05-19-2016, 10:12 PM
The elf seemed to like the dog, for it came from the forest, where perhaps, Glin belonged. The temperament of the wolf-cub wasn’t bad, but immediately it respected Christa as its master, for it seemed to have a wonderful memory. “I don’t think they’ll mind if I keep it, do you?” Christa joked to Glin.
“He likes you, I can see animal’s memories, and it seems he has a very strong attachment to you, he watched as the shadow weed nearly got you.” the elf spoke in a little of what the young folks called “too much information” but Christa was, as usual, hard as a rock, and didn’t seem to mind, so long as it wasn’t about her personally.
“The others don’t like you, do they?” Christa stated plainly, as she inspected her wolf’s fur.
“And you think that I am sharing too much information,” the elf smirked, “And well, you don’t seem to hate me, but liking me, someone who has the ability to know all your secrets and weaknesses without even barely looking, I don’t even have to ask, and no, it isn’t something I can turn off. I’m not that fortunate,” his smile looked pained for a moment, “But usually, when people don’t know, it isn’t as hard to fit in.”
“You’d think people in a military setting would see your ability as a positive thing, it’d be great from a strategic standpoint.” Christa spoke helpfully.
“There aren’t much thoughts that go on in an undead man’s mind, unfortunately, and in fact, it can be quite distracting as I’m trying to aim at them, for that only intensifies my ability’s focus.” Christa wondered why he would share that with her, but didn’t ask, and he didn’t tell. “Like you, I’m more of an outsider, but like I said, I owe a debt... So what are you naming him? That’s generally what people do when they domesticate their animals,” he offered politely.
“I’m thinking ‘Trooper’ because he sure is one. Plus, I’m not sure anything else would fit him.” Christa explained.
“He’ll learn quickly, already, he can nearly speak your tongue, though his wolf heritage tells him that humans are vile creatures, he will not grow fondly to many others, but he owes his life to you, and will remain loyal to his last breath to your commands, even if it costs him his life.” That took a dark turn, still, Glin pet Trooper’s head, “Sorry about your friend Mornel, though I see, it is not the end of his tale.” Christa looked at the elf knowingly, but offered no words. Glin continued, “Den, the guard that died today, the reason he was hesitant about your wolf, if you’re curious, was because both his parents were ripped to shreds by a pack of them. His sister will probably respond the same if she sees the creature by your side, and more likely, have a fit.”
“Noted.” The elf was a good informant. She nearly recruited him on the spot, “So, you offer information on your mind to people you meet so that they’ll trust you, and believe that you aren’t keeping your secrets from them.”
“Not so much the ulterior motive of being liked, but I have found that when trying to make a friend, it is best to have an open communication that goes both ways.” Glin said out of the wisdom of experience.
“So what else am I in for, for the rest of my stay in Darkshire, and Barney’s training?” Christa asked, though her mind was more interested on seeing if her wolf was doing better in health, and she summoned him some adequate food, which she hoped would not be as messy if the raw steak was half frozen.
“I think you’ll find out for yourself, tomorrow.” Glin offered a kind smile, and Christa’s ears were filled with the crickets of the night.
...
Drills started at the crack of dawn, since it was a little dangerous to go about at night, even for armed guards in training. There was a whole lot of running, despite what Christa had assumed Barney’s procedure, but he said that: “Running is crucial if you want to survive, cause if your feet move slower than you’re head, and you’re outta shape, you’re gonna lose your head to a wolf. Jaws of death, they got.”
He wasn’t wrong, and Christa panted and heaved breath like all the rest of them.
After, their drills, they were slotted for basic monster knowledge, and then posted to a station that was fit for their weapons style. Christa wasn’t a fan of swords, and was surprised that they didn’t use a bayonet or something, but Barney knew what Christa’s strengths were, and stationed her to a guard tower on the south side. More or less, she was a lookout, rather than a sniper, but it was relatively similar, plus, on the other side of the town, she knew Glin had been given the same job. Other recruits were sent off in other directions, Barney hadn’t given much guidance, and instead instated the whole ‘apprenticeship’ style of teaching. “On your way now, recruits! Don’t forget, tomorrow morning I want you up bright an early, so we can go over a few things about how to fight close range with the monsters. Can never get enough training, and I make even the fully instated guards do this with us once a month.”
Christa found herself paired up with Den’s sister, and found her name was Cora. She realized now, that when siblings were serving, sometimes they’d use their first name instead of their last (especially given that this was such a small legion, or they must have had ridiculously long last names to pronounce) but Christa had just assumed that Den was the last name of the man from the start.
It was a long night, the girl was more or less recovered from her brother being nearly eaten alive in front of her, but she had that distant, hollow look in her eyes that Christa had once related to, so well.
The night was very quiet after the attack, and their shifts on guard duty lasted until three am. Since there wasn’t much to do, and Cora had poorly explained the basics of what they were supposed to do, which was, basically, just patrol, Cora had begun to talk about her feelings. Oh how Christa had wished Glin was here to perhaps say something more wise or nurturing to the girl, despite how Christa had a similar bond with what had happened to the girl, since the Prime had been, once, responsible for her own sister’s death.
But the girl kept rambling on about guilt and blabbering helplessly away, and Christa could only relate to, really, blood-thirsty vengeance.
“I need to... I need to get stronger, in honor of Den, since he isn’t here now, to-to-to” sniffles and bawling erupted from the girl, enough to sound the alarm for what was supposed to be a calm and quiet night. As far as Christa knew, Darkshire had a bit of a curfew, though it was difficult to enforce, there was a mutual agreement between the citizens and Commander Skender and the Mayor that not many people make much noise after dark fell, for most creatures would hear the cry and come to the town. Christa panicked and feared this outcome, for what if she’d need to call for help her first night? And then the ringing of the bell to alert the town and other guards might just call more.
Cora’s crying was something Christa needed to put a stop to, now.
“Cora, Cora,” Christa said compassionately, though with some disgust, for the Prime wasn’t going to pretend that the guard was any kind of replacement for the sister she already had, “I know it’s tough now, but you have to be strong. For him, and his memory. Even tonight, the tears shouldn’t be falling, would Den want you to cry?”
“N-No...” she snuffled through a gooey breath and her eyes looked weakly up to Christa’s, “Will you teach me? You’re so strong, and I see how everyone looks at you, and it’s not just the people that you served with-yes, I heard the rumors- word gets around fast when you’re a prime, after all. But they see you as such a... Role model. They respect you. Me... Me? I’m just a... Dunce!” she looked as though she were about to cry again, and Christa feared the loudness of her wails.
“No! No you’re not!” Christa couldn’t tell if her own desperation for silence so that their guard station looking over the ‘Moors forest was blurring the truth at this point, but she didn’t care, “Listen, you’ve got potential, kid. I think, if you really wanted to, you can be exactly what you want to be. But listen here, I didn’t used to be the way that I am. When I was younger-” Christa paused, remembering how she was orphaned, and realized that Cora too, had had the same fate, “My parents were killed, I had to raise my sister all by myself, so you know what? I did. We both turned out fine, though, we’ve had our struggles. But I want you to know, that death is never easy, but it’s your choice who you become after it threatens to take a piece of your own soul with it.”
Cora blinked. “I can... See why they think you’re so strong. And I don’t think it’s just because you’re a prime. You’re... Fearless.”
“He likes you, I can see animal’s memories, and it seems he has a very strong attachment to you, he watched as the shadow weed nearly got you.” the elf spoke in a little of what the young folks called “too much information” but Christa was, as usual, hard as a rock, and didn’t seem to mind, so long as it wasn’t about her personally.
“The others don’t like you, do they?” Christa stated plainly, as she inspected her wolf’s fur.
“And you think that I am sharing too much information,” the elf smirked, “And well, you don’t seem to hate me, but liking me, someone who has the ability to know all your secrets and weaknesses without even barely looking, I don’t even have to ask, and no, it isn’t something I can turn off. I’m not that fortunate,” his smile looked pained for a moment, “But usually, when people don’t know, it isn’t as hard to fit in.”
“You’d think people in a military setting would see your ability as a positive thing, it’d be great from a strategic standpoint.” Christa spoke helpfully.
“There aren’t much thoughts that go on in an undead man’s mind, unfortunately, and in fact, it can be quite distracting as I’m trying to aim at them, for that only intensifies my ability’s focus.” Christa wondered why he would share that with her, but didn’t ask, and he didn’t tell. “Like you, I’m more of an outsider, but like I said, I owe a debt... So what are you naming him? That’s generally what people do when they domesticate their animals,” he offered politely.
“I’m thinking ‘Trooper’ because he sure is one. Plus, I’m not sure anything else would fit him.” Christa explained.
“He’ll learn quickly, already, he can nearly speak your tongue, though his wolf heritage tells him that humans are vile creatures, he will not grow fondly to many others, but he owes his life to you, and will remain loyal to his last breath to your commands, even if it costs him his life.” That took a dark turn, still, Glin pet Trooper’s head, “Sorry about your friend Mornel, though I see, it is not the end of his tale.” Christa looked at the elf knowingly, but offered no words. Glin continued, “Den, the guard that died today, the reason he was hesitant about your wolf, if you’re curious, was because both his parents were ripped to shreds by a pack of them. His sister will probably respond the same if she sees the creature by your side, and more likely, have a fit.”
“Noted.” The elf was a good informant. She nearly recruited him on the spot, “So, you offer information on your mind to people you meet so that they’ll trust you, and believe that you aren’t keeping your secrets from them.”
“Not so much the ulterior motive of being liked, but I have found that when trying to make a friend, it is best to have an open communication that goes both ways.” Glin said out of the wisdom of experience.
“So what else am I in for, for the rest of my stay in Darkshire, and Barney’s training?” Christa asked, though her mind was more interested on seeing if her wolf was doing better in health, and she summoned him some adequate food, which she hoped would not be as messy if the raw steak was half frozen.
“I think you’ll find out for yourself, tomorrow.” Glin offered a kind smile, and Christa’s ears were filled with the crickets of the night.
...
Drills started at the crack of dawn, since it was a little dangerous to go about at night, even for armed guards in training. There was a whole lot of running, despite what Christa had assumed Barney’s procedure, but he said that: “Running is crucial if you want to survive, cause if your feet move slower than you’re head, and you’re outta shape, you’re gonna lose your head to a wolf. Jaws of death, they got.”
He wasn’t wrong, and Christa panted and heaved breath like all the rest of them.
After, their drills, they were slotted for basic monster knowledge, and then posted to a station that was fit for their weapons style. Christa wasn’t a fan of swords, and was surprised that they didn’t use a bayonet or something, but Barney knew what Christa’s strengths were, and stationed her to a guard tower on the south side. More or less, she was a lookout, rather than a sniper, but it was relatively similar, plus, on the other side of the town, she knew Glin had been given the same job. Other recruits were sent off in other directions, Barney hadn’t given much guidance, and instead instated the whole ‘apprenticeship’ style of teaching. “On your way now, recruits! Don’t forget, tomorrow morning I want you up bright an early, so we can go over a few things about how to fight close range with the monsters. Can never get enough training, and I make even the fully instated guards do this with us once a month.”
Christa found herself paired up with Den’s sister, and found her name was Cora. She realized now, that when siblings were serving, sometimes they’d use their first name instead of their last (especially given that this was such a small legion, or they must have had ridiculously long last names to pronounce) but Christa had just assumed that Den was the last name of the man from the start.
It was a long night, the girl was more or less recovered from her brother being nearly eaten alive in front of her, but she had that distant, hollow look in her eyes that Christa had once related to, so well.
The night was very quiet after the attack, and their shifts on guard duty lasted until three am. Since there wasn’t much to do, and Cora had poorly explained the basics of what they were supposed to do, which was, basically, just patrol, Cora had begun to talk about her feelings. Oh how Christa had wished Glin was here to perhaps say something more wise or nurturing to the girl, despite how Christa had a similar bond with what had happened to the girl, since the Prime had been, once, responsible for her own sister’s death.
But the girl kept rambling on about guilt and blabbering helplessly away, and Christa could only relate to, really, blood-thirsty vengeance.
“I need to... I need to get stronger, in honor of Den, since he isn’t here now, to-to-to” sniffles and bawling erupted from the girl, enough to sound the alarm for what was supposed to be a calm and quiet night. As far as Christa knew, Darkshire had a bit of a curfew, though it was difficult to enforce, there was a mutual agreement between the citizens and Commander Skender and the Mayor that not many people make much noise after dark fell, for most creatures would hear the cry and come to the town. Christa panicked and feared this outcome, for what if she’d need to call for help her first night? And then the ringing of the bell to alert the town and other guards might just call more.
Cora’s crying was something Christa needed to put a stop to, now.
“Cora, Cora,” Christa said compassionately, though with some disgust, for the Prime wasn’t going to pretend that the guard was any kind of replacement for the sister she already had, “I know it’s tough now, but you have to be strong. For him, and his memory. Even tonight, the tears shouldn’t be falling, would Den want you to cry?”
“N-No...” she snuffled through a gooey breath and her eyes looked weakly up to Christa’s, “Will you teach me? You’re so strong, and I see how everyone looks at you, and it’s not just the people that you served with-yes, I heard the rumors- word gets around fast when you’re a prime, after all. But they see you as such a... Role model. They respect you. Me... Me? I’m just a... Dunce!” she looked as though she were about to cry again, and Christa feared the loudness of her wails.
“No! No you’re not!” Christa couldn’t tell if her own desperation for silence so that their guard station looking over the ‘Moors forest was blurring the truth at this point, but she didn’t care, “Listen, you’ve got potential, kid. I think, if you really wanted to, you can be exactly what you want to be. But listen here, I didn’t used to be the way that I am. When I was younger-” Christa paused, remembering how she was orphaned, and realized that Cora too, had had the same fate, “My parents were killed, I had to raise my sister all by myself, so you know what? I did. We both turned out fine, though, we’ve had our struggles. But I want you to know, that death is never easy, but it’s your choice who you become after it threatens to take a piece of your own soul with it.”
Cora blinked. “I can... See why they think you’re so strong. And I don’t think it’s just because you’re a prime. You’re... Fearless.”
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"I have never met a strong person with an easy past." -Atticus