brown. Also thanks to the new light, Arya could tell as she came closer that her first examine of the man had been misleading; he did not seem entirely elven, now that she could see the more intricate features of his face. True, he had elven characteristics and was more elegant and flowing than any human she had seen, he was also the most rugged elf that Arya had ever come across before. He dropped a handful of stones, each one landing on the ground with an individual thud, and he called out a moment later to her, demanding that she show herself, and Arya was in no doubt that he knew where she was.

Arya stayed silent and kept moving, ignoring the slight twinge of irritation that coursed through her at his words. Afterall, this forest was her home, and he the outsider, but she knew that he could not have possibly known that.

Feeling at a distinct disadvantage between herself, unarmed, against the obviously larger male with one hand on a capable throwing knife, a brief flash of fear for the unknown crossed her mind, but she pushed it away, refusing to show any weakness in case he proved dangerous. And so she hardly hesitated, and then only mentally, when she came out of the trees a few meters before and to the right of the male, staying close to the trees as a means of escape if it was forced to that.

Standing back slightly, her eyes scoured over his appearance once more, her own body tensed, her eyes drifting back down to his dagger before flickering back up to his gaze. For a moment they both just stared at each other, each seemingly trying to come up with their next move or waiting for the other to speak first. Arya’s senses were on high-alert as she watched him carefully for any movements, as though she were expecting him to make the first move.

[Spritz]

(I had a really long post typed up, but unfortunatly, I LOST it. Sorry this one isn't very good. ):)



The slinking figure continued to make its way towards Arandur, and he stiffened, watching intently with his dark chocolate eyes. It was un-nerving how quietly the creature moved, its feet falling perfectly on the ground below. Only one creature could move that silently, in the whole forest. Arandur could tell now, that this thing was an Elf. The sheer fact that he was in the presence of these magestic beings made his grip on the blade slacken, but grow firm once again. Elves were creatures of the forest, seemingly bare by the gods of the earth themselves. They carried uncanny speed, but also the power to travel so quietly, that the forest wouldn’t even stir when they passed.

No answer was given to his question, the silence deafening. Only the soft sounds of the creek bubbling nearby, and the scamper of animals in the underbrush caused any noise at all, but even then they were few and in between. The forest seemed to be waiting, watching. It was uncommon for humans to ever be seen in the forest, as they tended to stay near their villages and away from the wood.

Though Arandur was half elf, he didn’t remember what they had looked like. His mother had been elven, but she had left him in the company of his father when he was young. Not trace of her image remained in his mind, and for that he cursed himself. Raising the dagger, the hilt was gripped tightly in his fingers. The new found sunlight shone down, patching through the clearing fog and catching the blade, making it shine with a brilliant silver flash of light. Clenching his jaw tightly in place, Arandur couldn’t tell if the figure was male or female. The Elf was staying close in to the shadows, almost melting into the dark background of trees and foliage that the forest consisted thickly of.

Staring at the creature intently, it stepped slowly closer to him, the light barley touching its body and features. It was… It was a female. Arandur was taken aback, as he had never thought this would happen. Though she was a female, that didn’t mean that she wasn’t deadly, and wouldn’t kill him as soon as he got the chance. Elves in particular were a rarity, especially of pure blood. He bowed his head, his long dark hair falling down into his eyes. “Pardon me, M’lady.”

[• Echo]

Arya couldn’t avert her eyes from this new male even if she wanted to, both from mild distrust and curiosity. He was different, of this she was certain, and there was something exciting and new about him. Drawing herself up, she tensed slightly at a quiet rustle in the bushes behind her, but relaxed a moment later when it became clear that it was just a small animal of some sorts. As she watched him, the male, he inclined his head slightly towards her in acknowledgement, his dark hair falling forward, past his forehead and into his eyes. Arya frowned slightly at his words, more to herself than to him, as she tried to figure out the best way to respond to him. The thoughts only took mere seconds after the male’s movements and his words, and when he straightened up, Arya mimicked his movement and bowed her own head, though her eyes never left his figure.

“Hello,” she said carefully, slowly straightening back up, as though he were a wild animal whom she was trying not to startle. Which he was, in a way, for Arya knew nothing about him or where he came from, nor did she know how he might react to the slightest of things, which made him dangerous. The only thing Arya was certain of was that he was not quite what he appeared to be, but that was true of most people. Her bright green eyes darted past him for a brief moment towards the water when a large bird swooped down and skimmed over the shimmering surface. It pulled away into the sky again, clutching a red and gold fish tightly in its talons. Her eyes were only diverted for a short moment before they returned back to the male, who also seemed to be watching her.

“And who are you?” she asked curiously, side-stepping slightly and shifting her weight to one leg. Feeling as though he meant no harm to her, Arya began to relax bit by bit, though she continued to keep her senses alert and on guard, just in case. But he made no sudden moves towards her yet, even while he had had perfectly good openings, so she took that as a good sign.

Sorry, my dialogue kinda fails a tad in this one. It’ll get better.

[Spritz]

Arandur was very still, gazing intently at the figure of the Elven woman. He lowered his head slightly, his grip loosening on the dagger. Flipping the knife off to the side, the blade landed in the dirt and far out of his reach, the male showing that he was now un-armed and wasn't here to hurt anyone. When the woman spoke, her voice played in the air around them and sounded like music, flowing the glade. Even the animals reacted to the sound, beautiful birds opening her wings and warbling their morning songs. The presence of the ef seemed to calm the forest greatly, giving it an air of grace and tranquility. The half-elf opened his lips to speak, but no sound came out. His mouth and throat were dry, and his dark eyes flicked to the side, landing on the small creek that was bubbling nearby. Again, the woman spoke, drawing Arandurs attention back to her face.

It wasn't unusual for elven women to be extremley beautiful, so he knew that he wasn't going crazy for thinking so. In her presence, Arandur felt as if he was a discrace, even to the elven people. He hoped his hair would cover his slightly pointed ears, but the warm fragrent breeze played in the dark strands and didn't hide his secret. The woman asked who he was, her voice gentle and calming. Hearing it, the man was caught in the intense gaze of her eyes, drawn to their lucid depths and ensnared.
"I am Arandur, son of Ezra and Caiwen."
His voice was soft, barley a whisper among the trees. Caiwen was his elven mother, the one that had bare him, and then deserted him soon after. He did not feel a sense of regret however, and now gently looked into her sparkling eyes, before looking down and away from her.

(That was weak.)

[• Echo]

Arya tensed slightly at the sudden movement the male made, resisting the urge to jump. The knife landed blade-down in the dirt far enough away from him, and her, and she allowed herself to relax more fully in his presence, knowing he had willingly unarmed himself before her. Knowing this put her mind at ease, allowing her to open up more to the forest surrounding her, not focusing purely on the male. Though she did still pay close attention to him, even if her attention was not guided out of suspicion anymore, but more from curiousity and interest. As her gaze returned to his, her brows furrowed slightly in confusion at the look at his face. He looked as though he wanted to say something, but couldn't for some reason. She just brushed the thought off and spoke again, asking for his name this time. His eyes flashed back to her's, and Arya's eyes caught his and met them. When he spoke, the sound was quiet, and the young elf found herself leaning forward slightly to listen to his words and the way in which they slipped through the air. He was definitely Elven to at least some degree; she knew this by the tips of his ears showing through his windswept hair hair and the fairness of his features. His voice was outstandingly clear, if quiet, and it had a more natural way of flowing through the air that she had never known to belong to any human she had ever met. His gaze, for the brief moment when it met her's, was intense and luring, his eyes slanted slightly.

His gaze softened slightly after he stated his being, before dropping down to the floor. Arya blinked slightly in surprise. Shaking her head slightly, she placed her gaze back on him again even when he wouldn't meet it.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Arandur," she said, wanting to get past the formalities as quickly as she could. She had never particularly liked the reasons for being so formal or the way it sounded, though she understood when and what the times for it were. Words like these had always rolled awkwardly off her tongue, andthe whole exchange had always felt off and out of character to her. "I am Arya, daughter to Ailéll and Reneé," she spoke, letting her voice fill with splendor and poise as she spoke of her parents. She would continue to ways carry their names proudly, even whenever she disagreed with one or both of them, which was more frequently than any of them would have liked.

[• Echo]

-pokes- Does this mean it's dead here? I knew my posts werent good, but I didn't know my post was that bad... Sorry :/. You don't have to reply anymore if you don't want to, I get it.

[Spritz]

The two strangers quickly introduced themselves, the elf speaking clear and simple. Arandur found himself at ease in her presence, but his inward self fought to stay on guard. Around them, the glade was quiet, the warm breeze gently caressing the pair, tossing the male’s hair aimlessly over his forehead and down into his dark, almost unreadable eyes. He momentarily raised his gaze to meet the elves, his stomach clenching inside of him as soon as he did so. His eyes locked with hers, the fair elven maiden standing tall in front of him, her piercing stare seeming to look into his very soul. She was adorned with high cheekbones, smooth pale skin that highlighted her dark, long hair. Tiny tendrils of leaves were gracefully draped over her forehead, looking like a small crown made of the forest. Her garb was simple yet flowing, the material shimmering in the filtered sunlight and gently blowing around her legs in the fair breeze.
Arandur couldn’t hold her gaze, his eyes dropping back to the soft, black soil at his feet. Small peaks of lush green grass spiked out of the dirt, though there were also tiny violets adorning thin green stems that gracefully sprouted from below. A red armored beetle slowly made its way, lumbering past and crawling forward. Taking in every detail, the half- elf found himself needing to tell the maiden why he was here, to let her know he wasn’t here to hurt her or her forest, as he was sure that she must have been one of its rare caretakers.
“I am just passing through, M’lady.” He gestured to his dagger that was cast aside, blinking once and looking back up to her. “I mean no harm for either you or your kind, as I am here for a small while.” His lips closed, his deep voice no longer passing into the air. Forcing himself to hold her gaze, he stood very still and awaited her answer.
Rustling in the foliage caught his attention, once again making him loose eye contact with the beautiful being. He wasn’t sure if it was for the worse; or the better, but he looked to the side, searching the green for what was causing the motion.
A gentle chestnut hide could be seen, before tiny white spots were speckled over the soft fur. A mother doe gracefully stepped out of the brush, followed by two tiny fawns that stayed very near her side, watching the male with guarded curiosity. They obviously felt at ease with the elven woman, but were warry of the male and stayed near the edge of the clearing, as they slowly moved past the two; soon disappearing into the wood once again. The harsh call of a raven made him glance overhead, automatically stiffening at the seemingly un-natural sound in such a peaceful place.

The large black bird cocked its head at him, his glittering ebony eyes staring intently at the stranger. It would seem the avian was out of place, but he wasn’t sure. Soon however, the bird opened its wings and took off, making Arandur’s stance relax slightly.

[Spritz]

(Sorry if my description of your character is not correct, I was trying to understand what she looked like and was merley using my imagination. I will edit it if you would like me too.)

[• Echo]

Arya could tell that the male was studying her, and took the moment to do the same. He was, as she had noted earlier, topless, without shoes, as well. The jeans he wore were simple, and blended with the forest, and a belt was fastened around his waist. His hir was dark and long, falling over onto his forehead and into his slanted eyes. Years of training had her instinctively looking for weaknesses in him. She watched the way he moved, how he shifted and stood. His eyes met her's again, but immedity dropped to the ground. Arya wanted to ask why he did that; why he wouldn't truly look at her, but the words wouldn't come. She was about to ask when his arm lifted suddey, and he gestured towards the dagger that continued to lie in the dirt. His eyes moved back up to her's. Arya found herself desperate to know more about him, hangin on his every word as he spoke, telling her he meant this place and everyone and thing in it. This time, he didn't look away, and Arya was thankful for that.

Opening her mouth to speak, she was interrupted by the sound of soft footsteps and rustling in the bushes. The male seemed jumpy; instantly looking away towards the sound. Arya's gaze followed somewhat reluctantly, hoping it was another elf from her village. It wasn't. A small doe slowly stepped out of the trees, a tiny fawn following close behind. Arya felt a slight ache in her chest, her heart clenching. She wanted that; she wanted a kid, if only one. Elves did not normally have children very often, but she wanted one nonetheless. But she didn't want one with just anyone; no, she was willing to wait for the right person.

The doe seemed slightly wary, and Arya instinctively reached out with her mind to the animal. As she did so, she brushed against Arandur's thoughts. She jumped slightly at the jolt of energy, tensing, but the feeling passed and she relaxed again. Her thoughts gingerly touched those of the doe's. The doe swung her head slightly to fix Arya with an amber gaze. She was young; this Arya could tell. The small boy beside her was also her first. The doe's gaze shifted back to Arandur again. Using her thoughts, Arya attempted to soothe the gentle thing, pushing her to know gently that he wasn't going to harm her or her child. She was curious of him, but careful nonetheless. The pair kept moving, soon disappearing back into the forestry. They were heading downstream, undoubtedly looking for calmer water. As the Dow disappeared, leaving Arya with a lightly empty feeling in the absence of the creature's presence, the throaty call of a raven broke through the air. Her eyes located the bird with ease. It cocked it's head at Arandur slightly, before eventually lifting back up into the air to take flight once more. It seemed, to Arya, that tue whole forest was curious of the newcomer.

Shaking her head slightly, she looked back at the quiet male. She felt as though she had wanted to say something... A moment later, she remembered what it was.

"You can stay as long as you would like," Arya spoke, bring Arandur's attention back to her again after a moment. "As long as you mean good, I see no harm in it," she continued, shaking her head slightly. She actually didn't want him to go, she realized, and the knowing so surprised her immensely.

[Spritz]

Arandur felt at ease in the young elves presence, but he knew it was only a matter of time. Sooner or later, he needed to move on and away from her, away form the forest; to do his bidding. Heading towards the large city on the other side of the huge expanse of the elven kingdom, he gave her a gentle nod, showing that he had heard what she had offered. What she had said made his heart beat a bit faster, knowing that he was not unwelcome in the forest. Though he knew he needed to continue on his long journey, he felt himself wanting to stay, wanting to find out more about his beautiful, young maiden. He felt her eyes on him, felt her take in all aspects. Wondering what she was thinking, wondering if she thought he was a threat, he decided to hold her gaze and show her he wasn’t afraid of her, merely curious and passive. Raising his dark gaze to meet hers, he was greeted with a piercing stare from her beautiful blue-green eyes, ones that held all of her emotion, swirling it deep in their depths. “I must be on my way, M’lady.” He felt as if it was improper to call her by her elven name- as they seemed to only be uttered by their own kind. It felt wrong for him to try and pronounce such graceful, flawless words, for he was merely a human half breed, a mangy mutt in other’s eyes. “I am traveling to the far city of Esterwyn, across you’re kingdom. I only ask to cross, as that is my only intent and I mean no harm to this forest, nor your people.” He continued to hold her gaze, raising his chin slightly.



(And after such a good post on your part, I failed.)

[• Echo]

Arya was puzzled; wondering if it was her or just his way that was making him avoid looking directly at her. When he nodded at her, his eyes met her’s briefly in acknowledgement, but they soon dropped again as was seemingly his custom to do. Arya’s eyes stayed, again, and they burned with an intensity that seemed almost challenging, as though she were daring him to do that which he refused to. And he did; lifting his dark-tinted eyes up towards her, this time of his own choice, and held them there. Arya couldn’t help the slight shiver of excitement that coursed up her spine when he did, though her body showed no outside change in movement to betray her thoughts or feelings. When he spoke again, his words sounded careful, as though he were trying not to offend her, but Arya still felt a slightly twinge when he called her ‘M’lady’ instead of pronouncing her actual syllables. His eyes stayed, though, and that alone was enough for her to let slide his words. And even if she had wanted to, she could not without being rude, for he was talking again. When he finished, she half-expected him to look away, to drop any form of contact he felt with her and focus again on the nature of the forest, but instead he just lifted his chin a slight bit higher. Arya felt as though with that small shift in posture in him had made her shrink, and she felt herself wanting to back away, if only a little, for an unknown reason, but she refrained. Instead, she angled her head upwards a fraction, as well, even if it was only her pride acting.

“Call me Arya,” she said, nodding her head slightly as though to reassure him that he was allowed to. “And are you sure that you must go? You don’t need anything in order to make it there?” she questioned, frowning slightly. Normally, she was not quite so persistent; she would greet a stranger, sometimes not even that, but merely watch, but she would make sure his intentions to the forest were not harmful or spiteful, and then she would see them off. But there was something different about this male, whether it was his personality or his breed, and it made her want to let him know that he was welcome. She closed her eyes for a moment, shaking her head briefly before she focused on Arandur once again. “Anything you might need, my people and I would be willing to help,” she continued, her eyes meeting his to let him know that she was serious, and she spoke the truth to as much as she could tell.

[Spritz]

Arandur narrowed his dark eyes, watching the maiden with keen interest. She had told him to call her by her first name, but he couldn't see himself ever saying it to her face. It seemed disrespectful in his eyes, calling her by the name that her people called her. Her name was obviously Elven, meaning it was said with a certain grace he found hard to create in his own voice. Before he could object however, the elven woman, Arya started to speak once again. Arandur found himself enjoying her voice; as it was pure and beautiful to the simplest of forms. When she spoke, it was if the world seemed to turn a bit slower, as if time held more meaning to it. Each second was laiden with a bit of extra weight, making it seem longer than it had originally been.

"I cannot call you by that name. It is a discrace to the likes of me, and I will not shame you, nor your people by doing so." Arandur closed his eyes, giving her a slight bow that was custom when speaking to authority higher than him. "And yes. I must go, it is my duty to do so and I will not linger here; for this is your forest, and also you're peoples. I do not burden you with my needs, I am prepared." He opened his eyes, straightening from his bowed posture and looking into her beautiful eyes yet again. Her gaze captivated him, seeming curious, yet guarded. He inwardly wondered what she was thinking of him, if she was just offering her hospitality because of custom, or if she really didn't mind he stayed.

Breaking out of his thought, he blinked once and was tempted to draw his eyes away from hers. She didn't seem to like that however, and Arandur knew that not being able to hold eye contact was a fault, showing weaknesses that he would rather not show in the first place. Still, her words echoed through his mind. In his whole lifetime, in a million years he never would have expected to meet one of elven blood, much less have the one offer her hospitality to him. Holding her gaze firmly, he let a small smile touch his lips. Little did he know, that one little smile brought a multitude of changes upon him. His stiff, rigid stance seemed to relax, his eyes softened while looking into hers. His fists were no longer clenched, hands hanging at his sides in a loose fashion. Though he was still able to react in a split second if something when wrong, he no longer appeared to be fearful and nervous at every sound of the forest.

"I thank you anyway, my dear lady." He bowed his head gently in respect, before moving to the side. His bare feet pressed into the lush green grass, and soon, the young man bent down to retreive his dagger. It had been cast away, the blade having sunk into a mound. Gripping the throat of it in his hand, he gently slid it out and wiped the dirt off of it on his pants. Sheathing it, the dagger lie pressed to his hip, and he moved the belt slightly so it would be harder to reach. Now that he was armed, he may have appeared to be a threat. Not wanting that upon him, he had moved the dagger so it was more towards his back, an awkward position if he needed to draw it, though it was still managable. He hoped it showed the maiden that he continued to mean no harm, as he was a peaceful soul and would rather not stir tension in places it was best left alone.

[• Echo]

Arya suppressed a sigh, keeping it to herself instead, and nodded slightly. "As you wish," she said, rolling her shoulders back slightly. If it went against his... Customs, or ideas, to call her by her Elven name, then she certainly couldn't stop him, and it wasn't like her to argue too extensively. He seemed almost relieved, to her, when she let it go, and Arya tilted her head forward slightly in acknowledgement when he bowed before her. She doubted she would ever truly understand the customs of such fickle beings like humans, which she assumed he had been raised by, for the most part, or to at least some extent, and she found it better to not dwell in such things. Arya frowned slightly as he insisted that he must go, but nodded her head slightly in respect.

"Of course," she said softly, tossing her hair slightly back from her face. She felt something akin to disappointment flood through her at his words, though she pushed the feeling to the back of her mind to think about later, when she had more time of sorts. She couldn't quite understand why it was that she was disappointed he was prepared; that was, after all, a good thing, in places like this forest, and it usually irked her considerably when strangers grovelled the streets of her village looking for scraps to make it through the typically harsh winters.

Arya let out her breath in a quiet sigh, her mostly relaxed muscles tensing instinctively when he began to move. Her eyes followed him carefully, though she was not particularly suspicious, as he moved towards his dagger. His moves were slowed, careful, and Arya could somehow tell that he was still trying not to give her any reason for alarm. 'Somewhat like yourself,' her inner voice mused. 'Stay out of suspicion and keep to the sidelines. Never really want to interact much with others, do you?' The voice was almost accusing now, in Arya's opinion, and she frowned slightly out of irritation and pushed the words from her thoughts, focusing instead on the male. Arandur bent down slowly, pulling the blade carefully out of the dirt, tucking it back into his belt. Arya felt a bit of amusement at what she took to be exaggeratedly slow movements, how he continuously seemed to be trying to show her he meant her no harm, even putting his weapon more out of reach from himself where it was placed on his belt. It was shifted more to his back, now, making it more difficult to reach, though not impossible.

Blinking slightly at his words, she shifted to the side slightly and nodded her head in likewise respect. "Of course," she said smoothly, rolling the tension slowly out of her shoulder blades. "But if you do not mind, I would like to accompany you to the end of my village's territory," she surprised herself slightly by saying so. Normally, she didn't like to really accompany strangers; she preferred to watch more than anything else. She shook her head slightly, hastening to continue. "So I can be sure," she added, knowing that he understood what she meant. Even if she wasn't suspicious, it was part of her duty as a carekeeper to make sure no harm befell the forest or its inhabitants, even if she usually did it silently from the comfort of the shadows. "The animals and people here trust me; It is partly my job to make sure nothing happens to them," she finished, making a small gesture with her hands to the general forest and wildlife surrounding them. Her eyes left his to survey the nature momentarily before she looked back at him, waiting for his response.

[Spritz]

Arandur didn't know what to say, whether to accept her offer, or to politley turn it down. Only one of the options was actually reasonable, considering he had not enough idiocy to turn down the request of an elf- and a woman, none the less. She commented that she needed to be sure of his purpose, and he stiffly nodded. It was obvious of his intent, this was the quickest way of getting to his destination.
It had taken a bit of thought to decide what path he would take, but the city was far enough away that it wouldn't really matter what befell him. He truley wondered if he hadn't been just shipped away from his tribe, and thought that maybe they didn't want him to return. It had been a mistake staying this long anyhow, and the newfound freedom of the forest was placing a new rush of excitement through Arandur's veins. Maybe someday he would find the perfect one, and they wouldn't ever have to return. Settle down somewhere where they wouldn't be bothered, it sounded perfect to him.

Breaking abruptly out of his thoughts, Arandur rolled his shoulders slightly and nodded, though it seemed rather stiff and forced. He was making sure to be polite, but inwardly wondered if the elf thought him suspicious. Usually, there was no problem with crossing through their forests, but for some reason she had wanted to acompany him anyhow. The border would be at least a week away, and the road after that was still long and trecherous. With a horse it would be a bit quicker, but he was not the type to ask for such a favor, not when it was from an elf. Their animals were precious to them, and Arandur wouldn't dare risk the steed getting hurt- as they were more like compainans than just animals. He understood the connection however, and couldn't help but wish he had brought his own.

The mare he had been given was old, and he knew it was only to make him the laughing stock of the village. He didn't dare ride the gentle thing, as she was weak and would pass on soon enough, not needing to be worked into the very ground as the other horses were. Before he had left however, he had charged one of the boys he trusted to care for her, as her time was close. A familiar pang stabbed Arandurs heart, and he silently wondered if anything would ever be the same.
It wasn't right to be deep in thought, not when an answer was waiting. Shrugging his shoulders slightly, Arandur looked her straight in the eye before he spoke, his gaze steady and unwavering. "It is not my choice."

[• Echo]

Arya's eyes were fixed upon him, watching his expression as he seemed to be turning his possibilities and word choices around in his mind. It took a moment for him to answer, but she didn't mind much. Her attention was partially captured for a moment by the animals in the forest, listening to the squirrels fight over territiories as the birds filled the air with their unique music. This was what she loved; the serenity and tranquility of the animals and the nature. Out here, alone, she was able to loose herself in this world so different from that of her village, and her worries and problems were all instantly deteriorized when she stepped into the greenery. Most of the elves from her village didn't get it; they had lost the nature in them over time; now Arya found them to be mostly like the humans now, but fixed with an unmatched gracefullness that couldn't be found in any other beings. She didn't understand why humans thought elves were so mysterious; sure, they were different, and they preferred to keep to themselves, but which race didn't? Did birds and dogs befriend one another? She knew from stories that before, elves would have done anything to protect their forest kingdoms and animals, and perhaps that was still true to this day, but so many of them were corrupted now by greed and prosperity, one of the main reasons she chose to stay out of sight of most visitors.

So why was she insisting to accompany this man to the borders or her forest territory? It felt weird to herself, to be almost demanding that she stay with him, when she preferred the company of herself and the forest opposed to her own kind or those of human flesh. But then again, he was neither elf nor human, but something in between, and he was certainly not the usual newcomer. Maybe she was just lonely, tired of being alone all the time. Maybe she just wanted to do something a little different for once. Whatever it was, she wasn't going to waste all her time questioning it.

When Arandur spoke again, Arya's gaze lifted up to his again, unwavering and intense in emotions. The corners of her lips twitched slightly up into a smile, and she shook her head slightly. "No, I suppose it's not," she replied, watching him carefully. He was certainly different, she mused, and tipped her head forward slightly in a nod. "Then I'll go with you for however long," she said. She wasn't quite sure if she would go all the way to the border; it was a good few days away, and she may be needed here, and she was fairly certain that she did not really have to go that far to make sure his intentions were pure. Quite often, she would just watch the travelers for a day or so, then monitor the forest's well-being more closely until they were gone.

Rolling her shoulder blades back, she slowly debated hurrying back to her home for a brief moment to gather anything she might needed, but eventually decided against it. She could make do living off the forest alone, as she had before.






Okay, I'm sorry, I am not feeling accomplished >.< I really shouldn't post so much in one day, my thoughts just get jumbled together and... Oh well, enough excuses, I had a brain fart ^.^

[Spritz]

"Alright then."
Arandur gave a slight shrug, bending down to scoop up the remains of his meager belongings. The hard, carved wood of his bow felt good in his hand, before he strapped the quiver to his back, along with the bow. It was the only reasonable place to carry it, thus he had decided to do so. Being sure that his dagger was tight in its sheath, the male moved to the waters edge, quickly kneeling down and cupping his hands. Plunging them benieth its shining surface, he took a few long drinks, soon splashing the remains onto his face.

Wiping off his hands on his pants, Arandur stood up from river, turning to face the elf. His eyes looked from hers to the woods, where they would both need to keep their guard up. Though the elves were people of the forest, there were still wild animals that didn't care what they attacked. Shifting his knife into the proper position, he gave her a nod and started to move forward.

"I'll be heading north east, following the River."

Arandur clarified his plans for her, nodding as if to repeat them in his mind.

(I cant think. I swear, my muse has been lost for eternity.)

[• Echo]

Arya watched as he bent down slightly, slowly retrieving his belongings. He strapped them to his back, the bow and quiver falling into place neatly against his shoulder blades. Arya wasn’t quite sure if he truly wanted her there or not, accompanying him to her forest’s borders, but either way, he had her, and she was going. She felt slightly awkward, standing there alone, when he went to get a drink, so she slowly moved forward on light feet, practically gliding over towards the massive boulders. Most were taller than she; but that wasn’t saying much, as she hardly stood at 5’4”, even if she appeared much taller from the way she carried herself. She slid her open palm over the damp moss, the green matching her eyes. The spray from the current misted over her face, and she watched through it as Arandur got a drink and refreshed himself. Once he was sated, she slowly moved away from the rock with the same, graceful step, moving towards him once again.

This time, as she came towards him, there was no wariness or cautiousness to her step. She approached him like he was an old friend she had known from childhood, acting as though she knew everything about him. Although, whenever she did turn from him, her senses were alert and active. Stopping a few feet before him, rocking slightly on her toes, she listened to him talk and nodded her acknowledgement. It made sense, as he had approached from the opposite direction and was headed towards Esterwyn, that he would travel that way. Tilting her head back slightly to look up at him, she met his gaze with her same, usual intensity.

“Shall we go, then?” she asked, not even truly waiting for a response before she began walking, slowly so that he may catch up and lead in whichever path he had planned on taking. There was a certain, sort of bounce to her step, as though she were dancing; the moves were graceful and light, leaving hardly a trace in the forest if she tried and concentrated on doing so.

[• Echo]

Wow, I didn't give you much of anything to reply to ^.^ do you want me to edit? I didn't notice until I reread it ^.^ I need to start doing that before I post, not after.

[Spritz]

Arandur took in a deep breath, his lungs expanding and taking in the pure air of the forest. It was scented with the gentle purfume of apple blossoms from wild orchard near the river, and also fresh blooms that had just newly been opened. Dew was still wet on the folidge, the sun shining down and making the droplets of clear water flash momentarily. He was nearly taken aback by the sudden beauty of the place, and realized it was far from what his homeland was like. It seemed pure and clean, as if it hadn't ever been touched by evil or vile that humans seemed to carry. He wouldn't have been surprised if the elven maiden was suspicious of him; as he was still partly human. Sometimes they were unpredictable, seeming friendly at one moment, wreaking havok the next.

As he followed after Arya, he passed through the mist of the thunderous waterfalls. Thick mist swirled about them, shining with rainbows and make a small smile touch his ragged features. He seemed at ease in this place; it soothed him and helped him forget why he was even traveling away from the village. It was for this reason he wasn't sure he would ever be ready to go back. Raising a hand, he ran it through his dark hair and sighed, fingers catching in snarled knots. Wincing, he let his hand drop back to his side, continuing after the elf.

He shouldn't have been surprised, but he was. She moved with such grace, it was if she was continuously dancing. Her bare feet hardly made a mark in the soft earth, soft material of her dress caressing her bare ankles and dragging on the moss. He kept pace with her, though Arandur ended up feeling like a tromping giant than anything else. Sure, he was nearly silent, but compared to the elf, he was.. hopeless. Giving a silent sigh, he lowered his eyes and managed to keep up the pace, staying a few paces behind Arya. It was quite interesting, he was the one that was traveling in the first place, she was the one that was escorting him. Deciding that it was probably better he stay in back anyway, he pursed his lips and continued to follow.


(I wasn't sure really what to post, sorry. There isn't much that your character can react off of from my characters actions.)

[• Echo]

All around her, the forest seemed to tingle with life and excitement. Overhead, territorial squirrels bickered with each other and birds filled the air with their unique, musical songs, the sounds intermixing with the sound of the rushing water. Surrounding them, Arya was aware of small animals moving about, whether they were grazing, slowly making their way towards the water, or nursing their young, they seemed to be everywhere, concealed in the shadows of the forest.

She was a little confused as to why Arandur kept behind her more, and was a little uneasy when it came to not being able to see what he was doing. Forcing herself to relax, she slowed her pace slightly bit by bit, until they were walking closer together, and she could see him. Glancing over at him, her eyes shifted back to the forest. With her elven vision, she could easily see all the finest details of the forest; the dark veins stretched throughout the green leaves, the tiny thorns covering the occasional rose bush, the tiny, almost transparent water droplets raining through the air from the stream. It was about midday now, the sun high in the sky, and any traces of the previous mist from earlier that morning was long gone, though Arya knew that it would most definitely return during the night again. The light from the sun shone brightly down through the leaves, shadows and sunlight mixed together and dappling the ground in a surreal pattern that coated the travelers and everything else in the forest. The forest seemed alive itself; buzzing with activity from animals and insects, and filled with such beauty that each time Arya took the time to study it she had to catch her breath. It was simple breathtaking in all.

Looking back over at Arandur, she studied him carefully. He seemed to be trying his best to move through the forest with as little interruption to the wildlife as possible, but his footfalls were still slightly heavy and a bit more awkward than those of an elf. Feeling a few beads of perspiration beginning to accumulate on the back of her neck, Arya altered her pace slightly in order to braid the long, dark strands loosely to the side, so it fell over one shoulder and framed one side of her face.

“Do you travel often, Arandur?” she asked curiously, now walking more directly to his side. The trail here was wide enough to do so, and she made no move to fall back or move ahead of him.

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