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Permalink Reply by 2f9jul46h6nt4 on May 8, 2019 at 14:35

“No, no, no. I don't need any more books. I need my order of tarot cards and the shipment of skirts you promised me.” Lita stood in the middle of the library, pacing around the new area rug that had been acquired by one of the residents. The Niveis faction house was nothing more than a glorified cabin, built sturdy with more rooms than it had a right to. Anivia had fallen in love with the place and while maybe only half of their people called the place home it served its purpose. Sighing as the man on the phone tried to dissemble and blame his mistake on everyone but himself, the female store owner had heard enough. Joel had convinced her to give him a chance, to use him for her buying needs and the Male had proven himself more trouble than he was worth.

“No, you know what I'm done. Cancel my order, refund my money. I am taking my business elsewhere. No. No! Joel just stop. This is the third time you haven't filled my order and pushed useless merchandise I don't need. I can find my items elsewhere for a fair price and not near as much hassle. Goodbye Joel.” The warrior pulled the phone away from her ear and hit the end button, cutting off the quiet litany that was no doubt a string of useless apologies. The device began to vibrate and without looking at who it was the raven-haired female sent it to voicemail. Truth be told she had already found another distributor, a little more expensive but they were locally sourced which meant more opportunity to ensure the quality of the products.

Slipping the cell phone into her back pocket, ignoring the constant vibrating Lita turned to head back into the living room when movement caught her eye. Turning fully to the window her almond shaped eyes narrowed for a moment until recognition flashed through her mind. She watched him for a few minutes, trying to gauge why he was just standing outside the house. The expression on his face was pensive, wistful even which spurred her into action. Curiosity propelled her through the house and put the backdoor where she circled around to where Daehyun stood looking at the cabin as if the weight of the world rested on his squared shoulders.

“You look as if you are contemplating the mysteries of the universe and the answers can be found in the grain of wood.” She gestured to the wood planks that made up the bones and foundation of the cabin. A slight smile on her face as she walked up to stand next to him, pondering the cabin in a reflection of his own stance and repose. “What exactly are you doing out here?” There was a touch of amusement and curiosity to her tone, as she knew Dae never did anything without a solid and valid reason.

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NiveisPermalink Reply by ✓ Daehyun Stormwind on May 10, 2019 at 5:52

Unyak had been his place of shelter for as long as he could remember, that’s a given when it’s the longest place he’s been at. But it was nowhere near home. When they moved, the island was supposed to be their place of refuge for a few days, or a week, at most, considering it wasn’t the most idealistic place for phoenixes to reside in, especially with no heat to accompany them day and night. They allowed the whole tribe to mourn over their sacrificed, their fallen ones that were ruthlessly butchered by others that eventually forced them to flee from their home before Unyak. It was supposed to be a new beginning, but now that place only serves Daehyun as a bitter memory.

It’s where he would remember as his prison, nothing more and nothing less. He died there, in the hands of the person he trusted the most; the one he had so many high hopes for. Watching his sanity go away, he couldn’t fathom how much it hurts him internally. He could still feel the pain in his chest, just above where his heart lies, when it rains. Ironically. It’s the same spot where he had a mark over, alongside their tribal marks that trailed from his wrist up to his arm and shoulders, spreading through his torso. No one ever saw his marks up close because the snowy-haired niveis always made sure to cover himself up, a personal trait from his old life for Daehyun was forced to cover himself since childhood after his phoenix marks started to appear to avoid suspicion from his former tribe.

After moving to Evermore, everything was slowly looking up, they had more addition to their tribe, and Anivia was prospering as a chief. The elder Stormwind was elated to see how far she’s come from 40 years ago. So his faith and hopes were not misplaced, after all. But perhaps, the time has come where he puts his mantle down and dismiss himself. Not entirely out of the tribe permanently but Dae needed to find himself again. The pale-haired male felt as if he’s been inside this vessel for so long feeling lost. Shortly after he was brought back as a niveis, he coped with it by enduring the stakes of a soldier. Every order Coldren barked, he would comply without any questions raised. It didn’t take him long to realize that being someone’s lap dog was not what he wanted, especially under such a tyrant. From there, his journey as a spy began.

He kept staring at the main cabin, delving too deep into his own train of thoughts, so much that he didn’t even realize another presence crept up behind him. Hearing her familiar voice, the younger male turned around to face her and cleared his throat a few times. “Maybe I am contemplating it, the world is a mysterious place, isn’t it?” Lita Okada was one of the Elder that of course, he had information on. During their rebellion against the tyrannical niveis that ruled over them, Daehyun communicated the most with Thomaz, who was also one of the Elders, one of the wisest and oldest too. He wasn’t all close with everyone else, but who is actually close with the elder Stormwind sibling, really? You find him or he finds you, either way, it’s not as if they could barge into his home and demand to see him, even Anivia understood that.

Lita is one of the greatest warriors he’s ever witnessed, of course. He respected her greatly but never went as far to talk much, not to anyone. When she asked what he’s doing there, he shifted his stance slightly and shrugged casually. “Just looking around, I’m almost never home, thought I’d stop by and see how things are going. Everyone seems to be settling well.” Home, why does the word feel so bitter when he said it? “How are you holding up? Good?” He wasn't above to just tell her out loud that he's planning to leave, especially when they both know another member's departure would upset Anivia greatly.

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Permalink Reply by 2f9jul46h6nt4 on June 8, 2019 at 17:24

Stepping off the porch her boots made very little sound as they transferred from wood to compact Earth, her dark almond-shaped eyes studied the snowy-haired male. He looked pensive as if the weight of the world were resting upon his shoulders though he couldn’t find an adequate place to set the globe down despite his efforts. It made her wonder if that were his plan if that far off look in his eye wasn’t a desperate attempt to try and escape something he couldn’t seem to shake. It was a tad concerning given what his main job was and the fact that most of his profession was built upon his ability to spot details and keep up with people. Yet here she was sneaking up on him, practically in front of his face and under his nose and still unnoticed.

The Niveis had a sordid and complicated past, many of their stories were riddled with blood and betrayal. With that sort of beginning, it was no wonder many of them were so closed off and suspicious, even of each other. Those who were older, however, and had lived through the tragedy and somehow had managed to stay connected to one another; through Anivia. Their Chieftain had kept them all connected, bringing them to Evermore and carving out a place for them among this community of misfits and abnormalities that inhabited the city. Since coming to this mountain city in the middle of Colorado their people had begun to thrive again, growing in numbers and influence as well as once again beginning to enjoy life.

Daehyun had never been the type of person to simply wander aimlessly. As a spy everything he did had a specific purpose in mind, a specific goal be it a piece of intelligence he meant to gain or something he needed to attain. Seeing him outside simply staring off into space was so out of character for the male it set Lita on edge and made her immediately suspicious. Tilting her head to the side she considered his words slowly nodding her head as he acquiesced her statement about the world. It wasn’t like him to do so readily, or in such a forthwith fashion. Narrowing her eyes he seemed to be deflecting from something which raised her suspicions even more.

“Perhaps.” She responded, watching as he began deflecting and asking her rapid-fire questions that were inane and meant next to nothing. Dae never asked how she was, nor did he care. There was something up, something he was trying very hard to hide and now she was almost certain of it. Pursing her lips together the warrior slide her hands into the pockets of her jeans and sighed, “You know I didn’t take you for one to act like such a fool. Or to think that I would be taken in for one so easily.” Shaking her head she sighed, looking around to make sure they weren’t going to be overheard before she leveled her gaze at him. “Out with it, what’s going on?”

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NiveisPermalink Reply by ✓ Daehyun Stormwind on August 8, 2019 at 16:27

He wasn't supposed to be startled like this albeit even if he wasn't as startled as one should be when being snuck up by Lita Okada of all people, Daehyun was known for his perceptiveness that carried him well with his job throughout the lines. Yet here he was, almost suffering from a mini heart attack because the raven-haired female had came up to him asking questions he wasn't sure he could even answer without stuttering in guilt. Was he ready to actually leave Evermore? Yes. But was he ready and willing to leave his own tribe behind? The one helped build in hopes that they would be granted the second chance everyone deserved? Undecided. And that is exactly what's been eating the elder Stormwind up for the past few months. 

The presence of the female elder made Dae scrunch his nose up in distress and drenched with nervousness that came out of nowhere, he was lost for words; speechless. He exhaled the air that he wasn't even aware he had been holding in, things would be getting out of hand the longer he chose to keep it forthright. You should tell her, he told himself yet the voice remained what it was; a voice. Not really much of 'voice of reason' anywhere near it. He may have been a good liar who could lie like his life depended on it, obliterating every form of emotion that could be seen by any eye with an emotionless face. Only, it wasn't really a mask there. Upon hearing her response to his rather off behavior, Daehyun shook his head denying the matters quickly, "No… that wasn't my intention at all… to lie to you or take you easy. How could I? You're an Elder, Lita. You and I both know how much we've suffered. It doesn't get easier." There it was. 

Dae didn't went straight ahead with his plans to leave but he did let the female know what he's thinking about, to be fair, that was what she asked anyway. "Maybe I'm thinking about other things… outside of the circle… outside of this circle," he turned to face her with both his hands tucked in his pocket, the way the wind blew lightly made his pale hair stand out even more despite the snowy state they were in, "I was thinking about what our lives would've been, sorry my life… what my life would've been if I had accepted that offer of freedom and left." 

Huffing slightly as he puffed his chest, his doll-like lips shifted itself into a pout, and the Nivies shrugged, "Not that our tribe is bad but you know, those questions… They sometimes pop up." It was a bit surprising to see someone with delicate features as his turn out to be quite the mercenary, but the dark hooded feline outlook made him intimidating at some point too. His gaze was still leveled with Lita, a part of him didn't care what she says, he never did care what others say anyway, but another part of him that craves a sense of belonging feared what she would say. So many didn't know about how he is with only an exception to few like Anivia, Kal, Lita...

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Permalink Reply by 2f9jul46h6nt4 on September 4, 2019 at 2:28

Lita had known Daehyun a very long time. The bones of the tribe had been around since before Coldren had gone mad and frozen their fires, long before their flight into the frozen tundra of the arctic circle. It was one of the reasons the pair of then were considered Elders, they had been there from the beginning. From proud and powerful Firelord's at the height of their prime to the downfall of the tribe at the hands of both Initia and humans alike, together the had evacuated what had been left of their people to the frozen wastelands just for some semblance of peace. Dae and Lita both knew the dirty and bloody deeds that had been needed to be enacted in order to not only attain that peace but to maintain it and it took its toll upon the soul. At certain times Lita had wondered if there was ever a point that she was going to be able to come back from all the dark things she had done in the name of keeping her people safe if the blood staining her hands would stop washing off.

There were few people who could understand her struggle and Dae had always been one of those people. Though he was considered more of a spy than an enforcer he knew the things that haunted her and could relate. They had both lost an untold amount of things in their lifetime, intangible memories and people who could never be replaced. Yet they did it because if they didn't, someone else would have to. She had always felt a sort of kinship with the male due to that fact and the idea that he might be keeping something from her now upset her. After so many years Lita had thought they had gotten past keeping secrets, moved past deflecting.

She pushed like she was want to do and thankfully she didn't have to push very hard for him to crack. The male moved restlessly as he spilled what was on his mind in a slightly incoherent rush. Had she not known him as well as she sis she might have been confused by his words but as her mind processed it all her brows knit together as her lips pressed into a thin line. Then she carefully made her face go blank, no expression whatsoever. A serene almost placid look at she tucked her hands inside the front pockets of her jeans and kept her stance relaxed. As upsetting as his thoughts were she was not one to let her emotions get the better of her and she was not about to start now.

"I see." She answered, her tone almost conversational as her nearly black hues scanned the tree line. Inside her rage was seething, the mere idea that one of her closest friends was considering leaving was unthinkable. After everything they had been through, everything they had sacrificed and how far they had come as both a tribe and as a community. It was nearly unconscionable that the male would be bringing this up to her of all people, that of all the Niveis he would think it was a good idea the mention leaving to the one person who had sacrificed everything in order to ensure the tribe’s safety and security.

“I wonder what it is that you feel is keeping you caged here? What is it about the tribe that everyone sees that is so bad and constricting that they must run to achieve this so-called freedom they don’t already have?” She spit the last few words out with such venom that ice nearly flew from her lips, the temperature around her dropping with her ire. “What is it about our lives that suddenly has you thinking you are like a caged animal that must be freed? Have we not sacrificed and fought long and hard to achieve everything that we have today? To throw all of that away would be a disgrace and dishonor the lives of all those who fell in the name of our tribe.”

She took a few steps away from him, thinking about her father, the man who had taught her everything about being a warrior. Her husband, the man who had shown her love and tenderness in a world of blood and death. Her twin boys, the miracles of joy that she hadn’t dreamed she needed in her life and yet when they had arrived she had known instantly she wanted more than life itself. Then came the moment they had all been ripped from her grasp, all four of them slaughtered before she had been able to get to them and still she had fought for her people. Fought hard to ensure that as many of the tribe as possible escaped living another day.

“Does the hard-fought road we have been down mean nothing to anyone anymore?” Lita hissed.

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NiveisPermalink Reply by ✓ Daehyun Stormwind on September 7, 2019 at 10:13

Ever since he came to join Coldren's phoenix tribe close to 164 years ago, everyone had been so welcoming to both him and his sister, Mirae. It was almost unexplainable to see how humble and withdrawn the community as a whole were, especially Coldren. Where could he even begin to describe how homey and belonging everything used to feel like? He loved the life they led, sure they had a few unsettled misunderstandings and conflicts with the Initia tribes but who doesn't? They were branded nemesis since birth which led Daehyun himself to flee his own tribe despite being the leader's firstborn. Fate had something else in store for him. It sure did. Everything was fine until it wasn't. One attack was all that it took to take them down, physically and mentally. They had to flee again but at that time, they had lost their own leader who descended into his own dark path. 

Dae will never be able to forget the crazed look visible in Coldren's eyes when he found out he had the chance to create a stronger and unique species, being a counterpart of their phoenix selves as if they weren't already one deviant species before. To say that Daehyun was afraid would be an understatement, he feared for his future, if he has one, and the future of others in the tribe. What will happen if one day, someday, he ended up losing his way and become like their former tyrant of a ruler? He didn't want that. A part of him was begging for her to understand his current circumstances, "You know this was never my choice no matter how you'd like to see it" he murmured faintly, his gaze was still fixated on the ground instead of meeting her sharp glare, he could already feel the way she was slowly fuming, "I'm not as strong as you may think I am, Lita. I'm not you. All those things we did, for the sake of our tribe, for the sake of our people, our family… I can never come back from it." 

He shook his head, no he couldn't find a will to come back from it and it has been plaguing his mind since he was sent out in a scouting mission 40 years ago. It haunted his head for the next 40 years too. Dae remembered looking up to her and respecting how she carried herself even after all the bloodshed and tragedy that befell her entire family, he always found a way to empathize with her but to see the woman he respected get mad at him, it was slowly shredding whatever courage he had left. The placid emotionless look she wore was eating his guilt and he felt as if his entire being was burning himself for it. Nobody ever would have thought him, out of all people, would leave. He could've left 40 years ago but he didn't. He stayed. For reasons unknown to many, even when Dae would like to tell himself it was because his loyalty drives deep and he didn't want to leave this tribe that gave him his home once. 

"Nothing here is keeping me caged, Lita. To be honest, I don't even know myself right now. Why am I here? Because I'm a tribe member, because I promised Thomaz to look after Kal and Anivia, I served my purpose as a soldier… As a spy, perhaps even as a friend, I've never questioned any command given even if I bicker with Nivi occasionally" he sighed and finally had the courage to look back up to meet her dark hues, "But what's my purpose as a person, Lita? Whatever I have done before, and even now, it's all for our family. I don't even know what I want, I don't have any desires or hopes… or dreams, it never bothered me before but a friend asked, and then I started wondering who the fuck am I?" It was clear that this had been bothering the snowy-haired Niveis for quite some time, he was trying his best to not explode and say it in a calming manner but the way his fists were balled up and the audible sound of his heart breaking, Daehyun Stormwind was actually feeling sad. 

"And I'm not leaving forever… it's a temporary thing, think of it as a sabbatical leave or something. When you need me you know what you have to do, and I'll come running without a thought. I won't hesitate to do anything for our tribe but I'm not gonna be anymore useful to you if I'm like this" he pursed his lips and sighed heavily, "Someone told me, when you feel like you have nobody to feel that love from, sometimes you just need to love yourself because at the end of the day, you're all that you have." His eyes were filled with plenty of emotions steering clear, as if he was pleading with Lita not to resent him for doing this because she's one of the only people he probably would have in this lifetime, "This hard-fought road means everything to me. To us. But I need that closure. I owe myself that."

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Permalink Reply by 2f9jul46h6nt4 on December 4, 2019 at 16:59

It seemed almost inconceivable that anyone would be thinking about leaving, that life outside the tribe would be so alluring. After everything the lot of them had been through, the bonds should have grown tighter. Shedding blood and sharing the kind of traumas they had would should have tethered their hearts to one beating entity, forging a new tribe from the icy depths of the frozen wastes of a tyrannical maniac raising a united people bent on cooperation and community. Instead in the span of a week, she had encountered three of her own who would have rather cut bait and struck out on their lonesome, flying solo into the sunset while the rest of the tribe scattered to the four winds like so much ash.

It made her angry. It made her sad. It made her despair of the future of her tribe if they couldn’t keep themselves together and put up a united front. They would never be able to face a new or brighter tomorrow if their members kept slipping into the shadows like wraiths. Then again maybe that was the destiny of the Niveis, to become the virtual frozen phantoms of the supernatural world before fading into obscurity. That was perhaps what they deserved after all of the death and mayhem they had caused the millennials as the Phoenix and Initia wars had carved a bloody path through history. Lita had always wondered if their true fate was supposed to have been dying out, either in the final battle or when the cold had doused the flames of their immortality.

Somewhere in the depths of her mind Lita also knew that she might not be thinking in a completely subjective manner, some of her anger towards those who might be wanting to leave is centered more inward than outward. She felt Dae’s need to leave as a personal attack against herself and while that wasn’t exactly fair or reasonable it was still her feelings. She’s fought her ass off to keep so many people safe, sacrificed the safety of her own family to keep others safe, and people had the audacity to think that life elsewhere was going to be so much better. It was galling to her pride and crippling to her heart.

It seemed like everyone was acting out of some selfish need for self-preservation and need to find themselves because heaven forbid one find who they were when they were around the Tribe. It sounded stupid and silly to her, the woman who had given everything to ensure that everyone else survived. That was who she was, who she had always been. Shaking her head she couldn’t keep the confused and quite frankly disgusted expression off of her face, her only saving gave was that her voice was steady and even, “If you think that’s what you need….”

She couldn’t finish the sentence, unsure of what other thoughts she could convey. She didn’t agree with him nor did she understand and it went against her code to say something she didn’t mean. Unable to keep standing there she broke eye contact with him, heaving a sigh and shaking her head all the harder and barking out a humorless laugh. “Please, don’t patronize me. We both know you won’t come back.” Lita had already seen what a Niveis being on his own was like and she could already see how it would change Dae. The only thing that had kept him connected to the Tribe and to his duty was being around his friends and doing his duty. Once freed from that and on his own, he wouldn’t come back.

“You and I both know that as soon as you find something or someone else to place your loyalty in that will be it.” She sliced her hand through the air as if her hand were the sword cutting the rope that tied him to his people, “Not even a nuclear holocaust would call you back here.” She spoke bitterly as she finally turned back around to face him, daring him to tell her she was wrong.

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NiveisPermalink Reply by ✓ Daehyun Stormwind on December 5, 2019 at 17:41

The decision about leaving didn't come easy to him. Of course, it didn't. He had devoted his entire life to this tribe, like or not, this was his home. His history was forged there, everything smells like home and that pains him because he knew he needed some time away to recollect himself. He had been denying himself this for decades and the last straw was pulled out harshly after he was asked by his good friend what he wanted in life. Knowing he was stumped into not answering with a clear answer, Daehyun knew he couldn't keep living like this. But he knew exactly what this would make him look like in the eyes of the people who's been here just as long as he has been, it was precisely the reason why Dae was apprehensive and reluctant to tell Lita about his departure. It wasn't easy. But it needed to be done. Had it been up to him, the snowy-haired Niveis would've probably sneaked away without being noticed and left. But people would find him, eventually. People would seek him out only to find his absence. What was he going to say then?

 Of course, he needed to brief them regarding his temporary leave. He's told Anivia, who urged him to collect himself, telling him he will always be welcomed back home when he returns. But that's Anivia, this is Lita, a whole different woman with different standing. Both equally respectful and strong but still so different. He wasn't surprised to receive such a cold response from her, he expected that, more than anything, which tells that Dae indeed analyzed everyone throughout the years. He allowed his perception to take place and in return, he was able to pinpoint their highlights. "I didn't intend to patronize you… Lita" he murmured faintly, this wasn't going the way he thought he would. But was he surprised? He needed to make an effort. He had to. "I'll come back… but I'm more concerned of the part where you are so confident I won't. Why do you think I won't?" He was aware that plenty has left them but he wasn't like them. 

He just needed to clear some air. If he wanted to leave, he would've left 40 years ago. He was hurt that she thought he was easy to sway like that, "Do you have so little faith in me?" he sighed heavily, his feet kicking over the snow as Daehyun pursed his lips, "I already found someone. I already found something. The things and the people who would drag me back here despite everything happening, my sister in here. My tribe is here. My friends are here. In Evermore. Daehyun Stormwind is a part of this tribe, he was born here." He reiterated every sentence clearly, though he joined the tribe as a Phoenix when he was 16, the Niveis was born there. It was where both him and Mirae were given new surnames. To mark their rebirth. 

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Permalink Reply by 2f9jul46h6nt4 on January 22, 2020 at 1:46

Lita sighed, reaching up to run her fingers through her dark mane in an uncharacteristic show of frustration. This wasn’t exactly what she had been prepared to tackle right on the heels of her disagreement with Kaldre. That particular conversation had left her smarting, with open wounds that leaked emotionally into her days. On certain levels, he had been right and even while she nursed those wounds she couldn’t help but feel on others he had been wrong. All of her sacrifices and all of the loss she had experienced over the years couldn’t have been for nothing, couldn’t have been as a result of her negligence of her family. She’d been raised to protect and defend, though she had failed those closest to her in that respect many of her tribe were alive because of her efforts.

Crossing over to the steps of the house the Elder took a seat, stretching her long legs out in front of her as she looked to the grey sky. “You said you feel no love from your people. Love is the essence of acceptance and understanding, so if you aren’t feeling it from us then you will find it somewhere else.” Once he did find it he wouldn’t be ready to leave it or willing to let it go even if their people did need him. While her own heart had been broken beyond repair all these many years she had managed to hide the damage by burying her heart in her duty. The oath that she had taken so many years ago, to serve and protect, was the main source of love and understanding that she felt both for her tribe and for her Chieftain.

With a slightly disdainful snort at his assurances, she brought her onyx colored hues up to look him in the eyes, “If you truly sound someone and something that would pull you back then the idea of leaving would be abhorrent to you. The ability to leave even when you state you have things and people that would bring you back is the epitome of an oxymoron.” Pressing her palms together the Niveis willed frost to appear over her fingers, the little specks of snow building until little icicles formed that hung down the edge of her hands. “My lack of faith is not in you, but in the wanderlust that now has ahold of you.”

Lita paused for a few moments, looking at how the ice formed over her palms. “Everyone is abandoning me.” Her voice was quiet and forlorn, as the gravity of what was happening hit her.

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NiveisPermalink Reply by ✓ Daehyun Stormwind on February 16, 2020 at 16:19

Leaving was the last thing most people would think of Daehyun. He's never shown any signs of displeasure much less the temptation withheld to leave the tribe. He's always put them first and that slowly became a problem for him when he realized he didn't put himself first enough. Not enough for him to decide on his own. It was the very reason why he sought out Anivia and talked to her about his absence in the future. To take a brief break so he could find himself in that particular journey. And the chief was the one who suggested that he took some time off to be sure. But then again, Lita wasn't Anivia and Anivia wasn't Lita. How could he expect them to accept this decision the same way? His eyes lingered over her form as she took a seat by the stairs, it was a rather sullen look, clearly Dae didn't want it to come down to that but he could no longer reject what was buried deep inside him. 

"Perhaps it had something to do with the facts that I closed myself off away from others." It was no news that the elder Stormwind was known for his offhanded roots, he would speak only when he needed to. His actions spoke louder. Nobody tried to prod him to talk any further. "When I first came to you guys, I was 16 years old. Did you remember? I was carrying my sister and I was desperately searching for a sanctuary. You were there. You were the one who found me looking a scared boy wandering around. You were the one who took us to Coldren." Lita was quite possibly the first person he met when he fled. He had been intimidated by her then but learned that there was a reason for everything. "Sounds like the same thing to me. And that's okay. I haven't been myself for awhile now. And it sucks that someone had to tell me to find myself again because that tells me to wonder, what kind of life have I led this far?" 

He needed to find closure, he was so sure of that. "Nobody's abandoning you, Lita. Not really. I don't know what it is, but you have something nobody in the tribe does. I'm not like you and you're not like me. We're two different people from similar worlds but the reality will stay that way, we'll never be the same and that doesn't have to be a bad thing." But he'd rather lose himself than to lose his passion. "I love spying, so do you really think you can get rid of me easily? Who's gonna come and report over Rhydian's incompetencies? Who's gonna nag Nivi and tell her the right hand is as good as his wings on a display? I'm way too good at those things."

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Permalink Reply by 2f9jul46h6nt4 on April 13, 2020 at 13:37

Lita reached up and yanked the hair tie free from her hair, the event locks cascading around her shoulders. The tight hold the little black rubber band had had on her hair mixed with Dae's revelation gave her a headache. Or maybe it was the ache in her heart that had her body suddenly flushed. "You closed yourself off even from me?" She looked at him with no small amount of hurt shining in her dark orbs. He had brought up the past and the memories made this entire exchange even more difficult to swallow. The day he had shown up she had been on patrol and the last thing she had expected to come upon was a raggedy teen on his last reserves of energy. Both he and his sister had looked exhausted, emaciated, and thoroughly put out by the world. He had been scared out of his wits but there had been a spine of steel even then that she had adored.

"Don't bring up the past in hopes of gaining my blessing. You won't get it." Her voice was hard yet gruff, the hours she had spent training him and watching him grow into such a powerful and sneaky man. "Your life has been as mine, one of service and protection to our people. A people who are already far too scattered for my liking." Perhaps it was the fresh wounds Kaldre had dealt her earlier in the week but this felt like the second round to the same fight. She gave him a grudging look, "If you can't find meaning in your life now, from all these past years, what makes you think going on a walk about is going to help that?" If anything it would solidify his belief that he didn't belong here and he would never return.

She shook her head as she rose, running an errant hand through her hair. "Don't tell me who is or isn't doing what in my life." She scoffed at the idea that she might have something unnameable that no one else in the tribe had. It was called loyalty and duty. Once more she rolled her eyes at his insistence that he wasn't going to be gone for long. "Oh please. Everyone knows of those things. It doesn't take a spy to point those things out." Luta turned and regarded him for a long moment, trying to see past her anger and hurt. "Where would...will you go?" It wasn't exactly a question she wanted him to answer but if she knew then finding him would be easier.

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NiveisPermalink Reply by ✓ Daehyun Stormwind on May 4, 2020 at 7:52

When he looked back at their tribe, he could see a few smiles but he could also see the reluctance underlying, it was like it wasn’t about to go away anytime soon. Dae has known only one thing throughout his entire life here, seeing as he’s spent a big portion of them at the same place with everyone else; that was knowing to stay in his own bubble. Despite being given the chance to venture the world over 40 years ago when Anivia started letting out scouts to see what information they could bring back, he realized that he hasn’t found any meaning to it. Was he marvelled by the modern century? Yes. But his mission was simple, go in, get information, make sure it keeps flowing, then go back. It’s the same routine every single time. But he also knew he lucked out better compared to everyone else, at least he could walk around the area even when Coldren was reigning, the same couldn’t be said about others, because the tyrant would always insist that they would try to overtake him one day. He wasn’t wrong, but it was still daunting.

 Mirae couldn’t even leave the apothecary throughout the entire period. Maybe he couldn’t see past her as well as he could others, Lita always knew to mask her true emotions in front of everyone, but he could detect the slight waver in her tone that described her mood enough for him, “I was 16 when I first came here. I was like 27 when I was turned into a Niveis. I’ve only known one life before and maybe that wasn’t enough for me. Everyone was so nice to me but it was daunting, we lost a lot of people, Lita. I couldn’t be bothered to be attached to another person when I’m not even sure if they’ll survive the day when someone tries to cover it up saying they asked for it when they ‘invoked’ Coldren’s wrath.” So he closed himself off from everyone and maintained a one way of life. “Remember, I didn’t even get to see my sister for over 150 years. And she was so nearby…” 

He could feel that pang of guilt washing over him when she said he wasn’t going to get a blessing from her, in all honesty, even when he portrayed himself as someone who wouldn’t give a damn what others think on his decisions, it was the complete opposite when it comes to the people he actually craves validation from. “It was worth a try... “ he murmured, at least he didn’t leave without a notice. Still, knowing she was the last of the people he needed to get blessing from, it was weighing him down. Mirae gave him hers, despite having a heavy heart. Anivia gave him hers. “I don't necessarily need to come to a conclusion… I just need to give it a try so I won’t regret not doing it. I like it here, Lita. Believe what you may, but I like it here. I think our tribe can settle fine here and I’m looking forward to seeing that day where we won’t have to be by ourselves… that gets lonely, you know.” 

His voice was soft, he’s always the gruff man who didn’t like to filter her words but he didn’t want to argue with Lita, of all people. She was his mentor, after all. But when she asked where he would go, Dae was slightly taken aback but quickly regained his composure, “Maybe California… I promised a friend I would come see him in NYC too, and maybe… just maybe find my interests again aside from being a bounty hunter” he chuckled, he does like to put them to a good use seeing as he didn’t have to spy within the tribe anymore, “Maybe even read something on architecture… they sound interesting.” 

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