{Park of Angels} Beneath the wings of an angel (open)

[Jade Alanon]

Fifth Cycle of Cryxatum, Season of Spring

What had happened to the beautiful city Jade had once visited when she was younger? Nymira didn't like the city really, but she said nothing at the moment, they had only just arrived and Nymira wanted to head to an Inn and rest from their traveling, she was exhausted and Jade should be tired as well. "Can we please find an Inn and rest?" Jade rolled her eyes and continued walking, Nymira was such a whiner, Jade was tired too but she could enjoy the sights and sounds around her, though she was still confused as to why it was in it's current state.

Her steps took her to The Park of Angels, a beautiful lush garden that looked so out of place in the ruined city. Jade wasn't normally one to enjoy such beauty like this but after Natura, she sort of had to now. The garden looked well cared for and she had to wonder if druids took care of them or if there were others that did so or if no one did.

Jade found the Park of Angels to be a pleasent place to rest, her curiosity peaked at the bronze stature in the center of the park. It was beautiful, a large bronze angel, her wings spread out, her face looking down at those who passed beneath her wings. Whoever had made her had done well, they made the angel look as though she were reaching down to help someone, her eyes soft and kind. She looked below at the inscription and stared for a moment.

You cannot appreciate the light unless you have lived through the darkness Such a beautiful saying, one that Jade could fully understand. The statue was a reminder that while darkness was throughout the entire world, there was still those who reached out to others in need. She looked down further and read the other inscription.

This statue is dedicated to all those who were lights in the darkness, to all those who died as a result of natures fury and mortal folly and more than anything, this statue is dedicate to my wife, Chex.

She is a true light in a dark world.

Jade sat upon the one bench near the statue and smiled, feeling comfortable sitting beneath the wings of an angel. Nymira sat comfortably beside Jade, her eyes looking out carefully. She hate cities, they messed with her senses way too much. Jade placed her purse next to her and sat back, just trying to relax really, she had the look of a woman relaxing but anyone that looked at her would see a confidant woman, the look she gave off by her body language was that of a predator. She and her companion both were dangerous looking, hence Jade wasn't all that worried about being alone in Imperia.

[Sha'uri Bhatal]

Sha'uri really wasn't a garden kinda girl, but she'd lived along the northern reaches of the Arakmat Desert for all of her life--the only garden she'd known prior to taking off was her mother's rather pathetic herb garden--and so the gardens were something of an interest to her. Something of. Not entirely. She'd passed through the lush forests outside of Silrosia on her way up to Imperia, after all, so she'd seen woodland--and had been amazed by all the green. So did she need to see the gardens? No. She didn't.

That brightening she was there because they thought she wouldn't do it. Who they were wasn't even very important--a couple of kids that had been lounging on a stoop that Sha'uri had stopped to talk to (out of pure boredom). They'd thought little of her and seemed to have recognized her accent was Arakmatian, but nothing local. So they'd dismissed her as beneath her notice. She'd refused to be brushed off.

Prove it! They'd demanded. See that lady over there--you go steal somethin' from her and then maybe we'll think about it.

They had thought she'd wimp out. That one look at the lady and her dog--hard looks they had in their eyes--and decide to bug off. But Sha'uri refused to back down. She'd do it, if only because they thought she wouldn't. I'll be back in under a candlemark, she'd told them. But as soon as she'd started off after the woman and her mutt, one look over her shoulder told her that the two didn't care one way or another--they'd picked themselves up and moved elsewhere.

But a challenge was a challenge and Sha'uri wasn't backing down. Think I can't do it? She could. She would.

So she followed the woman there, weaving through the crowd not too far off--almost missing here a few times before she'd catch a glimpse of the mutt's tail weaving amidst the legs. Sha'uri had taken a place not all that far off, veering off to the side as the woman chose a bench and sat down...and would you believe it, put her coin purse on the bench right next to her! The woman must have had half a brain to do that. It didn't once enter Sha'uri's mind that she must have had that much confidence in the mutt...or in herself...to be so bold.

So the run-away crept forward, taking the long way around towards the bench so that she could sneak up from behind. She did so inch by slow torturous inch, mindful of where she placed her feet and how she progressed--not wanting to make any unnecessary sounds. She'd never done this before, but that was fine...because she didn't see what was so fething hard about it anyway. Closer she was by now and she suddenly ran forward, reaching out to snatch the purse and hopefully--hopefully--continue running off back towards the streets of Imperia. She could prove that she could do this.

[Jade Alanon]

Jade was too busy enjoying the peaceful atmosphere in such a troubled city that she didn't notice the girl sneaking up behind her. Nymira's senses were misconstrued because of the assault of scents and noises around her, this was exactly why she hated the city. She didn't even look over at the purse or the one creeping forward so painstakingly slow, careful in where she stepped and the amount of breathing she did, she must have been very foolish to approach the Sanguine and her Virkyn, but she most likely didn't know any better.

Jade held her staff closely, looking up into the face of the angel, wondering if she had ever come across this angel Chex when she had been a child, it was possible, most anything was possible. She heard a noise and as soon as she looked down at where her purse had been, it was gone and a figure ran off, trying to disappear from Jade's sight. Anger and irritation fueled the two sisters as they got to their feet, their hard gaze following the dark figure. Both not really mad about the theft, more then anything they were annoyed that they hadn't heard the figure approaching. "That could be a problem." Jade nodded as she started walking to where the girl had disappeared, a scent had been left behind and Nymira could pick it up now. "Catch her, but don't kill her."

Nymira nodded her head and took off, the difference between a regular hound and a Virkyn is that the hound would have had to run fully after the girl, Nymira could shadowstalk. She traveled through the shadows, listening as the girl ran with the purse, the coins weren't important, Jade's visa was as was the gold ring that transported Jade back home, the most important thing that Jade should have had around her neck. Growling softly as Nymira exited out of a shadow that landed right in front of the girl as she turned a corner, growling angrily. "Give back the purse now!" Nymira hardly ever spoke to anyone, but no one had ever stolen the gold ring either. She snarled at the girl but did not attack, she sent directions to Jade through their connection and waited for her bondmate to come. "Make even the slightest move and I will take you down." Her words left no room for arguement.

It didn't take long for Jade to come up behind Sha'uri, her emerald eyes hard and angry, this was the last time she let the leather pouch out of her sight and the ring off her neck. She walked over to the girl slowly, brandishing her staff and speaking in a low voice. "Hand it over." Jade hadn't called for the soldiers to deal with this and wasn't intending on it either, she took care of her own problems and besides, she doubted the soldiers would want to come across a dead girl in a back alley. "Give it back and we won't harm you."

[Sha'uri Bhatal]

Sha'uri had never been a runner. She wasn't particularly in shape and hadn't been practicing long-distance runs since...well...never. But she ran, feet pounding, heart frantic, breath coming fast and hard, to put as much distance as possible between herself and the woman she'd just stolen from. Sha'uri was not unfamiliar with running away from a punishment. She'd done so too many times to count as a child, wayward as she was, and she knew a few tricks to dodging those who were looking for. Too many turns and corners could be confusing and she took advantage of that in a city until, finally, she found herself in an alleyway.

And confronted with the snarling face of the mutt belonging to the woman she'd just snatched a purse from.

Feeling her heart leap up into her throat, a triumphant smile fled off her mouth as she gaped at the animal in front of her. That it had managed to get ahead of her was...a shock in itself. But...had it...no, it couldn't have just spoken. It couldn't have. It was a fething dog!

And then--there!--it talked again. Sha'uri was not the sort accustomed to being terrified, but now she stared in complete confusion and fear. But surely this was not for real. This was...an illusion. Or maybe just an affect of the sun. It was hot out--incredibly hot--but no where near the same scorching burn brought down by the suns in the deserts by which she lived. No, not the heat. She wasn't feeling suns-dazzled. So what the feth...

Still clutching the purse, she whirled about as the sound of another voice grated behind her. A very unhappy voice. This, at least, belonging to what looked elvish...but paired with the dog Sha'uri was starting to think she was losing her mind. "Hand what over? I don't got nothin'," she responded sullenly, getting her voice back after a few strangled moments. The girl straightened herself, lavender eyes defiant. She was perhaps being somewhat stupid, but...she wasn't about to admit she'd some something that could get her killed. The purse was visibly in her hands. Liar. "I don't know what'chu be talkin' 'bout. This here is mine." She jingled it in emphasis.

[Jade Alanon]

Nymira always felt certain satisfaction when she scared someone and while the girl may have tried to hide the fact that she was frightened, Nymira could smell it. She could hear the girl's heart jump when she turned the corner to find Nymira standing there, disbelief came next and then just pure shock. Sad that a girl had to resort to petty thievery but unfortunate for her that she had chosen the wrong targets to steal from, stealing the purse would most likely cost her her life if she chose to not hand it over immediately.

Nymira's presence scared the girl, but what made her practically drop her jaw was the fact that Nymira had spoken to her, making the girl feel as though she were losing her mind was actually quite entertaining, a lot more fun then trying to find their way to a tavern and then sleeping before beginning to search for the dirty Rhasic. The run had been invigorating and made Nymira feel less cranky, perhaps putting this petty little thief out of their misery would further improve upon her mood, never knew until she tried. She growled low and moved forward slowly, enjoying the fact that if it was her wish, she could tear the girl apart limb from limb and if Jade didn't allow Nymira to kill the girl, then perhaps she would at least let Nymira take off a hand, better teach the girl that stealing was wrong.

Jade entered the fray and the look Jade sent her bondmate said everything, no killing. Nymira growled softly in annoyance, Jade never let her have any fun at all. She continued to stare at Sha'uri with dark eyes, not letting the girl know that she wasn't allowed to kill her, intimidation was something Nymira was very good at. Besides, if the girl chose to run and somehow got away, Nymira would find her and would most likely gnaw on her legs to make sure she wouldn't run again. But hopefully the girl wasn't that stupid.

Jade held her stance, she wasn't in the least bit threatened by the woman, she didn't appear to have any sort of weapon and she didn't have the look of a mage of any sort, no intimidating look to the girl at all. Perhaps she was slow in the head, you couldn't be anything else but if you chose a target to steal from that had a weapon and a large black beast at her side. She waited with a not so patient look on her face to see if the girl would be smart and hand the purse back over. Jade couldn't help but look around, what if she was in league with certain Rhasic that knew of the bloodline, for there were some that did know about their sordid past and sought to once again finish off the Sanguine. What if this was an ambush, it would have been a perfect one for Jade hadn't initially thought of it nor had Nymira, they both had to be more careful especially in a new city.

It took the girl a few moments but she was finally able to speak, her words were not in the least bit convincing and her lying when the purse remained in plain sight almost certainly confirmed Jade's suspicion that the girl was stupid, but she didn't speak slow and there was an intelligent glint to her violet eyes, perhaps she thought Jade to be stupid instead, either that or blind. Jade couldn't help but smile sardonically as she watched the girl's eyes turn defiant, so she was a fighter, this would be interesting.

So she claimed the purse as her own, well then fine, let her believe that. "Alright girl, fine, thats your purse." There was a pause and Nymira continued to move closer to Sha'uri in a way of trying to push her closer to Jade. "We will try this another way that even you might understand." She raised her staff upwards and got into an attack position, her emerald eyes flashing and a serious look on her face. "I am here to steal your purse, hand it over and you won't suffer a horrible death." She smiled coldly, she wasn't really interested in killing the girl, but she wanted her ring back, the girl could have the fethin coins if she wanted them, not that Jade would give her that option. "I think that sounds fair, your move child."

[Sha'uri Bhatal]

She had a weapon...but one hardly worth noting. She kept the sheath for her dagger hidden beneath her shirt for the bone-handled dagger was old and worn, the point no longer as sharp as it must have been eras ago whenever her father had purchased it. She didn't know. She'd just grabbed it on her way out the door, figuring she'd need something to protect herself with when the time came to it. Well, the time had clearly--possibly--'came to it' and now Sha'uri couldn't even muster up the reflexes to grab at it.

But if there was one thing that Sha'uri hated it was being talked down to--it was arrogance staring her down and telling her that she was beneath notice.

Nose scrunching up, her grip tightening around the purse she'd snatched, Sha'uri remained defiant. "Child? I'm old 'nough to be your grandma!" she snapped back...although feth if she knew how old the elf was. She was doubtlessly older than Sha'uri--at least she looked it--but maybe the elf wouldn't know that. Sha'uri was something of a good bluffer. Usually. But no one was going to call her a child and not suffer some sort of headache. "The things I've seen would make ya pee your pants." Although, in comparison to most, Sha'uri hadn't seen much of anything at all.

Well, Sha'uri certainly didn't lack for bravado, misplaced or not.

"Think I'm scared'a you? You and your mutt, you nothin' in comparison to me. I'll have you know I'm well-known in these parts. Ain't no one stupid 'nough save you t' try an' rob me. You jus' ask around, you hear. They'll tell you who I am. And who're you, huh? Don't look like nobody to me." She looked rather confident about herself, any traces of fear--even when she snuck a look at the 'mutt'--having disappeared. Either she seriously believed all she was saying, it was true, or she was just...a very strange girl.

[Jade Alanon]

Watching Sha'uri closely, Jade had to weigh her options on whether or not to kill the girl who still clutched her purse close to her, the girl was persistent and Nymira could smell fear from her, but she was good at hiding it. The word child had obviously had an effect on Sha'uri and Jade could understand why, it sounded degrading and Jade had meant it as degrading, she wanted to push buttons with the girl to see if she could spur her into either fighting or throwing the purse at Jade to be rid of the pair. She was caught in a pincher trap and so she couldn't run anywhere with the purse, Jade just had to keep her from opening it and discovering the ring inside. It was gold so it would appeal to a thief and if she put it on, she would be transported to Coldlight, which would really not be good.

Jade saw no weapon drawn so she continued to believe the girl was weaponless, but she didn't know if she had any skills in fighting, so she kept her distance for now. All she wanted was the purse and then she would most likely let her go, but the girl was obviously stubborn and Jade's comment hadn't made things any easier on her, in fact it only caused her to hold the purse tighter. Old enough to be her grandma? She didn't even look old enough to be her older sister much less grandmother, though at that comment Jade had to wonder if the girl had elven blood in her, she looked to be a teenager of sorts but elves often looked younger then they really were. "Can I just eat her and shut her up?" Jade actually laughed aloud at Nymira though it would seem like Jade was in fact laughing at Sha'uri.

Jade halted her laughing and arched a brow as the obviously angry girl or woman as she claimed, continued to speak. While Jade wondered if she lacked common sense, she didn't lack bravery and that was admirable. "I doubt they would compare to the things I have seen and done." She was not scared of Sha'uri though her bravado had her interested. "Alright, if I believe what you are saying, then why should I have fear from an old woman that looks like a child?"

Nymira growled deeply and moved forward, closer to the girl and snapping her teeth at her angrily, she absolutely hated being called a dog and liked even less being called a mutt. "No we don't think you're scared, we know you are and while she has some reluctance to shut you up, I have none at all." Nymira could still smell the fear, no matter how much she could hide the fear in her voice or body language, she couldn't hide the scent of it.

Jade ignored her bondmate at the moment, Nymira was such a hot head all the time and being called a mutt only made that worse. "Hush you, only attack if she opens the purse." Nymira let out an audible growl but did nothing else, clearly restraining herself only for her bondmate's sake. "Really, my companion nor I care who you are or what you have seen, nothing you say will deter us from what we seek and you are correct." She paused and moved forward a bit. "I am nobody and that is how it will stay, now I have been reasonably generous up until now but you try my patience, give me the purse or my companion with take the purse back with your arm still hilding tight to it." She crossed her arms over her chest and stared intently at the girl. "Your choice woman."