a light in the darkness [aaricia]

[Rain]

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A black figure zig-zagged across the varied terrain of Anikira's south area, I'queyer. She had been in the relaxing, ever-soothing Endyt Beach, but an encounter with a black wolf left her shaken and nervous. Her planned day of relaxation ended up being different from what she expected, making her even more alert of her surroundings and with her defense mode on high. Grey eyes scanned the area surrounding her as her body moved across the grass and foliage. Eventually the grass became more abundant, and the wind began to appear more frequently, signaling that she was arriving to Chamoru Plains. The place was a beautiful sight--the day was bright, the sun was intense, but it didn't burn you; the wind was cold, but not chilling; and the grass moved in unison with the wind as Rain walked by. Scattered flowers adorned the beautiful valley, and distant trees surrounded the area, creating some sort of "safe" haven, or so she thought. Her black pelt contrasted greatly with the grass and surroundings, working better at nights rather than in plain daylight. 

Her body moved until reaching the middle of the valley. She looked around, inhaling the beauty of the scene as the minutes flew by. A small smile passed by her lips, but it was quickly interrupted when she felt that her insides grumbled loudly. She was hungry--the scare she had been through a while ago ended her short energy supply she had gathered from the fish she ate in the beach. She began to scan the area thoroughly, looking around to see if any prey was on sight. Since she was only a wolf, she had to look for a lone pray--perhaps a weak, ill or injured one--to make it easier for her. After a few minutes of stalking in the tall grass and looking around, she spotted a lone female deer walking around. She was alone, but Rain noticed something strange in her--she was limping. The deer turned around, observing a large wound to her back leg, making her limp and look down in pain. "Perfect," She thought, moving closer towards her target.

Her steps were wary and cautious, making sure she would not startle the doe. Her body was slow, stalking, close to the ground, and trying to hide beneath the tall grass that embraced her body. She also looked to where she was stepping, because her beloved mother had taught her to avoid any branches or things that could make any noise that could ruin her kill. Rain thanked her mother deeply, remembering that she had to go visit them in a couple of months for their reunion. She was eager to see how her parents had been, and if Arius had decided to leave or to stay with them. She sure hoped the latter, though--for some reason, she would hate to see them alone, or to see that something had happened to her family. 

Regaining her concentration, she approached the deer, still going undetected. After taking a few more deep breaths, she prepared herself to leap out and begin the chase in any second. The deer was only a few feet away from her now. She counted in her head, and prepared her body for the action that was about to happen. The deer suddenly lifted its head, aware of something strange in the plains, making Rain stop everything she was about to do. The deer limped a few feet away from Rain, returning to eat like it was doing before. Then, out of the blue, Rain jumped and ran behind the deer. The animal struggled to run, and its eyes were wide with fear, because it knew what was about to happen. Rain began chasing the deer, but the hunt didn't last too long due to the injury the doe had. Rain bit the doe's neck, sucking the life out of it slowly. After it was dead, Rain looked around her and began to eat from her kill.

About half an hour later or so, she was done eating, filling her stomach up to her limit, and leaving the semi-eaten carcass there for any one who may need it. She licked the blood off her mouth, and walked a few feet away from the body. Sitting down, and then resting her body against the floor, she closed her eyes and stuck her tongue out, relaxing in the shade of a lone tree. Maybe she could relax now? But, she wasn't at all relaxed, because of her last encounter, she was now more alert than ever. Her eyes opened and scanned the plains in hopes of not having another episode like the one she had. Still, when would she have a break, anyway?

OOC: Aaricia  | WORDS: 801 | MUSE: Great!

[Aaricia]

Narrowly escaping her confrontation with Xion, Aaricia limped through the Chamoru Plains, her front right leg injured. One never realizes how long a journey truly is until they're doing it basically on three legs. Everything was exhausting now. She couldn't got more than a half a mile without stopping to take a break. With her bruised and battered body, even the supposed comfort of laying down to rest was painful. There would be no time for rest anyway. Aaricia knew that Xion would be following her, stalking her. Everything that moved now caught Aaricia's attention. She was on high alert. She knew once she got back to Goliath that she'd be safe but until then, she was prey. She couldn't even take the time to notice the flowers or the beautiful scenery that surrounded her. She had to stay focused.

"One.. two.. three.. four.. one... two... three four.." Aaricia repeated in her head over and over. She just had to keep walking. One foot in front of the other. Even if her stride was hobbled, she was making progress.

The warm sun provided Aaricia with some comfort. It was like it was trying to embrace her battered body with it's warm rays. The cool wind kept it from being humid. If Aaricia hadn't been hobbling around in pain, this would be a perfect day.

Aaricia knew she was approaching the middle of the plains. She had traveled here once or twice in her journeys around the island and was familiar with the layout. She knew she would be needing to take a break soon as her breathing was getting heavier and her muscles were beginning to ache more and more. She knew resting would give her no relief but her body told her to try anyway. She knew she had a few more yards left in her before she would be forced to stop and breathe. Aaricia had started to hold her breath as she walked as an attempt to numb the pain.

It was just before Aaricia was about to lay down and attempt to give her muscles some relief that she noticed a half-eaten doe carcass. By the looks of it, it hadn't even been dead for an hour. It was still good for Aaricia to eat. She had to take this opportunity to feed herself. In this condition, she couldn't hunt for herself even if she wanted to and she had a long journey ahead of her. She had told herself that she was done with her scavenging days long ago. That she would never again take the scraps from others. But desperate times call for desperate measures and she would have to eat her pride just as she would eat this meal.

At first, she hadn't noticed anyone else but as she approached the carcass, she noticed a black figure resting nearby. A female by the frame and Aaricia was too weary to notice anything else. She thought for a moment that it might be Xion. That the she-devil had somehow beaten her here and that she had found her in this vulnerable position. She thought for a split second about killing her, ending her paranoia, but she knew she couldn't do it. It wasn't her right to take another wolf's life, no matter how bloodthirsty that wolf might be.

Aaricia decided that she would quickly eat this meal that "Xion" had left and then be on her way. It probably wasn't the smartest decision but as long as Aaricia didn't wake the beast, she'd be okay. She hobbled over to the kill as quietly as she could, making sure that the carcass was between herself and the black wolf. Keeping an eye on the sleeping monster, Aaricia took a bite.

[Rain]

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Her relaxed stance remained like that for a few minutes before lowering her head and placing them on her front legs, sighing and trying to calm her nerves down. However, this relaxation was soon interrupted by the sudden smell of another wolf near her. She lifted her head, turning it around, scanning for any sight of the other wolf, feeling her nerves beginning to make their work on her mind. Rain felt something biting the carcass she had left behind, making her stand up. The body moved in its place, making Rain know exactly what was going on. Her eyes caught the sight of the stranger--a beautiful, white wolf, which stood behind the doe, eating at the bloody feast like if she was very hungry. Tilting her head a little bit, and keeping her distance, she quickly observed that the other wolf was very beaten up. The snow female had probably been in a fight, making Rain instantly worried about her well-being, but at the same time, remembering to keep her distance--she could be the cause of the fight in the first place. She could be highly dangerous. And, after her encounter with Xion, she would never let her guard down.

Keeping a sharp eye on the wolf in front of her, Rain took a deep breath, trying to keep calm whatever the cost. "Hello?" she broke the silence, using a rather calm and collected tone of voice, but on the inside, she was beginning to feel rather nervous. Images of her encounter with Xion replayed in her mind, making her feel even more vulnerable and tense about the situation. She just hoped that the wolf that was enjoying the deer was a good one, and that she could at least get something good out of this encounter. Keeping her tail low and her ears dropped, Rain hoped that she signaled to the stranger that she was not a threat. However, there were wolves that often did not care about body language and only cared about what they wanted. She sure hoped that this wasn't the case. Lowering her head a little bit, she awaited for the stranger's response...

OOC: Aaricia | WORDS: 364 | MUSE: Good ^^!

[Aaricia]

"Hello?"

Aaricia jerked back away from the carcass. She had not heard the other female stirring and was surprised by the sound of her voice. When she spoke, she knew it was not Xion but some other loner. The female was black as night and by the expression on her face, she too was shook up but her tone of voice was calm and collected. After her experience with Xion, she had learned not to trust the tone of voice in another. This female may be planning to attack her in her weakened state. She would have no motive but not everyone needed motive to commit murder. The black female had kept her ears low and her tail dropped, a clearly submissive stance but Aaricia couldn't trust her. She could be merely waiting for an opportune time to attack.

"Hello," Aaricia spoke in the most put-together, regal tone that she could muster. She was the only born daughter of the profit Belial. In any situation, she had to hold her heard high to bring honor and respect to her family. "My name is Aaricia," she said, trying to come up with some kind of an apology for stealing this female's meal. Perhaps she had been saving it for her children or for a pack. A sudden rush of guilt flowed over the female. She had stolen food right from another mouth. "I'm terribly sorry. I don't normally scavenge... I've got a very long journey and I'm not able to hunt." Aaricia tried to explain her situation to the female, maybe she wouldn't be too angry.

She too kept her position submissive as she didn't have another choice. There was no way that Aaricia could even think about being able to fight back if this female attacked her. Her only option was to be polite and courteous and hope that the female would let her go on her way. "It was wrong of me to take your food, if there's any way I can repay you... please make it known to me." Aaricia did truly feel guilty and ashamed for stealing and scavenging again. She was angry and Xion had reverted her back to this version of herself. A version that couldn't care for herself. There was part of Aaricia that wanted Xion to die for doing this to her. For being so evil. But she knew that she could never do it. Her morals wouldn't allow her to take the life of another. Her morals were what kept her sane. If she lost them, she'd be no better off than her dearly beloved brother, Goliath. He needed her to be sane for if they both lost it, they'd be in a world of trouble.

[Rain]

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The majestic white wolfess replied in a rather elegant way, answering the question Rain was planning of asking next. She said that her name was Aaricia, which was a rather beautiful name for such a beautiful female like she was. Rain smiled at Aaricia, trying to tell her through body language that she did not mean any harm. "Hello, Aaricia, my name is Rain. You have a beautiful name," Rain concluded her compliment, still keeping her body as calm as possible, not moving an inch, because she did not want the female to think that she was a threat. Aaricia out of the sudden seemed worried or even ashamed before speaking an apology to Rain, telling her that she does not normally scavenge, and that if there was any way to repay her, that she would. Rain smiled once more before replying, "Don't worry. I hunted that earlier, and I left it there just in case someone needed to eat," Rain lifted her head at the female, yet slowly and calmly, to make sure that the female did not feel threatened. 

After a short pause, Rain's curiosity got the best of her. Analyzing her situation, it looked like Aaricia had been on a very bad fight that had left her injured. She frowned a little bit in concern, because she hated to see anyone in pain or in any kind of trouble. Tilting her head at Aaricia, she asked with a concerned voice, telling the snowy female that she was truly worried about her well being. "If it's okay to know, what happened to you? Are you alright? Who did this to you?" She whimpered softly in concern, hoping that nothing inside of her was broken and too painful to bear. After a second of thought, she immediately thought of Xion; that female meant trouble, and Aaricia sure seemed like she was in trouble after all. Maybe Aaricia knew about Xion? Or maybe her wounds were caused by another wolf that she should be aware of? Telling her questioning mind to quiet down, she remained at a safe distance from Aaricia, hoping to know what happened to the angelic female after all.

OOC: Aaricia <3 | WORDS: 365 | MUSE: Good ^^!

[Aaricia]

Rain displayed again and again that she was not going to harm the young white fae through body language. She had kept her stance quiet and submissive. She hadn't made any sudden movements or done anything to make Aaricia believe that she wasn't trustworthy. Rain had a soft and sweet nature about her that made Aaricia want to trust her. She was so caring and kind, unlike the other black female she had met not too long ago.

"Hello, Aaricia, my name is Rain. You have a beautiful name."

Aaricia smiled, "Thank you. I was named after my mother, Ahri, alphess of Ferus. You have a lovely name as well, Rain. There is nothing like the soft and gentle rain that comes and gives life to the earth or the powerful storms that shake the us to our core." Rain was a tribal name in Aaricia's opinion. It was a name so simple yet so powerful and elegant. It would be a name that she herself would be proud to own.

"Don't worry. I hunted that earlier, and I left it there just in case someone needed to eat,"

Aaricia's face and body relaxed as Rain explained that the food was not for anyone in particular but that she had left it there for anyone who needed it."You're very kind," Aaricia said softly. Then, there was a short pause in the conversation. Aaricia tried to come up with something to say so they wouldn't have to stand in awkward silence but Rain had had the idea first. She asked about the injuries that Aaricia has sustained. She was hoping that she wouldn't have to talk about them, or the fight. But Rain seemed sincerely concerned and she had allowed Aaricia to share this meal with her. The least she could do was answer her question.

"I was in Xisyn, in an attempt to clear my thoughts. I climbed to the top of the red rocks, I'm forgetting the name of it feels like you can see the whole desert when you're up there. There was a black female named Xion already there. We had a short conversation about the view but then after I tried to excuse myself so I could leave, she began threatening and insulting me. I told her not to speak to me that way again or I'd throw her over the rocks. I didn't want to fight her. I suggested that we both just go our separate ways in piece but, she refused. She wanted to fight, so we did." Aaricia left out the details of the fight as she herself couldn't remember them exactly it all happened so fast it was over almost as quickly as it had been instigated. She was unsure of how Rain would react to her story but one thing was for certain, Aaricia didn't want her pity. She was stronger than pity. She didn't want Rain to feel sorry for her, she only wanted her to know what had happened.

[Rain]

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Aaricia made a compliment that Rain has often thought about--the meaning of her name.  "Thank you. I was named after my mother, Ahri, alphess of Ferus. You have a lovely name as well, Rain. There is nothing like the soft and gentle rain that comes and gives life to the earth or the powerful storms that shake the us to our core." Rain bowed her head in a thankful gesture, smiling at the female in front of her. "Thank you once again, Aaricia. I was born on a thunderstorm; that's one of the reasons behind my name..." She trailed off, remembering her mother afraid of the thunders that roared the day she explained Rain's name, and how she told her how she would never fear rain or thunder, because something beautiful came out of the chaos.

Rain's ears perked up when Aaricia told her how kind she is, and she felt how the tension in the air began to slowly dissipate. Rain smiled at the female and sighed. Aaricia then replied to her question about what had happened to her, and all of her attention turned to the name Xion. "Xion?" She asked once the snowy female was done talking. "She gave me quite a scare a few hours ago as well. I have no idea what is up with her, really. I was sleeping in Endyt Beach, and she came out of nowhere and woke me up from my nap, claiming she was doing me a favor after circling me threateningly for a while. I managed to escape without a fight, but I would hate to encounter her again." Her words were dripping from her mouth with anger and annoyance, but she managed to keep it all inside and control herself. Looking at Aaricia's condition, she thought about how lucky she was that she did not get into a fight with the vicious dark female. "I am just glad that you're alive after all she put you through. No one deserves that kind of treatment." Lowering her head, she felt a wave of sadness enter her mind.

How did Xion become like this? Why was she like this? Why were wolves like this? After all, they were all the same; Rain didn't understand Xion, but she pushed away the thoughts before focusing on Aaricia again. "You can finish eating whenever you want, okay?" She smiled and sat down, still telling Aaricia that she was not like Xion, and that she was nothing to be scared of. Smiling, she waited for Aaricia's reaction to her story. 

OOC: Aaricia | WORDS: 434 | MUSE: Good ^^!

[Aaricia]

"Thank you once again, Aaricia. I was born on a thunderstorm; that's one of the reasons behind my name..." Aaricia smiled when Rain had thanked her for the compliment. The explanation behind Rain's name led Aaricia to believe that her mother may have had a limited vocabulary or that she was born into a more primitive pack. Rain seemed quite intelligent though and was able to keep a steady conversation. It wasn't Aaricia's place to try and figure out where Rain had come from anyway. Aaricia had started to think about her own mother. Aaricia was a spitting image of her mother. Had Ahri still been alive, it may have been difficult for strangers to tell them a part. Aaricia tried not think of her parents as it caused her to miss them. Yes, they struggled with mental stability but they were her parents and she had loved them very much. Aaricia was careful not to wish too often. Especially now that she and Goliath had found each other. She was given more than enough grace from the gods just by surviving the attack at such a young age. Then, they had given her her family back.

Aaricia had never been an overly religious wolf but she was brought up believing in the gods. It was what she was comfortable with and it was what she leaned on when she needed strength. Faith and belief would always be something that Aaricia would go back to. It was comforting to believe in a being greater than oneself. A being that was watching over you. protecting you. She didn't remember a time when she hadn't believed in an afterlife. It too, was a comfort to know that the end was not the end. That someday, many years from now when she died, that she wouldn't be lost forever. Her soul would live on after her body had broken down. She may one day be forgotten but she would never be lost.

Rain's voice had pulled her back from her thoughts. The ebony female had explained her own ordeal with Xion. Aaricia's face turned troubled. Xion could not just walk around the island and threaten random strangers for no reason. She was a danger to everyone. Aaricia had been scared and shaken after leaving Xion but knowing that she had done the same to others was an even scarier thought. She had to be stopped. If no one did anything, she may one day rule the whole island with fear. Aaricia started formulating a plan on how to stop this devilish female.

"I am just glad that you're alive after all she put you through. No one deserves that kind of treatment."

"No, they don't. She must be stopped before she causes any more pain. I know someone who might help.." Aaricia of course, meant her brother Goliath. He could stop anyone or anything. With the size and strength of a demigod, Goliath could be an unbeatable force. Aaricia didn't really need Rain to respond, a plan was already formulating in Aaricia's mind to take Xion out. Xion had to be killed before she killed someone else. Yes, Aaricia's pride was hurt during the fight and perhaps that was fulling her motives more than anything else. She fully planned to make good on her threat to Xion.

"Thank you for your offer but I mustn't stay. If you ever need anything, anything at all, come find me in Ina'mos. Should you come across my brother before myself, tell him that you know me and that I invited you." Aaricia concluded her statement and left with as much urgency as an injured she-wolf could. It would take her a long while to get to the smaller island and the swim would prove to be most challenging but with a plan in mind, she had to get to Goliath.

[Rain]

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Rain could only wonder when Aaricia told her that she knew someone that could take care of Xion. Tilting her head naturally at the statement, she began to mentally create the appearance of the wolf that could take down Xion. The male or female had to be strong and agile and with great skills in order to outsmart the ebony female that threatened the wolves of Anikira, both big and small. Rain began to wonder if Xion could be redeemed, though; she was a wolf as well, with the same rights as any other wolf for happiness and redemption. However, Xion's happiness seemed to be coming from killing, so Rain immediately understood the white wolf's posture on taking care of the black menace, and approved it wholeheartedly . She had to be stopped, no matter what, for the safety of Anikira. 

After rejecting her offer and thanking her, Aaricia spoke to her that if she ever needed anything, that she could come to Ina'mos and talk to her. Nodding in thankfulness, before Rain could actually continue talking to the female, she had already excused herself and she began to walk away. Closing her mouth and standing up, Rain began to watch how slowly the white figure of Aaricia began to get smaller and smaller, until it slowly disappeared in the tall grass of Chamoru Plains. Rain decided to turn around and walk away as well, hoping that the female would arrive safely at her destination. After a few hours of walking, Rain eventually found herself more and more surrounded by red sand before realizing she was in Belashi Butte. The rocks began surrounding her, making her think severely about her encounter with Xion; her skills had to be refined in order to be prepared for any other attack. Looking back to where she came from, she thought about Aaricia; she knew that wherever she ended up in, she would always remember her, and she would always hope for her safety and well being where ever she went.

                                    THE END

OOC: Aaricia | WORDS: 339 | MUSE: Good ^^!