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Together Until Dawn

Lazuli73

Well-Known Member
Slicer
Lazuli stood on the dock as she watched the Garama ship sail back towards Aladra. She remained on the pier long after the red and black sails escaped her sight. Turning around she stared up at the ominous, untouched jungles. Other then a tiny, abandon fishing shack at the end of the dock there was no sign of civilization.

There was no path leading into the trees, but it was clear that others had been through. Tall grass stomped by parading feet weaved its way though the roots and into the heart of the continent. Two other paths like it darted off in other directions, giving Lazuli a rather difficult choice. Deciding to stay close to the coast she hopped off the safety of the dock and started to bush-wack her way south.

Tall trees with above ground roots anchored themselves to the shore. Low-lying shrubs and ferns decorated the floor. Vines hung from the canopy, making her wish she had some kind of sword or machete. While she walked she allowed herself to arrange her scattered thoughts, both her own and the ones those crazy Vanguard people shouted at her. After a few minutes of deduction she accepted that her name was Lazuli Avalos, or at least was.

After several hours of wandering along the curving shores the sun began to set. At first Lazuli marveled at the kaleidoscope of colours that decorated the skies. It was like jars of orange, pink, purple, and red paint was split on a previously sky blue canvas. The clouds that had rolled in throughout the day only made the scene even more spectacular.

As the sun dipped below the western horizon Lazuli realized what fallowed a sunset. To her surprise the air retained most of its humid heat as the clouds above acted like a blanket, concealing in the warmth. Resting of the sand of a small stretch of beach she ate her last piece of Aladran Sweetbread.

Seeing some fish swimming in the surf she rose with a gnawing hunger that would be satisfied only by meat. She carefully entered the water, trying not to disturb it and scare off the fish, and slowly waded towards the school. When she was a few feet away a loud crack of thunder, fallowed by a flash of lightning, crashed in the dark skies above. This spooked the school slightly, making some of them dart off into the roots of a nearby mangrove tree.

Light rain started to fall, enticing the fish to continue feeding. Unaware of Lazuli's presence she aimed her body to try and pounce on one. Just as she was ready to leap off the rocks she perched herself on an arrow whizzed by her head, barely missing. The arrow landed in the silt below the fish, scaring them all away into the safety of the mangrove.

Whipping her gaze around she saw several skeletons armed with recurve bows scowling at her. Reloading their bows they launched another barraged at Lazuli, striking her in the shoulder. Ignoring the searing hot pain of the flesh wound she dove into the water and swam until her muscles burned.

Breaking the surface only to breath she caught small glimpse of the skeletons making a swift pursuit. Hitting a small spit of beach Lazuli clambered onto the sand and raced into the jungle. As she swam the light, almost misty rain had become a full fledged downpour. The thunder sounded like someone constantly beating on drums filled with scarp metal. The lightning illuminated the sky with fiery strikes of vengeance.

Scaling the suddenly steep coastline Lazuli tried her best to dodge the skeletons' arrows. On occasion she felt the stone heads graze her flesh, leaving a bloody slice in her skin. Looking through the rain she saw other horrors of the night scale the cliff downwards on a intercept course.

Running along the slope instead of trying to climb it the undead, rotting zombies joined the swift-paced skeletons in their blood-lust. Lazuli dodge strange plant formations as she ran, shoving the thick stocks as she passed them by. Looking back to see if the skeletons had given up their pursuit she ran into one of the harmless formations.

Falling to the ground upon impact she saw a set of green claws at the plant's base. The claws rotated on an axis until a pair of soulless black eyes and gnarled teeth faced her. The nightmarish creature made a soft hissing noise and began to swell with pressure. The explosion it created sent Lazuli flying through the air like a rag doll, only to be pelted by arrows until she landed at the base of the rock-ridge.

Scrambling onto her knees she crawled her way under the roots of a tree. Building up walls of mud she encased herself inside a make-shift shelter to protect herself from the elements. Allowing herself to breath she could hear the moans of the undead outside. Rummaging through her pockets she pulled out a torch and lit it with a match.

The tiny flame filled her body with the long lost warmth that had been drained out by the rain. Resting her head on the thick root she stare at the mud wall she hastily built up in her state of panic. Lodged in the wall was a round green gourd with smooth skin. For some strange reason she had the instinct to smash it open with a rock.

Inside was a pink, watery flesh that felt like heaven on earth as she scraped out the shell and ate it like an animal. When the gourd was cleaned out she gazed into the small flame of the torch. As she stared she realized that her long hair that was previously in a braid had fallen apart and draped along her back.

Ringing out the long locks she braided it back the way it was before she entered this hell-hole. Realizing she didn't have a string to tie the end she held the end of her braid with her left hand and rummaged through her satchel. Instead of finding a string her fingers came into contact with something sharp.

Dropping the braid she brought all focus towards the strange object in her satchel. Lifting it from the leather bag a pale star hovered in in the palm of her hand. Pastel colours shinned on the smooth, opalescent surface as its glow illuminated the entire tree root shelter, for the torch had smothered itself out.

Something was etched into the center jewel. Looking closely at the runic letters Lazuli read "Gift of Endurance, Bestowed to you by Cryptite."
 

Lazuli73

Well-Known Member
Slicer
Just as an FYI I made some minor changes to the second chapter of Togther Until Dawn. Nothing big, just finally got around to editing a portion that bothered me since the day I posted it. Maybe I'll get around to ironing out all the gramaical errors I missed during proofreading.
 

Lazuli73

Well-Known Member
Slicer
The pools of water that had leaked into the root safe haven during the night had soaked into the dirt floor to make a sticky mud that clinged to Lazuli's skin. For some strange reason she couldn't fathom why her body had awoken her. Trying to force her body back into the warm tenderness of slumber Lazuli realized her mouth was parched of all moisture.

Smacking her dry lips all she tasted was sea salt and mud. Learning from last night's brush with death she listened for the rattling of bones, groans of confusion, and hissings of pyrotechnics. Hearing nothing she slowing clawed her way out of the mud hut and into the heat of a late morning sun.

The humidity hit Lazuli like a ton of sand falling from the sky. She crawled her way out and stretched out her stiff muscles before dipping her unclothed body into a fresh water stream she had leaped across the night before. Using a handful of moss as a washcloth she scrubbed away the dried blood and mud. With the filth of the morning washed away she could see her injuries had regenerated themselves during slumber, only leaving faded scars.

Dressing herself in her damp attire, as she had grown inpatient with allowing it to dry in the sun, she continued her trudge through the jungle coast. With the knowledge from last night she was able to spot the green melons scattered all throughout the forest with ease, giving her a reliable and satisfying food source. Wild chickens and pigs also roamed the jungle, but they could wait for another meal.

Twice more she took shelter under the tree roots, encasing herself in mud to wait out the dangers of night. With a healthy supply of melons, aswel as some crude tools, Lazuli felt more prepared then ever. Sleep came easy, causing her to fall into a deep comatose state.

She suddenly found herself on a crumbling structure, strange blots of lightning striking at its surface, devouring large portions of it and the world around her. Wind raged, snow flew about. Lazuli found herself on the edges of a stone platform, the gap between it and the rest of the structure growing larger every endless second.

The red haired elf woman who was at the village with the rest of the nut jobs stood adjacent to her, reaching out as her subconscious made her body toss something to her. The pale-skinned elf caught what appeared to be a faded glass shard in her hands.

Something wasn't right, she could feel it in her bones. An odd crackling sound coming from above gained her curiosity. From swirling clouds the bolts of lightning struck the decaying structer Lazuli stood on. Suddenly Lazuli felt of sensation of decent as she stared up at the elf who was calling out her name.

"Laz!" she screamed desperately.

Lazuli felt her back strike a cliff edge, jolting her awake, crying what she assumed was the name of the elf woman. The sights, the sounds, they emotions; something told her that what she had dreamed was more then just that. That something told her it was a memory.

Refusing to allow more rest in fear of another lapse of memory she violently punched her way through the dirt walls and appeared on the other side. Dawn was just barely breaking over the eastrn horizen, stars were still visible in the far west. Gathering her primitive tools she continued on her hike until she found a realitivly flat portion of coast with few trees that would be suitable for a more permanent shelter.

During the day Lazuli hacked away at trees to gather wood to build a house using a stone axe while at night she either slept or dug ores in a mine. While she was wandering the coast she came across a large cavern that was dotted with clusters of greyish pink stones she somehow recognized as raw iron.

Based on her first night in the jungle she got the impression that the forest floor was not a safe place to be at night. Lazuli began building a elevated house on thick wooden stilts, often redoing perfectly passible work until she deemed it more appealing. For some odd reason she prided herself in this new-found meticulous manner.

Her ideal shelter was a large, spacious collection of building linked together with swaying footbridges. When she realized she had made the structure to large she simply chopped down the tree that had been ignorant enough to grow in her intended path.

The sun sat low in the westren horizen, signalling that the time for construction had come and gone. Harvesting the wild grains and melons she was able to grow in the fertile soil Lazuli slid down a well-hidden ladder to work away the night undergound.

Her freshly forged iron pickaxe struck the stone walls of her mineshaft with a clanging echo, chipping away at the earth bit by bit. Aiming the axe she hit the stone with one mighty swing, lodging it into large crack that had formed. Wiggling the head around a large portion of stone fell at her feet, revealing a vein of brilliant blue gemstones.

To her dismay she only managed to harvest one stone, but was satisfied nonetheless. After shoving handfuls of coal into the smeltry Lazuli climbed into the scratchy blamkets fo a poorly crafted bed whose mattress was filled with straw. Sleep came easy as the fatigue she had built up during the day made her eyes heavy.

Drifting off into a warm, exhaustion enduced sleep her amnesia tainted mind revealed another, far more pleasant memory, disguised a dream. She was inside a cozy tavern with a group of people all singing a bar song and holding pints of ale. Some she recognized as Vaguard members, but there were still faces she couldn't match a name with.

It didn't seem like they were celebrating anything in particular. Just close, caring friends enjoying each others company. Mindlessly Lazuli swung her arm around someone, crashing their glasses together as they sang along. Turning her head she wished to know the identity of the person whose shoulders she hugged.

Those purple eyes, that unmistakable silky black hair. It was the Vanguard member who called herself Jedio.
 
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Lazuli73

Well-Known Member
Slicer
Ascending the lengthy ladder from her concealed mine Lazuli emerged into the new day's light. As usual, the air was thick and muggy, the sun relentless in its sweltering quest across the turquoise sky. Eating a chicken she managed to catch for her breakfast she sat in the grass and examined the bow of a skeleton who was unfortunate enough to burn in the sun.

She carefully inspected the craftsmanship of the weapon with hopes of creating her own. This bow was well made, but the limbs were weak with over use and the string nearly frayed. Copying the design to the best of her ability she practiced using the arrows she had gathered. They were strewn around the jungle, lodged in trees or just lying on the ground.

After a few shots Lazuli discovered she was a natural and could almost always hit her target. Deep in her mine she collected flint from a gravel pit and feathers from her chicken kills to recreate arrows of her own. Well armed she decided to always have a well-stocked quiver in case of threat.

While she watched a wild pig nuzzle through a patch of melons she readied her bow to bag her next meal. Something from behind, the snapping of a twing, gave notice to the pig, making it dart away. Frustrated and a tad irritated she checked over her shoulder to see nothing. She assumed one of the weird spotted wild cats had been to blame.

Spotting the pig about ten meters away she readied herself in a new position. Again she heard the snapping sound, causing her to draw back the string and turn with lightning quick speed. The flint arrowhead came face to face with a pig standing upright, wearing blue armour and a gold crown.

"Watch were you point that thing!" he shouted.

Lazuli didn't dare lower her bow, even though she recognized him as the Vanguard leader, whatever his name was. "How did you find me?" she asked hostilely. He rambled on about being a guardian, which was something she didn't understand or care about. After a while she lowered her bow as her fingers were getting numb. Cutting in she harshly said, "I get it already, what do you want?"

Again he went on a long tangent about the other Vanguard members being worried about her, but his irritating lack of conclusion made her patience very thin. As he talked at her till her ears metaphorically began to bleed Lazuli ventured down to the coast and harvested the naturally growing sugar cane stalks.

Heafting the long canes onto her shoulder she carried them back up the slope where she stacked them neatly with the rest. By now he was recounting someone's life in immaculate detail, but his lack-lustre story telling skills made it more of a long history lesson then the fascinating thrill ride it truly was.

Growing bored and uninterested from the word go she cut in by holding up her hand, motioning him to stop. "Look, Mortigong..."

"Artagan," he corrected.

"Whatever. I'm sure you're a wonderful human.. pig... thing, but I honestly don't care. Because of you I'm stuck eating bread for dinner again." At that Artagan offered her some sheep meat, which he called mutton, and went on another tangent of it being ironic. "Please, fore the love of your made up pig god, please get to your point."

Artagan let out a loud, equally irritated sigh, then answered her pleading. "I came here to tell you that the gates to Cerulean City, if ever you need us, are always open to you."

If he hand't disappeared she probably would've killed him for wasting so much of her time. When he finished his refreshingly short, to-the-point sentence Lazuli looked away briefly and he was gone. Letting out a long sigh of relief, she was finally able to get some peace and quiet for a change, even though he was there for maybe an hour and a half. Regardless, it felt like an eternity.

Sitting down for her midday meal she ate the strange meat Artagan had given her. It was rather bland, a bit chewy, but a free meal, no matter how you dish it, is still a meal. Deciding to relax the rest of the day she took her fishing rod and casted it into the calm, sapphire blue sea.

While she waited for a foolish cod to mistake the baited hook for a harmless mouthful she let her mind wander. Even though his visit was extremely aggravating, Lazuli did appreciate the kindness Artagan showed her. With her thoughts on the subject of the Vaguard the memory of her tavern dream reappeared in her mind.

Everyone in that cozy wooden structure looked so elated to be together. The bitter winter outside seemed to be far less enjoyable then the scene her subconscious had created for her. A certain question bounced around in her mind, a question she'd been asking herself all day.

"Are you so sure it was only a dream?" she swore she heard someone say aloud.

Setting her catch at her side she rebaited the rusty hook and casted the rod again. One of those spotted wild cats poked its nose out of a low-growing shrub, its emerald green eyes locked onto the raw fish at her side. Lazui's gaze wandered over to meet the cat's, whose instinct was to flee. Using a quite and soothing tone she managed to coax the cat from the foliage and onto the sand.

Tossing the cat some bait it quickly gained her trust and took an entire fish when offered. Soon the cat was nuzzled up at her side, purring with content as her hand absentmindedly stroked its spotted fur. Catching a few more fish Lazuli dozed off to be awakened by a loud hissing sound.

The plant monster that had blown her sky high her first night in the jungle was approaching her on the beach. Not feeling the cat at her side Lazuli feared it had abandoned her. She heard a low growl, quickly fallowed by a hiss, and saw the cat. With its back arched and fur standing on end it defensively protected Lazuli. With this display before it the plant monster scurried away. Apparently a fragilely thin cat was enough of a threat to make the risk of attack unworthy.

When the cat deemed itself and Lazuli safe it relaxed a tad and returned to her side, twitching its tail as if it were indulging itself in victory's bragging rights. The cat rubbed its face, fallowed by its body, against Lazuli's upright knee, purring as loud as it had growled. Returning the favour she scratched the cat's ear and smiled at it.

Standing she shook off the sand and placed her catch in a burlap sac after cleaning it. The cat enjoyed most of the discarded entrails with pleasure. The trait of not being picky pleased Lazuli. "Waste not want not," she muttered to herself. Scooping up the cat togther they climbed into the completed bedroom loft portion of the elaborate shelter that any aristocrat would be pleased with.

Setting the cat at the foot of her bed they cuddled up together, sharing each other's body heat. Lazui hand't realized how lonely she was until today. Since the almost human visitor gave her a mild migraine, she decided that this cat was all the company she needed for the time being.

Besides, this one didn't talk.
 
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Lazuli73

Well-Known Member
Slicer
Scowling through closed eyes Lazuli tossed in her bed, unhappy that she was woken by her cat pawing at her face. "Goto sleep Zuzu, I'll feed you later," she complained. Opening her eyes she saw Zuzu grooming himself on the wooden benched she carved the other day. Curious about what was stroking her face Lazuli attempted to sit up but she hit her forehead against something hard.

Nursing a growing goose egg Lazuli opened her eyes to see a branch six inches from her face. With a slight gust of wind she felt the stroking feeling on her cheek again and realized it was a leaf. Sliding out of the cage of twigs and leaves she rolled into the floor with a thud.

Yanking the plant life from her hair Lazuli gawked at the mature tree top that had barged its way into her loft. She recalled chopping down this very tree barely a day ago. Inspecting the rest of the structure gnarled limbs of wood had grown on its frame, extending out and enveloping the bridge that would connect it to the main house.

Groaning in frustration Lazuli took her axe and began trimming the extra wood. The task consumed most of the day, but it also gave her a lot of extra wood to continue building with. Clearing away the leaves that dangled from the ceiling she tossed the derbies out of the nearest window before falling into bed exhausted.

Not bothering to climb under the covers Lazuli fell into a deep slumber, only to be awoken in the middle of the night by the sound of stretching bark and creaking wood. Alarmed Lazuli leaped off matress right before a tree branch decimated the bed. Fully grown trees ripped though the floor, destroying everything she had worked so hard to achieve.

Holding Zuzu in an iron grip she leaped out of the building before they could be speared with branches. Landing on the hard dirt she released the terrified Zuzu and layed on the ground moaning in pain. Forcing herself to move she crawled away from the wreck that was her house. As she watched trees consume her home Lazuli failed to notice an army of mobs approach from behind.

A zombie wielding a sword clumsily swung the blade around the trunk, lodging it in the thick bark inches above her head. Expertly Lazuli sprung to her feet and used her own sword to slash the rotted rib cage of the zombie open, killing the somehow undead. Skeletons shot a barraged of arrows her way, which she dodged skillfully.

Sending her own arrows in retaliation she knocked off their skulls, causing them to drop their bows and fumble around for their heads blindly. The plant monsters she deemed creepers made hissing sounds, preparing to explode, but Zuzu leaped from a non-agressive tree and tackled the creepers, making the bunch flee.

This song and dance continued on for several days. During the light she trimmed the extre wood, in the dark she slayed hordes monsters. When the armies became too strong she fled into her dank, mouldy mine, contemplating how she could deal with this for much longer without losing her sanity.

She remembered the day that the Vanguard leaded, the half pig person, came to visit her. What was his name? Artagan? Watching the moon trace across the nigth sky she waited for the inevitable approaching dawn. Once the sounds of burning monsters stopped she and Zuzu climbed the ladder.

Filling her satchel with as much supplies as it could hold she and Zuzu trekked along the coast. Hoping she was heading in the direction of the dock where the Aladra ship had abandoned her. Repeating her first few nights in the jungle she cowered in the above-ground roots during the night by encasing herself and Zuzu in mud.

After several days they made it to the dock and hitched a ride on the ship, whisking her from the sweltering jungle to the temperate island of Aladra. After refreshing her supplies at the local market with what little riches she extracted from the earth they boarded the Icicle and sailed to Kalros.

Once again the ship captain left her alone on the port, but this continent had a far different vibe to it. Evergreen trees, some with patches of snow on their bows, clinged to the steep cliffs. Ferns danced in the frigid breeze. Frozen dewdrops made the ends of tall grasses heavy, making them droop.

The air had a certain chill to it, and the floating chunks of ice in the water didn't help. For some reason the cold seemed mild to Lazuli, like she has lived in a far colder climate before, and rather comfortably. Using a map she had taken from Aladra she tried to fallow it to find Cerulean City.

Wandering in the vuage direction Lazuli feared for what was before her. With the unfamiliar terrain she was unsure what the night would bring her since nothing struck her as being an instant shelter if the midnight mafia becomes to much.

As predicted the horrors of the night came out of the woodwork, and with nowhere to flee she panicked. Exchanging the contents of her hands with Zuzu instead of her map she raced thoughs the chilly night. Darting around trees and boulders Lazuli felt as inexperienced and unprepared as she did when she first came to this God fosaken hellhole.

Cresting the top of a daunting hill she felt relief to see the greys of dawn breaking in the distant horizen. Standing on the top of the hill she waited for the sun's burning rays to turn her pursuers into ash. But all she saw for miles was grey, nothing but grey as the light opened the sky for day. Behind her the skeletons and zombies had stopped too, waiting for the fire, but nothing happened. With a gust of wind a snowflake drifted by.

This sight made the grin with glee, arming their bows with arrows once more. The arows flew by, concealed by the thick wet snow. They struck her flesh, staining get her cloths with blood that leaked from open gashes on her skin. Losing the mobs in the storm she was able to drag out a second map she had brought just in case.

Following the map she managed to find what she though was Cerulean City. All she could see where huge, towering, uneven walls that sealed off everything. Weak from injury she sat against the snow-caked stone, softly knocking her fist and whispering for help.

Hearing a pickaxe tap against the stone Lazuli's eyes fell closed from exhaustion. Her last memory of that day was the feeling of a pair of hands dragging her inside the walls.
 

Lazuli73

Well-Known Member
Slicer
The winter's storm had calmed down quite a bit when Lazuli's eyes fluttered open. She was inside a small cabin made of a logs stripped of their bark, revealing a chocolate grain beneath. A fire burned in the stone mantel, puffing out slate smoke into the gentle snowfall outside. Rising Lazuli gazed about the small cabin, wondering how she ended up here.

Sitting on the edge of the bed she noticed a small window on the opposite wall. There was a door to her right, but when she tried to open it she discovered it was locked. Walking over to the window she clawed at the grass to clear the frost, making her fingertips numb. She peered out into the winter, the snow making contact with the warm ground, turning it to slush. There were a few other hastily built cabin strewn around the hilly landscape, all enclosed by those ugly walls made of cobblestone.

This must be Cerulean City, she thought.

Hearing footsteps from outside she found her bow, which was resting against a wall, and raised it, armed and prepared to fire. The sound of tumblers falling in the lock made Lazuli's muscles tense up, anticipating a foe over friend. The door, unlocked, refused to budge due to ice build-up, but released after a few forceful kicks. When the door finally swung open, allowing a slide of slush to fall into the room, soaking the wool carpet.

A man wearing a white tunic with fiery red hair entered the cabin after kicking the snow from his leather boots. Shoving the snow and slush back outside he ripped off a blue scarf and turned to see an arrowhead poised inches from his auburn eyes. As if expecting this he simple pushed the arrow aside and smiled.

"Glad to see you up and about," he said tossing her some of what she assumed to be food. Lazuli recognized the meat to be mutton, from the day that the pig fellow ruined her hunt, but the warm starchy ball with peeling skin drew a blank. "Baked potatoes," he said pointing to the root vegetable.

Surprised at how famished she was she took in large bites of the food. The potatoes had a warm, buttery taste that was hearty and filling, the mutton greasy but was equally bland and chewy as the first time she had it. Once she finished the snow had thankfully stopped and the ginger-haired man urged her outside.

Lazuli hesitated, not remembering him from the day she met the Vanguard in Aladra. She would at least like to know his name, if that wasn't too much to ask. "Chuck Toast," he answered nonchalantly, as if people were always named after slices of crispy morning bread. Interesting name, she thought.

Leading her outside she immediately recognized a few of the people from Aladra. There was the sickly-skinned elf lady with green eyes, that clingy wolf girl she injured, and a blond-haired hunter with a leather backpack. What were their names again? Regardless they all seemed very excited to see her.

The wolf girl was petting her cat Zuzu, feeding some sort of pink fish with a green head. They prattled on about how they were so pleased to see her after so long, but all Lazuli really cared about was another sitting of mutton and maybe a nap. As if coming out of the ether the pig fellow appeared out of thin air.

After he and the elf girl spoke privately he directed them to a slightly larger cabin. There the "elected" town leaders explain their town blueprints to her. On paper the plan seemed solid, but in the early stages of execution, Lazuli had her doubts.

It seemed simple enough, a square town divided into four quarters by a cross-shaped road, each district having a purpose. One had a training arena, which seemed useless and a huge waste of space to Lazuli, and the one adjacent had general housing. The sector to its left also was general housing, which was peppered with the ambition for shops and small businesses. Between the two housing districts was intended to be a massive church to practice their religion, which Lazuli wanted no part of.

The final wedge was for estates, which surprised her to find they reserved a plot for her anticipating this very meeting. Since they were so early in development permanent housing had to wait, so she was instructed to build a temeprary house for herself.

Seeing that the sun had set into a bitterly cold night the other members of the town joined them in the cabin to wait out until morning. After a short while a conversation was started and Lazuli found herself laughing with these people, wondering if perhaps they were friends and some point in her cloudy past.

When dawn broke though the horizen they all split way, leaving Lazuli alone in the cabin. She was about to leave herself when she noticed she wasn't alone after all. Jedoi, the girl who had begged her to come with them in Aladra, now sat silently across from her in the cabin.

Settling back down in her seat Lazuli could tell she wanted to speak to her in private, so she motioned her over. Instead of taking the vacant seat across from her Jedoi rounded the table and wrapped her arms around Lazuli's neck. Accepting the hug as what is was, a gesture of longing, she allowed this girl to dangle around her neck for at least some time.

After a solid twenty seconds Lazuli wanted to let the moment pass, so she gently tried to get Jedoi to release her iron grip. "Okay, that's enough," but her hug got no looser. At that Lazuli felt something drip down her back, a teardrop. Jedoi was crying.

"I missed you so much," she whispered into her ear, choking up a little at the end of her sentence. At that Jedoi released Lazuli and left without a further word. Feeling a pang of guilt Lazuli stayed in the cabin until she was sure she was gone, not wanting to confront her for a while.

It was almost heart wrenching how much pain she may have caused these people, especially Jedoi. Something told her their relationship was something a tad deeper then mere allies.
 
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Lazuli73

Well-Known Member
Slicer
Sitting on the wooden bench in her small cabin Lazuli watched the snow fall gracefully though the glass window. Finishing off her lamb chop she tossed the bone to her tamed wolf Lawrence who she adopted a week prior. The wolf gnawed on the bone, making grinding sounds against its teeth. His eyes darted up to Zuzu, who was laying on a chest eating a salmon.

"Don't be greedy," Lazuli scolded. Lawrence made those big puppy-dog eyes that had won her own over when she first found him wandering Cerulean City. Sitting on her knees Lazuli scratched the fur on Lawrence's neck, receiving many kisses in return, then left her house.

The ambitious leader of this town demanded that things met to his incredibly high standard before beginning construction. Volunteering for the position of landscaper Lazuli spent her days moulding the terrain into something that could be feasible for structure foundation.

Through careful planning Lazuli's intention was to attempt to make the highly altered land look natural, beginning with a gentle slope and increasing to a sharp hillside with retaining walls. Feeling no real pressure or time constraint Lazuli often found herself trying to forge new relationships with these people who cared so much for her well-being.

Spending most of her time with Jedoi, Johnny, and Chuck, they quickly developed new and strong friendships from Lazuli's blank slate of a mind. It was clear to Lazuli that she had been close with these three people before she lost her memories, as they seemed to be relishing in fond memories as she created these new ones.

Leasaur, the less often seen fiancé of Artagan, was a bit more abrasive then the others, but once she warmed up they became rather close. It was mostly idle chitchat, but it was enough to declare each other friends. They'd often go fishing together or compare notes about the other continents Garama and Ascalon.

During her stay in Ceruelan City she saw very little of the town owner Aratgan. After an explanation of his status from Jedoi Lazuli often assumed that he was off doing something worthwhile for the administration community, though she did doubt it. Whenever he did bother to show his snout in Cerulean City she often found him ripping up the land she had worked incredibly hard on to look natural.

Throughout the mild days Lazuli spent it continuing her arduous task of sculpting the hillside. Her progress was often halted by Leasaur's persistent arguing about how it should be done and her insistence that it be don't more hastily. Despite her protests it was clear that she had an agenda whose details were not being shared. Lazuli suspected that the always absent Artagan had something to do with it.

On days when Leasuar and Aratgan were both nowhere to be seen she'd often slipped into the underground sewers being built by Johnny to entertain herself since landscaping was becoming increasingly difficult due to new members arriving and building shacks wherever they please.

Through conversation Lazuli learned that before coming to this world she and Johnny had been quite close, their towns allied togther in the Vanguard. He apparently used to live in a town called Atlas, the "City in the Sky," he'd call it. The larger surprise was his description of the town she used to live in, and own.

The town was called Dellsmite, located in a frigid ice wasteland in the previous world. The name seemed odd to Lazuli, and Johnny's explanation that it had meant something to her was too vague to give her any clarity. The town had a similar Norse feel to Cerulean City, but it's most outstanding feature was its walls.

An octagonal fortress made of wood and stone, they stood strong and tall as they supported the massive glass dome that enclosed it from the harsh, endless winter outside. Johnny began listing people who had once called Dellsmite their home, which included most of the Ceruelan City population. "Jedoi, Leasaur, you..."

Grabbing his hand to make him stop his rant Lazuli gave him a soft smile. "Enough about Dellsmte," she said, "Tell me about you."

Spending the entire night in each other's company they were only disturbed by a hoard of ignorant monsters who had infultrated the partially built sewer system. Hearing a commotion from above the pair ascended the manhole ladder to find Leasuar in tears and furious at the same time, arguing with Artagan.

While he tried to console her he hastily sighed a document on a house wall, then handed it to Chuck. The paper illuminated with a golden light, signifying the transfer of town ownership to him. Forcing himself away from her Aratgan managed his way to the town portal, which Lazuli found it odd for him to be using, and left.

Leasuar stared daggers at Lazuli before going though the portal to chase after him. If only looks could kill. Feeling a pang of guilt Lazuli knew she had a hand in his departure, but didn't have the heart to tell anyone how. When addressing the rest of the members about Cerulean City's new command Chuck merely stated that the issue was an internal affair and would be resolved with time.

All his explanation offered was that Artagan's presence was requested by the high administers. And he hasn't been seen since.
 

Lazuli73

Well-Known Member
Slicer
With the absence of Cerulean's leader becoming more and more lengthy the city fell to decay. Though the symptoms were young Lazuli knew they city didn't have long, that she should leave while she still had the chance. After a lengthy exploration of Ascalon she discovered an island on the southern most point on the continent. The island was small and uninhabited, but contained everything that would suit her needs. Even those melons she loved in the jungle grew there.

Every time she returned to Cerulean the sight of the decrepit ruins made the white sandy beaches and swaying palm trees of the island all the more tempting. It would take her several round trips to move all the belongings she had gathered over her stay but it would be well worth it in the end. She would have to leave the city at night if she wanted to keep her parting private, since her new acquired comrades would surely try to make her stay if she told them.

The only real problem that stood in her path was her pets and their basic need to eat. The only person she could trust with caring for them in her absence was Johnny. Out of all the former Vanguard members he didn't try to force her memories back into the light by dragging up old memories from a life probably better left forgotten. She could trust him more then Leasaur or Jedoi, even though they were her closest friends.

Though the memories that they retold were pleasant and joyful, they were also scattered and surely exaggerated. Lazuli was certain these events did happen, but the costs far outweighed the benefits. The nightmares of what she assumed to be memories of her past life were less frequent now but their threat of haunting her nights were enough to make her want to move on completely. All the hardships and loneliness she slogged through during the night only wanted to forget that life even more.

Gently closing the thick wooden doors of the town portal shack Lazuli walked along the polished diorite path to the front steps of her house. Grooming himself on the wide stone banister Zuzu looked up and made a chirping noise at the sight of his owner. Rolling over to present his tummy Lazuli gave it a quick rub before picking him up to bring him inside. Dumping him on the counter Lazuli noticed that the sun had began to rise, meaning that the populace of Cerulean would soon rise with it.

Hastily she began to toss open the heavy chest lids to gather as much as she could carry before anyone noticed her clearing out. However all the noise she was creating only alerted them. With sword drawn Johnny exploded through the doors of Lazuli's home prepared to cut the less-than-subtle thief to ribbons. It was only when Lazuli's dog, Lawrence, stopped growling and began to shower her in kisses that he stood down. Able to sheath his sword he relaxed and took a long look around the tiny cabin.

It seemed so bare and cold. The walls and shelves were picked clean of anything of use. Johnny hadn't witnessed the progression of her emptying home since he had no need to return because her pets were staying with him. His gaze trailed over to Lazuli, who was trying to push off her pet who was clearly longing for her. Once she was on her knees again she pulled out a mutton chop from the charcoal oven and tossed it across the room for Lawrence to occupy himself with.

"Whatcha doin?" Johnny tried to say as casually as possible.

"Baking a cake," Lazuli said sarcastically. Her elusive tone hinted with fear made Johnny all the more concerned, considering. Feeling his hot, questioning stare Lazuli quickly tried to remedy the situation. "What does it look like I'm doing?"

"Running away."

"I'm not running away," she corrected. Turning on his knees to better see him she tried to think of a reason to leave Cerulean other than foreseeing its gruesome fall. They bantered back and forth for a short while, she argued why she desired to leave and he countered why she should stay. With eyes locked on him Lazuli reached out to grab something from atop the carved wooden bench only for her hand to miss and caused the book to fall onto the floor.

Lunging forward in unison to retrieve the fallen manuscript their heads crashed together so hard that their bones rattled. Nursing their own and inspecting each others' wounds their eyes locked for a moment. Warm feelings of longing and lust overpowered both of them, but neither made a move. Just as Johnny was about to break their link Lazuli lunged forward and kissed him. Returning the favour Johnny cradled her head to draw her closer. They stayed in this frozen moment of time till a distant thunder crack broke made time move once more.

Separating from their lustful attraction they avoided eye contact for a second as they both blushed. When they got the courage to look at each other again Johnny had a certain sadness in his eyes that begged her to stay in Cerulean. Reading him like an open book she simply responded "I can't... I, I need to start over... the nightmares..."

The admittance to having nightmares of her past life was all Johnny needed to let her go. The Lazuli he knew in Dellsmite, in the past world, was a relic in time now. There would be no way he could trigger her memories return, so it was best to create new memories with the woman he loved. Build new livess instead of living in the past. She was still the same person, it's not like the amnesia changed her personality.

Helping her to her feet all Johnny could really do now is offer his help in any way. Lending a hand in the dismantlement of her house so nothing was wasted they spent her last night in Cerulean in each others' company in his cabin. The next morning he saw Lazuli off at the Ascalon ship he promised he would visit her on the island once she was settled. Hopefully that wouldn't take long.
 

Lazuli73

Well-Known Member
Slicer
Staring out the window Lazuli watched the rain fall against the glass, listening to the relaxing pitter-pat of the drops slide down the frame. Every muscle in her body ached from her long days work out in the storm, building structure after structure for her new island village. Makosa had a nice ring to it. Lazuli had only settled here a few weeks prior but it already felt like home.

Though she had everything she could ever need here: food, water, shelter; it felt like something was missing. She hadn't heard much from Cerulean, so she couldn't help but assume the worse for the ambitious city. If her theory was correct the city should be nothing but ruins by now, prehaps even the forest had begun to reclaim its violated land. Here, alone on an island far away from the brutal cold, she thrived.

The first building she had constricted was a windmill with an upstairs loft. It was small, but it was perfect for her needs. Though she had no memory of the design it felt so familiar for some reason, like she had built it before. Every brick, every plank of imported spruce wood, it all felt like it belonged somewhere else, somewhere in the past she had no recollection of.

But despite her property she couldn't help but wonder what her life was missing. All she needed, all she could ever want, was just a short walk away. But then it dawned on her. She left something, someone in Cerulean City. Johnny. Realizing how much she longed for him made her heart ache, it made her feel almost empty inside.

For some reason she had avoided contacting him as she promised she would. Prehaps she didn't want to burden him with her misery. Shortly after she permanently settle on the island the nightmare had begun torturing her again every night, each one worse then the last. She had left Cerulean to escape her past, to start over, and she was too ashamed to admit that it haunted her every night.

Tossing and turning in a cold sweat Lazuli slogged through yet another nightmare, this one focusing on some kind of treasonous betrayal. It felt like her heart was being ripped out of her chest. The tears she shed were like acid. When she was jolted awake by a thunder crack it was the greatest feeling of relief she had ever experience. Even though she was in the waking world, safe and warm and away from any harm, her heart still raced.

Dismissing the idea of returning to bed Lazuli sauntered down the spiral staircase and washed her face with cold water, drawing all the drowsiness from her bones. Entertaining herself by staring out the window while her breakfast, steak and eggs with a side of toast, cooked she wondered what that nightmare could've been about. And when it happened. The faces of all the figures were cloaked in shadows, their voices contorted and strange, further masking their identities.

Trying to figure out the timeline of her constant night terrors made her head writhe with pain, so she tried to dismiss the troubling thoughts. Instead she busied her mind with prospects for the future. Inside her mind she had a beatiful vision for this quaint little island, one that she hoped would be reality soon. She'd have to wait till the storm passed to continue making her ambition a reality, though.

Smelling the savoury aromas of a perfectly cooked steak calling her Lazuli was about to answer when she saw something troubling through the water-soaked glass. Wiping away the fog caused by her hot breath she could see the blurry silhouette of a man, clad in enchanted diamond armour, wandering up the beach. Grabbing her bow and quiver she raced out into the balcony to get a better view of the glowing invader.

She couldn't quite see who he was through the rain, but she could tell that he could see her. Immediately he started to rush towards her, sword drawn, appearing to be ready for attack. He was shouting something, perhaps her name, but it was drowned out by the thunder of the storm. Feeling threated Lazuli let an arrow fly, piercing his armour and shoulder.

Dropping his sword onto the wet sand the man continued to yell at her as he ripped the arrow from his muscle. Unable to hear him Lazuli leaped off her balcony, sending a barrage of arrows at who she assumed to be the nuisance she had trapped in her well. Swift on her feet Lazuli's blade was skimming his throat before he had time to finish digging out all the arrows. The sharp edge of her sword was so close that it grazed away some of the blond beard from his neck.

"Laz stop! What the hell are you doing?" he shouted. The sound of a familiar voice was jarring, but with hindsight it did explain why he didn't attack her in return, considering...

Squinting her eyes she staring down her gaze to idetnify the person whose throat she was about to slash. "Johnny?" she said.

Kneeling in the puddle of wet sand and blood they exchanged a long, loving hug as they rejoiced in their long overdue reunion. Since he had a shattered knee-cap and couldn't walk Lazuli helped Johnny as they escaped the storm for the warm comforts of her windmill. Warming up in front of the furnaces Johnny watched as she dug out the arrowheads from his flesh and poured healing potion into his wounds. He wanted to start up a light conversation, but didn't know where to start.

"Do you get storms like this a lot here?" Wow, reduced to using the weather as an ice-breaker. Now that was just sad.

Rolling her eyes Lazuli amused his inquiry. "It's no worse then those blizzards on Kalros. Sorry, again, for shooting you." Johnny didn't seem to care that she had used him as a pin cushion. Averting his charming glare she yanked out another arrowhead from his stomach. Pouring more potion onto his skin only a faint scar remained. Curious to why he is here to begin with Lazuli asked him why he sought out her island. After he vented about her lack of communication with him Johnny confirmed her suspicions about Ceruleans fall.

Everything that had once been had crumbled away into despair. Many of the members moved on to more prosperous futures. He hadn't seen Leasuar in weeks, so he assumed the worse for her. She didn't seem like herself since Artagan vanished. But by far the most troubling was Jedoi, who remained in the ruins, trying to cling onto her past and revive the dead.

"I was worried about you, since I haven't heard from you in a while. But it looks like you've made a pretty good like for yourself."

"I guess," she said, plating some breakfast for her and Johnny to share.

Despite her wealth and stability Lazuli still seemed distant, even more so then when she lived in Cerulean City. Grabbing her ice cold hand Johnny drew her close and asked her is the nightmares had returned. Of course, being as stubborn and bullheaded as she was, Lazuli denied it at first. It took some weaselling but she eventually admitted that they tormented her every night.

Drawing her in close Johnny made her tell him about her most recent nightmare, which sent shivers down his spine. In her isolation they had gotten far worse, which broke his heart. "Johnny, can I ask you something?"

"Anything."

"Can you stay here with me, on Makosa?"

"I'd thought you'd never ask."
 

gabrosen

Well-Known Member
Slicer
Staring out the window Lazuli watched the rain fall against the glass, listening to the relaxing pitter-pat of the drops slide down the frame. Every muscle in her body ached from her long days work out in the storm, building structure after structure for her new island village. Makosa had a nice ring to it. Lazuli had only settled here a few weeks prior but it already felt like home.

Though she had everything she could ever need here: food, water, shelter; it felt like something was missing. She hadn't heard much from Cerulean, so she couldn't help but assume the worse for the ambitious city. If her theory was correct the city should be nothing but ruins by now, prehaps even the forest had begun to reclaim its violated land. Here, alone on an island far away from the brutal cold, she thrived.

The first building she had constricted was a windmill with an upstairs loft. It was small, but it was perfect for her needs. Though she had no memory of the design it felt so familiar for some reason, like she had built it before. Every brick, every plank of imported spruce wood, it all felt like it belonged somewhere else, somewhere in the past she had no recollection of.

But despite her property she couldn't help but wonder what her life was missing. All she needed, all she could ever want, was just a short walk away. But then it dawned on her. She left something, someone in Cerulean City. Johnny. Realizing how much she longed for him made her heart ache, it made her feel almost empty inside.

For some reason she had avoided contacting him as she promised she would. Prehaps she didn't want to burden him with her misery. Shortly after she permanently settle on the island the nightmare had begun torturing her again every night, each one worse then the last. She had left Cerulean to escape her past, to start over, and she was too ashamed to admit that it haunted her every night.

Tossing and turning in a cold sweat Lazuli slogged through yet another nightmare, this one focusing on some kind of treasonous betrayal. It felt like her heart was being ripped out of her chest. The tears she shed were like acid. When she was jolted awake by a thunder crack it was the greatest feeling of relief she had ever experience. Even though she was in the waking world, safe and warm and away from any harm, her heart still raced.

Dismissing the idea of returning to bed Lazuli sauntered down the spiral staircase and washed her face with cold water, drawing all the drowsiness from her bones. Entertaining herself by staring out the window while her breakfast, steak and eggs with a side of toast, cooked she wondered what that nightmare could've been about. And when it happened. The faces of all the figures were cloaked in shadows, their voices contorted and strange, further masking their identities.

Trying to figure out the timeline of her constant night terrors made her head writhe with pain, so she tried to dismiss the troubling thoughts. Instead she busied her mind with prospects for the future. Inside her mind she had a beatiful vision for this quaint little island, one that she hoped would be reality soon. She'd have to wait till the storm passed to continue making her ambition a reality, though.

Smelling the savoury aromas of a perfectly cooked steak calling her Lazuli was about to answer when she saw something troubling through the water-soaked glass. Wiping away the fog caused by her hot breath she could see the blurry silhouette of a man, clad in enchanted diamond armour, wandering up the beach. Grabbing her bow and quiver she raced out into the balcony to get a better view of the glowing invader.

She couldn't quite see who he was through the rain, but she could tell that he could see her. Immediately he started to rush towards her, sword drawn, appearing to be ready for attack. He was shouting something, perhaps her name, but it was drowned out by the thunder of the storm. Feeling threated Lazuli let an arrow fly, piercing his armour and shoulder.

Dropping his sword onto the wet sand the man continued to yell at her as he ripped the arrow from his muscle. Unable to hear him Lazuli leaped off her balcony, sending a barrage of arrows at who she assumed to be the nuisance she had trapped in her well. Swift on her feet Lazuli's blade was skimming his throat before he had time to finish digging out all the arrows. The sharp edge of her sword was so close that it grazed away some of the blond beard from his neck.

"Laz stop! What the hell are you doing?" he shouted. The sound of a familiar voice was jarring, but with hindsight it did explain why he didn't attack her in return, considering...

Squinting her eyes she staring down her gaze to idetnify the person whose throat she was about to slash. "Johnny?" she said.

Kneeling in the puddle of wet sand and blood they exchanged a long, loving hug as they rejoiced in their long overdue reunion. Since he had a shattered knee-cap and couldn't walk Lazuli helped Johnny as they escaped the storm for the warm comforts of her windmill. Warming up in front of the furnaces Johnny watched as she dug out the arrowheads from his flesh and poured healing potion into his wounds. He wanted to start up a light conversation, but didn't know where to start.

"Do you get storms like this a lot here?" Wow, reduced to using the weather as an ice-breaker. Now that was just sad.

Rolling her eyes Lazuli amused his inquiry. "It's no worse then those blizzards on Kalros. Sorry, again, for shooting you." Johnny didn't seem to care that she had used him as a pin cushion. Averting his charming glare she yanked out another arrowhead from his stomach. Pouring more potion onto his skin only a faint scar remained. Curious to why he is here to begin with Lazuli asked him why he sought out her island. After he vented about her lack of communication with him Johnny confirmed her suspicions about Ceruleans fall.

Everything that had once been had crumbled away into despair. Many of the members moved on to more prosperous futures. He hadn't seen Leasuar in weeks, so he assumed the worse for her. She didn't seem like herself since Artagan vanished. But by far the most troubling was Jedoi, who remained in the ruins, trying to cling onto her past and revive the dead.

"I was worried about you, since I haven't heard from you in a while. But it looks like you've made a pretty good like for yourself."

"I guess," she said, plating some breakfast for her and Johnny to share.

Despite her wealth and stability Lazuli still seemed distant, even more so then when she lived in Cerulean City. Grabbing her ice cold hand Johnny drew her close and asked her is the nightmares had returned. Of course, being as stubborn and bullheaded as she was, Lazuli denied it at first. It took some weaselling but she eventually admitted that they tormented her every night.

Drawing her in close Johnny made her tell him about her most recent nightmare, which sent shivers down his spine. In her isolation they had gotten far worse, which broke his heart. "Johnny, can I ask you something?"

"Anything."

"Can you stay here with me, on Makosa?"

"I'd thought you'd never ask."

Wow you are a really good writer! :D
 

Lazuli73

Well-Known Member
Slicer
It's okay. Could use more spit and polish. I don't try too hard on these lore chapters. This chapter I write in under two hours.
 
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Lazuli73

Well-Known Member
Slicer
Wrapped in a warm, cozy cacoon of thick quilts Lazuli slumbered in her bed. Pulling the blankets over her eyes to block out the morning sun she tried to return to the unique bliss of sleep. That comforting feeling of content filled her body, almost allowing her to slip away from the waking world again. A pair of strong arms weaved their way around her torso, cold and unwanted, making her squirm. "Morning," whispered Johnny.

Rolling over she remained in his embrace, smiling up at him. His teal eyes could say a thousand words, but today they asked one thing. Her night was peaceful. Dreamless, yes, but she awoke with a clear mind and free of fear. Lazuli couldn't even begin to describe how grateful she was towards Johnny for begin here with her. Reaching up she stroked his cheek, her soft fingers rubbing against his coarse blond beard. "You know you don't have to stay here every night."

Without another word her leaned down and kissed her, entangling his fingers in her loose hair. Sliding out of the warm bed he dressed himself and speeded down to the quaint kitchen, the aromas of searing steak wafting up the stairwell moments later. A gnawing hunger grew inside Lazuli, making her mouth watering with anticipation.

Sitting up she took the time to stretch and crack her bones, letting all the drowsiness melt away. Braiding her long hair she readied herself for a long day on the island, building an entire town with her own two hands from nothing. Sitting down on a wooden bench in the kitchen Johnny handed her some breakfast, which was till steaming. Taking a swig of warm milk she scooted over to make room for Johnny, who was busy pouring beef gravy onto his steak.

Taking a healthy bite of his buttered toast he started up light breakfast conversation. "I have to say, beef is way better then mutton will ever be." Swirling the bread around in the broken yoke of his eggs Johnny looked over at Lazuli, who only took a few small nibbles of her food. "You must be sick, you haven't touched your steak." Playfully he reached over and placed his palm on her forehead, feeling her temperature.

Swatting him away a grin managed to crack her stoic expression. "I was just thinking."

"About?"

"Cerulean City." The mention of the crumbling city made Johnny stop chewing and look at her quizzically. His unsure look ushered in her explanation. "I haven't been back in so long, and the way described it... Last night I couldn't help but remember what you said about Jedoi, how she stayed in the ruins trying to rebuild. I think we need to go back, to get her out of there. That's what she would've done for me if I were living like that, I think..."

Still unsure at the extent of her and Jedoi's past relationship Lazuli wondered how deep their friendship had been. When she lived in Cerulean Jedoi was a very close friend. She seemed to have an unsually high preference for the past, often lamenting about how things have changed. It was bizarre, considered all she wanted to do was bury her past. Her nostalgia was grating at times, but it also had a, unique charm to it.

Feeling uneasy about how he had left Cerulean Johnny agreed that they ought to at least try. Covering themselves in extra layers they managed their way to Aladra, spending the night in the village. The following day they boarded the Icicle, sailing north to Kalros. Finding a pair of wild horses they bribed them with raw sugar, riding them through the mountainous terrain.

During the frigid days they'd ride for a few hours at a time, stopping only to allow rest for the horses. At night they'd made camp, pitching a tent beneath the boughs of the snow-cloaked spruce trees. After a few days their rations had begun to run low, but that was expected since they could only carry so much. Besides, Kalros was rich with resources, if you knew where to look.

While Johnny fished for salmon in a brisk stream Lazuli wandered around in a bluff of trees, hunting any passing sheep. Bagging a few young rams she started heading back when she heard one of horses whinnying loudly in fear. Sprinting through the forest she managed her way to the camp, but it was too late. The wolves had take down one of the horses and we're going after the second.

He bucked and kicked, keeping the wolves at bay. Taking out both wolves with one arrow in the back of the skull each she tried to calm the distraught mustang. Offering it an apple she managed to sooth it just as Johnny rushed through a mess of ferns. Seeing the injured horse and two dead wolves was all her needed to understand what had transpired.

Checking the mares injuries, a broken ankle and several bites to her throat, he decided decided she was beyond saving. Cutting her neck the horse nickered a few times before dying. Burying her body under a pile of moss covered rocks they decided to move camp in case the rest of the pack was nearby. They both mounted the remaining horse, Johnny taking the reigns. That evening they sat around the campfire, watching the northern lights dance across the endless diamond sky.

That morning, while Lazuli was trying to revive the glowing embers to make a fire, Johnny noticed that some of their raw mutton and potatoes were missing. Seeing a pair of fresh footprints in the snow the cautiously followed, the tracks leading them to a shallow cave in a cliff side. The mouth was poorly sealed off with dirt and snow, a crude wooden door swinging loosely on its hinges.

Gently pushing the door, which fell off despite Johnny's light touch, they peered inside the dark cave. It was bare and crude, hastily cobbled together without much care. A few charcoal torches hung on the walls, but they had long been smothered out by the cold. Scorch markets crawled up the tone walls, like someone had tried to light a fire.

Hearing a hacking cough coming from the rear of the cave Johnny drew his sword. Hidden beneath a pile of wool was their potato thief. Approaching with caution Johnny ripped off the layers of wool to reveal whoever was cowering beneath. A whole gambit of conflicting emotions ran through him when he removed the wool: shock, surprise, relief. "Lea?"

Her emerald eyes darted up at him, an expression consisting of a mixture of fear and disdain etched into her features. She seemed paler then usually, like her porcelain hadn't been kissed by the sun in weeks. Mats devoured her once long, beautiful, ginger locks. Blood was smeared on her face as she ate the raw sheep meat she stole from her allies, filing her hallow cheeks with presumably her first food in several days days.

Trying to help her up Leasaur swatted his hand away, making almost animalistic growls. "Lea, it's me, Johnny. We've been so worried about you." His words seemed to do little to sway her, only when Lazuli offered her a hot meal if she returned to their camp did she take his offered hand. Setting her down beside the fire they gave her a hearty helping of their rations, which she filed away with ease.

Watching her eat Lazuli noticed the blood on her arm. Forcefully taking her hand she inspected her forearm. The once beautiful green dress was wearing was shredded, a large bite mark festering beneath the torn fabric. Ripping away the tatters she carefully lucked out the pine needles and pebbles. Pouring a regeneration potion on the wound her flesh healed, leaving a gnarled scar branded in her skin.

"We need to help her. I want you to take the horse and take her back to Makosa. I'm going to keep going to Cerulean to get Jedoi. I can managed, it isn't far," said Lazuli.

Agreeing, with some aversions, Johnny readied the horse for the return trip home. Helping Leasaur onto the saddle he decided to walk the horse with a lead instead of riding it since she didn't seem too keen on sharing. Wishing Lazuli safe travels they parted ways, one to the Kalros docks, the other towards Cerulean. It took a lot longer to travel on foot, but Lazuli made it to Cerulean in two days time.

Seeing the city with her own eyes was boarder line heart-wrenching. The walls were crumbling, littering the landscape with piles of cobblestone. Trees forced their roots through the unnatural stone barrier, allowing her easy access to Cerulean's interior. Climbing through a massive hole Lazuli marvels at just how much it had fallen. Such a shame, that all that hard work had amounted to nothing.

Wandering through ghostly streets she searched the empty houses, trying to find Jedoi. Weaving her way though what appeared to be an inn Lazuli could hear the sound of stone on stone. Peering through a shattered window she could see her. Watching her for a moment Lazuli realized she was to stack bricks dry, rubbing them together to make them stay.

Leaping out the window Lazuli cautiously approached her old friend, who on closer imprecations seemed to be in no better shape then Leasaur. "Jedoi?" The sound of another voice startled her, but seeing a familiar face brought out an, interesting enthusiasm. She had a wide, maniacal grin, like she'd been slowly derteiating into something deranged.

Excitedly Jedoi enveloped her friend in a shower of tight hugs and sloppy kisses. Prying her off after the embrace long overstayed its welcome Lazuli tried to speak but was cut off by Jedoi's eccentric babble. She was ordering her to do all sorts off odd things, all with the centric goal of rebuilding Cerulean the way Aratagn had always envisioned.

Dropping the plethora of stone tools she shoved into her hands Lazuli grabbed her shoulders and looked her in the eye. "Jedoi, stop. This is insane. You're coming home with me." Grabbing her wrist she started to drag her west, towards the dock, but she did some kind of flick trick that left Lazuli nursing a throbbing thumb. "Ow, Jedoi, that hurt."

"I'm not leaving. Ceruelan is my home." Like a stubborn child Jedoi sat down on the grass, folding her arms and pouting.

"Look around you. This place is nothing but ruins."

Refusing to leave with mindset that she alone could rebuild Cerulean Jedoi remained seated. Most of her hope was focused on the return of Artagan in the near future, which was most likey never going to conspire. She was living in a daze, in a delusion that the city could still be saved. Perhaps, but it was too much for one person.

Looking for the easiest solution Lazuli ignored the obvious. Sitting down in front of her friend she took her hand and tried a more motherly approach. Recalling some of the tall tales Jedoi had told her she was a maternal figure to her. Prehaps if she argued towards the heart instead of the mind she could convince Jedoi that Cerulean had its day.

"I know how hard it is to leave something you care about behind, but it's even harder to keep that thing you love the same. Cerulean could've been a beatiful city, it still can, but in its current state there is too much work for one person. Sometimes the best thing we can do for ourselves is to let something we love go, to move on with our lives. If you dwell on the past, you can't have a future. The fond memories we share will always be there, but now we need to mould ourselves a new tomorrow and end today."

Tears welled up in the corners of Jedoi's eyes. Everything that Lazuli had said had been true. She longed for the past so much that she was willing to destroy her future to revisit that bliss she once knew. Everything she had loved had abandoned her. So much was changing and she didn't know what to do. Pulling her close Lazuli allowed Jedoi to cry on her shoulder, be the ear for the words that had been waiting so long to be said.

"Come to Makosa with me, please. There are poeple there who care about you, miss you." Wiping away her tears Jedoi agreed to go, though she was clearly unhappy about it. Standing up she started to walk towards the wall, but was stopped. "I know a better way." During those long stormy nights on Makosa Lazuli learned a few things about her role in the greater world of Loka. One of those things she shared with Jedoi.

Wrapping her arms around her friend a white light appeared at their feet. The light swirled around them, constructing a column of magic around them. Their bodies were whisked away, across the skies with a flurry of shining stars. Within a blink of an eye they appeared in the Aladra town square, thousands of miles from the ruins of Cerulean.
 

Lazuli73

Well-Known Member
Slicer
Standing at the bar Lazuli ordered another round of drinks for her table. After a long and exhausting day of tending to the wheat they grew on the west side of Makosa a few cold drinks was a nice way to spend the dying twilight. While she waited for Fred, the bartender, to fetch her order her gaze swept across the empty tavern. Most nights the Silver Dragon Inn lay empty, which was a shame since their locally brewed beers were something to die for.

Returning to her table she sat opposite of Jedoi, sliding her mead across the table. Crashing their drinks together the force caused some Johnny’s tankard of beer to spill over, soaking his groin with foamy head. After having a good laugh at his expense they continued their evening. As they got more and more intoxicated their conversation became more and more intoxicating. Their topics ranged from deep and intriguing to vulgar and crass.

In the midst of taking shots of whiskey it seemed like nothing could stifle their enjoyment, but the sound of someone entering the tavern halted it briefly. Turning their drunken focus to the door Leasaur stood on the threshold as she removed her cloak. Ignoring their invitations she sent them a sour expression then sauntered over to the bar, ordering a meal before sitting along at the corner table away from the group.

Her presence dampened the once cheerful mood of the bar. They stared at Leasaur for a while, unsure why she had been so distant lately. Unlike Jedoi, who was still somber about Cerulean’s fall, she seemed bitter and almost angry about it. Thankfully her physical condition from when the found her in wilds of Kalros significantly improved since. For example she stopped biting people when she was eating and did actually talk to them when addressed.

“Why is she wearing her old Vanguard uniform?” Jedoi asked, speaking softly into her banquet glass of mead.

Glancing over her shoulder Lazuli analyzed Leasaur through her hazy, rum-clouded vision. For the last few months she’d been disappearing for several days, sometimes weeks at a time. Somehow she’d leave on horseback, which should’ve been impossible since they’re on an island, since they are typically surrounded by water, and return days later with no explanation to where she had gone or why.

If she were sober she would be concerned for the well-being of her friend, afraid that she was sliding down that slippery slope they found her falling prey to on Kalros. However, in the moment, she was more annoyed at joyless attitude. Swirling around the imported ice in her rocks glass Lazuli threw back the last of her rum she got up from her seat and marched across the tavern, inviting herself to Leasaur’s table.

Melting into the wooden bench she just watched Leasaur eat. Well, pick at her food. Based on her facial expression she found it revolting for some reason. Sensing that someone had made themselves welcome in her general vicinity Leasaur’s eyes darted upwards. Frowning at Lazuli she did her best to ignore, taking small bites of the roasted chicken breast and bread.

Not one to appreciate being disregarded Lazuli now scowled at her in return. “What’s your problem?”

“Excuse me?” Dropping her fork Leasaur looked Lazuli dead straight in the eye, insulted at her tone. She was supposed to be a queen, someone far more noble then someone like her; a rude, selfish human with no concept of respect.

“Miss high-and-mighty herself ruining our night with her stick-in-the-mud fun-killing,” she slurred out, shouting over to Jedoi and Johnny, who did their best to remain neutral. “After all we’ve been through to get you home you just go off gallivanting like you have no responsibilities here.”

“This isn’t my home,” Leasaur snarled through gritted teeth.

“And Cerulean was? Is that why you let it crumble?”

“I don’t need this from a peasant like you.” Slurping down the remains of her mushroom stew stormed out the side door of the tavern, leaving half a meal and some random coins on the table behind.

“That’s the thanks I get for saving your life? Ungrateful hobbit.” Picking up the untouched slice of watermelon Lazuli took a large bite of the pink fruit before returning to her table. Since the exhilarating atmosphere was officially killed they decided to turn in for the night. Being was such a lightweight Lazuli and Johnny basically had to carry Jedoi to her room upstairs. Despite their offerings to build her a proper house of her own she refused since nowhere would feel like Dellsmite again.

Walking together to Lazuli’s windmill she and Johnny would usually admire the stars, but tonight a thick blanket of clouds choked them from sight. Stumbling up the spiral stairs they only bothered to remove their boots and belts before crawling into bed. Spending the next few hours in each other’s embrace they kissed until the alcohol in their system drifted them off to sleep.

Jolted awake by the loudest thunder clap she’d ever heard Lazuli laid in her bed staring at the ceiling, wondering why she was no longer in a deathly sleep. Feeling that her mouth was drier then the desert on Garama she somehow slinked her way out of Johnny’s arms without waking him to find something quenching. Standing in the middle of her kitchen she drank several bottles of warm well water, which barely stifled her thirst.

Another thunder clap echoed through her bones, followed by an immediate flash of lightning. Watching the storm from her window the rain pelted the glass, a constant curtain of water sliding down the pane. From behind she swore she heard the distressful whinny of a horse coming from the direction of the beach. Crossing to the opposite side of her windmill she peered through the fogging glass.

Just as she suspected one of the horses, which appeared to be Leasaur’s based on its brilliant white coat, was out on the beach, rearing up in the rain. Assuming that the storm spooked her Lazuli was about to leave to return the mare to her stall when she saw someone else already there. Instantly recognizing her due to her long ginger locks Lazuli watched as Leasaur try to subdue the beast.

She reared up, kicking the air as she refused to follow Leasaur’s command. Pulling on her reins Leasaur managed to wear the horse down into submission. Dragging it to the sea she didn’t hesitate to walk into the water, but instead of sinking into the crashing surf the water froze beneath the shimmering souls of her enchanted boots. Somehow the ice created a bridge over the water, allowing her to cross the raging Sunset Sea to, presumably, the mainland.

Unsure at what she witness Lazuli decided that she was still drunk and returned to bed, hoping to be sobered up by the next light. Several hours later she awoke in the morning sun, refreshed and ready for the day. Rolling over she nudged Johnny, whose response to her stirs was a low groan and the covering of his bloodshot eyes with the sheet. “Morning sunshine,” she said, pulling the sheet from his hand.

Rubbing his brow he moaned again, complaining of a headache so bad that it made his ears ring. “Oh god, something horrible happened last night,” he mumbled.

“I wouldn’t say horrible, well…” Remembering her outburst at Leasaur Lazuli instantly felt guilty for what she had said, as in hindsight she really didn’t deserve any of it. Her desire to express this inner conflict was unfortunately nullified for the moment when Johnny leaned over the side of the bed and vomited profusely, surely ruining the blanket. “I’m not cleaning that up,” she said as she rubbed his back while he wretched.

Covering the windows to block out the sun Lazuli left to let Johnny nurse his hangover. Walking onto the beach, the very stretch she saw Leasaur leave on, in the twilight of dawn. Deciding that what she had saw was a dream Lazuli ignored her worried and prepared herself for the day. Peeling out of the clothing she’d slept in she bathed in the cool, calm surf, scrubbing her skin with sand. Dressing herself in fresh attire she left to check on Jedoi, who was thankfully still passed out. She’d need her sleep to recover from last night.

Eating breakfast in the Silver Dragon Inn she sat at the bar, lamenting to Fred about her guilt. Like any good bartender he offered his somehow wise-beyond-his-years advice and allowed her to make her own conclusions. How was it that all bartenders could offer such profound insight to every drunken patron that purchased a beverage? It’s like they all took psych classes between shifts, or therapy sessions, to help with the woes of those who sought out their tankard-polishing wisdom.

Drinking the last of her warm milk Lazuli ventured down the path to Leasaur’s house. Standing on her front steps she reached out for the iron knob, hesitating just before she grabbed the ring. Instead she decided to knock since, after some thought, it would be rather rude to just invite herself inside. Especially after last night.

“Lea, Lea, are you there? I wanted to apologize for last night. I had, a lot to drink and I… Hello?” Not hearing any response through the door, not even the creaking of the floor boards Lazuli became weary that she was truly talking to vacant air. “Are you even there?” she said a tad louder. Waiting for a response, and receiving none, she started pounding on the door. Surely that should’ve woken her…

Disregarding manners Lazuli grabbed the iron knob and pulled, finding it locked. Digging in her satchel she found her master key and welcomed herself home. Swinging open the door the wind it caused sent up a huge plume of dust. When the dust finally settled and she stopped sneezing Lazuli realized just the state of decay Leasaur was, supposedly, living in.

Every hard surface in the rest of the tiny hovel had a thick layer of undisturbed dust laying on it. Cobwebs collected in every corner of the room, all abandoned as the spiders had moved on. Plants that appeared to have perished from dehydration bathed in the sunlight from one of the windows. Heaps of soiled dishes festered in the caldron, soaking in a putrid bile of food scraps and mold.

There were thankfully some signs of recent life, like the finger prints in the dust and slept bed. Leasaur had been here last night and left again early this morning. She couldn’t have missed her by much; maybe an hour or two? Refusing to just let her slip through her fingers again Lazuli started to snoop through what items she kept, hoping to find some kind of hint as to exactly where she was going.

Rummaging through any drawers and cupboards all she found was more dust and cobwebs. There were some assorted items like piles of gunpowder and bones, but nothing of any significant value. Leaning against the bookcase Lazuli rubbed her forehead in frustration. Pulling out one of the books she started to flip through the pages. If only Leasaur was as easy to read as one of these books. Realizing the book was written in some sort of runic language, probably elven, she tossed it aside with the rest of the refuse scattered on the floor.

Grabbing another spine from behind she started to pull the book from the shelf. Strangely the book caught, refusing to be removed from its place. With more force she yanked at the book, but instead of being ripped from its hold there was a loud clicking noise. The sound of pistons shifting beneath the floorboards pierced through the quiet. Suddenly the bottom of the bookcase opened, revealing a hidden chest under Lazuli’s feet.

Opening the lid she found it to be filled with maps. There were dozens, one for almost every region of each continent. Knowing that Leasaur had a hobby in cartography in Cerulean Lazuli instantly recognized her handiwork as she examined each finely crafted work. One of the maps, an entire graph of Ascalon, she found it odd that it was covered in red dots, like she was marking points of interest.

Folding the map she slipped it into her satchel, hoping that it would provide her future use. Digging to the bottom of the chest Lazuli was surprised to find two books hidden away. Reading the one who glowed blindingly bright she discovered that the drunken hallucination she dreamed last night was true, that Leasaur left the island on a bridge of ice over the ocean.

It was an enchanted book, blessed with something called Frost Walker. Johnny had mentioned it before, saying it was a very rare enchantment. Where Leasaur got a hold of one was beyond her. Regardless she was incredibly clever to use such an enchantment to her advantage. It allowed her to travel over the seas without leaving so much as a chill in the water as a suspicious trace she ever passed through.

The second book was simple, bound in leather with a braided spine and copper lock. Unlocking it she leafed through the pages of elegantly written penmanship. Every so often she’d roll her eyes at her silted style as she skimmed Leasaur’s personal journal. In the midst of her more recent entries Lazuli discovered that she had a unique fascination with the Dark Forests on the northern most coast of Ascalon, describing it as homely and familiar.

Within the hour Lazuli had packed and left for a quest north, following the priceless map she’d in Leasaur’s home. Whatever was going on with Leasaur Lazuli knew in her heart she could no long sit idle by as she fell into that dark place again. A place she knew all too well and felt that no one should ever have to sulk inside. By noon she was already halfway from Makosa to the mainland, by boat of course, leaving her friends to sleep off their hangovers in peace.

Landing on the southern shores of the Clay Cliffs she began her long journey to the first unspecified red dot on the map. She had plotted a route that wouldn’t take her too far from her course north towards the precious Dark Forest Leasaur seemed to be unnaturally obsessed with. Luckily she encountered a small herd of skeleton horses, a common sight on Makosa of recently. Killing one of their riders she took the bony equine for herself, riding northward through the soggy canyons and flat plateaus.

The first marker appeared to be a popular campsite along the boarder of the Birch Forest and Clay Cliffs. The ashes in the fire pit appeared to be fresh, telling her that someone had been here recently. That night, after she hunted rabbits for her dinner, Lazuli slept in a bed of grass, tossing and turning as a relatively tame nightmare coursed through her mind. One night away from Johnny allowed them to return. Soon she’d be plagued with the constant terror of her past, which scared Lazuli to death.

Over the course of the week she ventured onwards, hoping to find Leasaur at every spot she’d marked. Every time she found the coordinates the area appeared untouched, or at least left alone for quite some time. Passing through the more northern forests made her weary that she’d find her, but finding horse tracks in the snow-blanketed refuelled her hope.

Standing atop one of the grander peaks she looked over the infamous Dark Forest, wondering what could attract Leasaur to this place. Entering the thick, dank woods she could see some of the appeal. Maybe it was an elf thing. Perhaps only they could truly understand the significance of this place since they were so sickeningly enlightened, unlike every other barbaric demographic that has ever walked Loka.

It was certainly a unique place; the trees had thick round trunks and strong, low handing branches holding up heavy crowns of deep green leaves. A wide verity of fungus and creepers grew on the damp wood. Long grass laid flat against the earth, thick like hair and moist with humidity. Small, scuzzy ponds coated with thick films of algae and scum dotted the forest floor.

Crouched down Lazuli skimmed away some of the froth, filling her canteen with warm pond water. Hearing something nearby she dropped her canteen in the water, still on edge from her most recent nightmare, which featured a purple and black dragon. Listening closely she determined that it wasn’t a dragon, which was a relief. Why would there be a dragon in the forest? How ridiculous. Dragons didn’t exist.

Keeping low to the ground she edged towards the sound’s origin, which appeared to be some sort of clearing. Climbing one of the thick trees to get a better view of the clearing her thinly vailed fear transformed into a mixture of relief and worry. Slumping down into the gentle curve of a branch Lazuli lounged comfortably, watching her.

Kneeling before a campfire Leasaur tried to light it with a flint and steel, but the damp tinder refused to light. Frustrated she gave up and threw the flint against a nearby tree, scowling at the scorched wood that withheld its fire. “Need a light?” Drawing her bow she shot a glowing infinity arrow at the pile of sticks, instantly setting them ablaze.

Freezing at the sound of another, all too familiar voice Leasaur’s every muscle tensed up. Slowly she turned to face her, seeing Lazuli nonchalantly lounging in a tree branch, one leg swinging about like she were laying in a hammock. “What are you doing here?” she asked in a low, aggressive tone.

“I was going to ask you the same thing.” Sitting up Lazuli sheathed her bow before leaping off the branch, landing in the clearing with one leg bent and the other kicked out for balance. Rising to her feet she started to stride towards Leasaur, rambling as she did. “Do you have any idea how long of a week I’ve had trying to find you? What the hell are you doing out here anyways? You’re just asking…”

A slight movement of Leasaur’s hand caught Lazuli’s eye. Her leather gauntlet slid slowly across her belt to the hilt of her sword, her fingers wrapping around the grip. Like a lightning flash everything happened so fast. Leasaur leaped up from her kneeling position, ready to strike her down. Unsheathing her bow she shot an arrow at her hand, pinning her hand to the tree behind her. They stood in silence for a moment, bow nocked and drawn, sword hanging in the air.

The string of her bow was pulled so tight that it made her arms shiver and fingers numb. Its enchanted arrow demanded to be released as its flames licked her knuckles, searing her skin. “Really? Your first instinct is to try and kill me? What do you want from me, Lea?”
 

Lazuli73

Well-Known Member
Slicer
“To leave!” she hissed, ripping her glove to free her hand. Slashing through the air the blade swung towards Lazuli’s neck. It didn’t matter if she died; she’d be resurrected by the Artifact, cradled in its protective arms like the rest of its murderous children. Such a brutal people, the people of Loka. They all draw blood without consequence for their actions, as if they rampaging children without discipline from their coddling parent.

Blocking the swing with her bow the blade became lodged in the wooden limb. Thrusting her arms back the two weapons separated, Lazuli’s bow flashing brightly as the deep wound repaired itself with no scar. Leaping in the air she put distance between her and Leasaur, kicking her in the jaw as she flew. Drawing it she shot a flaming arrow at the vicious elf, striking her in her shoulder.

Ripping out the arrow Leasaur ignored her gushing wound and lunged forwards again. Taking a twelve-inch dagger from her boot Lazuli defended herself again by shieling her chest with the blade. The dagger slid down the length of her sword, colliding at the cross-guards. Twisting the blade around the hilt Lazuli cut through Leasaur’s glove, slashing the back of her hand.

Though she was in close quarters combat Lazuli was more comfortable with her bow. Firing another arrow she shot her in the knee, then fled backwards again. Despite the pressure and raging emotions Lazuli somehow came to a conclusion to cease this senseless fight. Reaching around she took the single arrow from her quiver, as well as a vial of poison from a sheath in her sash.

This particular poison was extracted from a pufferfish found in the waters of Garama. Its toxins didn’t wear off naturally; it needed to be cured with an anecdote. She only dipped the very tip of the arrowhead. It was so concentrated that only the smallest nick was necessary. However Lazuli didn’t want to the any chances and intended to shoot her somewhere non-fatal, like her upper leg, directly in the muscle.

After months of using an infinity bow nocking a physical arrow proved to be a rather foreign skill. She wasted time fumbling around with the fletching, trying to set the notch on the string. This allowed Leasaur much needed time to heal her wounds and ready herself for more combat. Just as Lazuli released the arrow, who was aimed for her leg, Leasaur began to stand.

Rising to her feet exposed her abdomen, but more importantly shifted where the arrow was going to strike. The way she was crouched had placed her thigh over her stomach, like a shield, but now the arrow was targeted at where he bellybutton would be. Seeing the arrow flying for her stomach sent waves for fear racing through her every muscle. She knew she had to do everything in her power to prevent it from puncturing her abdomen.

Swinging her hips to the left the arrow instead grazed her waist, which still filled her body with the poison. The searing, burning pain coursed through her veins, crippling her. Trying to stay upright she dropped her weapon and held out her hand in surrender, the other applying pressure to the bleeding incision. “Stop stop stop stop stop!” she begged.

Lowering her weapon Lazuli was confused by her reaction. What should’ve happened was her succumbing to the poison and falling to the ground in a heap, an inch away from death as she showed her mercy. Instead she was begging her to cease her fire, even though she barely scratched her. “What? It’s just a flesh wound.”

“No! You don’t understand! They’re all I have!” Ripping off her chainmail and blood-soaked, formerly blue tunic she stood only in her linen undergarments on shaking knees. Inspecting the wound she seemed both relieved and afraid at the same time. Through the thin, tight fabric of her undershirt Lazuli noticed something, different about her.

“Lea, there’s something you’re not telling me.” She said in a calm, collecting yet demanding tone. “What are you hiding?” Leasaur said nothing as she inspected her festering wound further. However a threat to shoot her in the abdomen again pulled her focus away from it. “You’re pregnant, aren’t you?”

It took a few hours of coaxing for her to finally admit it. By then the sun had set and it was too late for Lazuli to leave despite Leasaur’s wishes. Stirring a pot of rabbit stew kept a close eye on her as she leaned against a tree, sulking in silence. Plating the stew with some bread she walked over and tried to server her, but being stubborn and bitter about her defeat left her without an appetite.

“Then eat for your kid,” said Lazuli, shoving the bowl into her lap. Sitting beside her with her own bowl she tried to start a conversation to ease the dead silence. “You know, Cerulean’s fall isn’t entirely your fault. Only about a good third of it is.”

Leasaur shot her a venomous glare, but then grimaced as the sharp movement opened her wound again. Pouring more cheaply made regeneration potion onto it began to close, but the lingering poison in her blood stream prevented it from healing properly. Raising an eyebrow Lazuli offered some of her milk to cure her, which she instantly refused because she was trying to help and she needed none of it from her.

“Why would I want help from someone who can’t even remember their own name?” she hissed.

“That’s not fair and you know it,” Lazuli said through gritted teeth. Holding back her tears from her venomous insult Lazuli left before they broke through. Eating alone she tried to convince herself that she was acting out of anger, even though it was more likely she was trying to hurt her. The amnesia that clouded her mind wasn’t something she wanted or controlled.

That night Lazuli slept in the gentle curve of the tree branch she’d made her grand entrance from. While she waited for Leasaur to fall asleep she occupied herself by sewing Leasaur’s tunic with a seamless feather stitch so it matched the knitted fabric. At some point during the night she fell off the branch as she tossed and turned during a nightmare.

Sleeping in a crumpled heap on the ground she shook and quivered, tears pouring down her cheeks. Feeling someone shaking her arm she jolted awake. Hoping to see Johnny’s looming over her, freeing her from the torture she endured to comfort her with his warm embrace. Instead Leasaur was there, scowling at her as she roused her.

“Laz? Are you okay?” she asked in a hush, genuine tone.

“Since when do you care about me?” she snapped back at her, frowning as she rose to her feet and sauntered across the clearing. Resting her hand on a tree she stood there panting as she tried to catch her breath. Taking out a flask of run she had been saving all week she took a healthy swig to calm her nerves. Noticing her hands shaking Lazuli started to busy them with mindless tasks to hide it.

Concealing her face in the shadows as she grimaced in pain as her head throbbed Lazuli did her best to ignore Leasaur, who was trying her best to empathize with her. She went off on a self-indulging sob story about Cerulean’s fall and how she’d never forgive herself. Even going so far as having the gall to want to forget, thinking that this curse that she slogged through every night was some kind of bloody blessing. Like she was the lucky one.

“Oh would you just spare me your lectures? You don’t understand, and you never will! It’s hard to explain. Every time I close my eyes and think back to that part of my life I’m in a black void. Everywhere I look it’s nothing but darkness and shadows. I’m lost in that void, occasionally colliding into a memory that has been transformed into a misshaped and deformed nightmare.”

“Well you did fall into the void…” Leasaur started.

“Don’t ruin my metaphors with your logic.” Turning around she leaned her back against the tree, breaking into tears. “Forgetting isn’t the blessing you think it is. As painful as they may be you need them, because if you don’t remember your mistakes you’re doomed to repeat them.” Sliding down she hugged her knees and started sobbing into her folding arms, begging to remember who she was and where she came from. Begging to know the truth.

Seeing someone who was usually strong and revering break down like that sent waves of guilt coursing through Leasaur. What she wanted was to forget her failings in life and glorify the good. The way she wept clutched her head as a headache ripped her mind apart told her what losing your entire life was truly like. For so long she thought she was lying about forgetting as an excuse to avoid them, to greedily set off and make her own life.

“You really don’t remember, do you?” she asked.

“Of course I don’t!” she shrieked. “Why would I lie about that?”

Sitting beside her she offered Lazuli her dropped flask of rum. They rested in silence for some time, contemplating what they other had said. “I’m a bad omen,” Leasaur said, shattering the silence.

“What?”

“So many towns have fallen because of me. Because I ruled them. Because of my pride I let them all down. Even if Art had stayed Cerulean would’ve crumbled because I carried the crown.” Going on she told a far different tale then the one she invented to gain the sympathies of Lazuli. Instead of catfishing her pity she spoke from the heart, expressing her woes of an uncertain future as well as a failed past. “How did you find me, anyways?”

“I’m many things, but stupid isn’t one of them. Despite what you may think I know how to read a map.” Lazuli was still bitter at Leasaur’s reclusive demeanour and dismissive attitude, making her tongue sharp. Pulling out the map she had taken from her home she handed it to its creator. Initially Leasaur wasn’t overly pleased about the creases formed when she folded it, but the direct northern route she had taken set her qualms aside.

“How did you know to find me here? There are dozens of other places I could’ve been.”

“I read it in your journal.” Taking out the journal next she leafed through the pages, reading aloud some of the entries in an exaggerated impression of Leasaur. Ripping the book from her hands Leasaur inspected it carefully.

“How did you unlock it?” she said, trying to fasten it closed, but the metal shattered.

“With a rock.” Smirking Lazuli looked straight on, slugging down another mouthful of rum from her flask. “What’s so special about this place anyways?”

“I don’t know. It just feels like, home…”

They stayed up till morning, exchanging heart-felt anecdotes about both their failings and victories. Playing a little game they each told the other something they prided themselves in, then something they disliked about themselves. It was easier to critique then promote, considered both their current outlooks on the world. One saw herself as a curse, a bad omen destined to destroy whatever she touched; the other a lost in an endless sea of questions, trying to remember to forget.

By late morning they had shared enough to fill a library with biographies. But regardless Leasaur still refused Lazuli’s aid, even though she was more then willing to provide it. “Why would I have come out all this way if I didn’t care?” she argued.

“I know, but I don’t want to ruin your future too.”

Technically if Lazuli didn’t leave she wouldn’t be able to return, but that loop-hole was extinguished with the threat of another attack. Even though she had an advantage over Leasaur since she knew a weakness she didn’t want to harm her unborn child. Leaving without confrontation she tried her damnedest to make Leasaur reconsider, but she was firm in her refusal.

Sitting on the back of the Skeleton horse she had decided to call Geronimo Lazuli paused for a moment. “One more thing before I go.”

“What?” Leasaur said, her hand resting near her hilt.

“Take care of yourself. Someone else is going to be relying on you a whole lot very soon.”

Flicking Geronimo’s reins she kicked him into a canter, leaving her as promised. When she was just beyond the tree line she pulled him to a stop to glance over her shoulder. One of Leasaur’s hands migrated to her abdomen. Feeling the tiny heartbeat beneath her skin and muscle made it all too real. She couldn’t fail her child, she just couldn’t.

The further she disappeared into the thick forest Leasaur’s sobs became fainter until they were drowned out by the wind. All she could do now was hope, hope that whatever plight she plagued herself with would ease by the time her child was born.
 
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