Post by Reyna on Jul 15, 2012 22:12:54 GMT -5
White = Memory
Maroon = Nightmare
Purple = real time in The fort
The little half-elf child leaned up to hug the silvery haired woman.
“I love you Mama” Said the little child
“And I you my precious…” said the Silvery Haired Woman.
Out the door with a little brown satchel the little one trotted in her blue and white dress. The local church had set up a mission for children of the slums to be taught a trade. It was one of the few things Jonza was willing to allow for those who lived in poverty.
“Oh… No…” The silver haired woman rushed to the door to yell out at the young child “You forgot your hat!” Holding the knitted tan and white hoodie like cover out to her daughter she sighs in relief.
“Mama… Why do I have to wear the hat… and the other children don’t?” exclaimed the child
“Sierra… You need to wear the hat to cover your ears… Your ears make you special, and people do not understand special and what they do not understand my love… they fear…” The silver haired woman explained gently, hoping the girl would understand. “Sometimes being special… Must remain a secret.”
“Fine Mama…” Sierra pulled on the hood covering her Half-Elf ears with a gentle huff. “Can I go to school now Mama? I’ll come by the Library and I can help you clean up!”
“Yes dear… go on, I wouldn’t want you late. Today though I won’t be at the Library, I am helping at the medical tents. So you come straight home. Your father should be home then”
“Kay Mama! Love ya, BAI!” as Sierra shot off out the door…
A regular day in Jonza for the mixed family… The silver haired elven mother, the blond child, and the brunette husband… Intermixing the races was frowned upon and thusly ended them in the slums district barely getting by on a day to day basis. But the one thing that held this family together… Was love. For there was no more powerful Magic… Or so the silver haired elf smiled and thought…
The bright flash of red, what looked to be a darting image of a dark room, illuminated only by elven star sight, a child reaching out, clawed hand, a gurgling hiss… “MAMA …. Reyna…”
Reyna shot up in her cot… looking around, she had had the dream again… more and more it frequented her mind… Turning to the side she curled into a ball, keeping her tears inside. She missed them so… Had she only been at the library that day… She could have saved them…
She laid in her cot for what seemed like an hour, attempting to recompose herself… The nightmares came more frequently, now that she had found the fort. She slept alone and attempted to help when she could.. But even then the images would come through. Only in fits of pure exhaustion would she see a normal sleep and even then the darkness wasn’t enough.
The woman offered her services to those in the cave and fort, she could not do much except offer solace to those who had lost their way, perhaps provide what little healing she could. During her time in Jonza she had been trained in the arts of healing and how to pull upon two of the prime elements. Light and Water… Light was the element of kindness and hope. It stood true that this elven woman was kind… While her human husband served in the Jonza Militia, she volunteered her time in the local missionaries, the libraries, medical tents, food huts, and orphanages. She did her best to care for others… For she rarely had any to care for her other than her husband and beloved daughter… She sat up, staring at the floor a moment, slipping back into her memories…
Wrapping her cloak firmly around her shoulders Reyna walked through the gates of Jonza. The overly large cloak covering her small frame. Beneath a White and rosy pink and gold dress was covered. She would assume the ranks of a medic. She could handle helping others, as long as she kept her “Secret” under wraps. The elf bore no weapons, other than a large walking stick but she looked capable of ensuring her own safety.
No sooner did she make up her mind that she would attempt to live a normal life in Jonza… than her future fell into her lap… Or at her feet. A large man, human, brunette, hair cut short stumbled in and fell. A large wound on his side where a pouncer had lacerated him. He bore the seal of the Jonza Militia, they did not travel alone, typically in groups of three or more to avoid flanking from bandits or slavers.
Reyna knelt down holding her creamy tan hands over the wounds and whispered to the Mother…
Most elves believed that the core of their existence was nature itself, and when they died they returned to the mother to be with their brothers and sisters as members of the choir that is life. Many worshipped the mother in their own way. Reyna gave prayers and offerings to the Mother and the Celestial Choir on a daily basis… From her prayers she believed that she garnished the ability to pull and manipulate two of the core elements… Light... as said before… and...
Placing her hands upon the mans wound she whispered a prayer to the mother to guide the water of life back into this mans body, the energies surging from within, natural energies, though untrained flowed through her fingertips to penetrate the laceration and to coerce the fluids of life to behave and to aid in the sealing of the wounds. Merging the sustenance of Light and Water she pushed forward cleaning and refreshing his wound. Leaving an awkwardly shaped cross scar on his side. He was in bad shape, but he would live. When others gathered to carry the militia man back to the barracks his eyes flickered opened, looking at the elven woman. Her ears were covered, but those eyes caught him off guard… Two words escaped from the mans lips before he passed out once more… two words that were very close to the truth…. “A… Angel”
Reyna shook her head looking up from the stone floor in the forts cave structure, she stood, checking to ensure her cloak was secured, the straps beneath her dress still held, as she made sure her dress covered her form… Her... condition required her to be modest. Once clothed she pulled her over cloak and coat over her shoulders and reached for her staff. Looking to it she slipped back into memory once again…
This time the memory was one of the human in shock… staring at the Silver haired woman… her hair down, the strands of hair falling down and past the pointed ears of elven decent. Elves were not common place in Jonza… so much so that, unless they were members of the Archery brigade they were considered second class citizens when put on the scales of balance agianst humans.
“Your… you’re.. An elf” The man looked aghast at Reyna… her eyes tilted downward, not in fear or shame, but in the realization that the man she had slowly become friends with, had just now noticed…
“ Aye Marion… I am. I am a… Elf. A servant of the mother, that is why I can pull on the mother’s blessings so easily… Why I hear the men on the walls when they are wounded… and why I seem to only need to sleep for short times… I am sorry my friend, If I deceived you, but If the others knew I was an elf, they would not let me administer treatment on the Militia or the soldiers.”
“ You’re an Elf…” stammered the Human…
“ Marion… I am sorry my dear… I will leave, if you do not wish me about… “ Sadly Reyna pulled her hood back up and went to turn. A hand reached out, laying on her shoulder turning her, and pulling her close to the dishevel man. Close enough for the stubble of his beard to brush and scratch her elven flesh…” Marion…”
“ Reyna, You are my angel, given to me by the “mother” as you put it… You saved my life… You are my life… my future “ The gruff man held her tightly and kissed her sweetly on the lips his hands holding her soft face.
“Ever since I laid Eyes one.. You sweet one… You were in my heart…” Reyna whispered between the kisses. Marion’s hands drifted down her neck and to her shoulders his hands sliding over the tight cloak that was wrapped about Reyna’s form… He looked at her in questionable shock … “ Wha… what is this?”
The loud yells and cries from the battlements could be heard as the warning gong had been struck that the gates were under attack from some of the bandits that took refuge in the forests near the magic spire. Marion still unsure, looked to the elf, which was pulling up her hood. He gathered his shield and spear with a nod. “ We shall continue this talk… when I get back… Precious one..”
“Aye my dear… we shall, the mother shall protect you…” Reyna smiled, reaching for her staff to aide in the healing administrations of the militia that would be wounded, as what would become her future husband headed toward the gate to defend… their home…
A smile crept across Reyna’s lips as she picked up her staff, off the caves wall. Looking around in the back of the cavern she walked toward the entrance to her quarters, they were small, but enough to work for her for now. Reyna walked into the rear of the cavern structure to the makeshift kitchen area, to begin making as close as possible to what could be known as breakfast. Crushing the berries for jam, she sliced what little bread she had left into small slices, and carefully seared the softer portions to make toast and jam. Biting into the light meal, as she sat upon the benches in the main eating area she looked down at the breakfast and sighed….
“Honey…” “ Yes Dear?” “ No I mean.. Honey… I am craving honey for some reason… and chicken… and olives…” Reyna stood inside their little cottage in the slums looking in the pantry of goods with a huff, her belly seemed to protrude outward slightly more than normal. She was obviously pregnant… Around her shoulders and back she had a blanket draping… to keep her warm.
Once the Militia had found out about the inter racial mingling of one of their sergeants, he was stripped of his position and reduced to basic infantry. Reyna had also been removed as Militia Medic. With nothing else to do with her skills, she sought out the missions of the church. Though their teachings were not of her faith, she could still aide them in helping those in need… at least with what she could. Many years had passed, and a child was conceived… Marion had kept Reyna’s secret for a long while, and would continue, but a new secret was on the way…
“ What shall we name it?” Asked Marion, watching his wife ponder over her meal…
“The sandwich, shall be called an Olive, chicken and Honey sandwich dear…” Was her reply
“I speak not of your awkward edible needs my sweet, but that does sound disgusting…”
“Oh.. The Baby… I’ll make you a deal. If it is a boy we name it Alexander, like your father. If it is a girl, Sierra, like your sister?” Reyna smiled looking at her husband… running a hand over the little belly that was forming beneath her gown.
“ We could name it something from your family line?” Marion asked, though knowing Reyna did not speak much on anything that had to do with her past, the most he ever got out of her was that it was a past filled with pain… and loss.
“If we have another daughter… we can name her Faenya… Someone who I looked up to, as a child… But names are not important right now… Filling my belly is. Honey, Olives, and a banana! Breakfast is served!!!” A laughing Reyna sits in her husbands lap placing the jars on the table with a smile, kissing him gently on the lips”
Reyna shook her head of the memory and quietly ate her toast, pulling her cloak closer to her body... She stood, brushing off the various crumbles and bits that were left over from the petite meal. She left the eating quarters and walked out, past the merchants and out into the sunlight. The undead were not swarming the walls of the fort, so the moans were minimal whisper versus….
Reyna’s eyes glanced around the Jonza commons, men, women, and children were clawing and gnawing on one another. The sickened gurgle of drowned screams echoed through the chaos and the panic. Cloak tucked tightly around her form, once white and blue, was now saturated with stains of lifeblood and the sickened bits of vomit from those among the d**ned. Her only support was her staff, as without it, her knees would have already given out now. The massive creature, horns from its back, quickened movement when it was rushing its prey had torn through the front lines… and was ravishing the dockside. Thoughts of the end, flowed through her mind… They were dead… Both of them… The screams and moans of death echoed through Jonza as she made her way to the front gate… or what was left of the gate. Many were fleeing. Many were attempting to fight off this un-known villain… Though they fell quickly, becoming pawns of the disease they fought against. Some of the missionaries had fled, word of safety to the south, protection by walls of wood and stone… Tears flowed down her face, the realization that they were gone… Her lover and her daughter. Though as hard as she tried to awaken from this nightmare, she could not. Her blood and past made her flee as the support beams for the levies near the docks finally collapsed, water flooded forward engulfing the city in its aquatic clutches. She had made it out of the city… But a large part of her had died within.. The screams and moans cried out for vengeance and for death…
With a sigh she shook away the memory looking around at what was left of the fort. Many who had traveled to the fort looking for protection had left when the initial surge had ended. Many that came with nothing left with pieces of the fort. Either to use as weapons, or as some form of protection. Regardless, of the hundreds that had taken refuge, most had left, thinking they could find solace, family, or hope elsewhere on the island.
Reyna walked up the hill to look out over the battlements at the meandering undead, she leaned forward on her staff simply watching them wander aimlessly back and forth. Tears, slowly fell down her cheek as she saw a small human girl, at least what was left of her among the adult walkers...
Huddled to her chest, her daughter held tightly in her arms. The carnage all around her meaning nothing as she rushed to the Mission. Her daughter was sick. The past couple days, Sierra had been running a temperature. Her head was searing hot, though the rest of her body seemed to get colder and colder. As much as she was fed, she continued to cry about being hungry as well as the aches in her chest and stomach. Reyna was scared… Rushing into the mission she approached the Priest who tended the mission after hours. One that knew of Sierra’s mixed blood. One who could relate. Reyna laid her daughter upon one of the tables for the priest to administer the divine blessing upon her. Though Reyna had the ability to pull from the primary elements, and had been learning to manipulate those outside her comfort zone, the Priest could pull directly from their connection with god.
“Please… Save her… heal her… She is ill… she is sick… I can’t lose her too… I can’t!”
Sadly the woman had only her daughter now. During a raid on a slaver caravan Marions detachment was lured off path by a Halfling woman. A veritable daemon of the woods. Dipping and dodging the infantry guards until drawing them near a den of pouncers. It was tragic Irony that a pouncer brought Marion into Reyna’s life… And it was a pouncer that would remove him from it as well…
The priest held his hands over the young girl. Her chest rising and falling gently. The crackled breath of lungs filled with fluid and ichor. Chanting the prayers to his god for the wisdom to heal this little one he laid hands upon her little form, chanting, praying, and asking for guidance to the gods on high… As Sierra’s chest took its final rise… those little blue eyes looked at Reyna… A whisper with her final breath… “Ma..ma…” – It seemed the priest’s gods were not listening this day…
Reyna’s tears fell quickly as she stood, silent, and alone. The priest whispered rites of passage to the little one, walking over to Reyna, placing a hand upon her shoulder. Looking to his hand a moment he tilted his hand, looking from his hand to her cape covered shoulder. “ Sister she shall rest.. In pe – “ The sickening pop of broken flesh. Two blackish blue eyes peered over the priests shoulder at Reyna. Teeth lodged in the priests shoulders, a hand having torn open the man’s throat. Stumbling back the image of the little girl, now covered in the priest blood focused… Reyna’s heart slumped as she watched her baby girl, proceed to feast on the delectably “heavenly” meal that lay before her. When those so familiar eyes turned up to look at Reyna, the woman stepped back… This was her daughter… this was her life.. how could she.. how…
Sierra lurched forward to take a bite of her mother. The only thing standing between the predator and the prey, was the priests staff. Reaching out she grasped it to hold it firm to stop her daughter. Perhaps she could heal her… this was not permanent… When Reyna held the staff outwards and before her, a feeling of energy welled up from within, spouting, like a geyser flooding forth from her own internal spring of light. The light enveloped Sierras little form in a yellow-golden hue… When the light had faded, there was a large portion of the little girls torso missing and she lay still for her final rest. First came the tears… then the vomit that she had just ended her own daughters.. – Afterlife- Why did the staff react that way to her touch… Some thoughts say magic, love, or divine intervention… but Reyna did not have time to think on such things. The priest was shambling to his feet, his neck dangling from the sinewy tissue that was the tendons and flesh. Reyna, tears still falling, pushed herself up and rushed out of the temple… Knowing she could bring her baby back.. some how…
The little corpse of the now seven year old half elf lay still and peaceful. The look on its face serene, like an angel watching over her flock. Though the lifeblood still curdled and flowed out of the large hole that was now the upper portion of her torso, it seemed precious. In the hand of the corpse, grasped tightly in its little hands. A single white feather…
Reyna turned her head and looked back at the ground… Others who were still living within the fort were going about their daily tasks. If any needed her, healing abilities they would ask. Gentle droplets of salty tears slid down the Elven woman’s face and to the ground…. There was no time for tears though. One of the warriors of the fort had returned in need of healing. His arm, torn and scraped by the clawed hands of the walkers. Reyna headed down the path to the gate to meet him, she bade him to lay down. Once situatated she placed a hand on either side of his arm and began whispering the words of inspiration for the mother to grant her the energies of light to mend the man’s wound. When her mana was spent, and the man’s arm in a workable condition she nodded, sitting on the grassy hill. It would take her some time to replenish her mana… It would give her time to think… Thinking brought more memories from the past…
Maroon = Nightmare
Purple = real time in The fort
The little half-elf child leaned up to hug the silvery haired woman.
“I love you Mama” Said the little child
“And I you my precious…” said the Silvery Haired Woman.
Out the door with a little brown satchel the little one trotted in her blue and white dress. The local church had set up a mission for children of the slums to be taught a trade. It was one of the few things Jonza was willing to allow for those who lived in poverty.
“Oh… No…” The silver haired woman rushed to the door to yell out at the young child “You forgot your hat!” Holding the knitted tan and white hoodie like cover out to her daughter she sighs in relief.
“Mama… Why do I have to wear the hat… and the other children don’t?” exclaimed the child
“Sierra… You need to wear the hat to cover your ears… Your ears make you special, and people do not understand special and what they do not understand my love… they fear…” The silver haired woman explained gently, hoping the girl would understand. “Sometimes being special… Must remain a secret.”
“Fine Mama…” Sierra pulled on the hood covering her Half-Elf ears with a gentle huff. “Can I go to school now Mama? I’ll come by the Library and I can help you clean up!”
“Yes dear… go on, I wouldn’t want you late. Today though I won’t be at the Library, I am helping at the medical tents. So you come straight home. Your father should be home then”
“Kay Mama! Love ya, BAI!” as Sierra shot off out the door…
A regular day in Jonza for the mixed family… The silver haired elven mother, the blond child, and the brunette husband… Intermixing the races was frowned upon and thusly ended them in the slums district barely getting by on a day to day basis. But the one thing that held this family together… Was love. For there was no more powerful Magic… Or so the silver haired elf smiled and thought…
The bright flash of red, what looked to be a darting image of a dark room, illuminated only by elven star sight, a child reaching out, clawed hand, a gurgling hiss… “MAMA …. Reyna…”
Reyna shot up in her cot… looking around, she had had the dream again… more and more it frequented her mind… Turning to the side she curled into a ball, keeping her tears inside. She missed them so… Had she only been at the library that day… She could have saved them…
She laid in her cot for what seemed like an hour, attempting to recompose herself… The nightmares came more frequently, now that she had found the fort. She slept alone and attempted to help when she could.. But even then the images would come through. Only in fits of pure exhaustion would she see a normal sleep and even then the darkness wasn’t enough.
The woman offered her services to those in the cave and fort, she could not do much except offer solace to those who had lost their way, perhaps provide what little healing she could. During her time in Jonza she had been trained in the arts of healing and how to pull upon two of the prime elements. Light and Water… Light was the element of kindness and hope. It stood true that this elven woman was kind… While her human husband served in the Jonza Militia, she volunteered her time in the local missionaries, the libraries, medical tents, food huts, and orphanages. She did her best to care for others… For she rarely had any to care for her other than her husband and beloved daughter… She sat up, staring at the floor a moment, slipping back into her memories…
Wrapping her cloak firmly around her shoulders Reyna walked through the gates of Jonza. The overly large cloak covering her small frame. Beneath a White and rosy pink and gold dress was covered. She would assume the ranks of a medic. She could handle helping others, as long as she kept her “Secret” under wraps. The elf bore no weapons, other than a large walking stick but she looked capable of ensuring her own safety.
No sooner did she make up her mind that she would attempt to live a normal life in Jonza… than her future fell into her lap… Or at her feet. A large man, human, brunette, hair cut short stumbled in and fell. A large wound on his side where a pouncer had lacerated him. He bore the seal of the Jonza Militia, they did not travel alone, typically in groups of three or more to avoid flanking from bandits or slavers.
Reyna knelt down holding her creamy tan hands over the wounds and whispered to the Mother…
Most elves believed that the core of their existence was nature itself, and when they died they returned to the mother to be with their brothers and sisters as members of the choir that is life. Many worshipped the mother in their own way. Reyna gave prayers and offerings to the Mother and the Celestial Choir on a daily basis… From her prayers she believed that she garnished the ability to pull and manipulate two of the core elements… Light... as said before… and...
Placing her hands upon the mans wound she whispered a prayer to the mother to guide the water of life back into this mans body, the energies surging from within, natural energies, though untrained flowed through her fingertips to penetrate the laceration and to coerce the fluids of life to behave and to aid in the sealing of the wounds. Merging the sustenance of Light and Water she pushed forward cleaning and refreshing his wound. Leaving an awkwardly shaped cross scar on his side. He was in bad shape, but he would live. When others gathered to carry the militia man back to the barracks his eyes flickered opened, looking at the elven woman. Her ears were covered, but those eyes caught him off guard… Two words escaped from the mans lips before he passed out once more… two words that were very close to the truth…. “A… Angel”
Reyna shook her head looking up from the stone floor in the forts cave structure, she stood, checking to ensure her cloak was secured, the straps beneath her dress still held, as she made sure her dress covered her form… Her... condition required her to be modest. Once clothed she pulled her over cloak and coat over her shoulders and reached for her staff. Looking to it she slipped back into memory once again…
This time the memory was one of the human in shock… staring at the Silver haired woman… her hair down, the strands of hair falling down and past the pointed ears of elven decent. Elves were not common place in Jonza… so much so that, unless they were members of the Archery brigade they were considered second class citizens when put on the scales of balance agianst humans.
“Your… you’re.. An elf” The man looked aghast at Reyna… her eyes tilted downward, not in fear or shame, but in the realization that the man she had slowly become friends with, had just now noticed…
“ Aye Marion… I am. I am a… Elf. A servant of the mother, that is why I can pull on the mother’s blessings so easily… Why I hear the men on the walls when they are wounded… and why I seem to only need to sleep for short times… I am sorry my friend, If I deceived you, but If the others knew I was an elf, they would not let me administer treatment on the Militia or the soldiers.”
“ You’re an Elf…” stammered the Human…
“ Marion… I am sorry my dear… I will leave, if you do not wish me about… “ Sadly Reyna pulled her hood back up and went to turn. A hand reached out, laying on her shoulder turning her, and pulling her close to the dishevel man. Close enough for the stubble of his beard to brush and scratch her elven flesh…” Marion…”
“ Reyna, You are my angel, given to me by the “mother” as you put it… You saved my life… You are my life… my future “ The gruff man held her tightly and kissed her sweetly on the lips his hands holding her soft face.
“Ever since I laid Eyes one.. You sweet one… You were in my heart…” Reyna whispered between the kisses. Marion’s hands drifted down her neck and to her shoulders his hands sliding over the tight cloak that was wrapped about Reyna’s form… He looked at her in questionable shock … “ Wha… what is this?”
The loud yells and cries from the battlements could be heard as the warning gong had been struck that the gates were under attack from some of the bandits that took refuge in the forests near the magic spire. Marion still unsure, looked to the elf, which was pulling up her hood. He gathered his shield and spear with a nod. “ We shall continue this talk… when I get back… Precious one..”
“Aye my dear… we shall, the mother shall protect you…” Reyna smiled, reaching for her staff to aide in the healing administrations of the militia that would be wounded, as what would become her future husband headed toward the gate to defend… their home…
A smile crept across Reyna’s lips as she picked up her staff, off the caves wall. Looking around in the back of the cavern she walked toward the entrance to her quarters, they were small, but enough to work for her for now. Reyna walked into the rear of the cavern structure to the makeshift kitchen area, to begin making as close as possible to what could be known as breakfast. Crushing the berries for jam, she sliced what little bread she had left into small slices, and carefully seared the softer portions to make toast and jam. Biting into the light meal, as she sat upon the benches in the main eating area she looked down at the breakfast and sighed….
“Honey…” “ Yes Dear?” “ No I mean.. Honey… I am craving honey for some reason… and chicken… and olives…” Reyna stood inside their little cottage in the slums looking in the pantry of goods with a huff, her belly seemed to protrude outward slightly more than normal. She was obviously pregnant… Around her shoulders and back she had a blanket draping… to keep her warm.
Once the Militia had found out about the inter racial mingling of one of their sergeants, he was stripped of his position and reduced to basic infantry. Reyna had also been removed as Militia Medic. With nothing else to do with her skills, she sought out the missions of the church. Though their teachings were not of her faith, she could still aide them in helping those in need… at least with what she could. Many years had passed, and a child was conceived… Marion had kept Reyna’s secret for a long while, and would continue, but a new secret was on the way…
“ What shall we name it?” Asked Marion, watching his wife ponder over her meal…
“The sandwich, shall be called an Olive, chicken and Honey sandwich dear…” Was her reply
“I speak not of your awkward edible needs my sweet, but that does sound disgusting…”
“Oh.. The Baby… I’ll make you a deal. If it is a boy we name it Alexander, like your father. If it is a girl, Sierra, like your sister?” Reyna smiled looking at her husband… running a hand over the little belly that was forming beneath her gown.
“ We could name it something from your family line?” Marion asked, though knowing Reyna did not speak much on anything that had to do with her past, the most he ever got out of her was that it was a past filled with pain… and loss.
“If we have another daughter… we can name her Faenya… Someone who I looked up to, as a child… But names are not important right now… Filling my belly is. Honey, Olives, and a banana! Breakfast is served!!!” A laughing Reyna sits in her husbands lap placing the jars on the table with a smile, kissing him gently on the lips”
Reyna shook her head of the memory and quietly ate her toast, pulling her cloak closer to her body... She stood, brushing off the various crumbles and bits that were left over from the petite meal. She left the eating quarters and walked out, past the merchants and out into the sunlight. The undead were not swarming the walls of the fort, so the moans were minimal whisper versus….
Reyna’s eyes glanced around the Jonza commons, men, women, and children were clawing and gnawing on one another. The sickened gurgle of drowned screams echoed through the chaos and the panic. Cloak tucked tightly around her form, once white and blue, was now saturated with stains of lifeblood and the sickened bits of vomit from those among the d**ned. Her only support was her staff, as without it, her knees would have already given out now. The massive creature, horns from its back, quickened movement when it was rushing its prey had torn through the front lines… and was ravishing the dockside. Thoughts of the end, flowed through her mind… They were dead… Both of them… The screams and moans of death echoed through Jonza as she made her way to the front gate… or what was left of the gate. Many were fleeing. Many were attempting to fight off this un-known villain… Though they fell quickly, becoming pawns of the disease they fought against. Some of the missionaries had fled, word of safety to the south, protection by walls of wood and stone… Tears flowed down her face, the realization that they were gone… Her lover and her daughter. Though as hard as she tried to awaken from this nightmare, she could not. Her blood and past made her flee as the support beams for the levies near the docks finally collapsed, water flooded forward engulfing the city in its aquatic clutches. She had made it out of the city… But a large part of her had died within.. The screams and moans cried out for vengeance and for death…
With a sigh she shook away the memory looking around at what was left of the fort. Many who had traveled to the fort looking for protection had left when the initial surge had ended. Many that came with nothing left with pieces of the fort. Either to use as weapons, or as some form of protection. Regardless, of the hundreds that had taken refuge, most had left, thinking they could find solace, family, or hope elsewhere on the island.
Reyna walked up the hill to look out over the battlements at the meandering undead, she leaned forward on her staff simply watching them wander aimlessly back and forth. Tears, slowly fell down her cheek as she saw a small human girl, at least what was left of her among the adult walkers...
Huddled to her chest, her daughter held tightly in her arms. The carnage all around her meaning nothing as she rushed to the Mission. Her daughter was sick. The past couple days, Sierra had been running a temperature. Her head was searing hot, though the rest of her body seemed to get colder and colder. As much as she was fed, she continued to cry about being hungry as well as the aches in her chest and stomach. Reyna was scared… Rushing into the mission she approached the Priest who tended the mission after hours. One that knew of Sierra’s mixed blood. One who could relate. Reyna laid her daughter upon one of the tables for the priest to administer the divine blessing upon her. Though Reyna had the ability to pull from the primary elements, and had been learning to manipulate those outside her comfort zone, the Priest could pull directly from their connection with god.
“Please… Save her… heal her… She is ill… she is sick… I can’t lose her too… I can’t!”
Sadly the woman had only her daughter now. During a raid on a slaver caravan Marions detachment was lured off path by a Halfling woman. A veritable daemon of the woods. Dipping and dodging the infantry guards until drawing them near a den of pouncers. It was tragic Irony that a pouncer brought Marion into Reyna’s life… And it was a pouncer that would remove him from it as well…
The priest held his hands over the young girl. Her chest rising and falling gently. The crackled breath of lungs filled with fluid and ichor. Chanting the prayers to his god for the wisdom to heal this little one he laid hands upon her little form, chanting, praying, and asking for guidance to the gods on high… As Sierra’s chest took its final rise… those little blue eyes looked at Reyna… A whisper with her final breath… “Ma..ma…” – It seemed the priest’s gods were not listening this day…
Reyna’s tears fell quickly as she stood, silent, and alone. The priest whispered rites of passage to the little one, walking over to Reyna, placing a hand upon her shoulder. Looking to his hand a moment he tilted his hand, looking from his hand to her cape covered shoulder. “ Sister she shall rest.. In pe – “ The sickening pop of broken flesh. Two blackish blue eyes peered over the priests shoulder at Reyna. Teeth lodged in the priests shoulders, a hand having torn open the man’s throat. Stumbling back the image of the little girl, now covered in the priest blood focused… Reyna’s heart slumped as she watched her baby girl, proceed to feast on the delectably “heavenly” meal that lay before her. When those so familiar eyes turned up to look at Reyna, the woman stepped back… This was her daughter… this was her life.. how could she.. how…
Sierra lurched forward to take a bite of her mother. The only thing standing between the predator and the prey, was the priests staff. Reaching out she grasped it to hold it firm to stop her daughter. Perhaps she could heal her… this was not permanent… When Reyna held the staff outwards and before her, a feeling of energy welled up from within, spouting, like a geyser flooding forth from her own internal spring of light. The light enveloped Sierras little form in a yellow-golden hue… When the light had faded, there was a large portion of the little girls torso missing and she lay still for her final rest. First came the tears… then the vomit that she had just ended her own daughters.. – Afterlife- Why did the staff react that way to her touch… Some thoughts say magic, love, or divine intervention… but Reyna did not have time to think on such things. The priest was shambling to his feet, his neck dangling from the sinewy tissue that was the tendons and flesh. Reyna, tears still falling, pushed herself up and rushed out of the temple… Knowing she could bring her baby back.. some how…
The little corpse of the now seven year old half elf lay still and peaceful. The look on its face serene, like an angel watching over her flock. Though the lifeblood still curdled and flowed out of the large hole that was now the upper portion of her torso, it seemed precious. In the hand of the corpse, grasped tightly in its little hands. A single white feather…
Reyna turned her head and looked back at the ground… Others who were still living within the fort were going about their daily tasks. If any needed her, healing abilities they would ask. Gentle droplets of salty tears slid down the Elven woman’s face and to the ground…. There was no time for tears though. One of the warriors of the fort had returned in need of healing. His arm, torn and scraped by the clawed hands of the walkers. Reyna headed down the path to the gate to meet him, she bade him to lay down. Once situatated she placed a hand on either side of his arm and began whispering the words of inspiration for the mother to grant her the energies of light to mend the man’s wound. When her mana was spent, and the man’s arm in a workable condition she nodded, sitting on the grassy hill. It would take her some time to replenish her mana… It would give her time to think… Thinking brought more memories from the past…