The Winds of Change

[Divine Freak]

Where's an earth ele to make a portable bunker when you need one?

[Banes Son]

A demon in a sandstorm? reminds me of something.....

F5!!!!!!

[Silverwyng]

thanks to firanne and divine freak for their input. in this chapter, more convoluted plot twists to stir up the pot! we resume normal kunckleheaded fun soon!


Vi Tali Ti took another hasty glance at the advancing wall of sand, and dived into the building she had been examining. Curling her body, she tucked her head in tight to her legs, with her arms filling the gaps to the sides. She said a quick prayer to Dwayna, before closing her eyes on the sight of her own behind. Beside her, she felt the robes of Narulia Isilra drape over her shivering form. The dervish held her tight, as if she was the anchor that kept her from getting caught in the churning waves.

The roar of the sandstorm was deafening. Then everything fell silent.

**

Somewhen…

“Eleina, please be reasonable.”

“No! You never have time for me! You never have time for us!”

“It’s not like that.”

“I don’t want to hear it. Day in and day out, you’re away on missions and scouting patrols and skirmishes. Everyday you come home dead tired. I can’t live like this! I feel like a prisoner in your hall!”

“It’s for your own safety, Eleina. Your father would never approve-“

“And he still doesn’t! He will never approve of us! He will never approve of me being betrothed to an officer of such a lowly guild! And once he gets wind of your exploits with the Canthan commoners, he’ll go insane with anger! I don’t want to be associated with someone who has friends with riffraff! Think of my reputation! Think of our reputation!”

“Eleina, there is nothing wrong with helping and making friends with those who have less than we have. There is nothing wrong with sharing. There is nothing wrong with who I am. I don’t know where in the Mists you got the gall to say all those to my face, but this is not over. I shall talk to you after I get back from the mission.”

“I will not be some poor man’s wife! And this is over!”

The young man stopped at the threshold of their shared room. He did not look back as he whispered softly, his heart already broken - perhaps, for the last time.

“Perhaps.”

**

“Eleina.”

He felt pain blossoming from every inch of his body. After mentally checking for broken bones and bleeding, he decided to move his right index finger.

Still alive.

Where there were rock formations and shrubs jutting out of the parched earth, only peaceful sand now reside. The colored tent cloth that once stood out from the dun-colored plains was not buried under a blanket of sand. Until the horizon, sand was the only thing to be seen. From rugged plains to a desert, silent as death.

And yet, there was movement from just below the surface. Slowly, the sand gave way to legs and arms and a cloak and finally, a head wrapped in strips of cloth. The man shook his head slowly to dislodge more sand as he tore at his bindings. He then pulled down his mask and spat. From his pack, he rinsed his mouth and face with water and wiped it off with his hand.

“Still alive,” the blonde-haired man whispered as he turned to see a taller man rip off his wrappings and mask to spit out the sand. The two looked at each other and nodded.

“And here I thought I’ll be rid of you,” the other small smiled.

“Bad grass dies last. You dig the others here. I’ll check our tents. I think I saw a few people there before the sand got us.”

“Sure thing. I need to kick Shaddow for not making us a portable rock bunker or something,” Finn Ferral grinned.


Tianya could not breathe. Despite her mind telling her to move and find air, her body refused to follow. Despite hearing her own voice join her mind in trying desperately to force her body to action, it would not budge.

So this is what it feels like to die. Your mind and soul want to live, but your body cannot go on. Perhaps it was not my destiny to meet him, even just to see him for a moment.

From the distance, the ranger heard voices.

Ah, they are safe. Good. At least they shall be able to see the Winds.

“This might be a mandragor so better get that fire going, boys! We’ll have dinner early!”

Tianya felt the sand shift above her. A gentle hand touched her back and closed in on her belt. Suddenly, she felt being pulled from the earth. Sunlight blinded her and air tried to replace the sand in her throat. She coughed violently as she hung in mid-air, suspended by her belt.

I’m still alive, after all.

“You don’t look like a mandragor, miss. Too bad.”

Tianya focused her vision and mind to the owner of the voice. Slowly, longish platinum blonde hair, endless black eyes, a sharp nose and a thin line for a mouth came into view.

“Ah good, your brain isn’t full of sand like Finn over there. You’ll be able to go home.”

“Home? No, I came with my party to find the Winds.”

Tianya felt gravity pull her down on her knees as the man let go of her. Startled, she looked around and tried to make sense of what the man told her. Her companions were being attended to by eight men. The monk and the ritualist were hard at work and made sure everyone was restored to full health.

“Your wrist is probably broken or sprained. I suggest you put on that smelly gunk you rangers use on it,” the man advised her without looking her way as he walked away from everyone else.

“I suggest we rest for the time being. Everyone is in no shape to go on. Not after that freak sandstorm,” Devlin Moonshade cast her gaze among the gathered and nodded.

“I agree, Spearmarshal. We’ll just have to make do with whatever supplies we can dig up and set up camp here,” Ciaran Black replied as he inspected his sword.

“Wait! Where is he going?” Narulia pointed to the man walking away from the group.

“I’ll get him,” Vi Tali Ti offered as she stood up. The tall, blonde ranger stopped her.

“I’ll go with him. You’d be of more help with the wounded. Don’t worry, we’ll be back with dinner soon,” Finn smiled and sprinted after the assassin.

**

“It’s good to have you back.”

“Me too, Aki. I’m glad we caught up with you,” Little Tumblepop smiled at the assassin’s back.

Most of the gathered travelers were already fast asleep right after their dinner of spit-roasted shrieker and iboga leaf soup. For some odd reason, juniberry gin was in great supply when basic tents and sleeping mats were in short supply. The women blamed it on male priorities.

For the most part, the assassin was quiet as the others talked about their own adventures. When the chatting died down, only ‘Pop and Tianya noticed the assassin as he left to gather his thoughts. The monk was the first to follow Akira up the rock wall that served as their resting spot. The small ranger silently followed.

“So do we tell them to go back home or do we just leave them while they sleep?”

“I don’t think it’s up to us to tell them what to do.”

“Why? We’re grateful for their help in getting you here. This was not the original plan but it’s already done. They’ve done their part. Vincan, as well. They can all go home now. We can do this on our own.”

“I think that’s for us to decide.”

Little Tumblepop whirled to see Tianya beside him, hands shaking as it balled into fists. The ranger was upset and this was the first time the monk saw any emotion in the young woman’s eyes.

“You’re getting soft, ‘Pop. If that had been one of the demons we’re going to fight, you’d have been beaten up again,” Akira chuckled, his back still turned to the monk and the newcomer.

“Don’t talk as if I’m not here!”

“You’ve been there long enough to hear my opinion of you. If it’s any consolation, my friends and I are grateful you cared for ‘Pop. Are we done? I’d like to be alone.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow morning then, Akira. You too, Tianya,” the monk smiled at the ranger warmly as he squeezed her shoulder for the briefest moment before heading back down to join the others.

“You’re rude.”

“Why thank you. Is that all?”

“No. You never talked to my friends like the other Winds. It’s like we don’t exist to you!”

“It doesn’t follow that if I don’t acknowledge you, I automatically don’t see you. Your leader has a scar on her upper back. It’s a scar from a whip. I assume she’d been tortured at some point in her career. Your dervish still has lingering dreams of the ghost she encountered. Your mesmer is vain and she knows it. The other monk is clearly enjoying every moment of your journey. Your warrior and necromancer, I don’t trust. Well, I don’t trust any of you anyway so what’s the difference?”

Tianya was stunned for a moment. “And what about me?”

“You’re Shaitan.”

“H-how did you know?” Tianya took a step back in shock, like she was hit by a ruby maul square on the chest.

“You have a tattoo of a red feather on your back. I saw it when I fished you out of the sand. The Phoenix is one of the four families that comprise the Shaitan, the secret Canthan counterpart of the Order of Whispers. You are the family of scholars and seekers of knowledge. And you have virtually no relationship in your group outside of being acquainted with Brother Little. When you got wind of what we’re going to do, you joined them immediately. You’re Shaitan. Demon Hunter.”

“How do you know of the Phoenix? Are you a spy? Why do you know so much?”

“The Shaitan are divided into four families. The Phoenix seeks information about the demons, the sworn enemy of all Shaitan. The Tortoise defends the organization from demonic, political and physical threats. The Tiger makes the weapons needed to fight. The Dragon is the one who roots out and kill the demons. All families compliment one another and are in harmony. Harmony against chaos.”

“You are also Shaitan?”

Tianya was stunned by an attack of modesty as Akira released the bindings and straps of his chest armor. It fell heavily to the earth, and the ranger surmised that it was weighted. As the clouds released the full moon, the whole Mirror of Lyss was bathed in silver light. Tianya gasped as what she saw.

Despite the numerous scars on Akira’s back, Tianya saw what he wanted her to see: a tattoo of a silver dragon that covered a fourth of the assassin’s back. In the moonlight, the dragon seemed to breathe in rhythm with its owner. Akira broke Tianya’s trance by bending down to pick up his armor.

“So it is true. One of the Eight Winds of Devastation is Shaitan. Where is your hunter-mate?”

“She’s gone. I don’t know where she is.”

“You need a hunter-mate, Akira Shinjo. Hunters need mates to achieve harmony,” Tianya took a step closer and reached out her hand.

“This is not a Shaitan mission. This is personal. If you’re done. I suggest you go down and rest,” Akira turned to go down the rock wall and left Tianya alone with her thoughts.

[Ayarie]

I think someone got out the wrong side of the bed that morning!

Naru Soulfire

[the forests wisper]

BWEEE!!!!

awesome post j, i do love how u build the lore in your fics :D


more plz? NAO!

[The Night Whisper]

THAT was awesome!!

~W

[Divine Freak]

“This is personal....

Translation: Stand clear, it's going to hit the fan soon

[Banes Son]

Poor Aki, he thinks he has too many friends and fears losing them, esp. if he makes more.

Beautifully done, the depth you protray in Akira is intense.

F5!

[Tavari Tinde]

Ouch... rejected... D:

Being suspended by the belt does not seem very dignified, but since it was Akira, I'll let that go :p

(Kidding. That was cute <3)

*edit*

Forgot to say... I saw your message about a new chapter last night but I fell asleep ><" Sorry!

[Firanne]

Whoo hoo. Everyone meets up. Now the interesting stuff begins... Put guys and gals together and there are sure to be some sparks!

F5!!!!