Upon Starless Moons (Open)

[Sokuro]

Sunset cast its last rays upon the lakes surface as a winter's night slowly took hold of the air. Chilling gusts of wind sweeping through the trees, rustling the dead and dying leaves from their perch and gliding nature's gracing fingers along the grassy surrounding. As the moon rose into the sky, her own light would hold sway over those of the stars; Thus turning this night's sky into little more than a sheen of darkness, leaving not but the moon herself to reflect from the lake's glimmering surface.

Upon the furthest reach of the otherwise barren lakeside, rested a single, darkened figure. At first glimpse it would seem little more than a rock, until the passing winds caused its figure to rustle and sway, revealing something, or someone, much more alive. With such a crystalline shine emitting from the moon, both skyward and reflecting from the glassy lake surface, it would take little time for one's eyes to adjust, allowing them to make out the figure of a man, knelt beside the waters with a single hand placed upon the unmoving surface. His body, however, was only visible from either behind, or ahead, as wings sprout forth from his back and seemed to fold about him in just a ways as to stop the assault of the lakeside's chilling winds. Long raven hair swayed in accordance with what little of each breeze that could find its way passed his feathery barricade, and created a myst-like sheen over his slender, young face. Eyes glinting in the moon's gracing light like jewels freshly polished, untainted by the world.

The man would move as little as possible, either unwillingly bound to the surface of the lake by his hand's touch, or lost in thought. His fingers offering light taps with tips alone, sending ripples over the mirror-like surface until they faded away. Though each tap to the surface seemed to come as a rythm, perhaps immitating the crystalline chimes of a melody.

The night itself appeared to be just as unmoving as the man, not but the song of the winds and caws of nightlife birds filling the nearby lands. No predators stalked their wreckless prey, no fish found their way to the surface to feed upon the skittering insects entranced in the moon's glow upon the lake. Nothing more than a man and the moon. Perhaps he was a begger who could not afford shelter from the unforgiving winter winds. Begger or not, the young man bode his time within the night, graced by a calm nature's night.


((I apologize to any confusion in my writing.. Late nights and long breaks from such a thing tend to take their toll.))

[Silvarn]

A young man, clad all in white, stumbled out of the treeline bordering a gigantic lake. He would have lost his balance, if a pair of strong arms had not caught him.

"Thank you, Tristan." Helion smiled up at the arms' owner, a man not older than himself. "But, I told you I do not like traipsing about in the dark. I do not like doing anything in the dark, actually." The call of a nocturnal animal made the white-clad boy start and pull himself to Tristan's frame.

"You've got to learn to be less of a fraidy-cat, Helion." Tristan cheeked, gently pushing his smaller friend away. "Besides, we hardly ever get time to spend together. You've been so busy, what with your preaching and miracle-working and whatnot."

"I know; but, it is for a good cause."

"A great cause." Tristan bested.

"So, here we are, Brother. What do we do now?" Helion shivered, either from the cool night air, or his fear of shadow, or both.

"I don't know. I've just been wanting to talk with you, that's all. I've missed my best pal in the whole wide world."

"Thank you, Tristan. You have always been there for me, and saved my life a time or two." Helion's piercing, aether-blue eyes dimmed, "I feel bad that I have not returned the favor."

"Fear not, dear chum," Tristan smiled impishly, "I'm sure you'll get the chance, eventually."

"No offense, but I rather hope not. I --" Helion stopped, a look of befuddlement plainly seen in the moonlight.

"What is it, Helion? A prophecy?" Tristan asked excitedly.

"No...not quite." Helion whispered.

"This is strange. The Sun-God usually sends this visions during the daylight hours." Tristan mused.

"Which is why I am frightened. We should really go now, Tristan -- we should never have come here. Who knows what --" he stopped again, his eyes focusing on the shore of the lake. He hoped it was a trick of the lunar lighting that made him see someone -- something crouched next to lake.

[Sokuro]

As the voices of these two wandering men slipped along the lake as little more than a whisper within the occasional night gusts, Sokuro lifted his head from his gaze upon the glassy surface. Eyes like liquid sapphire, glazed in a dulling mist from the moon's glow. Upon his movement, Sokuro's fingers had dipped into the chilling waters and caused a chill to course his arm- Giving him a rather disturbing image to the figures across the lake.

Folding his wings around himself, Sokuro slowly pushed himself to his feet; Though he'd attempted to rise in a way that would not cause more alarm than he'd care to deal with. With wings folded around him, the wind rustling his feathers quietly, Sokuro lifted his left hand from beneath the veil, a brief wave toward the two men. After all, Sokuro did not often find others where he traveled, and had not expected to this night- So it was a pleasant surprise.

As another gust took to the shores of the lake, a particularly strong chill coursed Sokuro's spine, causing him to arch back ever so slightly; Something more than the night air felt need to graze his senses. Sokuro sighed under his breath as he eased from the shiver, his eyes locking now on the men across from him. Just who were they, anyway?

[Silvarn]

Tristan, despite Helion's protests, held fast, a defiant smile on his face. "Oh, look," he said, indicating the figure, "he's waving at us."

"Tristan, you know we can't trust shady people in cloaks, not after that run-in with..." he stopped, the memories too vivid.

"Good point." Tristan's usually bright face darkened, "But, still, we should at least be courteous. He might want to hear about the Holy Solar Faithdom."

Helion perked instantly. "Maybe you are right. But, I still do not feel entirely comfortable about this."

"For a Speaker of the Sun, you sure are shy." Tristant joshed, giving his companion a brotherly shove, "Besides -- think of this as an adventure!"

"The last time you said that, we nearly ended up as a main course."

"They seemed like nice people." Tristan defended, "How was I supposed to know they were a cannibalistic cult?"

Helion gave a violent shudder and gripped Tristan's tunic for safety.

"We can just ignore him if you'd like, Helion." Tristan offered, his voice soothing.

"No, I can do this." Helion's bright eyes flashed and he steeled himself.

The two approached the dark figure, Helion, surprisingly, taking the lead. Tristan kept a firm hand on the sword at his hip.

[Sokuro]

Sokuro's brow quirked as he listened to the muffled voices of the men down the beach, ears twitching every so often as he picked off faintly coherent words here and there. The muscles in his wings tensed faintly, pulling closer to him as he turned his head, offering his gaze to the moon's mystic beauty.

"Let us hope I've not made a mistake this night." The words escaped Sokuro's lips with little more force than a whisper, though carrying across the lake with a passing gust. As his eyes returned to the two men, he'd come to notice their approach and froze for ever so brief a moment, his head tilting so as to better his view of the man behind. Though his eyes lingered more specifically, not so much intended, on the man clad in white. If he were a priest, Sokuro would find himself in quite the awkward position.. so let us hope, his assumptions were wrong.

With a quiet sigh, and a light shrug to toss the chill from his form, Sokuro strode forth with a light grace, each step barely imprinting into the beach; Raven hair gripped by the night's winds. As the two men neared, Sokuro offered a lightly nod, speaking normally.

"Good evening sires." Sokuro's words slipped forth with quite a young and somewhat gentle tone, despite the night's depiction; reaching the two men's ears like a deep crystalline chime along cavern walls at the same time Sokuro brought himself to a stop, bowing at the waist- yet keeping his senses cautious.

[Silvarn]

Helion was very much taken aback by the stranger's unrequested politeness. He hesitated for a moment, but a firm squeeze on the shoulder from Tristan steeled him. He approached the figure.

"Well met, good sir." Helion returned the greeting, adding on a bow as well, placing a hand to his slim chest and extending the other out to the side, palm facing his new acquaintance. As he came back up, he felt at ease, and his angelic face showed it, his boyish features practically glowing.

All the while, Tristan kept a firm grip on his blade, his face uncharacteristically serious. If this being turned out to be a malevolent creature of darkness, it would be he needing Helion's assistance, and not the other way around.

After a brief moment of awkward silence, Helion took the initiative, "What brings you out here this evening, sir?"

[Sokuro]

Sokuro rose nearly in sync with the white-clad man and let his eyes play toward the silent other for ever so brief a moment- His eyes flashing dimly in the moonlight as he offered a single nod in greeting. Silence was returned with just that around Sokuro, and he saw little reason to show otherwise.

With his eyes turning back toward the man in white, Sokuro gestured toward the sky, or more specifically, the orb within it. "It's not often I find myself graced by She, sire. So when I find the safety to do so, I offer what time I have to her will."

Sokuro offered a somewhat distant smile to the men as his wings tensed, pulling closer to his form. "Might I be so bold as to inquire the same for you gentlemen? It seems odd to find a man of.." Sokuro hesitated a moment, wondering if his wording were right for the situation. ".. your presumed stature, wandering the wilderness with little protection." Sokuro's words came as he let a slight and ever so brief shift in his eyes, coming to meet the eyes of the other man, still silent stranger.

[Silvarn]

"One of my stature?" Helion asked, a painfully honest question. He glanced down at his white robes, wondering what significance they could convey. Then, he glimpsed his prized gold medallion. "Oh!" he exclaimed in sudden revelation, "You mean a cleric?"

"Aren't you, technically, a priest, Helion?" Tristan asked, never taking his eyes off the stranger.

"I suppose...?" Helion trailed off, suddenly unsure of himself. His piercing eyes trailed downwards, misting over with insecurity.

A reassuring prod from Tristan brought his head snapping up, his features confident now. "My friend Tristan and I came out here to talk as friends. I am fairly busy, so I rarely get the chance to talk with him. He has been with me even before I began my Quest, every step of the way. I am rather..." he gave his friend a meaningful look, "...indebted to him."

Tristan smiled, blushing mildly, enough to be masked by the white-washing light of the moon. Speaking of which...

"Helion," Tristan began as he leaned closer to his companion and muttered lowly, "I am not sure if we can trust a Lunatic. They have a tendency to be a little...you know..."

Helion brushed Tristan away with a smile. He turned his merry face back to the stranger, calling up his etiquette, "I believe you have me at a disadvantage. My friend told you my name, and I his; but, I have yet to learn who it is I am addressing..." Helion offered his hand, hiding the other, trembling one behind his back.

[Sokuro]

Sokuro's eyes flickered between each man as they spoke in turn, ears offering a slight twitch at the muffled whispers. His lips playing a bemused little smile as he listened to the two men bounce back and forth- Though his eyes did linger quite obviously, upon the trinket draped around Helion's neck.

Sokuro's sense returned to him as Helion extended a greeting hand as he offered a light, near bowing nod. "I am known as Sokuro, sires Helion and Tristan. Please forgive me for not meeting your gesture with the same, I'm afraid I cannot trust quite so easily in this world." As Sokuro rose, his words ending in such action, he let his eyes slip to Tristan, a reassuring tone escaping his lip. "I can assure you, Master Tristan, there's no need for such caution..." Sokuro nodded lightly down to Tristan's hand still clasped to the hilt of his weapon. "... I've no reason to draw arms this night."

With that, Sokuro let his voice trail, addressing both men clearly, instead of one or the other. "It is a rare thing to find such a bond, sires. And quite lucky at that." Offering a subtle smile, Sokuro's eyes once again played toward the glowing orb in the starless sky before snapping back rather quickly. "Do forgive me, I am not often graced by another's presence. So you'll find my manners can be rather.. lax at times." Sokuro chuckles quietly and bows his head once more. Quite the formal one for someone who claims little interaction with others.

[Silvarn]

"I find it difficult to believe your manners could be, lax, as you put it, sir Sokuro." Helion tried his hardest to emulate the stranger's etiquette. It was not often he found himself on the receiving end of oratory.

"All the same, Sokuro," Tristan began, "there are other dark things lurking in the night who might not be so polite as you." his hand remained clenched on the hilt.

"Tristan, that was uncalled for." Helion turned suddenly on his friend, scolding him, "Sir Sokuro may be dark, but only in countenance. I find his company, though brief for the moment, to be pleasurable." The cleric returned to the other man, "You must forgive my friend, Sokuro. He is my bodyguard, and is always looking out for my health."

Helion licked his lips, his bright, expressive eyes betraying his inner nervousness, "Sir Sokuro, you said you were serving the will of Luna this eve. If you do not mind me asking, what exactly, were you doing to serve Her by this lake?"

[Sokuro]

Sokuro's eyes drifted to Tristan momentarily at his words as he lifted his right hand, waving dismissively. "It's quite alright, Master Helion. Nothing one hasn't grown accustomed to over the years." Sokuro smiled and nodded to Tristan. "Besides, he does have a point. A forest is never a safe place after nightfall."

Sokuro turned his gaze back to the moon, realizing he'd not answered the last inquiry, and lifted his right hand toward it, fingers stroking the air in the same rhythm he had been doing upon the lake's surface. "Not many can feel, as well as see Her light as clearly as a Fallen, Master Helion. She graces with her touch each night and I simply feel the desire to return such favor."

Once more, a somewhat distant smile took play over Sokuro's lips as he lowered his hand and returned his gaze to the men standing before him. An oddity among several, sure enough. "Though I must admit, Master Tristan, I've come to notice- You'd not grasped your blade until you began your approach to me." The faint smile held to Sokuro's lips as he thingyed his head, near birdlike in nature; Jewel eyes offering a subtle flash of light within iris alone.

[Silvarn]

Tristan visibly tensed when the stranger mentioned "Fallen"

Helion merely stood dumbly.

"A...Fallen?" he stumbled.

Tristan's blade leapt from its sheath, glittering lethally in the chill moonlight. "Get behind me, Helion."

The frail, young cleric stared at Sokuro in a strange combination of horror and fascination. Here was someone so similar to himself, yet so different.

"Then, we are like cousins, Sokuro." Helion finally choked out. "For, you see, I serve Luna's counterpart." He specifically knew not to mention Sol Invictus being Luna's brother, lover, husband, or anything of the sort, so as not to offend Sokuro, "I know of these divine touchings. Although I am not spiritually aspected toward Lady Luna, I can still feel her. I feel as graced by Sol Invictus as you must do when you feel Lady Luna's presence."

Helion beamed up at the dark stranger, his smile cutting through the night like a small star, "In that sense, you and I are not that different, really."

[Sokuro]

Sokuro's eyes came to rest on the newly drawn blade as he tilted his head to the side with a bird-like grace. Speaking nothing on these actions, Sokuro simply tucked his wings closer to his body and directed his words toward Helion.

"As I said before to your comrade, Master Helion, I've no need to draw blades. It would take a fool to not know who you served. One of the darkness, is not always so cruel as she herself." Sokuro let his eyes play to Tristan's. "Each man in this world, and the next, have made their mistakes. And each day they relive them. Sheathe your blade, Master Tristan, I've already assured you that it would not be necessary." Sokuro's eyes glistened for a brief moment, glazing in a sheen of sapphire light as, beneath his wings, his right hand grasped readily at the concealed hilt of his own weapon, his body tensing for rash actions but still remaining calm in composure.... Judgmental, hasty, some men should know better than to think steel before words in this world.

[Silvarn]

Tristan remained defiant, his jaw set, his eyes hard. He placed a firm hand on Helion's shoulder and urged him to draw back. Helion seemed immovable, so Tristan sought to place himself between the Fallen and his comrade. As his hand left Helion's shoulder, his sight was suddenly filled with the cleric's fair features.

"You heard him, Tristan. Put up your sword." Helion's fair voice took on a harsh edge, accentuated by the slightest of echoes.

Tristan, without thinking twice, sheathed his blade and stood at attention, as if awaiting more instructions.

"If you cannot control yourself, then leave. I do not wish to upset Sir Sokuro." Helion clenched his hand into a fist to stop the rest of his body from trembling.

Tristan began to turn to leave, but stopped himself. He turned back, his face livid. "Don't be a fool, Helion. This fiend is one of the Fallen, a creature of darkness. All it takes is one moment off-guard, and he'll have our blood spurting from our necks."

Helion did not respond. Instead, he tenderly placed a hand on Tristan's chest, directly over his heart, and smiled. Tendrils of soft white light radiated in a sunburst from his palm. In seconds, Tristan smiled in contentment and sighed happily.

"We can trust Sokuro." Helion told his friend, even though a small voice, belonging to Tristan, urged him otherwise.

"We can trust Sokuro." Tristan echoed, looking into his friend's eyes with admiration, his smile turning into an affectionate smirk.

"Forgive us, Sokuro." Helion offered, bowing his head to the stranger. The cleric then smiled up at Sokuro, "Everything happens for a reason. I wonder why Destiny brought us together this eve?"

[Sokuro]

Sokuro stood idle, but attentive, as he watched the cleric's touch, his ears twitching with every word Helion had spoke. Though easing slightly upon Tristan sheathing his blade once more, he let his eyes linger upon Tristan for a moment longer, only to return to Helion with little more expression shown than before.

"There is nothing to forgive, Master Helion. It's only natural for Master Tristan here to dislike what I am. Though not all creatures of the night are as vile as their presumed brethren, you can never be certain." Sokuro smiled faintly and nodded to, so he could assume, the now docile tempered Tristan. "After all, your initial approach was rather careless to begin with. No defenses aside from a hand on your hilt, I would not have taken much of a wound had I wanted to harm either of you." Chuckling with a most teasing tone, Sokuro bowed at the waist, keeping his wings bound tightly to his form and concealing his still cautious grip on his own weapon. "No offense meant."

Sokuro held his bow, eyes for once closed, as the night air gathered about his form, the scent of blooming lilacs stinging the senses, nearly dulling all but scent itself. Some may find it a hostile approach, the feeling brought by this scent would be found most calming, clearing the mind instead of hazing it- Though slightly numbing the body to a lingering tingle. "It's no doubt you two have been through quite a lot within a recent time spam, please, let yourself be at ease." It's seemed Sokuro had entire missed Helion's final comment, perhaps by choice, or accident.