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Post by Aria Talei on Jan 17, 2011 17:00:27 GMT -5
This is a funeral-like ceremony for the victims of the Yina massacre. If it makes sense for your character to be here, by all means, join. This may end up being NonCannon, but it has some relevance- we'll see.
Not going to botherr making a rules list- two day rule. And goo-
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Post by Aria Talei on Jan 17, 2011 17:16:11 GMT -5
From the distance a slim trail of candles traced their way from the thick surrounding forest into the Land of Sleeping Spirits, seemingly floating on their own accord as the Werecats holding them were garbed entirely in black and so nearly blended into the midnight sky behind them. The moon was a slim silver curve and the stars even seemed dimmer- the only guiding light were the small flames that lent a soft, orb-like glow.
Beneath the slim black veil, Aria Talei's eyes were unseeingly fixed on her small candle, the red wax glowing bloody between her fingers. She had no need to look where she was going- the slow train of mourners guided her from the corners of her eyes- and she was reluctant to look around. Garbed in an unusual modest attire, a black, sleeveless cloak drawn over an equally dark tribal tunic and skirt, she had only left on her golden earrings as jewelry. Her feet were bare, and her hair tied back, long bangs reaching her shoulders and framing her face.
It was deathly silent, the same eerie, still feeling present as when Aria had first discovered the destruction. There were a few occasional murmuring somewhere around her, and here and there someone was choking back sobs, but otherwise all was quiet. In a stroke of imagination Aria thought she had discovered the use of veils- the finer features of her face were harder to make out, thus hiding the blank look in her eyes and the tears glittering there.
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Post by Cheveyo Kitchi on Jan 17, 2011 17:55:05 GMT -5
It was difficult, to say the least, to gather up the courage to visit Yina again.
Eyes shielded by the hood of her midnight, lack-of-color black cloak, Cheveyo followed the procession of Werecats, gripping her candle with white knuckles. The red wax was horribly fitting...it almost sickened her to think about what she had seen only days ago. Images of the jaguar flashed in her mind, and she clamped her eyes shut.
So many deaths...so many deaths had occurred in her time as Chieftess.
Elias first...countless others...and now this.
Her hair was down for once, and not styled in any fashion. She had removed the paint from her face and dressed in a black tunic and skirt, similar to those of her Ambassador. Though she had no veil, aforementioned hood managed to conceal the saddened look on her face. She had managed to keep herself from crying, but her eyes bore the familiar sheen that depicted forming tears. It was a miracle that she had been able to keep them at bay.
Her feet - bare as usual - were soundless against the grass, unfazed by the odd texture that had formed due to the fire. Cheveyo felt terribly numb...all her senses seemed to have dulled, and her mind had become foggy. All of this...it was a major blow to them all, but it hit Chey particularly hard. To know that all of this had happened under her reign...she felt guilty. Of course, none of this had truly been her fault, but that did not make the knot in her stomach go away.
Yina...
Under her watchful eye, it had been soiled.
A lone tear escaped.
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Post by Aria Talei on Jan 17, 2011 19:20:41 GMT -5
By chance, Aria's eyes happened to flicker directly in front of her. There, four ahead in the staggered line, she happened to spot Chey's profile. Her leader looked rather how she felt, a single tear illuminated across her cheek. The Ambassador glanced away, willing herself to forget she had seen her; she had business she needed to discuss with her, but was not at all in the mood.
After a few minutes of trying to put the matter from her mind, however, she sighed quietly, and hastened her pace so that she was level with her Chief.
"This may not be the time," she said softly; it felt wrong to intrude on the mournful silence. "But I have plans that I wish to put into action immediately, though as both my confidant and leader, I wish to have your input on it first."
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Post by Cheveyo Kitchi on Jan 17, 2011 19:32:24 GMT -5
Cheveyo, not looking up at Aria, wiped away the one tear and choked back a small sob. She couldn't allow herself to appear weak...no! She would not allow it! Not in front of her people...especially not in front of Aria.
Her hand returned to the candle and she responded to her Ambassador, still not looking over at her. "Tell me of these plans, then." Her tone was equally hushed. "I agree; I wish to act fast...but I currently do not know what we should do. If you have an idea, then, by all means...speak." It wouldn't be too hard to pick up the barely restrained emotion in Cheveyo's voice, if one was listening properly. As much as she didn't want to show her grief, it was impossible to hold it all back.
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Post by Aria Talei on Jan 17, 2011 20:11:51 GMT -5
Although Aria understood the grief- indeed, shared in it- she was nonetheless uncomfortable with Chey's agony. She was precariously on the edge herself, belaying showing weakness in prohibiting her thoughts to linger on the dead and her ruined sanctuary.
She took a similar approach as Chey, however, and avoided her leader's eyes, looking blankly off to the left. "I'm sure you haven't forgotten our promise to the Humans," she said quietly. "Under the circumstances, we could not have, of course, held up our end of the deal- but the scheduled date has come and gone without a word from Prince Lorin or Captain Banez. What was meant to be an extension of trust has backfired, and I don't believe it will be a problem easy to remedy. Instead of sending a message of apology by falcon, though, I would like the opportunity to explain ourselves to the Human court in person. Attention is needed here, and in Feryn, of course," a woman cried out ahead of them, a shameless wail of such intensity that she fell to her knees- Aria closed her eyes. "But I hear that Vampires have been suspected? They might know. Or take our side, if it comes to that."
Her last words were said bitterly; despite having worked alongside Kahjit in Feryn, she didn't trust him as far as he could throw him and, to be honest, Aria didn't have a great arm.
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Post by Cheveyo Kitchi on Jan 18, 2011 9:33:37 GMT -5
Cheveyo nodded slowly, eyes wandering to the candle she held and the flame that danced upon it.
A gust of wind blew by, unceremoniously extinguishing the light.
She couldn't hold back a few more tears.
The lives of those people...they had been snuffed out. Just like that.
Holding the candle in her right hand, she let it fall to her side, her left falling, as well.
"If at all possible, I would like to accompany you." She said just before the wail up ahead was heard. It was just like a blow to her heart...she almost cringed. Spirits...all of this pain, all of this suffering...it's almost unbearable. She resumed speaking once the cry had died out; "As much as I believe that your point would get across if it were just you to go, I was the one that made the promise...I am the one who broke it. I am responsible."
At Aria's talk of the vampires, she sighed. "They've been suspected, yes, but nothing has been said for certain...to be honest, I'm deeply confused at the moment. As much as I want to believe they did it, it could have easily been some rogues..."
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Post by Aria Talei on Jan 18, 2011 10:59:38 GMT -5
Aria felt a similar pang as the sudden wind too snuffed out her candle; gazing sadly at the glowing wick for a few seconds, she dared a glance toward her leader and was astonished to find her face slick with tears.
The wail in the distance wavered and fell into a quiet, choking sob- several Werecats had hurried to the side of the fallen woman, but Aria had only concern for her Chief. "Chey..."
Gently drawing her from the staggered line by her wrist, the Ambassador made an unusual motion- holding her unlit candle in one hand, she wrapped one arm around her friend's shoulders, the other about her midsection, embracing her tightly. After a long moment, she released her, fixing the woman's brown eyes fiercely with her copper ones, sweeping back her veil.
"This- none of this- is your fault," she said, quietly but with force behind it; on her own face, Aria could feel a tear free itself from her lashes, but she made no motion to wipe it away. "Nothing could have been done; no one could have anticipated an attack here. Your promise to the Humans went only as far as the safety of your own people, and this they should know- you did your duty by taking care of matters here, first."
She paused, clenching her jaw suddenly as she felt it spasm with a suppressed sob. She was furious with herself, to allow grief, such a private affair, to manifest itself in the eyes of her leader- she had been determined to mourn alone, after those who had died had been avenged. But things did not work out to her intentions.
"I think it would be a good idea for you to accompany me," Aria agreed softly. "It is not often that the Cheiftess visits Human royalty- your presence will help to portray the intensity of this situation. But I would like to depart as soon as possible. I don't trust the wolves, and the sooner we can return, the better."
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Post by Cheveyo Kitchi on Jan 18, 2011 12:14:00 GMT -5
She heard her name said in a soft tone, but Cheveyo did not acknowledge it. Her right hand had tightened around the candle, threatening to snap the wax in half.
Then, slender fingers wrapped around her left wrist. She made no attempt to break this grip, however, as she was pulled aside.
It was until she was embraced by Aria that she actually reacted in some way.
A soft, surprised yelp escaped her lips.
She hadn't been hugged in the longest time, especially with this ferocity. It felt...strange. But...comforting. A welcome feeling. She did not move to return the embrace, however. She simply let her arms hang loosely at her sides, unable to summon the will to move them.
At Aria's passionate words, Cheveyo found herself even more stunned. Spirits, was she becoming that easy to read? How she hated seeming so weak! Grieving...it was meant to be done alone. At least, to her, it was. She was Chieftess...she had to appear strong. She had to appear brave. She had to appear rock solid.
But...that rock was starting to crack.
Finding herself at a loss for how to reply to that, she merely listened to the second part of her Ambassador's speech and nodded. "Yes. While I am a bit unsure of how I will be received there, my presence shall hopefully drive our point home."
A pause.
"...Ambassador?" Her voice was hesitant, almost meek.
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Post by Aria Talei on Jan 18, 2011 12:27:43 GMT -5
Aria nodded gravely. "You are a member of royalty. You will be greeted with respect; the Humans know better than to tread on our toes."
A brief silence passed, in which time the Ambassador let fall her hands from her Chief's shoulders. She glanced down at the extinguished wick of her candle, then cast her eyes around for a friendly soul to relight hers.
"...Ambassador?" Chey's tone was surprisingly timid; Aria turned back to her.
"Yes, Chief?"
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Post by Cheveyo Kitchi on Jan 18, 2011 12:48:56 GMT -5
Cheveyo took a deep, shaky breath as she attempted to compose herself.
"...Thank you." She said after a beat, meeting Aria's eyes fully. While her own sparkled with tears once more, they did not fall.
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Post by Aria Talei on Jan 18, 2011 12:59:33 GMT -5
Aria held her gaze for a moment, then glanced down and away. "Of course," she murmured. The procession around them had moved on without a backwards glance- people were too wrapped up in their own torments to notice the strange moment of weakness for two of their ranking political figures. Glancing around, her business finished and rather at a loss of what else to say, Aria motioned faintly ahead of them, where the mourners had crowded around the spot of destruction in the distance.
"We should move on," she suggested.
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Post by Cheveyo Kitchi on Jan 18, 2011 13:17:25 GMT -5
Cheveyo nodded once, her fingers drumming against the candle she still held. "Indeed." She turned and made for the small crowd, knowing Aria would follow her.
Once she reached the crowd, the werecats parted for her, allowing her to move partially into the circle. On her way by, one of her subjects offered her their flame, which she quickly relit her candle on.
Her eyes scanned the carnage, the numb feeling she had had earlier returning at full force.
Though, tears would not escape her eyes. Although they had definitely formed there, and seemed as if they wanted to come out, they wouldn't.
She just felt...nothing.
( Shoddy post. )
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Post by Aria Talei on Jan 18, 2011 19:41:39 GMT -5
Aria trailed in Chey's wake, rubbing away the tear with the heel of her hand. Most eyes would be on Cheveyo, but there would be a few glances her way; likewise to her leader, her flame was re-lit. From the corners of her eyes she glimpsed some of the faces of those surrounding- many shined with tears. Some were stoically grave, having swallowed their pain as best as possible. Others were fearful, looking toward the pair as if they held the answer. Children clung to the skirts of their mothers, unsettled by the surrounding grief but unable to comprehend the scope of what was happening.
The land had, for the most part, been cleaned up- the blood that had saturated the pale ground could not, of course, be removed, but the bodies had respectfully been laid out neatly and spaced, covered with blankets and surrounded by candles and small trinkets. In the distance, there was a similar service being held for the Werewolves, though it had been decided that keeping the two races apart was for the best, at this time.
It was a painful decision as to where to place her candle- it would be, sadly, seen as more of an honor to receive a candle from a ranking member of the political scene. To Aria, it didn't matter...she was simply a mourner.
A tiny body was snuggled into the side of a larger, shrouded body. It was nearly entirely outlined by candles, but it was here Aria chose to place her candle. Stooping, she carefully placed it by the baby's blanketed shoulder, then stood, stepping aside, and waited for Chey.
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Post by Cheveyo Kitchi on Jan 18, 2011 19:51:08 GMT -5
Cheveyo herself chose to approach the jaguar, who she was easily able to locate. It's neck was still twisted in an odd direction, the werecats that had tended to the area having not been able to properly set it. Her candle was placed just beside the beasts' head, and before she rose from her crouch, she removed one of the thin golden chains from her neck and draped it over the corpse. It shone in the candlelight...
As did the one tear that managed to finally escape.
Other than that, he eyes and cheeks remained dry, and she was extremely thankful for that fact. Now that she was in front of her people, most of them would be watching her, and weakness in front of all of them was most definitely not an option.
She then rose, casting one last glance at the jaguar before she backed out of the circle. Her thoughts were more fogged than ever, so she did not move to approach Aria. That didn't even cross her mind.
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