Time slows for no one (closed to Reiko)

[Moonlit Raven]

(Closed to Reiko)

Once in a while, as I walked down the muddy slush covered path, I looked to the right. At the Shirayama mountains that loomed near by like stones left by some goddling child. Just as often I looked left and watched for predators in the forest that the path I traveled ran by. The cooler air of Akashima bit at any and all exposed skin. Shivering a little, I pulled my cloak tighter around my body.

A familiar poking prickle drew my attention, I pulled my suspicious stared from the forest and looked down at the misshaped lump under my cloak as it stirred once more. I lightly touched the hard chitin that covered his brightly colored body and found it to be cooler than I would think is comfortable. Cuddling Kazimir in both arms, I held him against my child-swollen body to warm him. Occasionally, I felt a tiny foot or fist push at the arm resting on the top of my stomach. Slogging through the remains of winter’s snow, I worried about that fact that I was just under five months pregnant, yet my body looked as if I were full term.

I also wondered why it was I had stayed in Corone when I had told Shadar months ago, I had meant to leave the island. Since then I had drifted from city to city, staying as far as possible from the Concordian forests as possible. I wanted to keep this child, it was mine and mine alone. Selfishly, I did not want Avery to know his last act had created a child. In my heart the anger over his actions still simmered, I knew it would be a long time before I could or would fully forgive him.

This time I traveled from Yanbo harbor, I was headed for Radasanth. I was planning to stay there until the birth of my child. I wanted to leave the island but I had no wish to give birth while at sea nor did I really want to give my daughter a foreign land as her birthplace. My daughter. I thought as I lightly caressed my stomach. I trusted the older woman I had stayed with for several weeks when she said I would bear a daughter this time. I smiled the memories of the tiny woman; despite the fact that I was foreign to her she had taken me in and let me help out despite her obvious reluctance given my physical state.

As forest gave way to flat grassy plane, I decided it might be best if I stopped to set up camp. I set Kazimir down and watched him scurry into the forest to find his own meal. I wasn’t worried that he would get lost to simply leave, the little guy had stuck to me ferociously since the day he had hatched. After a moment, I followed Kazimir into the forest in search of dry firewood.

[Reiko]

Winter was almost at its end but the string had not yet won the day. Ki knew that once the moon would take the suns watch in lighting the world that the mud would harden and slush would become ice and traveling would have been hazardous though not so much for the nine tails as it would have been for any other traveler. Even the birds feared the cold and retreated to their nests and wait for the sun to fall so it would no longer keep them awake.

But despite the cold it was one of Ki's favorite times of the year. The vixen made her way forward towards home carrying a sack of the needed good that weighed more than she would have liked but they were needed supplies since the food of the den had become bland to taste as the body got used to magic and real food was needed. "This trip was too expensive." Doji complained to herself as she felt her empty purse, thoughtfully leaving most of her coin at home as to not end up coming home with a new sword, kimono or piece of jewelry. "I have to be more assertive. They practically robbed me." The nine tails laughed at herself as she trudged along the road while doing her best to ignore the fact that mud caked her tabi and geta.

A long dull trip came to an end when curiosity came into play. Ki perked her ears when she saw tracks in the mud that she had never seen from any creature in the forest or around Akashima. They were like a many legged creature was walking on sticks like an overly large insect. Big bugs were not something from Akashima with the rare exception of demon centipedes of myth and if this creature was one of those then she was the one to kill it.

With that thought, Doji tracked the creature but not going anywhere with it. This unknown beast was too small for her even if it was big and the mud changed to grass so the fox girl could no longer track. But as luck would have it the kitsune got a whiff of something familiar. "What's she doing here?" Ki perked her ears and sniffed again, sure it was Elena and her pregnant musk was even stronger. Following against the breeze Ki could see the woman in the distance looking for dry wood. The fox girl swished her tails happily as she ran towards the woman, getting close enough to see that Elena was heavily pregnant.

"If you think my deal with the sword and fan was a steal, I'm still going to keep them!" Ki laughed a bit as she wondered what would bring the woman so close to her home. But worry took Ki as she realized that Elena was alone out here and went up to the woman with a warm smiled with a tinge of worry.

"So what're you doing out here? The wilderness isn't good for women with child. The villagers have told me that Akashiman Tigers love to pray on pregnant girls." Doji said with her smile dying with worry.

[Moonlit Raven]

At the sound of running footsteps, I jerked up and around, my nerves shrieking in alarm. I found my sword in my hand before I fully registered that I was moving or what was approaching me. It took a second for me to realize that the figure talking to me was a familiar one, then her words began to register.

“I’ve been wandering around Corone for the last few months. I’d continue wandering but this baby is weird, I’m just under five months pregnant. Given how I look I thought it best to head for Radasanth and wait for her to be born. I’ll be leaving the island afterwards." I found myself smiling at Ki, happy to have company for however long she would be with me. "It’s good to see you again. We’ll have to catch up but first I have to gather up enough fire wood for the night and find Kazimir. Undoubtedly he’s caught something too big for himself once again.”

Waving for Ki to set the bag she carried by my pack I set off in search of more firewood. I knew the modest pile I had would last only part of the night. I had no wish to suffer through another night with out the comfort and protection of a fire. Especially now that I know there are tiger’s up here that prey on women. I thought with a twinge of worry.

~~~~~~~

I still had an hour or so of day light left by the time I was satisfied with the amount of wood gathered.

“Kazimir!” I called into the forest as loudly as I could and then mimicked the clicking that often issued from Kazimir when he was trying for my attention. To my pleasure, I heard a answering click. It was short, almost impatient. I grinned and set to making the fire, obviously my little pet was busy with his weekly dinner.

“How are your kids? Where are they? I bet they would love Kazimir. Though I’m sure Kazimir would flip at first. He’s not the most social of pets, though that is perfect. I’d hate for him to run away.”

[Reiko]

It was a harsh time for a woman to be traveling alone, thankfully Elena was tough but the night was going to be cold and the predators were going to be hungry. Then there was the fact that Elena probably couldn't hold up her usual skill in a fight while that heavily pregnant. But then again the woman was still pretty strong to gather firewood and she must have stayed plenty of time in the wilderness.

Ki kept silent and listened to her friend speak, not wanting to intrude and just be there but of coarse when she was asked a question she would answer. "Oh, the kits are well. Growing up really quickly. I think Ryo's coming into so puppy love with a kitsune traveler we met a little while ago. But I still don't think he's ready. Chiyo's pretty much the same but doesn't whine as much, still loves her toys." Ki giggled at that, it was nice to have someone remaining a child at heart even if she would grow up far to fast bodily. A problem of being a kitsune. "They're back at the den." Doji said and looked at the budding campfire. "We should find Kazimir and go there to see them. This night will be cold and warming up would be great." The vixen swished her nine tails happily.

"Don't worry, I like having guests and it'll be a nice change from the wilderness. We're not too far." Doji prayed that Elena would join her for the night, as it wouldn't be right to leave a friend in the cold like this to shiver in the snowy forest.

[Moonlit Raven]

I hesitated for a long moment, torn between wanting to rest in a warm safe place tonight and not wanting to impose on Ki. I can always share my supplies and chip in with chores. I glanced up at Ki, noting the almost stubborn expression on her face. I have the feeling if I decline she might do something hasty, like drag me to her home.

I looked down at familiar ticking against my leg and smiled. Kazimir’s brightly colored body gleamed in the evening sun. Though it was a little difficult bend down low enough to hold out a hand to Kazimir I did so anyways. The little claws on the end of his legs caught in the blue velvet of the dress I was wearing, as I could no longer fit into my leather armor.

“I’ll be pleased to accept your offer Ki.” I smiled at the nine tails and started digging through the pack at my feet for one of the numerous ribbons I had. Once I finally found a brilliant scarlet ribbon, I tied it around one of the branches and placed it back on top of the pile. That should ensure some other traveler finds the wood pile and uses it. After all, it would be a shame to let my work go to waste. My thoughts were cut off as a tiny fist decided to punch up into my lungs. Gasping a little, I rubbed the top of my stomach trying to soothe the baby and still its bouncing inside of my womb.

I picked up my pack and waited for Kazimir to shift to one shoulder before placing the pack on the other.

“Are we ready? Lead the way Ki.” I ignored the dull ache that slow spread through my lower back thinking that the weight of the back was aggravating already stressed muscles.

"What have you been up to since I last saw you in the bazaar?"

[Reiko]

Doji raised her fur slightly at the sight of the spider but she said nothing as she realized that Elena wasn't surprised or disturbed by its coming. 'So this is Kazimir.' Ki thought while trying not to make a face. 'It's alright, Elena can have anything she wants as a pet. I shouldn't judge her like that.' Ki smiled a friendly mask as her revulsion faded away. The spider didn't seem like a bad sort.

"Yeah, lets go." Doji agreed to Elena as she motioned with her hands to follow and then started to walk towards the den, not trying to go too fast since Elena's child was acting up in the womb and Ki knew how that could be a bit of a bother and the moist ground would hinder both of them as well and at least there was still some daylight left.

"Well, I haven't really been up to much. The den's a little messy since Ryo and Setsuna attracted a demon to the den and other than entertaining Setsuna and Konoka after their coming there just isn't much really. Mostly I've been kinda bored. Ryo and Chiyo don't seem to really care for me to teach them to use a sword." The vixen laughed a little as she walked beside her friend. "They must have gotten it from their father since at that age I was happy to practice kenjutsu. Guess they're just meant for other things, likely for the better since it's not easy to be a swordsman." Doji shrugged as the sounds of a couple of angry owls yelled for them to get away from their nests, grumpy from just waking up.

The den wasn't far and Ki could see the lanterns burning with fox fire as they hung off of some sakura trees. "Well this is my home. It's not much but i made it myself." The ronin nine tails bowed as she led to the modestly sized house, decorated with wooden carved dragons and foxes overlooking the roof and it's red walls. Opening a sliding door The fox girl tried to look humble. "If there's anything you need, me or the kits are willing to help. I think they're sleeping or something." Doji giggled guessing the cold probably made them a bit sleepy after playing in the wet and melting snow.

[Moonlit Raven]

With half of my attention on Ki and her words, I grumbled under my breath about the ground, the lack of light, the tiny, forceful kicks and punches inside me. Geez kid, let me breathe. If I go, so do you at this point. I rubbed at the pain that was slowly spreading down into my hips and around to the sizes of my waist. For a moment, I entertained the thought of asking Ki to carry my pack, but I could not. The woman was already carrying a sack that looked heavy.

I completely tuned in to what Ki was saying once lights appeared in the darkness. Her offer of any help I would need made me smile and shake my head ruefully. You are too nice Ki and someone one day is going to take advantage of that. I had better not be around to see it, or I’ll personally try to eat the person, morals or not. I pulled myself from my dark thoughts, wondering at the odd, violent turn they had taken.

“Kids never turn out quite how we think they will do they?” I looked into the open door and playfully bumped my hip into Ki’s.

“Be proud of your home, it’s lovely. I envy your ability to make such a pleasant home.” Toeing my boots off as I crossed the threshold, my guardian’s voice echoing in the back of my head. Citing rules about visiting another’s home and manners. Laying my pack and Kazimir to the side I fetched my boots, placing them where Ki indicated that the dampness on then would do no harm or make a mess.

Sighing in relief, my hands resting on top of huge ball my stomach had become, as I sat down in a chair and looked about. Watching Kazimir cautiously explore the small house, testing anything that moved, I glanced at Ki and wondered what she thought of my pet. What would most women think of a spider the size of a house cat? I wondered and smothered a smile as a vision of the reaction of the average woman drifted though my mind. Clicking my tongue to gain Kazimir’s attention, I held my hand down low enough for him to climb up onto my arm.

“You don’t have to worry about Kazimir as long as no threat is made against me.” I smiled and lightly touched the bright yellow and blue skin that was beginning to crack and molt. “Of which I highly doubt there will be any."

"Kazimir is about as intelligent as any dog. If you give him a bit, I am sure he’ll warm up to you and your children. Just remember that he is venomous and I am not sure exactly what the venom would do to a person." Slowly, with more effort that I would have thought it would have taken, I heaved my body upright.

"If you'll excuse me, I think I am more than ready to sleep. I swear that pack got heavier with each step and it wrenched muscles.” I grinned in a self-deprecating manner. I lost a bit of my smile as another pain stabbed through me, worryingly close to my child.

I held my stomach with one arm and plodded towards the indicated area. Half a dozen steps later I stopped as a flood of warm fluid rushed from my body. I shut my eyes against the accompanying stab of pain. I should have known. I should have known when the pain spread. I looked down, the fluid on the floor was stained a faint red. I looked up at Ki, worried but at a loss for words.

It wasn’t like this with Netimrael’s birth. I thought as I clutched at the closet thing I could grab. I paid no mind to the fact that I had dropped Kazimir.

[Reiko]

Ki smiled at the spider, wishing to be polite to her friend. Hopefully the spider wouldn't be much of a problem or defecate in house if spiders do that kind of thing. But it wasn't the spider to be worried about, for Elena was in a lot of pain as her water broke.

Blood was in the fluid. The vixen's tails felt stiff as her face went pale as blood stained birth fluid leaked on her wooden floor it wasn't for the fact that it would be a tough time cleaning but the fact that this was a sign that the most likely conclusion would be Elena and/or her baby would die.

"Ryo, Chiyo! Get Up!" Doji cried out hoping her Kits would come help out and Ki went to Elena to help her walk into one of the rooms with a bed roll. It wasn't going to be easy to get to the room but it would have to do.

Oh the house was going to be a mess. Ki smiled at Elena. "It'll be okay, I'm sure. Just lay down here. Don't worry about the mess, the Kits have done worse." The nine tails hoped it would pick up her friends spirits, she must be in a lot of pain.

The two kits arrived wit faces dark with sleep and curiosity though the smell of blood made them start to worry too.

"Mom, what's wrong?" Chiyo asked while wiping away sleepy tears.

"She's Giving birth, I want you to go and get a wet cloth and some water. Ryo, go to the nearest Village and get a doctor, take a sword, in case."

"It'll be fine, you just have to get the baby out. I'm sure we'll be fine." Ki said to Elena as much as she said to herself.

[Moonlit Raven]

Have you ever wanted to scream so badly it's a pressure, a huge choking ball resting in the back of your throat? Have you ever wanted to scream so badly your afraid to open your mouth? To utter even a tiny noise? That's how I felt, as if I screamed I would never stop. A primitive animalistic sound that would rend my throat and bare my soul to the light of day.

The world around me dimmed, becoming insignificant as a wave of pain wracked my body for long moments before letting up. Gentle hands coaxed me into moving, into laying down on a soft surface. It seemed as if time began moving in odd leaps and jumps. The pain lasted for what seemed hours while the time between contractions seemed as if it lasted only seconds.

Blinded by the tears that cast a haze over everything, I could feel the acid like tears burn its way down my cheeks one at a time. Something within my body tore as the child shifted, seemingly trying to claw its away out of my womb. I could feel my body arching with the pain, tightening and fighting against the child. Trying to force her out and trying to keep her from moving at the same time.

I wanted to call out for Avery, as if his presence could fix everything.

~~~~~~

Hours passed, in some small part of my brain I realized that the night has passed and bright beams of sunlight were slowly creeping their way across the floor. Exhausted, I laid back on the pallet, riding the contractions and resting when they subsided for a moment.

"Cut her out. Cut her out before I kill my daughter, before we both die." I begged as I finally opened my mouth to utter more than stifled groans. I reached out to Doji, beseeching her.

[Reiko]

This was taking too long; it took all night and still wasn't done. Ki looked on with worry, seeing pain on her friend's face then look down to see the bedroll soaked with blood and afterbirth. I'm going to have to replace that, Ki thought as she found her mind wandering to less important things.

The door slid open and Ki glared to see Ryo was there and panting. "Mom, the doctor was out of town, tending to the lord's son." His tail dragged as he walked to his room to collapse and ignore the woman dying in hopes of forgetting his failure. Chiyo however wouldn't give up as she kept trying to keep Elena cool with the damp cloth.

"I'm sorry my friend..." Ki said with a shake of her head. "I don't want to kill you." The vixen tried to keep the tears from flowing down her eyes but she shook her head again. "But I'll do it, there's nothing else you can do." Doji turned to Ryo and yelled. "Get me a knife, the sharp one I use for meat, it should be clean." Ki waited as her son scampered into the kitchen to get a knife.

Once Ki had the knife she slowly pressed it against Elena's belly. If Ki was to commit seppuku, this would be the spot she'd cut herself. How could Elena survive? "Chiyo, get me some thread and a needle!" The idea came out of no where but she thought on how surgeon's stopped blood on her one time. Once the Silver haired kitsune returned with the thread Ki began to cut slowly.

Blood was everywhere and spilt onto the floor was all over Doji's hands and that was before she reached into the slit to pull out the baby. "It's a girl!" Ki said with a sob as she noticed the difference in the nether regions then cut the umbilical cord. "Please be strong, I'm going to sow you back together." Doji went to work like she was repairing a kimono. The master swordswoman was clumsy but she was able to make leeway even though the fact that Elena was in pain and not making it easy. "Just hold on, please." Ki prayed as she cut the thread. She did all she could do.

[Moonlit Raven]

I smiled at Ki, riding what seemed like an endless wave of pain. I opened my mouth to tell her thank you. Thank you for choosing to save my daughter, for not leaving us both to die. Instead I found my voice gone, as if the wellspring of speech had dried up, burnt out under the pressure. I bit my lip, feeling the fangs that had ran full out from the strain of this childbirth sink deep into my lower lip. It was enough for me to produce a noise, a small groan of protest against this newest pain.

Acid tore itself across my abdomen and despite myself I watched Ki, cut through layers of flesh, fat and muscle to reach my child. Through the pain and through the waves of gray that were beginning to lap at the edges of my vision I gasped out directions that need to be told.

“My daughter, her name is Verdandi Nito. Take her to the Concordian forest and follow the trail of red flowers. Someone will find you there. Demand to see Avery, she is his daughter.” There was a strange emptiness in me as Ki’s bloodied hands pulled my daughter from my body. I wanted to reach out and touch her, but the graying weakness held me down. Making even my head too heavy to lift to see where my daughter was laid.

I could hear her protesting squalls against the cooler, dry environment. I smiled at the small, cries of an angry survivor. Something tugged at me between the small stabs of pain as Ki desperately tried to close up the mess that was my body.

“Tell him I’m sorry for leaving. I didn’t know about Verdandi. Tell him she was his final act and she is my final gift to him. I wish I could hold…” Strangely sleepy and numb, I drifted. Grateful for a brake from the pain. The strange tugging returned, reaching deep within me, deeper and sharper than Ki’s blade. It pulled on me and at the last moment I realized, it was my soul seeking to flee its tormentor, my body.

No. A last hazy thought drifted through my mind before the gray darkness roll me and sucked me completely under.

[Reiko]

Ki listened to Elena's last request with an ache in her heart. "No, Don't say that, you'll be fine." The vixen said as she watched her friend sink away from the awake and laid too still to be good but Ki had to be sure. "Chiyo, please wash Verdandi, just pour some water over her and bring my a wet cloth."

"Okay mom." Chiyo said as she carefully took the child, who's screams were the only sounds in the den and they only grew louder when the young vixen washed the baby. "Don't cry, it'll be fine." Chiyo said with tears running down her face.

Ki took the break from holding the baby to check Elena for a pulse and she smiled a little bit. The girl wasn't dead yet. "Hold on, just hold on so you can hold your daughter." Doji said as she brushed Elena's hair and smiled. "I did what I could so please hold on." Ki wished the doctor was here to help but he wasn't and all Ki could do was this. "Maybe you can show your child to her father."

Chiyo returned and handed the clean but still screaming baby to Ki and the wet cloth and the nine tails washed the child.

"Please be okay, but I'll obey your request if you die."

"Mom, don't talk like that, Elena will be fine." Chiyo cried. "I know she will."

"You're right, she'll be okay."

[Moonlit Raven]

I found myself standing in a void filled with the same eerie colors as the crystal I had once picked up. Shivering, I held myself as I thought on the nightmarish months of sleep and nightmares that had come from the unnatural crystal. The colors rippled around me as if responding to my shuddering limbs. I grasped at my heart, feeling the silvered cord that connected me to my body thinning and straining as images slowly appeared within the colored void.

“Where am I?” I called out, my voice tinny and frail in the enormous empty space. After a moment there came a pressure, almost a noise. It grew until I covered my ears to try and block it out. Side by side images of my past, time with Avery and times that I happily lived in the sea side Inn and loved the owner’s son played out. Far away, blurry and almost impossible to make out a different set of images appeared. I could make out what seemed to be me, the places and people I didn’t recognize though I felt I should, as if they held some hidden meaning I needed to know.

Against the pull of the silver cord I stepped towards the hazy images. There came a curious burning sensation, as if a fine web that had been embedded into my skin was ripped out. In the moment before the cord snapped I felt what once was a slow steady beating, stutter to a halt. Light, colors and images all vanished, leaving me standing in darkness so black it permeated what was left of my being. Distantly, I thought I could hear the horrid laughter of the evil being that controlled those long ago dreams I had been forced into.

Blind and lost, without a way back to my body; I swam through a warm sticky ocean of darkness. The smell of iron, of blood was everywhere. Why am I here? My body died, I felt the heart stop. So why am I here? I thought I would see Heaven or maybe Hell. Anything but this unrelenting darkness. Desperate, I cast my blind eyes around searching for any source of light. Weeping, I added my own sad and angry tears to the fluid blackness around me and wondered what would become of my daughter. I hoped that Ki would quickly find Avery and that he would take came of my, our child.

A wail rippled through inky depths around me, I recognized the small angry cries. With a smile I followed them, pushing and kicking my away through the liquid depths. There was flash of amber light before I was thrust from the darkness. I felt a moment of alarm and pain then nothing. A curious weight, new yet long familiar weighed me down. I frowned, then realized that I could actually feel my skin move, the weight, gravity. Beneath my fingers sticky cloth sucked at my fingers as I moved them a little. Forcing my eyes open, I blinked at the bright light of day.

“My daughter, give her to me. How long was I, dead?”


Catch a hold of me before you post next. I need to go over a thing or two with you that has changed.

[Reiko]

Doji could only wait as she softly held the baby whose mother was hanging above death by a thread and the vixen couldn't do any more but wait and hope and look at the woman and then to her child and back and just hope that the woman would pull through.

Chiyo sat with her tail nervously twitching as she held her hands to her chest in prayer but when Elena spoke out her heart almost burst with happiness, the young Vixen almost pounced to hug the woman but she was stopped by Ki's foot.

"She's fragile now, the stitches won't hold if you are rough with her." Doji scolded her child and giggled a little and turned to the new mother and handed her the child. "Here she is. Please don't do much, I sown your belly up but I'm not sure how much it can take to open back up."

Ki smiled warmly. "You're girl's quite beautiful. I'm sure you can raise her to be a great woman. Motherhood's not easy but I know you're strong enough to do it."

Chiyo shifted for a couple of moments and was relieved and she looked at the little girl. "Umm... you think I could hold her when you're done. I never held a child before." The little vixen felt excited as she watched the little thing make delicate movements and to see the creation of life.

"Give the mother some time, Chiyo." Ki laughed and rubbed her child's hair. "Giving birth's not easy and this one was extra hard. She doesn't need a kit poking her nose into her right now but I'm sure you can hold Verdandi later."

[Moonlit Raven]

I stared down at the tiny face of my daughter as she fussed and wriggled in the blanket, in my mind's eye I also saw the face of my son. Sorrow infused my smile as I gently kissed my little angel, cuddling her gently.

"Hello Verdandi, I'm happy to finally see you. Your name means the present, and it is for you and the present I shall live for." The tiny long fingered hand caught my lightly prodding finger and grasped it in a grip firmer than I thought a infant would have been able to. In the still reddened and wrinkled face her eyes opened and my breath caught as Avery's verdant green eyes stared out at me from my daughter's face.

"You are your father's daughter, I hope that you don't break my heart too, my little love."

~~~~

Three months had passed since Verdandi had tried to force her way out of my body, since Reiko had cut my body open before both of us died. I felt a lingering stiffness in the healed muscles as I moved, but I was grateful to be alive and able to watch my daughter grow. Grudgingly, I thanked whatever gods seemed to be looking after me that my vampire side was as strong as it was. I knew that a fully human woman most likely would not have survived, nor would she have healed as fast I was. My scar was already starting to fade.

Nearby, under the watchful eyes of Chiyo and myself Verdandi wobbled as she attempted to crawl once more before flopping onto her rounded little tummy. I smiled at the sight of her grunting, rocking and flapping her little wings as she attempted to get to her hands and knees once more. It worried me that even outside of the womb Verdandi grew as fast as she had developed inside of it. I wondered if she would continue to grow and age at the same rate or if she would slow down. I had no wish to watch my child age and die long before I did.

No parent should have to out live their child. I had done that once and I knew I couldn't survive it a second time.

Glancing at our hostess, I decided that soon I would leave and head for Radsanth. I had imposed on Doji's kindness long enough as it was. Unsure of how to bring up the subject I went to help her prepare dinner for everyone. Keeping an eye on my child and making sure I didn't nick a finger took a lot of effort, more than once I had a close call.

"Doji? Can I speak with you after the kids are down for the night?"

[Moonlit Raven]

Due to the length of time I've been waiting for posts I've decided to go ahead and finish the thread.

A week had passed since I had spoken to Doji about leaving and despite her protests that I hadn't taken enough time to heal I felt it was time to leave. Unvoiced and rarely even touched upon in my thoughts was the cold, hollow sensation that had been present ever since I had woke up from my own death. Hugging the children and Doji I gathered up my pack and Verdandi, silently thankful that Verdandi was a quiet child. She rarely fussed over anything but hunger.

By the time I found the road that would take us back to Radasanth it was nearly noon. Taking shelter in the shade under the trees I fed Verdandi, played with her and napped a bit while waiting out the hottest part of the day.

Traveling with a small child turned out to be a major hassle, frequently I had to stray off the road in search of a stream to wash Verdandi and her diapers. It took three days to travel the distance that I could have covered, even pregnant, in one day. As the miles slowly, very so slowly trickled by I found my pace slowing as I had to travel farther and farther away from the road in search of water. Finally I gave up on following the road and instead resolved to follow the stream. As long as I keep moving west I'll eventually get there, and with my supplies dwindling I'll be able to catch something near the river a lot easier than I would on the road.

It was almost two weeks out from Doji's home, and I could feel the Concordian forest very close, as if it beckoned to me, calling me home. Ever so faintly beneath the lure of the forest I felt a familiar tugging of the bond I thought had been destroyed when I left Avery. It was faint, weak, easily ignored as I set up traps to catch a rabbit or three.

Not only was the trip long and drawn out, one night proved to be educational too. The first time I gutted and skinned a rabbit, Verdandi popped a large piece of raw, bloody rabbit into her mouth the second I looked away. Cringing and sick to my stomach I watched my daughter happily suck at the bloody piece of meat as if it were candy. From the sound of her wails when I took the meat away you would have thought that I had never fed her.

Snubbing a tiny piece of cooked meat she stuck her sticky bloody fingers in her mouth and burbled at me. Setting the meat to finish smoking I scooped up my daughter and we went to take a bath. In the fading light of evening I watched Verdandi splash happily in the water as she sat on my lap and thought about the newest oddity to crop up, her taste for blood. Gently, I poked a finger in her mouth and lightly rubbed her gums as she sucked at my finger. I was more than a little relieved to feel no teeth. I wasn't sure what I would do if any teeth were forming yet, Verdandi still looked normal for a child of her size.

[Skie and Avery]

The link that Elena shared with Avery was far more than just in her mind, and as the King was seated upon his throne, watching the moonlight shine down on an empty field, he felt it too. For far too long his heart had felt bled dry, as if the mere fact that he had nothing left to offer the world would keep the vampires at bay. There was no lure to an empty cup, after all. Lines of sadness were starting to settle in on his young face, ever so faintly, sleepless nights darkening the skin beneath his eyes.

It was all lost without her. When the tug of her presence so close to his Kingdom first came, he ignored it. There had been so many times his wounded heart had tricked his mind that she was near and he'd searched through the forest for her to no avail. There'd been hours spent laying at the gravestone of Netimrael, begging the gods to bring her back. He ignored his instincts now for a time, looking instead at the horizon. Despite his recent trip to Dheathain, he felt the end here.

Days had passed since he'd last moved from this perch, hours passing where he would stare unblinking at the skyline until the watering of tears over his dry eyes would force him to shut them, the stinging barely recognized from the pain of his soul. Without her, he was allowing himself to wither away. Worry and gossip was filling the conversations of the Moontae these days. When the King died without an heir, what family would take the throne? It would seem that the greatest dynasty of the Moontae was at it's end - and ending so pitifully as this.

The rain came inside the Moontae's territory and lasted for a week. It was one of the rare rains that was so contained within the enchanted space that it touched not Concordia. Still, when Elena and Verdandi bathed in Concordian waters, it came with the rain. Avery'd been laying at the throne, staring at a star he'd once sword had shone reflected in Elena's eyes as they'd made love, when the first drops hit him. The water came first, a few cold patterings against his skin. It wasn't so bad. His grief had been numbing everything around him.

It was once the rain really got started that it hit him, washing down like a tidal wave that threatened to rip him to shreds. He felt her, he smelt her. The tug came again, and this time could not ignore it. Standing, The King of the Moontae demon clan let the sensations of the bond flow through him, bringing back to life things that he had been so sure that he had killed. He ran, he flew, every muscle in his body intent on making it back to her.

That was how, as Elena had finished washing herself, letting the child play, a dark figure watched them in the trees. Avery had cloaked himself in the best of his illusions to watch. Most of his attention was on the girl. His heart stood still in his chest, for on the babe's back, pulsing gently as if she were using them for balance, two tiny wings. Elena was traveling with a Moontae child; his child.

Without really meaning to, his breath caught in his throat, and his breath was drawn from him in a gasp far louder than he would have liked.

[Moonlit Raven]

Unafraid of what may prowl under the darkening canopy, I relaxed flicking water at Verdandi and listening to her delighted and indignant squeals. Smiling, I watched my daughter, her unbridled happiness shone brightly in her green eyes. Those eyes reminded me of 'him'. I pushed thoughts away wanting to enjoy my time with Verdandi unspoiled by dark thoughts and worries.

A soft sound, at odds with the night noises around us, caught my attention. Aware but dismissive of my state of undress I scooped my daughter up into my arms and stood. Wary and more than a little angered at the interruption of relaxed play with my daughter I stared out into the darkness, my eyes shifting from shadows to shadow as I fumed at the loss of time. I had been seeking to imprint everything that was cute and babied about Verdandi into my mind. I would miss her quiet burbles and wet, toothless grins.

"Who's there? Show yourself! Only a coward would watch a mother and child bathe from afar." Backing out of the water, I slowly inched for our clothing and my sword. I resisted the urge to set my child aside, dress and hunt down whoever was out there. My heart pounded in an odd tempo, fear, anger and ... longing? Silently gnashing my teeth I chose to forgo clothing and reached for my blade as I laid Verdandi in the pile of our clothing and stood over her.

Tossing the heavy strands of my wet hair out of my face I stared at the spot my heart told me too. Something unseen watched.

"Come out, now." I hissed, my hands aching from the tight grip I had on my sword.

[Skie and Avery]

"A mother and child bathing together under my watchful eye are well safe," he said, letting his baritone carry over the winds. Would his voice make her vibrate with emotions so sweet and biting at the same time? Hers certainly brought both beauty and pain to him.

She was staring right at him. Her eyes were colder than they had once been. Did she know he knelt in the trees there? Once he had likened her eyes to the bark growing on the outside of their home. It was a color he loved, a color that had meant much to him. Now they were the color of grave dirt. He knew the coldness in them was for someone she didn't know, but was he really that much of a stranger? He must be, for her to keep this secret from him.

There was no excusing it now. Once his voice had been borne to the wind, brought to her ears, he knew that she would know it. He manned up to it, letting the illusions slip from his body like the water that spilled down her bare skin. Like velvet, like silk, the seemingly empty space of branch and leaves that "covered" him, but for all he saw it may have been velvet coated with stinging nettles and dripping with poison. Her face hit him like he had betrayed her by showing himself. She was hurt, she was angry. Her surprise caught him and he ducked his head, tearing his eyes away from hers in shame.

"Sleep," he urged. "Eat and sleep and I will watch over you, despite your sin. It's an awful thing to keep a child from her father, but tonight sleep as if you are an angel. Unholy choirs may just sing you to sleep, songbird." To see her blade flashing and to utter the nickname was like their first moments together all over again; to see her anger was like losing her again.

It might not have hurt so badly if he didn't know that the whole thing was his fault.

[Moonlit Raven]

At first I wasn't sure, the winds carried the voice to me. My heart leaped into my throat, thrumming a familiar song until my very bones snag in response. I wasn't ready, my mind still cried out, shouting about anger and betrayal and unforgivable actions. Time froze in a spill of molasses as the illusions Avery had hidden himself with slowly revealed him. Despite myself I drank in the beautiful lines of his body. I ached at the raw emotions in his eyes, etched in his face and wondered just how things got so wrong. Something so beautiful shouldn't hurt to see.

Old long nursed anger returned in the next heartbeat, something small and ugly in me was glad that he couldn't look me in the eye. I was glad he could not look me in the eye, I was sure he would see the longing and wistfulness I knew still sparked within me, nearly buried under months of anger and pain.

"My sin? MY sin? I have no sin Avery, or if I had had any it was washed away in blood and my death upon the birth of MY daughter." For a moment I stood, so angry I could not speak. I scored an oozing line across the inside of my lip with a fang as I gnawed upon it.

"The night is newly born and we have things to discuss and a child to share, for this one night,my love." As soon as the uttered and unuttered words left me I wondered at their merit. I was I able to withstand his presence, so close after so long? Or would we once again war with angry, hurtful words? I sought out his eyes, identical to my, our Verdandi. For ours she would be tonight.

Turning away I quickly donned my clothing then knelt to swaddled Verdandi, I was thankful for such a quiet child. Netimrael had never stayed silent for so long unless he slept.

[Skie and Avery]

His heart stopped with her words. He was sure he would be unable to breathe, would die in the tree. After all that he had done to score scars upon her soul and heart and body, she was beckoning him to share the fire and the night with her. His face snapped back to hers, his gaze pleading. He had never known Elena to be a trickster. Humor she could have, but never one to pull pranks. Was this a trap, to get him close enough to slay? He almost longed for it.

Carefully, he fell from his perch in the tree. The ground resonated with his weight as he hit at a crouch, coming carefully. His eyes weren't on her blade, or her face anymore. Instead, they were on the child, so much heartbreak. Netimrael had cried so loudly, but now he cried no more. Elena had said death; surely she couldn't have been speaking literally.

He wouldn't have believed it if he didn't smell it as he passed by, on his way to look his daughter in the eyes. Hunched over, low and ashamed, he kept an arms length between himself and Elena, but paused when he came nearest her. Death hung on her like a cloak, a mark to say that she had been places no mortal expects to go until the very end. It was subtle, nightshade in her scent, the vague image of black roses springing to his mind when he inhaled it. He stopped, looked at her, his expression horrified.

His mouth opened several times, as if he wanted to say something. He couldn't speak, apologize, claim the blame for having killed her as surely as he took the life of their first child. As his eyes searched forward, and came to rest on the little girl with black and crimson wisps of curl, too pale skin and eyes and wings so like his and his mothers, he felt a protective fire burn within. He would not let her be destroyed as he had let his son and wife fall. He would make it right. She should have a home, she should be a princess, and she should have a brother. His thoughts on the enchantment he gained in Dheathain, he knew just how to remedy those wrongings.

"So like her mother," he finally breathed, his eyes locked in amazement on their child. "So perfect."

Burying his face in his hands like a common gremlin, the Demon King who now carried the weighted chains of his dark sins upon his back began to weep, falling to the feet of the woman who had once been his Queen. The Beast had been broken before his Beauty, the shimmering of a horizon star growing fainter as he reached a hand wet with his tears out to try and touch the greatest thing that he had ever lost.

[Moonlit Raven]

Out of the corner of my eye I watch Avery fall from his perch the words 'To fall from grace' echoed in my mind. I was torn between wanting to lash out and wanting to say that it was alright. I knew it wasn't alright between us lay two tiny bodies, one living and one dead, they created an ocean of feelings that swirled and shifted.

His expression changed and with out knowing how, I knew he understood the price that had come with Verdandi. Vaguely I wondered why I was still alive. Had my death torn from me all that was once human? If so then why was I not the monster I often found myself to be in the past when that side had emerged from the shackles I had placed in it.

"Perfect, that she is. Her name is Verdandi, she is just under four months old and it seems, like her mother, she is cursed with a taste for blood." I kept my voice smooth and even, masking the fear I held within me that as Verdandi grew she would become more her mother's daughter.

I looked upon the man, my husband and wished, my hand froze just above his hair. I remembered the satin softness of it as I let my hand fall to lightly touch that bowed head. After a moment I pulled away, that one soft touch as much as my bruised heart could manage now. I touched a tiny waving fist and looked down at the darkening face, Verdandi was readying her siren's wail, demanding food and love.

"Avery. Avery, let me feed her and then you shall be a father to her, rock her, sing her to sleep. Let her mind know you so it holds you within it as she grows." Cuddling and softly talking to the warm bundle in my arms, I opened the front of my gown. I watched Avery and fought with myself.

"Not all is lost or I would have denied you this night, chased you away. Bruised hearts need to heal and demons must be slain before we can see what the future holds... my love." The last I whispered softly, almost too low for me too hear.

[Skie and Avery]

"No!" he said so suddenly it startled him. "No curse has she received." He said them almost at the same time as she had spoken of his holding the child, the perfect ball of beauty that he knew would grow to be as beautiful as the mother who had borne her. For now, he wanted only happiness for Elena, to be able to soothe some fear of hers. "How could she but like the copper taste between a vampiress and a Moontae. My kind like their meat raw, as well. To take fire to the meat brings the taste of ash to us."

He couldn't help but look in longing as she opened her gown to feed the child. The sight of her exposed breast was something he missed. He missed tasting her skin, feeling her breath catch and her back arch under his hands and mouth. Emotions were welling again and as he watched the baby feed, his lips pursed, his brow furrowed.

"My sweet songbird, my soul..." he said. The words were on his heart, he could not contain them. "I never meant you harm. I'll make it better. I'll make everything right."

Within him, fed on his hardheaded good intentions, the darkness moved and laughed.

[Moonlit Raven]

The outburst startled me, I held Verdandi tighter until she wriggled against me and gave a protesting squawk. Gently I jostled Verdandi to settle her and wait until she was feeding contentedly once more. I pushed aside the worries I had, nothing could make everything better but time. I wondered what Avery spoke up and why the coldness in my chest suddenly pulsed.

Lowering my eyes, I studied the fire. Once in a while I sneaked glances at Avery, watching him as he watched us like a starving man set before a feast. I felt exposed and wished for my long hair, regretting having cut the long lengths off when I first left the Moontae. I could have hidden behind the shadowy mass, and kept the strangely intimate act of feed my daughter from his view.

A tiny fist struck my chest and I looked down at Verdandi. Satiated and content she gabbled up at me, a shinning ribbon of milk and drool slowly creeping down from one corner of her rosebud mouth. In an absent gesture, long learned from repetitive action I wiped her face, chuckling as she squirmed and a scowl bunching her eyebrows for a moment. Hesitant, I held out my daughter, words failed me.

[Skie and Avery]

He looked for a moment, at the babe. And then, tears still running down his cheeks from where he'd started weeping for what he'd done, he took his daughter in his arms. She was larger than Netimrael had been when he'd been lost to the awful fate that Skie had handed him. Still, he held her close, feeling the perfect wings underneath the skin of his arm as he cradled her. Despite the difference in her growth, it was still like holding his son for the first time, only more painful. Gratitude that Elena was at least allowing him this came rushing in, and he whispered "Thank you," to her, though his eyes for now were only for his daughter.

The child had been uncomfortable when he first took her, her legs kicking and straining against the swaddling. Her fists bunched up and her nose crinkled, but as Avery began to sway, back and forth so slowly, his voice whispering calming shushes and starting to hum the beginnings of a lullaby he had so often loved to sing to their firstborn, see was soothed.

The thought her expression a trifle confused, and then searching. Could she tell who he was? Their eyes were so alike, even down to the shape. Even though the sight of her wings had immediately dispelled his doubts, looking his baby girl in the eyes would have crushed any lurking ones to bits.

"Verdandi...Verdandi...." he sung low to the tune. A pause for a moment, and he brought his gaze to Elena, his face a mask of thoughtfulness to try and hide what emotions weren't leaking from his eyes.

"You did not give her a Moontae name?"

[Moonlit Raven]

At first I thought Verdandi would reject Avery, the kicking feet and arms were only a prelude to one of her rare fits. For a quite thing she could wail like nothing else when provoked. I forced back a soft smile as Avery soothed her, rocking and whispering, and looked away. I couldn't allow my heart to soften just yet; it wasn't time to give in. Something felt unfinished, I need to find the source of the feeling and find my answers.

For a moment I found myself unable to answer Avery’s question or even look him in the eye, guilt rode me and stirred up old anger for a moment before it tiredly died. Looking in the fire I carefully chose my words before speaking.

"Verdandi means the present. I'll not have her surrounded by ghosts of the past and stuck. I'll teach her to live for her namesake and to reach for the future." I looked at Avery with out really looking at him, unrepentant and vaguely challenging. Ghost like and frail a smile flitted across my features.

"It's also a pretty name." I added in a girlish after thought. Tired I lay down, resting my head on my pack and watched my daughter and husband get to know one another. I felt a pang of pain and regret that I would be taking Verdandi with me in the morning and this would probably be the only time she would ever meet her father before she was nearly full grown. Or given her rate of growth, this could be her one and only time of meeting Avery. She could grow old and die.

The first stirrings of tears stung my eyes and I shifted looking up at the leafy branches that tossed with the intermittent night breeze. I didn't want Avery to see the tears and ask their reason, nor did I want to tell him of Verdandi's growth. To tell him and then to take her away would be too cruel.

[Skie and Avery]

He might have waited too long, but he didn't want to rush. He let his daughter's name rush through him, imprint itself in his heart with the visage of her beautiful cherub face. Her eyes were closing all the more quickly now, her lids growing heavy with sleep. She gave a toothles yawn and started to snuggle in against him, and he couldn't help but grin through all the pain.

"Verdandi," he said, "is a good name."

As the child was falling asleep, Avery glanced at Elena. She sat in his peripheral vision, and he almost turned his head to try and drink in her form. His need was demanding that he put down the child and claim her, show her that she was still his wife, but he quelled the sparking kindle that would end the night in ruins. He'd forced himself upon her once before, and was bound and determined not to make the same mistake this night. He would not be the one to pile upon her more bruises and wounds, especially when she kept him at arms length; just far enough to keep him from helping her to heal them.

It wasn't right for him to think that way, though. He was chiding himself now, even as he searched for somethng to say to her that could break through the lump in his throat, the awkwardness of his situation. She had closed the gap between them better than he ever could have by inviting him to her campfire.

It was just so hard to remember that after everything they had once been, now he had to move in baby steps.

[Moonlit Raven]

The tears subsided and I blinked away the remnants of them before sneaking another glance at Avery. I frowned and fought with pieces of myself. I couldn't understand why my anger dimmed with Avery in sight. Why even though I knew I should feel hurt and angry I wanted nothing more than to move closer and touch Avery's warm flesh.

Uneasy I shifted as though trying to get comfortable, turning over on to my side and looking out into the dark forest beyond the circle of fire light. I ran over all of the revelations I had gone through in the five months of pregnancy and the near four months of time after wards that had passed. I knew my son's death was not Avery's fault, nor his actions when I left truly his fault. Skie had been the deceiver and the murderer. Avery was simply reacting the only way his race would, the way he grew up and lived.

I actually felt a sharp twinge in my chest as my heart protested the knowledge my mind held. It warned that it was Avery whom had let Skie into the village, welcomed her with open arms. It also spoke that rape, not matter what the upbringing was wrong. Grudgingly I agreed, rape was a sin, one Avery had committed against me, but from it I held another child in my heart and in my arms. Beautiful and alive enough to banish my tears and pain over the loss of Netimrael.

Sighing I rolled over and openly watched Avery, my eyes roaming the clean lines of the body he unabashedly displayed to the world. I let the soft slight smile I had pushed away slip back and claim it's place, tugging my lips in to shape. Sitting up, I hugged my knees to my chest and rested my chin on them.

"I find myself not tired at all. Avery, will you listen to me? Really listen and not let the Moontae or the Moontae chieftain interrupt. I want just Avery, to listen." I watched firelight cast a golden sheen over his already bronzed body, lighting a perfect curve of muscled shoulder and arm. I wanted to touch him, I finally conceded to myself. I wanted what ever he could give me this one night and would hope that it would be enough to hold us until our hearts and souls had healed enough to return to one another.

"There are so many things I want to say that I feel I must say, but I'm not sure where to start. That's not true, I'll start where everything starts, the beginning. You should know, I don't really blame you anymore for Neti's death. Don't get me wrong I'm still angry that my child is dead and you welcomed her murderer into our home with welcoming arms, but it was not your fault. You didn't know what would happen.

When I attempted to leave, when I was begging for time that I eventually took, your actions were unforgivable. You drugged me and used me, tried to force me to stay. If I had stayed nothing would ever be right, I would have become a shell of myself, faded and a wrath. I would have died." Pausing I gnawed upon my lower lip once more, it was becoming a habit I was sure was very good for the lip itself.

"I have Verdandi now, her warm body helps cool the flames of anger I held in me for months. Avery, her eyes, your eyes haunt me from her pale little face. Her birth was, hard, I cried out for you while I was in pain. The woman that helped me, I begged her to bring Verdandi to you if I died.

That's the thing, I did die, Avery. Ki cut me open to save our child, I was already in so much pain and the baby wouldn't come. I threatened to tear myself open with my nails, just to save at least her. From that savage wound I died and I saw, I don't know what it was. I only half remember it all." I stared down at my near flat stomach and my hands as they opened and closed helplessly. For a moment I recalled swimming or drowning in a sea of red waters, of blood.

"Why or how I awoke I don't know. All that's left is a silver line across my skin, I think in time it will fade and leave behind the coldness that has gripped me ever since. It feels as if the space that once contained my heart has been hollowed and filled with never melting snow, yet I live still. I still love my daughter, smile, feel anger and pain. I still love you. We have a link, don't we? The link was the first hint of warmth I've felt in my chest for months.

Now we sit, sharing this fire and I fight with myself to not go to you, for this night or for a thousand nights. Can words fix a damaged soul? They can only partly convey what I feel." Thrusting fears aside I stood and approached Avery, for a moment I stood over him looking down at the familiar features, and missing them even as I drank him in. I knelt and took Verdandi, placed a gentle kiss on her forehead and laid her close by.

"If you have the strength, give me your arms, your mouth and body. Give us a memory to hold, like a ember in the darkness, until we come together once more. Time slows for no one and we must grasp what we can in the moment."

[Skie and Avery]

Somehow, within him, he felt the darkness balk. It didn't want this beautiful angel of mercy to come to him. The nest of angry desires within wanted a martyr, for her to lay out before him in pain and sorrow. Instead, she was bringing him in with open arms. She was calling him home. Now, as she stood before him, she was like a clear bell, ringing through the quiet air of his mind. How could he resist? As she knelt beside where she had placed the babe, he stood.

Stalking towards the trees, he was silent. Perhaps a year ago, with the tension so high and her plea so fresh in the air he would have said something, assured her that he wasn't leaving. Now, he couldn't think of anything to say. Simple assurances were lost on him, the little sweetness that he had once uttered were gone. He stopped at the edge of the firelight, gathering more fallen branches, then turned and returned with an armful of kindle. He sighed as he began to feed the flames, and then realized what a jerk he was being. He owed her far more than this.

"I wouldn't want the babe to get cold," he said with a soft smile. When she'd fed half the wood into the fire, he returned to her, helping her to wrap up the child against the elements, and then he led her around the fire, aways enough away from Verdandi that he could really focus not on the breath and coos of a sleepy child, and more on the illustrious goddess before him.

He hit his knees before her, his fingers brushing the bottom hem of her velvet gown. The red was nearly black in the dim light, except along the edges, and flickering along the curves as the firelight danced. His fingers traced her ankle under the hem, and then slipping under the garment, they moved upwards, playing in a swirl at her knee and then higher, until he was ducking his head under the heavy cloth as well. In the darkness, he grinned and inhaled her scent, kissing at her thigh, licking along the skin. His hands reached up, outside of the garment, grasping her hips, and then moving to caress her lower back, rubbing down and dipping over her curvaceous bottom.

He was shaking now, as he explored places he'd only dreamed about since she'd left. He had never imagined that the heaven he'd heard of from paladins and poets could exist here in Concordia, swathed in crushed red velvet.

[Moonlit Raven]

He walked away from me, and for a moment I thought he refused my offer. The thought stung more than I thought it would. An accepting, regretful sigh built up within me. A woman's heart is a hole, a hole that can take all things and still exist. I smiled at Avery once I realized he was only seeking out more wood for the fire, thinking of our child more than I was at the moment.

My chest ached from my pounding heart as Avery lead me around to the far side of the fire and knelt before me. Half forgotten, yet so familiar, the touches and kisses that were placed long my skin. A cool evening breeze blew Avery's scent to me and I imprinted it in my memory.

Enflamed by his touch and impatient I pulled us both to the ground, taking over and beginning a dance as old as time itself. Through it all I fought back tears of pain and pleasure. I hope that come dawn hearts would not be broken once more.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The first stirrings of dawn found me bare as the day I was born and still awake. I watched Avery’s slumbering form for as long as I dared. Wincing slightly at protesting muscles that had been much abused during the night I dressed in my now dusty dress. Silent as I possibly could I gathered my belongings and my daughter. Silently I hushed her quiet fussing.

‘Goodbye is not forever, but love is.’ I scrawled in the earth near Avery where I was sure he would see it.

I looked back one last time, memorizing what Avery looked like as he lay sleeping. Sorrow settled down upon me, smothering the anger that had burned in my heart into a bed of smoldering coals. I knew given time those coals would burn out and I’d be ready to return, but would Avery be waiting for me still?

Pushing my fears aside I walked away heading for the road and Radasanth once more.

[Ataraxis]

Quest Judging
Time Slows for No One

This took way more time than I thought it would, though the fault is all mine. I sincerely apologize to all three of you. To make it up, I invite y’all to my house for some quality time tasting wine and bashing invaluable crystalware into sniffable smithereens.

Now, on to the judging! You’ll notice that the scores don’t exactly reflect one comment or the other, but are actually rounded-up averages of all participants.

STORY

Continuity ~ 7/10. I wasn’t lost, but I found myself looking for landmarks quite a bit at first. Of course I know who Shadar is, but something other than just his name would clarify it for the new readers. It was only mentioned that Kasimir was a spider in the sixth post, and though I knew it was one from our discussions on how spiders are awesome, not all the readers were born lucky enough to be cool kids like us. I know, it sucks, but we have to give them at least that much for compensation. That mention of an evil crystal confused me: it’s only a while later that I remembered the thread where it happened, but still you didn’t elaborate on it, so I’m still a bit in the dark.

Ki’s involvement in this, though sometimes a bit bare, made enough sense. You had the gist of what I expected to find, except that Jen was the one who cleared things up by saying that Elena and Ki had met in the Bazaar, three posts later: that sword and fan business made me guess, knowing that Elena works at the Bazaar, but that’s not the train of thought that was supposed to get me to that conclusion.

Avery, well, I got everything. His status as king of the Mootae, what he was doing before, his link to Elena – everything was there, and seamlessly integrated in the narrative.

Setting ~ 6/10. Everyone remembered to include instances of setting, though it was a bit thin at first. I also got the impression that the descriptions were, more often than not, there for the sake of being there. What I mean is that, though I could imagine where everything was unfolding, it wasn’t a particularly engaging image of a forest, which was described with the bare bones of trees and muddy soil. Halfway through, I couldn’t get such a clear image, but it really picked up near the end, especially since there was a lot more interaction with the setting and very, very flavourful descriptions. Only, it wasn’t consistent in general, which explains why the score isn’t any higher.

Pacing ~ 6/10. To be honest, the start was a bit slow, and I did hit a few snags while reading, due to mistakes that could easily have been avoided and awkward wording that I’ll deal with in Mechanics. I’m presuming that the intent of this thread was to make Elena grow as a character, to make her react to a crucial change in her life such as the birth of a daughter and to confront her with her past and maybe make her come to terms with a few of her inner monsters. As a whole, I think you did well Jen, though no one is immune to moments of fumbling. The first person style with which you wrote didn’t work with your goal until the ninth post, where a clear change occurred (I will elaborate in Technique), and everything went substantially smoother then.

John, it was clear that Ki was supposed to be a supporting character, and thus I understand that the story wasn’t focused on her or her personal growth. I just have to say that a few of your posts read more like fillers which did not add as much flavour or prop up the storyline as I wanted them to. I may be wrong, but I had the feeling you were struggling to find content near the end from the thinning post length, and though it’s good that you didn’t try to add useless fluff to them, they didn’t carry the lively spirit from your first posts. In a way, this made the pace too fast yet too slow at the same time, especially when you sped through the c-section and added the exclamatory ‘it’s a girl!’ that broke the tension that was actually building up very well until that moment. Still, as a whole, you didn’t balk your duty as a supporting writer, and there have been shining moments where you steered things toward the unexpected, and those made me read on with bated breath, like the part where Doji asks for a meat knife. That made me gawk.

I think I breezed through the ending on a high. It was really well done, which is to be expected as that’s where most of the goals Jen had in store for Elena in this quest occurred. There was good drama and tension between Elena and Avery, and it made me genuinely ask myself how this would turn out for the both of them. It all felt realistic and I’ve nothing more to say about it… well, nothing but ‘bow chika bow wow’.

CHARACTER

Dialogue ~ 6.5/10. I’ve mentioned that the first person didn’t really shine until the ninth post, and that included the dialogue as well. Elena, as much as I like her, didn’t pop out of my screen until halfway through the thread, and sometimes she deflated a bit after that. Overall though, the things she said fit her character. You stumbled a few times when she spoke in unrealistic ways, like when she said about five things in one post without Doji answering once. To remedy that, you could’ve asked John if it was okay to bunny Doji a bit for the dialogues. Also, there are times when you cram a lot into one segment that, when I imagine it, makes me quirk an eyebrow:


“How are your kids? Where are they? I bet they would love Kazimir. Though I’m sure Kazimir would flip at first. He’s not the most social of pets, though that is perfect. I’d hate for him to run away.”Three different ideas in one dialogue. Imagine someone saying this in real life: it’d make sense only if that person was incredibly nervous or naturally scatter-brained, which Elena is not as a far as I know!

Doji’s dialogue is also what I had expected. She’s not a worrywart except when it comes to motherhood, and that showed well when she spoke to her children or when she discussed that with Elena. She’s also very good-natured, almost to a fault as was mentioned once, and her words showed for that too. My only qualms are that, knowing that, I could predict quite a few of her lines. I could feel the intention behind her words, only you have a tendency to use clichéd expressions to convey her thoughts. For example, when she’s trying to comfort Elena as she’s giving birth, the constant ‘you’ll be fine’s and ‘it’s going to be okay’ made things drag on, but that’s nothing a little variety in word choice wouldn’t have remedied. The, ‘it’s a girl!’ as I’ve said, didn’t fit the situation. It’s something I know you’ll easily be able to do with a bit of a push, since you do know Doji more than anyone.

Avery’s dialogue was very rich and evocative. I noticed a clear economy of words, but that,s because you’d chosen the best ones to voice his thoughts and concerns. There was a very distinct ‘Avery’ feel to it, and you didn’t try and put everything on a silver plate and hand it to the reader, deciding instead to make him or her get the satisfaction of reading the underlying meaning behind the things he says. That’s allowed, since being ambiguous in the dialogue is not a mistake on the writer’s part, as it would be in the narrative, but a quirk of the character itself.

Action ~ 7/10. Jen, everything Elena did made sense, and not once did I ask ‘why do this instead of that?’ Tying a ribbon to a tree in pure altruism for other travelers is something that I especially liked, since that opened up awareness to the fact that there are other people who travel and that the world doesn’t only belong to the PCs in the thread itself. Too often do I get the impression that threads are like instances in an MMORPG, where monsters spawn and the only ones to kill them are those who got into it as a group. That was a nice touch, as were all of the things Elena did with Verdandi. Speaking of Verdandi, that part about eating raw meat and loving blood was really an unsettling plus. Also, kudos for dying. Oh, but I’m a bit sceptical that acid could’ve spilled when Doji cut her belly open: she extracted the baby by incising the uterus, not her stomach which is a few inches north and has, well, nothing to do with reproduction. And if the acid had really spilled, then sewing up the belly would have done nothing, it’d have burned through the skin anyway, and I don’t know if vampire’s could really heal that well.

Considering how Ki’s such a good person, I have no qualms about her actions. Inviting Elena to her humble home was true to her personality, the things she did while Elena was in the midst of childbirth showed that she herself had been through it as well, although probably without that much blood spewing out of her. I especially found the part where she cut Elena’s belly open to deliver the baby touching and disturbing at the same time.

I’m trying to find something wrong with Avery’s actions, but for some reason I can’t. Maybe it’s because he was in the quest only near the end and that his involvement then was pretty straightforward. His reaction to Verdandi was heartrending, perhaps a bit more than he was to see Elena again. Under the circumstances, I’m only presuming that both encounters were just as shocking, although in different ways for him, considering their baggage. I liked how, when Elena offered herself to him, he walked away because a part of him wanted to take her differently, and I think I smiled when he walked back, telling himself he was a jerk.

Persona ~ 7/10.
I’ll be brief here. Each character’s personality was put forward, but it only really shone late in the thread. At first, Elena’s emotions were described in a way that was uncharacteristically aloof, but as I said it fell into place relatively quickly. Doji did seem awfully concerned about cleaning her floor while her friend was facing death, but otherwise it was a sound act. The duality between Avery’s desire to right every wrong and his inherent darkness was gripping


WRITING STYLE

Technique ~ 5/10. This is a bit lower than the rest, and here’s why. To be honest, there was little in the way of rhetorical devices, interesting sentence turns or types at the beginning, and everything was written straightforwardly. Allow me this very strange analogy of those air-inflated scrambled eggs they serve at the sugar shack that basically taste like yellow-colored whites with no spices. It’s a recipe that’s lacking and it’s only still around because of tradition, but I’d much rather eat the honey-smoked bacon and sausages, with maple taffy. Much tastier traditions. Now I’m starting to wonder if there are sugar shacks in the States. If not, then consider the above void.

In a nutshell, you both followed an old recipe to stay within your comfort zone instead of going out to find better ingredients and a better method of cooking them, although Jen did just that in her 9th post, which simply breathed freshness and modernity. Before that, I could replace all the ‘I’s with ‘she’s and get what the usual third-person style. You really took advantage of the first person from that point on though, and I’m glad you did. John, I think you might have lost interest near the end: if I remember well, that was about the time you took a hiatus. The things I’ve said above were aimed more at your later posts than your first ones, so just know that I think you started well, but circumstances made you drop your spices. I also think I killed the analogy horse and ate its pummelled brain juice.

Mechanics ~ 5/10. This is low too, but would’ve been lower if things hadn’t picked up near the end. There were many, many mistakes. A lot of them repeated, too. Here are my notes, unabridged, and I hope they’ll speak for themselves.


Odd-numbered – Moonlit Raven
Even-numbered – Reiko

near by (1) nearby

goddling (1) made a search, couldn’t find anything conclusive

lost to simply leave (1) ‘lost or simply’

Ki knew that once the moon would take the suns watch in lighting the world that the mud would harden and slush would become ice and traveling would have been hazardous though not so much for the nine tails as it would have been for any other traveler. (2) Run-on that’s with awkward tense. Try: ‘once the moon took the sun’s watch in lighting the world, the mud would harden, slush would become ice and traveling would have become hazardous -though not so much for the nine-tails, as opposed to any other traveler.’

Even the birds feared the cold and retreated to their nests and wait for the sun to fall (2) nest, waiting for the sun to

The vixen made her way forward towards home (2) made her way home

she would have liked but they were needed (2) comma before but

her coin at home as to not end up coming home (2) r.w.

tabi and geta (2) not sure what a tabi is, but heck I don’t deduct points from people for saying shamshir (though I know what it means). Just thought I’d point this out.

myth and if this creature was one of those then she was the one to kill it (2) myth, and… she would be the one to kill it.

Akashiman Tigers love to pray on pregnant girls (2) prey

Said with her smile dying with worry. (2) said, her smile dying with worry (sounds a bit awkward though)

of the night. I had no wish to suffer through another night with out (3) r.w., without

Especially now that I know there are tiger’s up here that prey on women. I thought with a twinge of worry. (3) I’ve seen this in the first post too. You’re writing in the first person, so I don’t see why you’d need to add ‘I thought with a…’ when it’s clear that only can do the thinking. Right now, if you switched the ‘I’s for ‘she’s, it’d look like normal third person narrative. You don’t take wholly advantage of first person with this way.

there but of coarse (4) I’ve read many of your judgments before, John, and this is a point that’s come up a lot. Coarse is rugged, harsh to the touch. What you meant is ‘of course’. I remember Letho pointing it out to you in an OOC thread as well. I’m sure you know of this habit, but you have to become aware of it to force a change. Ask your quest-mates to pick up these mistakes for you if you pass over them, and they’ll eventually drop out!

Even if she would grow up far to fast bodily. A problem of being a kitsune. (4) even if she did grow up far too fast, physically – a problem with being a kitsune.

I looked down at familiar ticking against my leg and smiled(5) at the

NB: I know Kazimir is a spider, but it’s only mentioned for the first time in post 6. Any other reader would be wondering just what it is that Elena is carrying with her, probably only expecting it to be some sort of insect (not even arachnid).

through my lower back thinking that the weight of the back (5) r.w.

Doji agreed to Elena as she motioned with her hands to follow and then started to walk towards the den, not trying to go too fast since Elena's child was acting up in the womb and Ki knew how that could be a bit of a bother and the moist ground would hinder both of them as well and at least there was still some daylight left. (6) Not the first run-on in this thread, and this is also one of the other things I’ve seen mentioned a lot in your judgments. You could gain a lot by dividing your sentences. Cramming up a lot of info into one doesn’t make a sentence better, and it’s easier on both you and the reader if you don’t! I did this too, and I still do at times, but I find it’s a lot easier on me when I take the time to break those run-ons into shorter sentences, as it sets a better flow to the post.

roof and it's red walls (6) its

Toeing my boots off as I crossed the threshold, my guardian’s voice echoing in the back of my head. Citing rules about visiting another’s home and manners. (7) This is an incomplete sentence, like a build-up that’s missing a punch line! Try : While I was crossing the threshold and toeing my boots off, my guardian’s voice echoed in the back of my head, citing rules about visiting another’s home and manners.

on top of huge ball (7) top of the

The vixen's tails felt stiff as her face went pale as blood stained birth fluid leaked on her wooden floor it wasn't for the fact that it would be a tough time cleaning but the fact that this was a sign that the most likely conclusion would be Elena and/or her baby would die.(8) ‘…wooden floor. It wasn’t for the fact that…’ And please, forget the ‘and/or’s: That’s for legal documents and restraining orders!

would pick up her friends (8) friend’s

The two kits arrived wit faces dark with sleep and curiosity though (8)arrived, their faces dark with sleep and curiosity, though

(9) Your first person style really improved here, now it’s a lot more engaging to read now!

Blood was everywhere and spilt onto the floor was all over Doji's hands and that was before she reached into the slit to pull out the baby. "It's a girl!" Ki said with a sob as she noticed the difference in the nether regions then cut the umbilical cord. "Please be strong, I'm going to sow you back together." (10) You actually had a great tension rising, but the ‘it’s a girl!’ kinda ruined it. It sounded like those cliché births where everything goes fine. At most, she’d whisper ‘it’s… it’s a girl, Elena…’

Grateful for a brake from the pain. (11) break

roll me and sucked me (11) rolled

just pour some water over her and bring my a wet cloth (12) bring me

the child, who's screams (11) whose screams

my voice tinny and (12) tiny

kicking my away through the liquid depths(12) me

Doji could only wait as she softly held the baby whose mother was hanging above death by a thread and the vixen couldn't do any more but wait and hope and look at the woman and then to her child and back and just hope that the woman would pull through.(13) run-on. Lots of ‘and’s.

I sown your (13) sewed

You're girl's quite beautiful (13) Your

healed as fast I was (15) I had

even-numbered – Moonlit Raven
odd-numbered – Skie & Avery

ever since I had woke (16) woken up

had felt bled (17) forgotten to erase one or the other, I think

Netimrael, begging the gods to bring her back (17) I think Netim is a boy, right?

he'd once sword had shone reflected (17) sworn and maybe extra word?

shadows to shadow (18) shadow to shadow

spot my heart told me too (18) to

my very bones snag (20) snagged

I was I able (20) Was I able

the words 'To fall from grace' echoed in my mind (22) echoing

with out (22) without

firstborn, see was soothed. (25) she

I need to find (26) needed

Toothless (27) toothless

claim it's place (28) its


Clarity ~ 7.5/10.
Due to the mistakes, teamed with a few things that were unclear in continuity, this got you guys a 7.5. The plot itself was pretty straightforward, but every time I fumbled took a mini-chunk out of this score.Still, this was all in all clear enough!

MISCELLANEOUS

Wild Card ~ 5/10. My opinion about this is two-part: I did enjoy, but the first half was too much tip-toeing around for me. The second part was where everything unravelled, and that’s something I like watching, so it evens it out!

TOTAL ~ 63/100.

EXP Rewards

Elena Alexi Nito gains: 2990 XP!

Since Doji Ki has been reincarnated as Tsukiko (http://www.althanas.com/world/member.php?find=lastposter&t=12891), Doji Ki gains 0 XP while Tsukiko gains 50% of the initial value gained, that is to say: 1240 XP!

Avery Nito gains: 2340 XP!


GP Rewards

Elena Alexi Nito gains: 385 GP!

Doji Ki gains: 170 GP!

Avery Nito gains: 170 GP!


Other Rewards

Since no one requested anything, your previous spoils are slightly boosted!


FINAL NOTES

Good job everyone! To celebrate, I’m inviting you all to the Sugar Shack tomorrow: I expect you to be at my Cegep at 10:45 AM, EST. I will be waiting in a white Jetta 2T in a purple feather suit with a golden fist cane.

[Witchblade]

EXP and GP added!