Outside the kingdom of Taifera's walls may have been home to many beasts, lesser species, and various conspirators to the Emperor's rule, but in the Black Forest, Ryan Redfield felt at home.
There were little vampires here, less werewolf, and almost no humans... so it seemed an almost perfect haven for the kingdom declared peasant of Taifera. Amongst the lush foliage and dark tree's of the forest, there was no one to judge him. There were no vampires to look down on his status as a human. No werewolves to think about ripping his flesh apart. This was a place where he could come and check his ego at the door to simply be himself...
And so we paint the scene, Ryan Redfield, the human peasant, somewhere deep within the Black Forrest in an open clearing. It is the early morning, and he sits upon a large tree stump with his legs crossed Indian style. It seems that he has set up a small training facility, a poor man's version to be sure of it. There are crude wooden dummies carved and set up in a line of five, bags of sand surrounded by a a large pit, as well as various other home-made 'machines' – from a pull up stand to even a balancing beam.
From the looks of it he has put some hard work and time into the surrounding area, and strangely enough it seems untouched by the beasts of the forest.
Normally she wasn't found in this area. But more and more she was spreading herself out, watching, waiting, tracking. Today was no different, other than she was tracking Ryan. She was a a wolf. She had ears that picked up even the softest of whispers. And she had spies. Heading your own organization did that for you. But when she hadn't been able to find him in the city proper, she'd asked around.
Now she entered his clearing, whistling as she did so. In appreciation for what he'd created for himself, and to alert him of her presence. She was dressed like a fighter, not a lady of nobility. Those days seemed long gone. Soft leather pants and vest of brown, a white tunic beneath. Leather boots and hair braided behind her. She carried one dagger at her right hip and that was all. Her small stature and sweet face often left people doubting her abilities. So many had lived to regret that.
"So you are Ryan Redfield. You, dear boy, have mouthed off, making it clear your dislikes. Vampires and wolves, neither your friends. Tis a shame really, for we just now meet. I hate to think I've already been condemned." She was smiling as she spoke, arms crossing beneath her breasts, feet apart as she stopped well into his space.
-- Edited by Orianna McKelvit on Tuesday 25th of August 2009 06:38:14 PM
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Orianna Sage McKelvit Hillsbrig Mate to Reinhold Hillsbrig ~ Mother to Kristen and Gale Daughter to Uilliam Socard ~ Sister to Kale Konus Pack of the Howling Moon ~ Lieutenant of The Shadows
Ryan opened his eyes, hearing the cracking of twigs and leaves beneath Oria's steps. Not that he knew which direction she was coming from, but he could definitely hear something. As she made herself known and came into his view, Ryan stood.
He too looked very much the fighter, at least, as much of a fighter that a human could. His shirt had been removed and strung over the pull-up branch, and he was still drenched with sweat from the morning exercises. And though Ryan appeared slim when drapped with layers of clothes, beneath those clothes it became apparent that he was a true physical specimen of the human race. He was definitely built, though not overly ripped. His build was slim and firm and his shoulders were wide. And, like a man should be, he was somewhat hairy.
“Are you here to kill me then?” Ryan asked, clenching his fists. He wasn't going to go down without a fight, and when Oria mentioned about his mouthing off-- it was assumed she came to bring down the wrath of the Emperor.
Laughter bubbled up inside of her. He had no chance of winning a fight against her. Yet there he was, ready to go. His stance said it all. She held a hand out, a single finger waving in the air as she tsked him. "I've come here in peace and you prepare for battle. So eager to die human?" She began to circle him, a slow gait as moved.
"Had I come here to kill you, you'd be dead already. I would not have bothere announcing myself. You simply would be a bloody pile of torn flesh. So, I suggest you ease your stance and watch your tone, lest I decide a bloody mess is more deserving, hmm?" All the while her voice remained steady, soft and pleasant. No real sign of threat there, though she meant every word she uttered.
"Hot heads are not needed, though believers of equal rights are. Not all vampires think as the Emperor does. Nor do all wolves wish to shred humans alive. I was once mated to a human." She was still circling him slowly, eyes judging him as she spoke. "I have friends in all the races. But with this said comes the sad truth. The vampires must be stopped. I know you agree, and so I am here to speak to you about the part you could play. If you were so inclined."
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Orianna Sage McKelvit Hillsbrig Mate to Reinhold Hillsbrig ~ Mother to Kristen and Gale Daughter to Uilliam Socard ~ Sister to Kale Konus Pack of the Howling Moon ~ Lieutenant of The Shadows
Ryan didn't move. Her confidence spoke volumes about her power, and instilled the doubt in his mind that he could actually escape victorious-- or even alive. Still though, humans were strange creatures, and Ryan was no different when it came to the type of man that would go down giving it everything he had.
His bright blue eyes seemed extremely alert as they followed her, and when she made her subtle threat towards him, he relaxed and sat back on the stump, resting both elbows on his knees while looking up at her. To fight tense would just make him slower, anyways. He wiped his brow of sweat.
By the time she had finished her little speech, Ryan became intrigued. “I'm listening...” He said honestly. “But I don't even know who you are.”
She stilled finally, arms folded once more, though this time she stood with one hip cocked out to the side. "Orianna Hillsbrig. Werewolf extraordinaire." She smirked at that. She didn't really think herself oh so grand. But he seemed to hate her race, so why not shove it in his face?
"Are you truly against us all? Mind made up that we must all be murderous vile creatures? Or are you willing to open your eyes and give those of us deserving, a chance to prove ourselves? Because I can assure you that you have nothing to fear from me. Unless you speak of me in ways that put me or mine in danger. Then I shall eat you for lunch." She winked after saying this.
"Not all of us think humans are lesser beings. As I stated, I was mated to a human. I loved him with all that I was. He began as my slave you know. And I had another friend who was a slave, though I never treated her as such. Beyond that still I know of vampires who want only peace. So I ask this carefully, do you feel they all must die, or only the ones found to be deserving?"
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Orianna Sage McKelvit Hillsbrig Mate to Reinhold Hillsbrig ~ Mother to Kristen and Gale Daughter to Uilliam Socard ~ Sister to Kale Konus Pack of the Howling Moon ~ Lieutenant of The Shadows
“Look, I don't know who you've been talking to.. or where you've heard all this,” Ryan began in a defensive tone. “But I'll keep to my own views, thanks.” He said curtly when she spoke of his malice towards all the upper echelon of races.
“Do you want to know what I think? I think the majority of all of you, werewolf and vampire alike, are exactly what the people make you up to be. And you're saying I should switch my perspective to think that just a small few... a very, very small few who actually claim to whisper of equality is going to change my mind? No way, Orianna, no way...”
By his tone it was clear there was anger there. Anger for his race, for the hundreds and thousands that had served as slaves and died at the hands of their 'slavers'. Hell, even this werewolf in front of him said she had a slave once, but he was in no position exactly not trust her.
“But if what you're saying is true, I'm willing to listen. Just don't expect me to just give myself up to the idea fully. Your kind, and 'their' kind, has made humans their cattle for years and years... what's there to make me think it will ever be different?”
She wetted her lips with a swipe of tongue. "If it weren't different, human, you'd be dead now. Remember that. You would have been dead simply for the way you view me." She turned at that and started off back the way she came.
She'd stop before entering the forest though, to look back over her shoulder at him. "War is coming Ryan. If things are not made to change before the end, you humans will suffer like you could never have imagined. Take a few days to truly open your eyes and see how things really are. Set aside your judgements and give those deserving of it, a chance to truly be seen. I will seek you out by week's end." With that she walked off, leaving him alone once more.
-- Edited by Orianna McKelvit on Tuesday 25th of August 2009 08:29:32 PM
__________________
Orianna Sage McKelvit Hillsbrig Mate to Reinhold Hillsbrig ~ Mother to Kristen and Gale Daughter to Uilliam Socard ~ Sister to Kale Konus Pack of the Howling Moon ~ Lieutenant of The Shadows
He watched her walk away, but her words did sink into him. However, just by the way she spoke to him hinted that things wouldn't be different, at least, to Ryan anyways. It would take more convincing than petty words accompanied with threats of killing him every other sentence.
Still though, he wondered. What was was she talking about? What was this war she spoke of? It seemed as if only by weeks end would he truly find out, and maybe by then his curiousity would get the better of him.
