The Mystic's Awakening

[HoudiniDerek]

Guang listened intently to Avalon as she spoke in the hope that she didn't notice his wandering eyes on her body. Her thoughts about her sister stunned him back into reality. Her sister might well be alive...but if so, was she working with the Draklore? Guang swallowed that thought for now, but let it percolate in the back of his mind.

"I'm going with you," Guang said, smiling disarmingly as the tears rose up in Avalon's eyes. "We can leave first thing in the morning for the Selkia, even if the rain has not stopped." Guang looked out the window and saw it pouring again. It probably wouldn't stop and it would be a long, wet journey.

"I know you are excited and in a hurry, but you need to know that we won't be there tomorrow. These ruins are deep within the Selkia, back near where my people live. The Gnorash are nearly three weeks of travel from where we stand right now." Guang let that sink in before going on.

"Plus, we have to be furtive in our movements. You were very open here and it nearly cost you. Sometime your armor might not protect you, so let's be a little more cautious as we head to the Selkia."

Guang took a swig of water and came over to Avalon. He unclasped her legs and pulled her to a straight position on the table and embraced her. "No matter what happens in all of the tomorrow's ahead of us, I'm happy right now and that's all that matters." He leaned in and kissed her gently.

[Avalon Silvasti]

Avalon leaned back as her arms encircled Guang as he kissed her. She pulled back and regained composure from the passion of the kiss and giggled playfully. "Shouldn't we get some sleep before the morn." She let her arms rest on his shoulders as her fingers played with his hair. "The trip will exhaust us if we are not careful and I wish to wake fully rested by dawn so we can gather the supplies we need for the journey." She pulled herself I to Guang's embrace and smiled. She had never been so happy in her life. She smiled as her lips found his neck and she kissed up his neck to his ear. Her lips were so close to Guang's ear that the lightly grazed his ear love as she whispered, "good night darling." She wiggled out of his embrace and sauntered off to the bed rooms. To Guang's surprise she did not enter the room the told her she could rest in but she ducked into Guang's bed room. She stretched as she reached his bed, this action caused the towel to fall loosely to her feet. She pulled back the covers and crawled into the bed, sinking in to its comfort as she pulled the covers up over her. She rolled over onto her side and the gentle sound of the rain slowly lulled her to sleep.

[HoudiniDerek]

Guang watched bemused as Avalon wriggled away from him and went down the hall. She turned into his room and he found himself smiling as he thought of cuddling with her all night. He was truly amazed at how much he had changed in the last couple of days. He was considering putting down permanent roots in Tamasha with this wonderful woman. He was even thinking about a family.

He shook himself from these thoughts and realized that he had to see Avalon through this mission first. She was very insistent on going and he would help her any way that he could. He sighed and grabbed something to eat, washing it down with some of the water.

He was tired, but did not want to go to bed yet. Avalon's silky body would only distract him and torment him right now. He moved around the house, packing up useful items to have and getting things ready for the morning. The only thing left was to pack some clothing for each of them and they would be ready to go.

He moved down the hall and took off his towel, dropping it on the floor with hers. She was breathing softly, sleeping peacefully. Guang smiled again and crawled under the covers with her, his body sliding up against hers, his arm draping over her body. He kissed her gently and fell asleep.

**********

Guang was up first the next morning, easing himself from under the covers. Avalon was radiant, still sleeping with no care in the world. He smiled, kissed her lightly, and headed to the kitchen. He made some assorted fruits for breakfast and jotted a hasty note to his cleaning lady, who would be back when the storm broke.

When he turned from the note, Avalon was standing there, immaculate in the early morning, still nude from the night before. Guang smiled, "Good morning."

[Avalon Silvasti]

Avalon ran a hand through her hair and leaned against the door frame to the kitchen. "Who is that to?" She asked playfully grinning as she stepped forward to kiss him good morning and get a glass of fresh water. She walked out of the Kitchen to the living room where her clothes laid in a heap from the night before. She knelt down and checked the clothes, for the most part they were dry. She picked up her trousers and wiggled into them, then she slid the white shirt over her head. She yawned and stretched as she walked over to her pack and a vial slipped from one of the pockets of the bag. Quickly grabbing it she stuffed it into her pocket hoping that Guang didn't get a look at the purple liquid in the vial. She shuffled through her bag and found a loose black string. She yanked it from the bag and started to gather her now curling honey brown hair back into a pony tail. She tied her hair back as some of the curls freed themselves and fell before her face. She giggled and walked back into the kitchen with Guang. "So when do we set off?" She asked as she wrapped her arms around him from behind. "I don't have many supplies but we can pick some up along the way right?" She nuzzled her lips against his neck as she spoke.

[HoudiniDerek]

"I have to leave a note for my caretaker," Guang said, signing the note and leaving it on the table. "She's used to me being gone, but I still like to let her know that I left voluntarily." He smiled wryly and pulled out of Avalon's grasp.

"Unfortunately, she took your other set of clothes with her, so we will have to find you some along the way. Or you can have some of the ones I have outgrown." He went to the bedroom, dressed, and threw some more clothes into a knapsack. Some were older and smaller, but she would fit into them quite nicely. He wasn't even sure why he still had them...holding on to a past he guessed.

He pulled the knapsack over one shoulder and they headed out into the main room. He picked up another satchel to sling over his other shoulder and handed Avalon one to carry. "We can get supplies along the way, but let's see how far we can make it with what we have."

Guang grabbed his short sword and strapped it on, dropping a knife in his boot for extra security. He opened the door and the rain was still there, but it seemed to be more of a mist than anything, hiding the movements of everyone, including them.

Guang shut the door behind them, managing to lock it from the outside without a key. He adjusted his satchels and sword and turned to Avalon. "Tamasha never sleeps, so we must be weary until after we reach the freedom of the gates. Once we are outside the walls, stay with me. The Selkia is a long and tiring journey and it is not the most hospitable of places." He paused a moment before going on.

"I know this mission is important to you, but I want to say one thing: Don't go overexposing yourself to danger, Avalon. I want you in my life forever and we will both journey back from the danger together." He smiled, leaned in for a quick kiss, and stepped off the porch into the mist.

**************

A week later, they had reached the edge of the Selkia. Guang had taken them about three days off the main path and through an area by the Ularian Ridge. He would have gone farther by the Blaze Mountain, but he could see that Avalon was getting antsy to enter the forest proper.

They had not said much to each other or at all in the entire journey. They still held each other all night and gave each other the looks of more-than-lovers, but the talk had dwindled. Guang guessed that Avalon was gearing up for the mission and Guang was gearing up for a trip that might well take him home to his people. Sobering thoughts on both accounts.

Tonight, though, the weather had cooled and the rains had gone. The moon would show tonight and Guang decided they would have a hot meal before entering the Selkia in the morning. Backed up in a cave of the Ularian, Guang built a smokeless fire and began cooking.

[Avalon Silvasti]

Avalon watched Guang as he started the smokeless fire. She turned to the entrance of the cave and stared at the night sky filled with millions of stars accompanied by the glowing moon. She walked to the edge of the entrance with her arms crossed in front of her chest and leaned against the cave's wall. Reaching up she pulled the ribbon from her hair that held the honey brown locks back. They tumbled free around her face in curls. She sank into thought, letting her memories come to her. She love to walk the gardens of her father's kingdom on nights like this. It was so relaxing and calming. Nights like this she would sneak out of her room and hide in the moon light practicing her sword fighting until she was seen by the royal guards. Many times she was caught by the same guard, Iori that complimented her highly about how fluid her movements were. He mentioned many of times that she looked like she was sword dancing while she was practicing.
Without a single thought, still trapped in her memory Avalon unsheathed her sword. Slowly she started to fall into her old style of practicing with her sword. She closed her eyes and appeared to be dancing with her sword like one of those traveling gypsies that would perform in towns they pass through. She twisted and twirled as she flashed her sword in time with her movements. She seemed hypnotized as she danced a slow deadly dance with her sword. She was completely unaware that Guang was watching her as she continued to dance with her sword.
Thoughts of the night her father's kingdom flooded her mind and her dance took on a new life, more threatening and deadly. Memories of her sister Kasandra and their body guard Iori fighting off the Draklore army men flashed in her head. Kasandra falling unconsciously to a solider and Iori being shackled came next. In a way she was reliving her fight in her dance. Lost in memories that flooded she remembered the screams of her people and the pain that seared though her when they shot her in the shoulder with an arrow.
Avalon's eyes shot open as she dropped her sword and let out a painful cry. She sank to her knees as tears rolled down her cheeks. She felt the pain all over again. Her hand shot up to shoulder the arrow sank into that night. She remained on the ground as she tried to shake the phantom pain. She looked back at Guang. "I- I'm sorry you had to see that." She hid her face in shame, she didn't realize that her memory had taken that much of a reality on her that it caused her physical pain.

[HoudiniDerek]

Guang watched Avalon's dance and watched as it took on a menacing turn. He could tell she was in another time, not realizing that she was far removed from it. He flinched as she cried out and massaged her own shoulder, memories of a wound from the past. Unlike Guang's though, hers was both physical and emotional, not just the one.

Guang moved slowly to her and touched her shoulder gently. He didn't say anything or touch her more than that. He knew that she was trying to recover and he did not want to spoil that by forcing his presence on her. Instead, he reached down with his other hand and offered him some of the stew he had made.

That night, for the first night since the night they had met, Guang and Avalon slept apart...

*******

Guang was up first the next morning and quickly made some warm water over the still-going fire. He had been up several times that night, restless, searching outside the cave entrance. The smoke and light were reflected internally only, so there was no need, but Guang was antsy being back near the Selkia. He had not been back in many years.

He warmed up some tea leaves into the two cups he had brought along and then doused the fire with the remaining water. They would eat some of the bread they had picked up in a small farming community for breakfast. Guang did not want a huge meal, knowing he might well vomit it back up by the end of the day.

The dousing fire woke up Avalon, still as beautiful as ever. Guang looked at her lovingly and wondered if she was distancing herself from him. Maybe they were both too much on edge to recognize the distance. He decided to ignore it for now.

"Morning, beautiful," he said, handing her one of the cups of tea. "We should get an early start. We have a way to go yet."

[Avalon Silvasti]

Avalon smiled as he greeted her. "Good morning" she responded as she stood up and stretched. She wandered over to Guang and kissed him deeply and passionately. She pulled back from the kiss and gazed into his eyes. "I'm sorry I've been distant. I've been thinking heavily on what the goddess had said. I'm just worried about the world, it's not just my kingdom..." She trailed off as she took a seat next to him in front of the smoldering fire. "I never thought my life would take this turn... I thought I was going to be married off and stuffed in a kings court as a trophy but now I'm a 'hero' off on an adventure and only the Gods will know if we survive." She smiled and looked up at Guang. " and you wanna know something? I wouldn't change any of this for anything! I found you and I've fallen in love with you Guang!" She smiled and put her arm around him.

[HoudiniDerek]

Guang nodded as she spoke, glad to know that she was not removing herself from him. She was the only reason he was even making the trek back to the Selkia and he would have hated for the trip to be misplaced love on the part of either of them.

"I love you too, Avalon," he said, smiling at her. "That's why I'm here." He smiled again and drained his tea. He washed out the cups with a little bit of water and made sure the fire was out. Covering their tracks and as much of their presence as he could, he stepped outside with Avalon.

The sun was out and the birds were chirping. It looked to be a nice day out, but things could go south in a hurry. Guang turned to look at Avalon.

"We are going to be entering an area of the Selkia soon. It's a region not well traveled, or it used not to be. If we are seen, we will probably be left alone, but we can't depend on that. If anyone stops us, let me talk to them. The Selkia is almost entirely gnome territory, split up among the many tribes."

Guang looked overhead and then into the forest. They could enter here, but he would prefer to move on a ways before entering. "We are going to follow the forest for a while longer before going in. If we hurry, we should be able to enter the forest by midday. I'm hoping to make a certain landmark before we camp for the night."

He hitched the pack onto his back, lighter since they had begun the journey, but still decently full of rations. He looked over at Avalon, sneaked a quick kiss, and raised back up.

"Ready for an adventure?"

[Avalon Silvasti]

Avalon smiles as she grabs her bag and steps up beside Guang. "I'm ready for this! Are you ready?" She giggles as she starts out of the cave in a jog. "Can you keep up?" She playfully challenged as she darted between trees.

After a few moments of playful jogging Avalon stopped dead in her tracks as she stared forward. Slowly she edged backwards as a creature came into full view. Her heart rate quickened as she assessed the creature. Luckily it didn't notice her yet.

The creature before her appeared to be a wolf but it was different. This "wolf" stood on two legs at about 7 feet tall. It scanned the forest with huge luminous yellow eyes. It rested its huge clawed hand against a tree as it sniffed the air And snarled showing its large yellowing teeth. Avalon remembered running into one of these creatures before they were strong and very unstable. Some people have called them "Werewolves" or "shifters". They were once rumored to be humans but lost the ability to change back or were forced into this form by evil magic users conducting horrible mutation spells that went tragically wrong.

Avalon continued to slowly step back away from the beast when suddenly a twig snapped under her foot. Instantly her gaze shot up to the creature who instantly locked eyes with her. Her eyes widened in fear as she turned and started to sprint away from the beast whom gave chase. "GUANG! RUN!!!" She screamed as she ran. She darted past tree after tree as she dared to glance back to see how close the creature was. Fear clutched her heart when she noted that it was gaining on her way too quickly. She darted around a tree and pressed herself against it as she clinched her eyes close hoping the beast was stupid enough to run right past her. A few seconds later she felt a warm puff of air hit her in the face and the most nauseating smell she had ever smelt. She opened her eyes and was nose to snout with the creature. It leaned in close to Avalon and bushes its wet nose across her cheek, inhaling her scent. Snorting it blew out its breath in her face, bearing its teeth it stepped back half a foot and shot its clawed hand up and grabbed Avalon by the throat. Howling as it drug her back up the tree and off her feet. Avalon's hands went up to clutch the slick oily fur of its arm trying to pry it off her throat. In a last effort Avalon brought her hand down to her waist and grabbed a throwing dagger from her belt . Moving her hand as quickly as possible she brought the dagger up and jammed it as hard as she could into the beast's forearm. Howling in pain the creature yanked Avalon's back from the tree leaving her now fighting desperately for air. She kicked and gave a weak scream at the beast. Once again the beast howled and threw Avalon from its grasp. Avalon flew through the air and landed back first into a tree. The blow knocked the wind out of her lungs and the blow she sustained to the head as she landed on the ground sent her reeling. Her vision blurred terribly as she struggled to free her sword from it sheath and reach up to the amulet around her throat. The world seemed to be getting darker and darker around her and soon she was engulfed in darkness as she lost conscience...

[HoudiniDerek]

Guang watched her dart around a couple of trees, happy that she seemed to be letting go of the darkness surrounding her mission. He followed along, still wary, but not paying much attention. He noticed her stop, but thought she was just waiting before entering the forest, which she probably didn't know much about. When she yelled, Guang was startled into awareness.

He saw the wolf creature and his heart skipped a beat. He had a brief moment to wonder what the creature was doing on the Selkia before it bounded into him, throwing him off his feet. He rolled to a stop and saw it chasing after Avalon. Drawing his sword, he took off, knowing he was no match for either of them, but giving chase nonetheless.

Running hard, he saw Avalon thrown against a tree, weakly struggling for her sword and new armor. Guang hollered out the cry of the Gnorash without thinking and charged. The Werewolf turned and slashed at him, but Guang ducked underneath the wide swing and stabbed up into the body of the beast. The beast snarled and reared back, pulling the sword out of Guang's hand. He instantly ducked the other way, pulling the knife from his boot.

With a quick, practiced throw, he sent the knife into the enraged eye of the beast. The beast screamed in horror and clawed at its own face. Guang dashed over to Avalon and saw she still drew breath. Grabbing her sword, he jumped to a low branch of a tree and swung high up into the air. Yelling the Gnorash battle cry, he flipped in air and drove the sword down through the skull of the wolf and rolled free. The wolf gave another tremendous howl before falling dead at his feet.

Guang stood up and collected his sword and knife before pulling Avalon's free and cleaning it. He had just bent down to wake her up when five Gnomes stepped into the clearing. Guang slowly lowered his weapons and made a gesture with two of his fingers to his eyes in the universal Gnome signal for "friend."

A large Gnome, wearing body armor and a mohawk grunted something and Guang was hit from behind. As he went to his knees, fighting to stay awake, he saw them tie Avalon's hands and carry her away. Moments later, he followed.

**************

Two hours later, Guang was awake in a small thatched cabin with guards outside. He was trying to untie his bonds, but they were tied tight and Avalon was across the room, similarly bound, but still unconscious.

"Avalon," he whispered. "Wake up."

[Avalon Silvasti]

Groggily Avalon opened her eyes. Pain seared through her body, causing her bit her bottom lip to stop from crying out. The pain brought her to full awareness as she took in her surroundings. She tried to move but realized that she was tightly bound with her hands behind her back. "G-Guang..." She whispered as she locked eyes with him. "What happened?" She asked as she attempted to scoot closer to Guang. She managed to get close enough to Guang that she rested her head on his shoulder. "Where are we and how did we get here?"

A few moments later two large Gnomes bursting through the door and hurried over to Avalon. Roughly they grabbed her up and started to drag her out of the hut. "Where are you taking me?!? Let me go!" She yelled at them. Two more walks in and snatched up Guang too.

The Gnomes laughed as they continued to drag her out of the hut. "Your going to see the chief! So stop struggling or we will be forced to use more drastic measures to bring you before him!" The kicked the door open and drug her out of the hut and down through the town to the chief's hut. The guards in front of the chief's doors opened them. The two Gnomes threw Avalon at the floor before their Chief's feet. Avalon brought her head up quickly to see the chief. He sat smugly in his chair as he looked down at Avalon with an air of arrogance in his appearance.

Avalon was taken back when she realized that he was not a pure Gnome, he was part Orc too. He was a hideous mix, his teeth protruded from his mouth that had a horrible under bite, and a bone that was shoved through his nose. His shaggy dark hair shook around his head as he laughed. "A Gnome and an elf! You bring an elf before me!?!" He stepped down from the chair he sat upon and down to Avalon. He reached down, grabbed a handful of her hair and yanked her head back so he could get a good look at her face. He shook his head and laughed, "such beauty but its a shame..." Roughly he pushed her head down as he released her hair. "you violated my laws, you were hunting near my villiage!" He looked up at the few people that had gathered in the hut. "you know what the punishment for that is right?" The people cheered, "that's right tomorrow at dusk this elf enters the arena!" He smiled as he again grabbed a handful of Avalon's hair, yanking her head back again. He bent down to smell Avalon's hair and smile wickedly. "but as for tonight..." He motioned to the two guards that brought her in to move closer. "Leave her bound and bring her to my bed chamber." He laughed as they hoisted Avalon up, kicking and screaming, to drag her out of the hut and to the chief's hut.

Avalon looked over at Guang with fear in her eyes as she was being drug from the hut. "Guang help me please! Don't do this to me! Let me go!" She screamed as they drug her out the huts door. "Guang i love you." Was the last thing she said as her eyes locked with Guang's as the door shut behind them.

[HoudiniDerek]

Guang had remained held while the chief of this Gnome tribe was taunting Avalon. Guang's heart had frozen when he had seen that the chief of this small village was a Gnorc. Things had definitely changed in the time he had been gone...or at least had changed enough so that he was unsure of what to do.

He knew of the arena contests that several Gnome villages had, although the Gnorash had never been one of these. The intruder was put into a large pit and the Gnome warriors would attack. Some would dive into the hole to attack hand-to-hand while others would fire arrows and the like from above the hole. The event would continue until one side prevailed...and the Gnomes always prevailed over intruders...

Guang now realized that this Gnorc must have summoned the wolf creature from the Ularian Ridge where it made its home or it had been a long trained pet of the village. It had been in protective mode and this was its territory. No wonder the chief was mad, even if the beast had not died and the chief not an abomination of nature.

Guang was brought back to reality when the chief told his guards to take Avalon to the chief's bedchambers. This was not the usual practice the night before the arena event. Guang struggled and called out "Shinshalomza!" as Avalon was pulled out sight, her words of love echoing in his mind.

The chief turned and stared at Guang quizzically, seeing him for the first time. He circled him warily and Guang realized that something in his challenge had scared the chief. Guang pressed his advantage, repeating the word more clearly so that the audience could hear. A murmur ran through the crowd and the chief saw it.

"What are you doing here?" the chief asked Guang.

"I'm escorting the lady on a mission into the bowels of the Selkia. I'm her protector for the journey and should not be molested by Gnome villages. But, if you insist on breaking tradition of culture, I demand the right to sacrifice for her." Guang stood tall and the arms around him seemed to lose their desire to restrain.

Guang had called the Chief out for being a coward and a fighter of women. This was considered bad luck in the Gnome culture and the Chief knew that he was in trouble now. Either way, he could not defile Avalon now and he had to worry about letting Guang second for an elf and then letting the elf leave regardless.

"What you search for?" the Chief asked, trying to find a way to deny the right to Guang.

"It is the lady's errand and I shall not speak of it. But we are headed to the Gnorash, my people." The Chief looked up and Guang knew that the Gnorash and this Chief had not ended on good terms. But the people of the village did not have the same history and Guang was convincing them.

The Chief hated it but whatever hold he had on this village would not last if he went against Gnome culture. "Fine. You take the elf and go." He leaned in close to Guang's ear and whispered, "We will meet again, Gnome."

Guang nodded and left, tracking down Avalon outside. Hurriedly, they got their supplies and Guang led off at a clip pace. Avalon had been injured, but Guang needed the distance and a spot he knew to defend against the attack that would be coming.

"Keep your armor ready," he said to Avalon. Silently, they hurried into the growing darkness.

[Avalon Silvasti]

Avalon breathed a sigh of relief as Guang caught up to her and unbound her. Instantly she threw her arms around him and her lips met his in a forceful lip crushing kiss. "Oh thank the gods Guang! I love you!" She winced as she took her supplies and started off with Guang. Hearing Guang say to keep her armor ready she clutched her amulet tightly in her hand as she ran her other hand threw her hair bringing it back with a small amount of blood on her hand. "Guang how did you do it?" She asked breathing heavily. "How did you stop him from killing me?" As they proceeded deeper into the forest Avalon fell to her knees breathing hard and clutching her sides. Reaching back she slid her hand over the small of her back. Her finger touched three gash wounds made from the claws of the beast that threw her. She winced as she seen her own blood once again. "Guang I feel weak... I feel dizzy too. I think I've lost too much blood. Oh gods I'm thirsty! So thirsty... I need water!" She looked around the area and locked eyes on a small stream a little ways a away. "Please Guang help me to the stream."

Guang helped her down to the river and sat her down. She moved to stand and started to walk into the river. The water gently lapping at her body as she continued to walk into the water, soon the river would swallow her up. As the water rose to meet her chest it started to shimmer and spiral around her, sucking her under. Soon after she was sucked under the waters surface she was lifted up by shimmering tendrils of water, lifting her body gently out of the water, embracing her and soon after cocooning her in a living shell of moving water. A few moments passed as the cocoon swirled around her it started to melt away around her body, carrying her body to the shore. She laid there motionless, the wounds on her body had disappeared and not a scar remained but she did not wake.

[HoudiniDerek]

Guang was worried when Avalon had needed to stop, knowing that the distance was important, but also knowing that Avalon needed the rest. He helped her down to the water and watched her walk into the stream, not knowing what was happening and not liking it at all.

When Avalon went under, Guang jumped to his feet and started after her. When he reached the water's edge, a force held him back and he realized that this must have something to do with her new powers. Guang backed off and watched as she landed on the ground beside the stream.

Guang went over to her and brushed the hair back from her face. She was unconscious, but seemed to be in no pain. He checked her wounds and saw that they were healed. He shook her gently and whispered her name. He gave her a small kiss on the lips, but nothing was working.

Guang quickly went through their packs and managed to condense them into one. He tied it on his back so as not to interfere with his sword. He tied Avalon's down as well and picked her up. Knowing he would need his sword hand free, he put Avalon over his left shoulder, forded the stream, and headed into the woods.