Take Back the Crown

Nameen had quickly finished packing away her tent and few supplies, dumping them in one of the wagons before sauntering over to an old looking tree. She set herself down, back resting against the gnarly surface, before unsheathing her long, wicked blade. Fiddling with her weapon was something of a way to pass time for Nameen, cleaning and sharpening the metal until there was no visible flaws. After the imp ordeal the day before, she hadn't had the chance to properly tend to her most valued item. There were still ugly stains of


blood tainting the surface of the normally pristine surface of the weapon. She wrinkled her nose at the sight as she brought the weapon out of its sheath. There was a lot of work to do.


The smell of fresh bread enveloped the camp quite spontaneously, though Nameen didn't quite notice. Sword pampering often tended to throw her into intense concentration, and this time was no exception. Her companions scurried around the camp, whether to receive breakfast or doing various chores that needed to be done. Some like Nameen sat alone, while others were in pairs conversing.


By the time Nameen had finished, the blade was so clear that her reflection could be seen in the deadly looking glass. She took in her features, white hair and pale skin, one light eye paired with her blind one, and the blood red scar running down the left side of her face. The sight of the scar startled her, as it did every time she caught sight of it. It brought back memories, ones that she would've buried deep in the earth if memories had physical form.


With a sudden thought, her head turned up to look around at the others around the camp. She was reminded of Svetlana's and Yaroslav's story, and of the whispers that she'd heard from more of her companions. After the tale the night before, she'd seen a lot of pain in the eyes of the others. Pain. All of them had experienced it, it seemed. Nameen sighed. Knowing this, she felt a significant connection with the others. A lot of them were like her, carrying the burdens of terrible memories.
 
Oceana stalked back into camp determined not to let their new tag-along's presence spoil her new found peace of mind. She had seen a melancholic Valeiah on her way out of camp and had resisted the urge to comfort her. The once haughty and angry human girl was now speaking to Phaedra quietly, looking a bit sheepish.


Oceana barked a whisper-laugh in amusement.


Heading over to the group, and the bread basket, she retrieved a loaf from Svetlana.


"Tapadh leibh" (thank you very much).


Seeing Ayda standing nearby, Oceana felt that tug on her heart again. This time to apologize...


She tried to fight it off but remembering how heavy of spirit the girl had been stopped her from turning away.


She strode over to the human girl and, after stuffing half her bread in her mouth, so the majority was hanging out, she rummaged through her pack until she gripped a small, smooth object and pulled it out.


The human watched with what the elf assumed was curiosity and a small amount of apprehension.


Oceana then buckled her pack closed and took her bread out of her mouth.


Only then did she, silently and stoically, offer the object to Ayda.


It was a small glass orb in a hue of deep yellow, almost orange. It was barely bigger than an acorn.


She stood there arm outstretched until Ayda took it.


"It's a piece of extra glass I found while doing joint work with glass spinners in a smithy out west. I've been carrying it since last fall. It's a curious thing. Humans are very... Different... from elves"


She went back to eating silently, Hoping it would be repentant enough of a gesture.


@QueenSaiko
 
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Valeiah seemed a little shocked that someone was trying to make conversation with her. "I'm... Good?" It almost seemed like she was asking herself. "Thank you. It's my mother's... I mean, was." She smiled a little bit but it was quick to falter.


@TeeKay
 
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"That's better than bad. It's good to see you're feeling better. Travel will be easier with an unburdened mind."

Phaedra offered another small smile and she kept her voice calm and quiet, like a whispering breeze.

"May I ask what the story is behind your necklace? Valeiah, was it? I'm sure it must have a history."

She appeared cautious approaching the subject. Normally, Phaedra would ask such things with a little more confidence, but she knew how important a mother could be to a person. Even to herself. The topic made her own heart ache, but she pushed past the feeling. Phaedra didn't carry a burdened past so she had no right to feeling such emotions. Abandonment issues, yes. Crippling pain because of circumstances out of her control - not so much.

Those emotions were reserved for those who knew pain, like Valeiah, or any of the others who she saw the night before with the ghosts of their pasts in their eyes.

@Danika
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Yaroslav grunted in response. He followed Bo back to the campsite, making sure to glare at Hjalmar as he passed him by, who smiled sweetly in response. Yaro sat in in the farthest seat away from him. He folded his arms as he waited for Svetlana to bring out the food. They didn't have to wait long. Svetlana brought out a basket full of bread, Ayda not too far behind. She frowned seeing not everyone was there yet, but that was alright. They'd come when they were hungry, "Bread. It might be simple, but it is filling." She said, putting the basket in the center of the group so they could come and take some when they wanted. "Filling, sure." Yaroslav mumbled after taking a large bite, "But I think meat is even more so." Svetlana nodded, "Well, then you can be in charge of hunting next time we make camp." She said with a smile, taking a seat next to Valeiah and Phaedra. She brought the two girls some loaves of bread while she was at it.

@TeeKay @Danika @soundofmind
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Valeiah thankfully grabbed a loaf of bread. "It's a rock my youngest brother found for my mother and gifted her. Before he passed. Not the same horrible fate as my mother, he got sick. So it's a piece of them both." She smiled just in the slightest. She didn't mind sharing stories.


@TeeKay
 
A small fawn calmly chewed a delectable meal of fresh four leaf clovers. The deer had lost it's group but showed no signs of fear, knowing it would find it's way back, eventually. For now, the lovely meadow of clover needed to be devoured. Twitching its ears about, the dear could hear nothing but the soothing chirp of a blue jay.


*snap!*


The fawn bolted in an instant at the noise of a twig being crushed by the clumsy imp captain. Gore chucked her spear in the direction of the escaping dear, missing the animal entirely. The imp had been hunting for food, a mile away from the camp, for an entire hour.


Fah!! grumbled the imp captain, as she a retrieved her weapon from the clover patch. The little filth! If I can't sneak up on a stupid fawn, I ain't gonna be sneaking up on those monsters, even with Pip's help! If- if only my... sister was here. She and Pip were the smart ones... I'm a dummy... Maybe that's why the stone imp liked her better than me... Pip! Why don't you like me? Maybe I should have died in the fight and Organ lived to seek revenge for our race. Organ should have been in charge, not me...


You're not stupid Gore. You are just impatient. Now try to hit the target again. Slow and steady. I'm here to help you. Always!


...Gore nodded her head in agreement at her sister's words, from long ago.


Patience. Yeah! I need to be patienter. Err? Ah! More patient! Yes. Slow and steady. First think, then act. That's what sis use to say.


Gore, with her new found determination, hid in another bush to wait, yet again, for the next animal too wander by. Her belly impatiently rumbled for its long-awaited breakfast.
 
Oceana's ears twitched when she heard the word hunt.


"I will help." She almost barked, in a way that spoke she would help whether Yaro liked it or not.


Then, She took another bite of bread looking thoughtfully at the firepit, silent, as if her outburst had never happened.


@Lo Alyssa
 
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Phaedra gave Svetlana a polite nod and took the loaf of bread offered to her.

"Thank you very much for breakfast. I'm starved."

She tore a piece from the loaf and popped it in her mouth - it was a decent sized chunk. Turning her attention back to Valeiah after she had finishing chewing, she spoke again to the young woman.

"You mention that it was your youngest brother who had gifted that stone to your mother. Did you have many siblings? Where did you stand in the hierarchy?"

@Lo Alyssa @Danika
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"I had two brothers and an older sister. I was the third child. My youngest brother and my sister have moved on, my older brother is still kicking." Valeiah laughed just a little bit.


@TeeKay
 
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Yaroslav slightly, but almost unnoticably smiled when the elf maiden invited herself. "There have been many times in the past where I wished I had a partner to help me with my hunting." He said looking at Oceana, "I would love to hunt with you. It would be nice to have someone who can keep up with me, and knows what they are doing." And he meant it, she looked more than capable of taking down a deer, or even a wild boar. He took another bite out of his bread, longing for meat, "I remember one time I was tasked with taking down three ferocious boulder-back bears--" He cut himself off, unsure if he should continue. It was usually his grandmother telling the stories. And his hunting stories usually bored everyone, though this one in particular was rather exciting (if he could tell it right).

​



 
Oceana colored a little, startled and honored simultaneously.


I hadn't dreamed of being welcomed so earnestly.


This made her break into an ear splitting grin that was almost painful, so wide it was.


The elven maiden loved the land and all her creatures with profound purity and sincerity. But there was little that was more pleasing, more fulfilling, than being a part of the cycle of life and death that drove it all.


The fire-haired human seemed excited to have a hunting partner and it was horribly contagious.


She even laughed a little as Yaro started to tell a story and egged him on a bit.


" Come on now, Yaroslav." She furrowed her brow, schooling her expression to be serious again but with a mischievous glint in her eye.


"I'm sure ours ears can bear one wee hunting tale"


@Lo Alyssa
 
Thora took her place in the group after Oceana had guided her back for breakfast. She took the smallest portion of bread, not needing much to eat, and took a seat in the grass. She crossed her legs and waited for the group's okay to move on. Until then, she looked towards the elf and tall man, Yaroslav, the only true companions she had made on this trip so far. Yaroslav began to tell a story (Nymphs loved stories... well to be fair, most creatures and peoples loved stories) and she was pleased when the elf encouraged him to finish it.
 
Bo had very quickly inhaled his loaf of bread, and had finished it by the time him and Yaroslav returned to the group. Not feeling like he had much to do, he looked around the camp, trying to think of how to keep himself busy. His eyes fell on a woman sitting far off, leaning on a tree. She looked to be sharpening a knife... and she didn't seem to be coming for breakfast yet. He had considered that she might be completely happy sitting by herself under the tree, but he figured he ought to get acquainted with other people in the group, and he had yet to meet her.


Thinking that food would be a great icebreaker, he grabbed a loaf of bread to bring over to her. As he approached her, however, he couldn't help but take notice of the scar on her face, and for a moment, he was reminded of his own. He'd had it for so long that there were times he would almost forget it was there, but whenever he touched it, or whenever he met people... often, they would stare, eyeing it. Some even were so intrusive to ask questions. His heart twisted up as emotions rose up in him, but he quickly managed to stifle them, mustering up a more jovial attitude for when he was to introduce himself.


He stopped a few feet in front of her, looking at the bread, then at her. "Hey there! So I, uh, noticed you hadn't gotten any food yet, so I hope you don't mind that I brought food to you." He really really did hope she didn't mind. Then that would make things awkward. "But anyways! Introductions. My name's Bo. What's yours?" He asked, smiling.

 
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Lucasta walked over to Svetlana, and treated herself with a loaf of bread. She nodded and smiled, and went to sit down. She sat next to Thora, the Nymph. She hasn't really spoken to her much since the journey had started. Lucasta decided to start that now.


"Hello." She mumbled, quietly to Thora. She wasn't much to start conversations, or be very great at keeping them up. But she'll try, just so she can get to know everyone better. "I haven't really gotten the chance to talk with you, since the journey started." She said, taking a small bite from her loaf. She smiled and started to speak once more. "How come you joined this company? I've noticed you are very in tune with nature and peace, and I can assure you, this journey will not be peaceful." She spoke.





@plasticlizard022
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Thora never imagined that she would have real opportunity to talk to the princess. Just think about it: A nymph speaking to human royalty! She timidly fidgeted with her hair as Lucasta spoke to her. She drew in a deep breath before answering, "I had heard whispers about this journey. . ." She furrowed her eyebrows. "I suppose. . . there is something I am looking for along the way. . . an ulterior motive?" She timidly looked to the princess and met her eyes.


@Queen of Fantasy
 
@OlKaJa77


Ayda stared at the orb in her hand for a good few seconds, before a small blush crept on to her face.


Mustering up whatever little courage she had, Ayda quickly raced over to Oceana.


"A-ah well I wanted to say thank you for the glass! It's really pretty, like you!" Ayda smiled sheepishly at Oceana.


Although Ayda hated being gifted things (due to the weird guilt she has) and normally did her best to return it, the glass she was given was pretty beautiful, and she was reluctant to give it away.
 
Dorian and Garrett stayed further away from the group, watching everyone interract.


The familiar was staying away because he was kind of annoyed at people onl knowing him as a random animal pet, while the mage hung back only to keep the other company.
 
Oceana's eyes widened and she blushed to the tips of her pointed ears.


"Ah..." She didn't know what to say to Ayda. She supposed 'thank you' would suffice but it refused to come out. Her mouth simply flopped open and closed like a fish. She knew she looked silly but the elf couldn't muster any other actions.


She decided on looking at her lap, ears and face still bright red.


"Thanks" she ground out, voice an octave higher than normal.


"No one has said such a nice thing to me b-before... I hope you'll forgive my rudeness from yesterday."


She kept staring at her lap, hoping to hide her flustered features.


@QueenSaiko
 
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"It must be delightful to have siblings! I am an only child, myself."

Phaedra couldn't quite relate to having such a large family like Valeiah seemed to, at least before tragedy struck her village. Phaedra considered for a moment whether she was more or less fortunate to not have such valuable bonds to lose. Quickly pulling herself away from such lonely thoughts, her mind dragged her into an entirely different direction - something that had intrigued her about Valeiah in particular. It was better not to focus on what you will never have or experience, anyway.

"Your bruise is gone. The princess had really done a number on you. How?"

She raised an eyebrow, incredulous, now closely examining the other woman's jaw. There wasn't even a mark left behind to show it had been there in the first place! Phaedra was positive that Svetlana hadn't healed her as she was too exhausted after the battle to even tend to Lucasta.

@Danika
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Lucasta nodded. "I think I understand what you mean. I hope you find what you're looking for then." She smiled.


(I'm sorry for the short post, writers block again ughuugh.)
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Thora nodded and tucked her hair behind her ear. "Thank-you," she said with a smile. She was glad she had chosen to join the princess's group. She didn't mind 'working for' someone as kind and gentle as Lucasta.
 
Being so immersed in what she was doing, Nameen didn't notice the the tall man approaching right away. She was admittedly startled when his voice came from out of nowhere.


"..." Nameen quickly resheathed her blade and set it down, looking up at the man. He was one of the first of her companions to approach her in an attempt to converse.


"My name is Nameen," she answered him, taking the loaf he held out. "And thank you, I tend to lose track of time while..." She glanced down at the weapon in her lap.


"Your name is.." She began, and for a second it slipped her mind. These are your companions, she mentally scolded herself, you must know their names. "...Bo." She said when it came to her.


"You're Bo, right?"


@soundofmind
 
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"Bruise? What bruise?" Valeiah blinked a few times. "Oh yeah, yeah, that one. I was thinking of keeping it just because the princess punched me, and yknow that's not something that happens every day, but it was getting on my nerves. I just healed it up." She shrugged like it was nothing.


@TeeKay
 
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@OlKaJa77


"It's ok. Everyone has bad days." Ayda said to Oceana, trying to reassure her that she didn't hold a grudge against her or anything.


"Ah, that's right... Did you sleep well last night? We have a long journey ahead of us... You'll need all the rest you can get right now..."
 
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