Illarion.org

((closed rp. only those asked should put anything here))

Alyssa stood at the edge of the northern forest, quietly waiting for a single moment before the sun touched the horizon. She stood contemplating the events that had past, for once in the quiet of her own mind. She had taken time before to sever the connection held between she and her closest loved ones, if only temporarily, for where she traveled they were not yet allowed to see.
As the sun touched the edge of the horizon, the young woman’s lips parted. Softly she began to sing a hymn. It was a song of no words nor pictures brought to the mind by it’s sound it was a song filled only with the essence of emotion driven by a fevered need for resolve. A need that even now lurked within her, questioning and chiding. Keeping her moving toward her goal no matter how frightening it may have seemed.
As she sang the sea before her took on a strange mist that trailed out into its depths. A path that hardly looked as if it could be touched, let alone walked, despite this she did not linger. Her feet touched the path of mist finding it solid as the ground she had just stood on. At first she walked cautiously out over the water, then soon she began to pick up her pace. Her confidence building with each step she took until finally the young girl was in a sprint down the phantom trail. Her shape faded into the distance form the edge of the isle, but even as it did it seemed to shift. No longer could a young girl be spied rushing over the waves of the sea. All that’s traveled this path was a shining blur of silver, darting over the surf

Hours later…

The silver fox had run until she could know longer see the isle or the land or even the sea beneath her. As if she’d run out of existence itself. Where she sat now had no shape and no form. Everything was black like a night sky with no moon to light the way. It gave the creature a sensation of floating, without course or destination, and though this feeling was not unknown to her somehow it brought about a sense of aggravation.
She’d waited for hours in this same spot, hoping that her vigil would not be long. Sadly instead it had been agonizingly so. The thought made her smile in spite her lack of mood. The emotions she felt hardly had place where she was, but she would need them none the less if she were to succeed this day. Was it even day anymore? Was it night? Did it even matter? She understood now why other creatures might be driven to madness by places like this. But she had the patience, she hope.

…

Another long pause in her thoughts came before finally her eyes spied something moving toward her. A small spot of light in the darkness hovered ominously. The silver fox stood immediately. She felt her body tense the way it would if she were under threat. Left over instinct from a life time long past. Yet they remained. She wanted to run. But something in her held her fast to her spot, though her body shook in anticipation. Instead the silver fox bared its fangs and growled aloud. Using the action as a release to her nervousness. And it seemed to work. Slowly her shaking began to subside just enough for her to focus on what was now in her sight.
The animal before her was much larger then she. It too was a fox only of unfathomable proportions. Standing at least ten feet tall, this new beast circled cautiously around the small silver fox. Even they’re furs shared the same silver white sheen that was like a banner to her kind. But aside from shape and color that’s where the similarities ended. This fox carried many tails that swirled as it walked. Not one, not ten, hundreds, one for each lifetime it had lived before becoming what it now was. such an huge number should have been cumbersome yet they all seemed to fit so neatly in their place. After the animal circled once of twice it came to sit before the smaller silver fox. Its eyes regarded the smaller animal with an intelligence that no normally animal could have ever held. By this point the small silver fox was in a full out snarl. The hundred-tailed creature’s body shook in a chuckle. Then finally words broke the uncomfortable scene.
“Cy-Ari. Why do you growl at me so?” The sound emanated from the larger of the two animals though it’s mouth made no indication of movement. Almost immediately the smaller fox halted its aggression, bowing its head in a submissive manner.
“My apologies Mediator…I don’t know what came over me.” spoke the smaller creature in the same manner as the first. “It has just been a long time since you adopted a lesser form. I was…confused.”
A chuckle emanated from the black shape around the creature known as Cy-Ari. She did not bother to look about as she might have before. She was beginning to become used to her surroundings once again.
“Would you rather I be a wise old man? Or maybe a an orc?”
Cy-Ari averted her eyes, now incredibly grateful that her current form was unable to blush. The fox let out a breath then replied.
”Mediator I’ve come ask for guidance. Please. I very much need you council.”
The Mediator only nodded at her request.
”tell me little one. Tell me all that has transpired.”

It seemed to take an eternity for Cy-Ari to convey everything that the Mediator wanted to know. Aside from the tale itself being long in nature the Mediator expected an excruciating level of detail on everything that had happened prior to her arrival. When Cy-Ari was finally able to stop speaking on the matter the Mediator stood there in silent reflection on everything she had told. The small creature watched on, nervous once again with the silence that had now reclaimed the space.
”I see. So much has happened then. But it is good to hear that the resolve of your family has not faded. Even so with being so far from your true home.’ The Mediator spoke. “Tell me again of the little one. Is he like his father?”
”very much so.” Cy-Ari replied simply, then remembered how much this creature enjoyed the finer points of story telling. ”He was born only about a month or so ago. The first of the New Kingdom Varshikar on the isle. Things have been very loud there to say the least, but the child seems very resilient to the sway of outside forces. In fact aside from having his fathers ‘talents’ he’s all but a normal babe.
The Mediator nodded approvingly, as Cy-Ari knew she would. The first child of old friends born on that isle was news that would be considered good in any circle.
”It be sad that the other child is not so resilient.”
Cy-Ari grumbled. The mediator has always held a knack for cutting right through to the heart of a matter whenever it so choose. Though no doubt within minutes it would be talking about some triviality again, making the conversation drag into near endless proportions.
”We don’t believe she is evil…please, please Mediator recede the contract. Cy-Ari said. The Mediator watched her closely after she spoke. It seemed to be gauging the conviction of her words, and then it spoke again.
”It will be done as you ask. The hundred tailed fox spoke. Cy-Ari sighed in relief just a bit to soon. ”however. What is it you really think?”
The silver fox sighed. She’d figured it had been a bit too easy to get her way something more must have been on the Mediators thoughts. As to what it was she did not know. The face that she looked into when she looked up was not one that could betray intricate emotions such as distrust or deceit, At most it could look, sleepy, happy angry or hungry. And hopefully neither of the latter would cross the face of the Mediator as she spoke.
”As I said I believe-. she began, but was abruptly cut off.
”Do not humor me with what you think I want to hear. We both know that due to the unique nature of your situation your adaptability has bred a very emotional personality, that no longer only effects you in shift. If you were of a more simplistic life then possibly true your thoughts and emotions would be completely governed by that of your masters, however over time you have been forced to be completely capable of acting on your own accord. Remaining loyal and loving to your family but also using a level of empathy that would not be afforded one of us that had a simple task. Now again what do you believe?”
Cy-Ari couldn’t stop the growl that escaped her throat. She paused expecting the Mediator to scold her. It was not uncommon for the Mediator to put impetuous underlings back in their place. But the creature merely laughed. Cy-Ari realized that she’d just proven the Mediators point entirely. Again she sighed and spoke up.
“She…is like family to me as well. They all are…I believe what she did was out of love and carried no ill will. However I also believe that it was a foolish action not well thought out especially knowing her nature. But what is life but experience, learning and growing. If there was no place for errors then what would our propose really pertain to. We watch we listen and we remember, and she…She’s lost enough, don’t force me to take what little she has left!”
The mediators sudden snarl caused her to back away. Cy-Ari held her breath
”DO NOT FORGET YOUR PLACE!” an angry voice screamed as it flew through the darkness. The silver fox whimpered once again out of instinct or possibly this emotion she held so much of, luckily the sound seemed to cause the Mediator to calm. Its bared fangs disappeared beneath its maw once again and the voice that spoke in the darkness became calm again.
”if we were merely record keepers our lives would be more simple. But we are not. To serve the desires of the house that serves the Goddess, that is our purpose as well, to protect them is also our nature. These feelings of ‘love’ that bind you so to your master were belayed once with his marriage, then again with the birth of the child over time you have become nearly as much one of them as you are one of us. However do not forget that you have a duty to this family and a duty to the Goddess even if it be not of direct recourse. Do you understand me Cy-Ari?”
The silver fox gagged as the Mediator spoke the first part of her true name, another measure of control that hung over her. It did will to remain her of her place.
”It will soon be time you returned to your home. But before you go young one. I will give you the a gift. I will augment that which has been granted to you. I will make your empathy its trigger, so in the end if the time comes it will be your truest feelings that’s decide where your loyalties lay. And I will be watching Cy-Ari. Your choice will be seen for what it is.”
Cy-Ari had been afraid of this, but she’d also known in coming that if it happened there would be know avoiding it. She cowered as the Mediator came near, remembering what she told a friend just before she left. If a fox comes back then all is well, If a wolf comes back, then all is not well. But it seemed neither was coming back. Instead it would be both…