Its got the same thing as an rp on here with Woof and Paige...only with elves and other thing as opposed to Werewolves and vampires. Plus, the main character, Kip, is not an orphan by choice. She serves the king to extents which exhaust her but doesnt complain. She finds joy in talking with Fire. Literally. She talks to Fire.
Its huge un long. You prob'ly dont wanna read it... Also, Relents are being mine. Dont steal. XD
Element
"See? There they are." Ari giggled, pointing at the troupe of soldiers. Jami grunted and pushed her out of the way so he could see.
"Four 'n' ten." Ari said, peering over his shoulder, offering needless help. " Well, not countin' that'n..." She motioned to the figure Jami had already noticed. She sat separate the others around the fire. Her dress was simple enough to suggest she was not a noble, and the sword at her hip told that she was no commoner. The men ignored her all-together, save for the wary sideways glances her direction.
The fires light danced on her plain features, and made it appear that her red hair was on fire. As the two watched, she turned her head their direction. They ducked back behind the tree. Ari giggled, stifling it with a four fingered hand.
"Do'ya think she saw's?"
"Don't know. Wonder what she's doin' way out here with a group of m-Ari!" Jami grabbed her by the collar of her silver and black dress and dragged her behind the closest tree.
"What do you think you're doing?" He demanded, shaking her, "You mess up and our whole mission is blown!"
Ari's red eyes turned black. "Your mission, Jame, not ours. My people simply 'greed to help ya 'cause we trust ya so much."
"And if you get hurt, Inf will hurt me." Jami argued back smoothly. Unable to argue with his logic, Ari's eyes resumed their red color.
"You're 'ight, o' course." She said sighing. Then she grinned. "'sides, where're you goin' t' find the perfect distraction?" She gestured to her slender form and giggled. Jami rolled his eyes. Such a vain thing. He turned back to watch the armed force behind them.
"Oh, I'm sure Inf would do it..."
"Wou'n't count on't."
Jami and Ari whirled around to face a all man with medium length orange streaked red hair.
"Inf," Ari said, standing straight and raising her hand to salute him. Inf grabbed her hand down and brough his face close to hers.
"Don' s'lute me;’t’s a human thin'." He said
Ari giggled and touched her nose to his. "Wha' 'bout kissin'?" She asked, lowering her eyelids.
"Hmmm. Le'me think 'bout that..."
Jami coughed uncomfortably. "Uhm, Inf, were you goin' to tell us somethin'?" Ari laughed quietly at Inf's blank look.
"Eh? Oh, ye', I b'leive I did," He spoke to Jami, doing his best to ignore his mates laughter. "We're all set. Got Relents position'd all 'round, just outta sight."
"Alright then. Ari," He turned to her. "You're up."
Inf cought her hand and she walked by. "Be careful," He said softly.
"Ain' I always?" Ari laughed.
"No," The answered in unison
"I'll be fine, love." Ari's serious tone surprised the two males and left them staring after her as she made her way into the fires light.
*~*
The soldiers’ attention left their bowls as a woman staggered into the clearing, her pale skin and dark hair contrasting one another even more in the fires light. Kip stood with the men, but did not move forward with them. Instead, she backed up with her hand on the hilt of her sword. Her eyes darted around the site; this was odd. There had to be something else going on, some hidden motive. If only she could-
"By the Gods!"
A soldier’s shout made her turn her head back. The woman was seated on a stump, looking around, dark brow furrowed in alarm, red eyes wide.
Red?
Something moved to her right, a form creeping in the shadows towards the covered wagon bearing the supplies of their journey. Flames danced along the tips of her fingers as she rubbed her thumb along them. She looked at the group with the....woman...and moved to follow the silent, solitary figure, not intending to shout an alarm just yet.
*~*
Jami's hands clamped on a sheath and picked it up, gripping the silver hilt. The noise it made as he pulled the sword out made him glance around. A soft sound and a voice signaled the arrival of another being.
"T'would be wise to be out of harms way a'fore doin' that,"
Jami stopped breathing. "I had to be sure this was it," he replied just as softly, turning around. He gasped. "You!"
Kip quirked an eyebrow at him. "Yes, me. Who're you?"
The boy faltered. Was she going to sound the alarm as soon as he told her?
"Finkledorf." He lied. The girls ex
pression remained stoic, void of any ex
pression. He some how knew that she did not believe him. But then again, she would have to be a simple to believe something as ridiculous as that.
"It's obvious that Im here to steal," he went on slowly. Was this a trick? "And the item I'm stealing," he held up the sword, still in it's sheath. "Is somethin' that was stolen from me when I was but a wee lad."
Kip blinked. "Okay. I'm goin' to go sound an alarm now."
"No! Don't! I beg you not-" He grabbed her sleeve to stop her. The girl whirled around, over-long bangs following in the momentum. Her eyes flashed as she grabbed his hand and wrenched it back. Jami stifled a yelp.
"Don't. Touch. Me." Kip growled. Her victim saw a flash of fear as it left her eyes, but not so fast that he did not wonder why it had been there in the first place.
A loud yell broke out. Jami broke away and pushed past Kip, out the wagon, sword in hand. Kip followed close after, thinking of the reprimand she would receive for letting a thief get away. She turned around the wagon to face the fire, standing rigid at the sight she beheld.
The young woman from before stood surrounded by soldiers, yet now, her petite form was guarded by that of a tall man with orange-streaked crimson red hair. Soldiers’ glances drifted to and from the couple and the wolf looking creatures standing around the parameters of the camp, hackles raised and wings furled out, an impressive variety of colors. Kip stared at the creatures she had only heard tales about; Huge, vicious demons that preyed on the lost and alone who wandered too far into the belly of the forest. On closer look, however, they were not nearly as big as she had expected.
She drew her sword as she walked closer, looking around for the raven haired boy when suddenly she sighted him….right in the midst of the Relents, sword held ready in his hands. The battle hardened captain stepped forward and stood directly in front of the crimson haired man, his lip curled in distain.
“Demons,” he snarled, raising his sword. Inf's hand shot out and the captain fell. Chaos broke out.
*~* Jami tackled a soldier to the ground.
"Go, now!" He yelled. "Get him away from here!" He grunted as he strained to keep the man grounded, watching as the Relents spirited their alpha away, an arrow protruding from his ribs. The pack's healer would take care of him.
Rough hands yanked him up and forced him back down to his knees. He watched as his sword was retrieved from the ground, looking up to see the red headed girl holding it as well as her own. Their eyes met and she looked away, suddenly interested in the trees.
"Kip!" One man barked. "Restrain him!" Jami looked around, expecting 'Kip' to be one of the older squires, but was surprised when the girl jumped.
"Yes’sir!" She replied, stepping forward. Jami watched curiously as she knelt before him, weapons in the hands of a squire. "Sorry," She muttered, so softly he almost missed it.
Jami did not have time to think about what was going on before something in the ground slithered. No; the ground itself moved. He stared as the earth covered his arms and hardened instantly, holding him fast. Kip brushed sweat from her eyes and staggered as she stood up. No ones hand reached out to help her.
Where's the justice in that? Jami could not help but rage. She almost faints, following an order, but they won't even stand next to her. *~*
A roll lay just out of the boys reach. A joke, played by the soldiers. The men had long fallen to eating while another circled through, healing the wounded from the earlier scuffle. The man Inf had knocked unconscious sat, glowering, a goose-egg forming just behind his ear. Jami could not help but sympathize.
His gaze fell on Kip. She had retreated to the far edges of the flames, looking out into the forest, her food untouched. She seemed to have recovered from...whatever it was she had done. Jami sighed and hung his head, hoping to get some sleep.
*~* The night wore on and the last of the men retired. A watch was set up, but they seemed to be more interested in the flagon of ale. The first snores of the men off duty *censored*ailed the ears of Kip and she grinned, standing up and walking to the fire. If she knew Jami's gold eyes followed her, she did not show it as. She set her bowl down and knelt before the flames. Before Jami could say anything, she plunged her hand in the fires dwindling flames as if it were water.
Kip closed her eyes and smiled, pulling her hand out. Her audience stared with every widening eyes as she stroked the ball of fire in her open palm. It arched as if a living thing, weaving between her fingers. She held it at eye level and stared into it, then chuckled and sighed.
The fire's light reflected in the azure depths of her eyes, a touch of sadness on her thoughtful features. With a sigh, she threw the fire up into the sky, watching as it burst into a shower of sparks, and brushing a few away that landed on her head. Jami quickly shut his eyes as she looked his way.
“Are you hungry?” The girls soft yet rough voice made him flinch. He opened his eyes and saw her worn leather boots, blinking as she crouched down and gulping as she held it out to him. “Are you hungry?” She repeated, sounding as if she was losing her patience.
Jami shrugged. “I would, but I’m a bit of a bind…” He moved his arms, tugging at them, but they did not budge from the earth around them. Kip made a small sound and set the bowl down.
“Promise not to go away?”
Another shrug. “Would I have much chance of gettin’ away?”
A slow grin spread over the girls face. “Nope.” She hesitated a few seconds before leaning forward. Jami watched as Kip hovered her hands over the hard earth that covered his arms. She bit her lip and pushed down. The ground rushed away and Jami nearly fell forwards at the sudden loss of support on his numb arms. He rubbed his arms to get the blood flowing and looked across at Kip, brushing hair and sweat from her eyes. She sat down, folding her legs underneath her and shrugged, pushing the bowl his way. His mouth watered. Kip drew lines in the dirt. When he had finished, she filled the bowl with water.
“So, what else do you do? Earth, fire, water…Do you do wind?”
Kip lunged and they rolled. She leaned over him with her arm pressing against his throat. She snarled. “ How did you know I do Fire?! Were you spyin’ on me?!”
“Spying is such a strong word…”!
She pressed down harder and he choked, gasping. “Okay, okay! Maybe I was. But I couldn’t help it.” He closed his eyes as Kips weight disappeared off of him. When it seemed she was not going to harm him, he opened his eyes and sat up. Kip was a ways off, out of his-or her-reach and sitting ridged.
“I…manipulate the four basic elements. Wind, Fire, Earth and Water. Good ‘nough? Are you gunna shun an’ ignore me like ev’ry one else?” She snorted when Jami told her she had an accent.
“Where are you from?”
“North. I come from the north.”
Uh-huh. And the fact that you have an eastern accent means nothing because…?
“Earth’s always hard.” Kip said softly, continuing her explanation. “She dont wanna move. You have’t really fight ‘er.”
“Her?”
Kip nodded absently and answered, but it was as if she was talking to herself. “Earth’s the only element that’s gotta set gender. Hardly moves, and when she does, it’s subtle and slow. Like an old woman.” She smiled a little bit. “Fire’s always movin’, writhin’. It can be angry or kind, gentle or harsh…as Im sure you saw,” Her blue eyes snapped up to his face and he caught her look of surprise as she saw his amber eyes. She shook her head and went on, drawing a breath.
“Water’s the same, yet the opposite of Fire. It sings or screams, is calm and quiet or rushin’ and loud. Always has somewhere to go. Wind…is complicated. You cant contain the wind, you can only ask it and hope it obliges. In that way, it’s a lot like Earth.”
Jami raised an eyebrow. “Hmm. Talk much?” He asked jokingly. Kip shook her head.
“Not really. Don’t got no one to talk to.”
“Oh.”
They were quiet then, Jami eating and Kip staring at her feet, drawing up her knees.
“What’s your name?” Kip asked suddenly, not looking at him. Jami took a while to swallow.
“Told you already. It’s Finkledorf.” Kip chuckled.
“No, I mean, the name you go by. Not the name your parents gave you.” Jami stared at her, then realized she was grinning a bit.
“Was that a joke?”
“Hmm. Maybe,”
Jami shook his head, chuckling. “My names Jamis, but my colleagues call me Jami.”
“Your colleagues? Y’mean the…people who were here before? And those…things?”
“Relents,” Jami shrugged for the umpth time and gestured with his hand, holding up two fingers, then crossing them. “One and the same.”
“Oh.” The girl must have known she would get no more for an answer, for she nodded and leaned forward, moving the Earth around his arms once again. She grinned slyly. “Im goin’t take a walk ‘round, confident that the prisoner ain’t gunna ‘scape.” She picked up the bowl and stood, her legs gaining strength as she walked away. Jami called after her and she turned to answer.
“’Cause I’ve got plen’y o’ things on my conscience; I don’t need your death to be on there also.”
Jami’s mind went blank for a few seconds before he took her hint and started working on the loose packed Earth, pausing for a second to watch Kips small figure weave through the trees, a flame in her hand, her mouth moving as if she were talking to it.
Uh-huh. I never claimed to be an author. Dont think I'll be quitin my day job any time soon. Not that I have one...
Next chapter up when I feel like it. XP