Staying Away

[Xal]

The ground was a couple hundred feet below from the small climber. The figure stood on a ledge that bridged two of the cliffs together. The way the world stood below him made him have a surge of power. At the moment Xal felt like he could spare a few useless lives that often crossed his path. The rush was something he didn't want to let go. Even if the world spun around him the feeling stayed put.

Xal hopped down from the ledge finding that the power wouldn't last forever. If it did last the only way to keep it would be to stay on that ledge all day. Which really wasn't something Xal wanted to do for long hours. As Xal continued to climb down he spotted another ledge below him seemed like a good spot to sit for awhile. He slid down onto the ledge and sat down on the edge. Looking out again he found that he was only about twenty feet off the ground.

Frowning Xal brushed off the dust from himself. The dust created a cloud that left Xal sneezing rather loudly. After about ten sneezes he managed to stop and hold his head which was now pounding. Today had accomplished nothing. Only the feeling that the world was much bigger than Xal had ever thought. At the moment the only thought running through his head was hunger. Not his blood hunger but just hunger. Lately he'd been sane enough that he hadn't killed anyone within a couple days. This was a new streak.

Xal pulled the bag off of his back and threw it on the ground next to him. He laid back, feet still dangling off the edge. "This sucks!" He growled as he swung his feet back and forth. He was hungry, out of food, stuck in the cliffs and the day was almost through. Life could get worse.

[Alyth]

The cliffs were high and narrow. The path was too tricky for her to bring along Jager, but that didn't mean that she left her armor back at the inn. No. The battle muse never left without her armor. She trusted the gray battlehorse to personally care for the lethal double-edged halberd while she exchanged it for her less commonly used, albeit equally powerful sword. She had not had a chance to explore this part of Litharia yet and was rather glad she did. Although she hadn't climbed up very high, she enjoyed the view. It must be wonderful to be at the top of the world--if she managed it.

Alyth wasn't a very pessimistic person; it was just that the legends about the cliffs almost never went well. It was more realistic to try rather than be strongheaded rashly and die. Now that wasn't the way she took life. So far, she had taken her time, looking around at the few souls that lingered around. The cliffs were a scary place for one with fears of height. Not her. In fact, she could say that the cliffs were one of the most beautiful places that she had ever visited.

A movement caught the battle muse's eye; it was a goat nibbling at some tough leaves. Well, that was what mountain goats did. And come to think of it, seeing the goat eat, she was hungry too. It was too bad that she hadn't brought her hunting gear along. Right now, her sword would have to do. Good thing she was close to the animal. Unsheathing the sword slowly so it didn't ring, the fae moved silently, inching forwards at a rate seemingly impossible for an armored one. And when the moment was right, she thrusted forwards, catching the animal on the back of its neck. The creature bleated, attempting to run, but before it could do much, a well-placed whack with the hilt of the sword knocked the lights out. Well, that was a meal for her.

"This sucks!"

The battle muse looked up curiously, the goat swung over her shoulder. The little blood on her sword was wiped and now it was sheathed by her side. The voice was vaguely masculine, but it was hard to tell from this distance, like an echo. Well, time to see who it was. Walking a little further, she came to a ledge wider than the path before. From her view here, she could see a shock of brown hair and pale skin; the hairstyle suggested a male, but there was no way to be sure. Also, this one looked rather like a human. "You were sayin' something, mister?" She asked him, raising an eyebrow somewhat friendly.

[Xal]

Xal continued to swing his feet over the edge. Soft footsteps caused him to sit up and shake his hair out of his face. Despite the fact that he was indeed shifter no one ever knew thanks to the fact he hated being shifter and would avoid ever mentioning them at all costs. Many times he forgot he even was a shifter. Which was very nice. Then again he was still a kid, or at least he looked like a young teen. Maturity on the other hand was another story.

Looking over at a fae who had just come along he frowned. "I was saying something." He laid back again and sighed. Ignoring the fae otherwise. If she felt like dealing with a psychopathic shifter then she could stay. Otherwise she might as well move along. "Ever feel like there is no use doing something?" This was a random question he felt like he should ask. He didn't look at her but kept his eyes on the sky above.

The sky was so elegant right before it became night. During the sunset flashes of color would streak across the sky. At this moment Xal sat up and rubbed his ankle. He had forgotten who he was again. A shifter. A pathetic shifter. The splash of color on his ankle made him sigh and stare back up at the sky. If only there was a way to become not shifter. It would be great. But no, he'd be stuck with an ankle that told him 'you're a shifter' for a long time.

He looked back over at the fae with his cloudy eyes. Now that he looked at her he realized that she had a goat swung over her shoulder. This made him curious. Then again, he was curious about a lot of things. Xal looked her over before looking away again. He was feeling merciful from his trip up the cliffs, she could live awhile.

[Alyth]

"I was saying something."

Oh? Well here was one that didn't reply as most others did. That was a change, a rather nice change. This human as it seemed, looked a little young to be wandering around as their seniors would consider, but this one seemed to have no fear of even falling of the edge on accident. Quite impressive. He had a little of the fae's respect. She watched him as he lay down from her height of a little over two meters. He really did look small.

The boy never specified if he wished for her to stay, it was as if he had given her the choice. Well, she didn't really mind his company up until now, so why not stay? The goat on her shoulders would be too much for her to eat alone, even when it was gutted, so why not share it with this boy? Better than letting her efforts go to waste on some scavenger.

"Ever feel like there is no use doing something?"

At this, Alyth arched an eyebrow. Well, that certainly was an unusual question, but it deserved an answer nevertheless. She let the goat roll off her shoulder and fall to the ground with a gentle thmp! as she watched the boy. The wind messed with her crimson hair, making it wave in front of her eyes and tickle her cheeks. The boy had sat up, though he was still looking at the sky. She hadn't caught his glance at her, for she had been careful to make sure that the goat didn't land too harshly.

The battle muse laughed a little, "What use is there taking on jobs for people when you could simply demand of them to give you money?" She asked him as a rather rhetorical question. "But when end comes to end and you find yourself caught by so many strings, you wonder why you take up the jobs you do and cause more trouble for yourself." She sighed, closing her eyes for a moment before pulling out a shorter, heavier knife. "And since I am unable to finish such a thing alone, would you have the grace to aid me?" She asked, pulling herself into a sitting position and starting to skin the goat.

[Xal]

The winds pushed back his hair from his face. His gray eyes still focused on the sky. He had an attachment to the sky. Whenever he could he'd get close to it. Which was a reason he was here today as it seemed. He shook his head and retrieved himself from the clouds. He pulled his feet in from the edge and sighed.

He flinched as the goat was put on the ground. Xal guessed she had plans on staying. Which was fine by him as long as he got something to eat. He eyed her then the goat then went back to looking over the edge. Listening to her answer made him slightly confused. Xal wasn't exactly the brightest and he was still quite young. So not much of what she said made sense.

"And exactly what is that supposed to mean?" Xal asked with a frown. It wasn't like he was great at unraveling riddles in the first place. As for whether he'd help her he was still confused by what she had even said so he just sat there.

Watching her begin to skin the goat he shook his head and looked over the edge. It wasn't all too far up. If someone hated heights they'd die of shock sure but it was just fine. Some trees could stand this tall. Which were fun to climb. He grinned at this thought. Trees were awesome like that.

[Alyth]

"And exactly what is that supposed to mean?"

Alyth looked up, the boy had pulled his legs up from the edge and was now turned to face her. His face was a frown, darkened by confusion that was evident on his face. She couldn't help but grin; here was one shifter that wasn't witty enough to understand her talk. The battle muse didn't mind using simple language with him, however.

"It means that you get a free morsel to eat because I don't want my efforts to go to waste to some scavenger around here." She said, working with skilled precision of one having done this many times before. From the way the boy stared up into the sky constantly, the fae gathered that either he was eager for night to come or he had some fascination with the sky.

After a while, the goat was gutted and all its innards lay on one pile. The battle muse stood up, having wiped her hands on the goat's hide. "Well, since you're here already I'll be a second; just gotta go get some firewood." She informed him, turning around and looking around the place. The way she came there was some wood--the shrub that the goat was eating. Alyth trusted the shifter with her pack (which held nothing much of interest but basic supplies) and the meat. If he wanted it, he was going to have to work for it. She would do most of the work which she didn't mind; as long as he was nice enough and had the grace to provide decent company, she was fine with that arrangement.

[Xal]

Xal blinked as she grinned. He glared at her and looked away. Just because he wasn't one of the smartest people she was grinning about it. This pissed him off, but he held back as the fae spoke. He let his anger melt away for a second. "So you're gonna share it with a kid you just met?" The way he asked was more confusion.

Often times Xal was the type who would be a scavenger. He didn't like cramped towns or cities so he never went to those places. In plain he often stole what he could. Many times it was from those he had killed. It was just the way things turned out.

After she spoke again he shrugged. She was going to trust him with her stuff. Not like he cared. He just found it curious that she hadn't suspected anything strange about him. Many people stayed clear of him. Even though he looked all nice and cute and innocent he really wasn't. But, no one could expect a kid to be a murderer. The world just seemed to reject that thought. Which made it all the easier for Xal.

[Alyth]

"So you're gonna share it with a kid you just met?""

Alyth heard the boy, but didn't bother answering; she could also answer when she got back. The whole bush would be easy enough to uproot and after that, she had the sufficient tools. The shifter seemed very untrusting and she seemed a little too trusting. Ah well, there was always the option of the sword if things got ugly. Too bad she didn't have her halberd with her.

Locating the bush, she looked to the horizon. The indigo was creeping up on the clear blue sky streaked with clouds. It was like a monster devouring the lamb, going on a never-ending chase. Such was the day and night, such was love and hate, such was life and death. A death feeds a life, she thought with a soft smile as she carried the wood back. It wasn't the best of woods, but it would do.

"What else would you eat then?" Alyth asked as she returned within earshot of the boy as she dropped the bush, hearing the rustling of leaves and branches. Time to make a fire.

[Xal]

Xal rubbed his forehead. Perhaps he should have brought more supplies than he had. Now he had to feed off this fae's kill. Which he wasn't all to happy about. The best he could do was pretend to be some normal kid who was up in the cliffs. It could work for awhile. Though his blood craving would come around again. Then everything would go downhill.

When he heard her voice his ears perked. Turning to look up at her he shrugged. "Whatever else I could get I suppose." He wasn't so stupid that he would let himself die. Just because he hadn't eaten for awhile didn't mean he would let himself fade off because he was so lazy as to not get food. He'd get any if he needed something.

At the moment he had his own problem of watching the sky darken. He frowned as it did so, for the bright colors were fading away. Looking back at his ankle he rubbed it gently. This stupid mark made him shifter. He rubbed it often because he wished for it to go away. Once that mark was gone he wouldn't be shifter, that was the way he thought. He was disgusting for being such a creature.

[Alyth]

"Whatever else I could get I suppose."

Alyth raised an eyebrow. If she did that, she probably wouldn't have been able to survive. Though she wasn't picky, she chose her food with precision as she wasn't one to eat much--resulting in her eating the minimum amount of food but getting the maximum amount of nutrients.

"Must be a little tough, in'it?" She asked, taking some flint from her pack and striking it against a pile of dead, crisp-dry leaves. She didn't bother looking up at the shifter; the most important thing right now was to get the fire going. "I for one couldn't see why I should spend time looking for food that would not provide much assistance to my energy level." Which was entirely true. Alyth wasn't afraid of speaking her mind here, it was the middle of nowhere and there wasn't a whole crowd to argue with either.

Soon, the fire was going, eating the bark on the bush slowly but steadily. "Why'nt you come over here, kid. The fire's better than freezing out in the night again, right?" She invited him coolly. It was up to him if he wanted to stay there, the battle muse was just offering a more comfortable option for him--if he wanted to take it.

[Xal]

"Must be a little tough, in'it?"[/b]

Xal shrugged a tad. "It isn't too bad." Though usually by anything he could find it referred to as blood of others. It filled him up and gave him energy. Other than that he didn't need too much. From time to time he would steal from people or other various methods including other people. He hadn't realized til now that he did so much of this sort of thing. Perhaps it was just a really bad habit of his or it could be his method. Either way it wasn't always the best.

"I for one couldn't see why I should spend time looking for food that would not provide much assistance to my energy level."[/i]

Xal's eyes flickered over to her. She spoke her mind more often than not it seemed. "I see. It's just harder for someone like me than for you." He was hinting at the fact she was more experienced and older. Besides, he was a kid. But being a kid didn't stop him from being a murderous fiend. Oh no. It only amplified it.

"Why'nt you come over here, kid. The fire's better than freezing out in the night again, right?"[/b]

Xal shifted slightly, not happy she liked calling him kid. But they hadn't even introduced each other yet so it was hard to call him anything but. He crawled over to the other side of the fire. He plopped himself down and nodded in thanks. It was strange to him that she was so open to him, a kid she had just met in the cliffs. Still he didn't mind this. In all honesty he was glad she had come across him.
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[Alyth]

"It isn't too bad."

Well of course it wasn't too bad if you were used to it! It was like killing a dozen humans and who knows what else on the spot in less then ten seconds wasn't too bad if you knew what you were doing. She herself much preferred her meats and all cooked rather than raw; it provided a better taste and all.

"I see. It's just harder for someone like me than for you."

Harder? As a kid, he should have parents, but it seemed that he had none and no way to earn money, being all the way here as a scavenger so that was probably it. Alyth would have immediately offered her assistance, but since this boy didn't seem to ask for it, she didn't think it was necessary; she might have been hurting his pride.

In a moment, the fire was going, probably because the kid had blocked a little of the wind. She handed him a steel spit and gestured to the various pieces of goat, stabbing one herself and placing it over the fire. "Once you've got enough experience, things get a lot easier." Alyth shrugged, "Including getting humans to calm down around you." It was a true statement, for in places such as the Battle Tower, her reputation as the strongest had sparked friendly challenges and even a few of what she could call human allies.

[Xal]

Xal stared at the fire for a short while. He was unsure now about some things. He exhaled slowly and listened to the slow crackle from the fire. His misty eyes focusing on the flames that danced but slowly grew dim. A crackle from the burning bush sent a cloud of ashes at Xal. He blinked and sneezed a little before shaking himself to remove the ash.

"Once you've got enough experience, things get a lot easier. Including getting humans to calm down around you." [/i]

Xal took the spit from her and looked at it for a second. Almost had enough of an urge to just eat it raw. He restrained himself and stuck it over the fire. He didn't usually eat things cooked. He rarely even made a fire or anything like it to cook something. "That may be." He paused to cough as more ash flew at him from the burning bush. "But humans don't seem to mind me. I am just a kid. No problem with that..." He sighed deeply. Sometimes he really hated being all alone but then again he liked it. What a complicated position he was in.

He looked over at the lady and frowned. He hadn't really gotten a good look at her from it being so dark before. She definitely looked strong, no doubt about that. He looked back at his spit and pulled it back. He didn't want to cook it too much. Without thinking much about how hot it would be he pulled the meat off and ate it. It didn't phase him that it was hot from the flames.

[Alyth]

Alyth's eyes flicked from the roasting meat to the kid; he had sneezed and was shaking himself from the ashes that entangled themselves in his pale figure, irritating his nose. She couldn't help but smile; perhaps it was his small stature and the position that he had chosen to sit in.

"But humans don't seem to mind me. I am just a kid. No problem with that..."

At this, the battle muse's eyebrows shot up. Humans didn't seem to mind him? The sentence was definitely strange, for one would not refer to their own kind via their own species. She had thought that the kid was a human, but the way that he referred to the humans by their own species, it was obvious that he wasn't. He did not look like a fae, for Alyth would have known and neither did he seem daemon from his eyes or the way he held himself. He was definitely not human now that he had said that, so that left one last possibility; shifter.

The fae caught the shifter kid looking over her with an expression that seemed thoughtful. It was like he was trying to size her up. No matter, she could deal with him if he posed any threat to her. Moments later, as if he had already categorized her, he turned back to the spit, pulling it out of the fire when it should barely have been cooked. He took it right off the spit, even though it had been in the fire and took a bite out of it. Even she, a battle muse was unable to do that--for comfort reasons more than anything. One thing she knew for sure, humans were more sensitive than fae. This boy was definitely a shifter.

Though she had deducted that, she made no verbal indication. She preferred her meat a little more cooked than the kid did, so it had a while to go. "I see," She replied, inclining her head. "And now that we seem to be acquaint with each other, you wouldn't perhaps mind to enlighten me on a name that I could call you--unless you want me to call you "kid" for the rest of the time." She prompted him.

[Xal]

Xal watched her from the corner of his eyes. He'd said or done something to shock her apparently. He remained still as if he didn't notice. Then again, how could he not? Being able to pick up on everything was something he was used to by now. Either way he had to make it seem like he was a kid with no abnormal qualities. Just an average kid who is journeying on his own out in the wilderness without much on him. Like that was going to work.
Taking another bite he gave a blank look at everything. He noted she was cooking hers longer. Well that was a given. He was more of a raw meat person than cook it until it has no flavor. See blood gave it all the flavor it would ever need. Who would want to take all of that precious tasty blood away was a freak. At least this was how Xal thought on the situation of meat.
"And now that we seem to be acquaint with each other, you wouldn't perhaps mind to enlighten me on a name that I could call you--unless you want me to call you "kid" for the rest of the time."
He paused to give this thought. Tell her his name, it was better than being called kid. He had to admit at least that. Besides he didn't like to be called that. "I'll tell you if you tell me yours." He gave a smile, he would at least like to know how to thank her properly for this meal and company. Even if her company wasn't all too pleasant. No one was very good for company.
Xal brushed more ash off from the bridge of his nose. It was getting rather annoying. "I go by Xal," he said quite plainly. It wasn't like anyone had heard of him. After all he killed most people he met. So they never got a chance to tell anyone. Sure he told them his name through a whisper as he slit their throat. Not such a big deal. Then of course all those reports of bodies found with similar markings was probably starting to add up. So he liked to leave his mark, not so bad to him.

[Alyth]

It was rather amusing to her as it seemed that the kid shifter seemed to give this option a thought. It was a wise option, for one would never know when another would betray you. Alyth, for one, was not someone who would ever betray another; she herself would refuse to give her name to anyone that she deemed unworthy. So far, she had never given her true name, no one had earned that right yet.

"I'll tell you if you tell me yours." Alyth inclined her head, knowing that such a thing would come. She would have given him her name even if he didn't tell her anyways. "I go by Xal."

Alyth nodded. Xal, that was certainly an uncommon name, but easy to remember. "Alyth will be fine." She replied, casting a glance down towards her spit. It was almost done. She turned it over to let the other side cook too. Looking over at the ash-ridden boy, she realized that he would probably not like to be there for all the time. "Why'nt you come here? The ash's going to make a pile over you if you stay there." The battle muse asked Xal.

[Xal]

"Alyth will be fine."

Xal gave a nod. It wasn't as horrible as his name. That damned name. It was a good thing he had changed it to Xal. Much more appropriate.

"Why'nt you come here? The ash's going to make a pile over you if you stay there."[/b]

Xal looked at her preparing to protest and say he was fine when a nothing cloud of ash rained on him. He gave a grudging nod and moved over next to her. He shook the rest of the ash off. "Better than that I suppose." Not really wanting to be a pile of soot and ash when he woke up.

Now that he thought about it, Xal felt the realization that he was tired. A small price to pay for still being young. Not being able to contain his yawn he gave a shudder as he did so. He blinked tiredly but took another bite off the spit. He sighed at the thought of having to wait until tomorrow to refill his pack with things. That would be no fun. Entering town and getting things. Then again he could mug someone and take their things. But there was the uncertainty that they would have everything he needed. These thoughts were making Xal even more tired.

[Alyth]

The shifter's nod was taken as an acknowledgement of her name. He had better not be one of those idiots who constantly forgot her already-simple name. However, as she asked him whether he would prefer moving, Xal looked as if he was ready to protest. But before he could say anything, another cloud of ash settled around him, making his mind up for him. Alyth noted that it was a good thing that he did not open his mouth.

Watching him as he moved next to her, she gave him a brief nod before pulling her spit out of the fire. It was ready now. Testing the meat, she deemed it worthy, leaving it in the air for a moment or two.
Now that the boy was closer, Alyth caught sight of the bright ring that marked him. No human could have such a mark, therefore he was more than definitely a shifter. However, as he yawned, it made Alyth have doubts about his age. She for one was not yet tired although she had been up for most of the day. "Tired?" She asked in a softer tone. Knowing that she would have an aural response, she took a bite out of the meat. Hot, almost scalding hot, but bearable. It was cooked at the right spot, time and temperature, a good meal it would make.