Strange Weather

[Reixou]

The dry desert storm filtered rough sand through the black feathers on Reixou's wings. He felt the grains rolling through his hair, and prying their way into every seam of his clothing. The sandstorm had come quite suddenly, and Reixou was not used to the desert.

I have got to land...flying in this is insanity... He descended, gravity alone guiding him to his destination, as his eyes closed tighter to keep the sand out. Apparently he had been going too fast when he began his descent, as he hit the ground rather violently, rolled a few times, and lay there, face-down in the sand.

He did not want to move until the sandstorm stopped. If he were buried by the end of it, he could get himself out. Great thing about being a wraith....strength and immortality. I suppose that's something most people envy. He thought to himself. Though he had these characteristics, he was never accepted by society because of the legends that surrounded his title. Wraith. Being a legendary creature was not something that was usually a good thing, at least not for Reixou.

[alteredbeing]

Like taking a stroll though a park, Ashis was walking in the desert. The extreme heat didn't seem to affect her at all. The scorching rays of the sun were enjoyable to this woman. She kept walking on a steady pace without being troubled by the extreme environment, not even wearing clothing to block out the heat. Ashis was wearing her heavy scorpid armor, in which other races would have succumbed to the desert.

The Asherati looked behind her. A sandstorm was coming. A smile appeared on her face at this display of natural might. "Ishtus has blessed my journey" She said to the herself. Ashis made a gesture with her hand, to show her gratitude to her god, The creator of sandstorms.

The storm was raging now with it's full might and the woman didn't seem to be flayed by the sand. She only used her hand to prevent sand from entering her eyes. After walking a while she noticed something in the sands. Ashis walked towards it, facing the sandstorm with great ease. At her feet lay a body. The skin had the colour of blood. The Asherati woman raised an eyebrow at this. She had never heard of a creature with this kind of skin colour.

Ashis still sensed the person was alive. She raised her hand in the sky and spoke a command in her own language. "Wahed kybrich" Suddenly the sandstorm disappeared and it was quiet again. From her pouch she took a flask of water. "The desert is not fit to take relaxing naps." She said while handing over the flask of water. "Drink before you dessicated."

[Reixou]

Suddenly, the incessant winds and blowing sand ceased, and all was still as though time had stopped. Reixou almost thought he had heard a voice through the wind before it stopped, but second guessed it. Then, he heard it again.

"The desert is not fit to take relaxing naps. Drink before you dessicated." Reixou rolled over to see a flask of water very near his face. He blinked, and looked up at the being. Sitting up, he tilted his head to one side, attempting to brush some of the sand out of his black hair.

"Thank you...but I am not one who needs water..." He saw the tattoos on her cheeks, her dark bronzen skin, and slightly pointed ears. An elf as well? Reixou almost thought to panic, but this was the middle of the desert. He could not hide, nor did he think anyone out here would recognize him as a wraith.

This elf, wherever she came from, was very slender and appeared almost frail, yet she was clad in an armor that he knew was not lightweight. He looked around at the sky, and off into the distance. Again, the sand stretched on like an ocean, the blue sky and blazing sunlight shone on. "That was one heck of a storm. Even for me. I can fly through anything, just not that sand." He stood, fluttered his wings about a bit, and concealed them again.

[alteredbeing]

When the other person refused the water, Ashis raised an eyebrow. It was the first time ever someone did that. When in the desert people usually clinged to water as if it was life, which in the desert, it is. "Suits me fine." Ashis said. She put it away again. As an Asherati she didn't had so much need for water. Even less in her case since she recieved several abillities from her deity.

A sleight hint of fear was seen in the man's eyes when he had observed Ashis' facial details. She said nothing of it, as it was custom that people are somewhat jittery around her. "Well, you should drink later. Without water your body will shut down and the only good thing will be the fact that the voltures will survive another day."

Ashis then looked up. She sighed at the fact the sandstorm had gone. Most people don't see the beauty in such things. They only see the death it brings at first, not the splendor and art that it leaves in it's wake."You are correct about the storm. It was grand and powerfull." Her voice was full of respect, as if she was honouring the might of the winds and sands combined. "It's not wise for people to travel through such a thing, especially flight." Ashis looked at the black wings of the man, before they dissapeared. "What manner of creature are you to be blessed with flight?"

[Reixou]

As she addressed the topic of the sandstorm, he heard great respect and awe in her voice. She appreciated the desert sands just as the person he had met before appreciated the forest. Perhaps it was in the elven blood to be connected to some element of life?

She advised him to drink water, and Reixou was glad she was looking away when he smiled at that, almost chuckling, but holding it in. His face returned to a relaxed composure before she turned back, observed his wings, and asked, "What manner of creature are you to be blessed with flight?"


So, she didn't know. Well, Reixou had more confidence since the last introduction of himself, and decided to be honest with her.

"I am blessed with many things, though they were not given to me as a...blessing, per se. I do not need water, food, sleep, or comfort. I can feel comfort and discomfort, but not to the point that I must change something." He observed her large scorpion carapace and scorpion tail whip. She was definitely a warrior of some sort.

"And you? You seem like you're doing pretty well for yourself out here, and that's not much water for the middle of the desert, if I may be so bold." He gestured to her small flask.

[alteredbeing]

The man summed up his list and Ashis listened, with her arms crossed. She nodded a bit with her head, approvingly. "Well, I am sure other people must envy your abillities, even if you don't see them as a blessing." Ashis still did wonder why the man's skin was red. It looked strange somehow but she didn't ask. Perhaps his race is born with such colour.

When he asked why the Asherati carried so little water with her a smrik came on her face. "My race dwells under the sands of this desert. So we are well adapted. to this environment. And my god protects me here, in his domain." Her smirk became a bit more crueler. "The desert is harsh and unforgiving for outsiders. But it thinks of me as it's child."

Then Ashis took the water flask again. "Sure you don't want to drink? Your body might not need it, but I wonder how well you will be able to think after a couple of hours without water to freshen you up." She stretched her arm, with the flask, out. "It is no trouble for me. I don't need to drink for about still half a day."

[Reixou]

She explained her racial background with no hesitation, a proud smile, and then explained her protection from a "god" with a more sinuous smirk. Again she offered him water. He chuckled and shook his head, looking at the ground.

"I don't believe you understand. I'm immortal. I essentially have the soul of a demon." He looked up, seeing what she would say to this.

[alteredbeing]

Being a bit suprised at the reaction of the man, she put the water away. The demon part made her sigh, think back at darker times. Ashis reached out her hand, to help him out of the sand. "We all have a darker side in ourselves. It is up to the person how to use it."

Ashis could relate with the man. Altough the Asherati herself is not a demon, she does know how it feels when other people fear your presence. Still, there is no point to be sad about it. Afterall, Ashis makes good use of that fear. "Is that why you have come to the desert? Isolation?"

[Reixou]

She offered her hand, which he accepted, though he did not need it, and stood easily.

"No, I am actually headed to the ocean, to check on the whereabouts of some Blood Elves for a friend. I flew through some bad thunderstorms on the way, but I've never encountered such a sandstorm. The only familiarity I have with the desert is the very edge, where the coastline meets the sands, but I've never been out here. It is truly magnificent." He said, gazing at the large dunes in the distance.

"So, you live here?"

[alteredbeing]

"You're going to the ocean?" Ashis asked. "Well, you stil have some miles to go. That sandstorm must've blown you out of course." When thinking about the ocean Ashis felt nauseous. All that water is no place for her. Only to think about it makes her feel .

When he said that the desert is magnificent a large smile appeared on her face. " Indeed. The desert has such a rare beauty, one you don't find anywhere else. The silence, the eternal patience of the sands. But it is also wild and untamed."

Nodding, she answered to his question. "I live here. Mostly in the wastes and avoiding the towns and cities. Sometimes I go the , so-called civilized world, to see if people need a desert guide. Not that I enjoy it but I need money to live. Besides that, it is just following the desert winds."

"May I know your name?"

[Reixou]

"Yeah, I will have to re-route my flightpath...no matter." He shrugged. He was almost glad he had stumbled upon this storm, otherwise he may not have met this interesting person.

She asked his name.

"Reixou. Nice to meet you...?" He inquired about her name as well.

[alteredbeing]

"You may call me Ashis, Reixou." to her, that name had a strange ring to it. Then again she didn't have much experience with other cultures. Experiences where Ashis was interested in their names that is. When she did function as a desert guide the conversation between her and the client were kept on a minimum.

Then Ashis seemed to listen to something. She was frowning as if it was a very elusive sound. After a while the Asherati nodded. "We better get going. Another sandstorm is coming. Before it reaches us, it would be wise to find shelter." Ashis turned her back towards Reixou and while looking back she asked: "How good are you riding on an animal?"

[Reixou]

Ashis. An interesting name, but interesting names were not odd among elves.

She seemed to listen for something, then announced that another sandstorm was coming.

"Animals?...Well, I have a certain connection with animals, but as I have wings, I don't usually use them for transport. It's worth a shot!" He smiled, wondering what "animals" she had in mind.

[alteredbeing]

"Well, seeming flying will be unsafe with the coming weather it is for the best we will travel by ashworm." Ashis looked down at the sand. "And it just happens that there is one right here." She tapped a couple of times with her foot in the sand, very fast. "Ashworms are predators that sense their prey through movements in the sand.

After a few moments after Ashis had stopped tapping her foot, the sand started to rumble. Suddenly a giant warm came out. It was large, about the size of a watchtower. Thick purple scales covered its body. It had no eyes but didn't seem to have any problems to locate Ashis and her companion. At the end of it's tail was a vicious looking stinger.

It brought its head down, making Ashis directly look into a maw filled with vicious teeth. The Asherati didn't flinch. Then the worm roared and seemed to be about to eat the woman. Calmly she raised her hand. Suddenly the worm pulled back, seeming to fear the touch of Ashis. "Lay down!" She commanded. Quietly the worm obeyed. Then the woman climbed on the creature, siting just behind it's head. "It is safe now. Ashworms obey those who are stronger than them." She said while looking at Reixou.

[Reixou]

Reixou watched as she summoned the Ashworm, then commanded it to lay down. She had no fear of this monstrous creature that most would see as a horror. This brought Reixou more hope that people would learn to accept him; though his background was scarred.

Reixou had never communicated with an Ashworm before, though it had a similar disposition to a shark or other predator of their realm. If you show them who's boss, you've got the ruler of the kingdom in your control.

She climbed on. He followed, gripping the large scales as he settled into his spot.

"I'm assuming you've done this many times. I must admit, I've never seen such a creature."