"There is little like captivity and torture or life and death battle to remind one that tomorrow is not promised. If an opportunity to live presents itself....live without hesitation." the witch says softly with a smile.
"You say that like I haven't fought in a battle like that before," Ragnhildr replies, her tone somewhat frosty.
"And yet you went to the barn anyway."
Ragnhildr growls in frustration before leaving, heading for the woods. The air grows cold and she leaves frost in her wake. A few minutes later, there's a crack of thunder and the crackle of lightning echoing from where she had gone off to.
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"It appears our mighty battle mage is somehwat.....frustrated. May she find an outlet when she is ready." Yavenee says with a chuckle, leaning her head back to enjoy the rain on her face.
"Well if that's how she relieves her frustrations I can see why." Sunday mutters while looking off in the direction she went off after the lighting sounded, an utterly bemused look on his face.
Without a word more he quickly dives back in and resumes paying attention to his partner. When they are finished he finds a blanket in the corner of the barn and pulls it drags it over. Laying back down he pulls her close and covers themselves with the blanket, letting the cool damp air of the fall evening pass over them. Running his fingers through her hair he says, "You know, when I woke up this morning I thought it was going to be my turn to die. Now, laying here with you in my arms, I have to say this might just be one of the best days I can recall in a long, long time."
Vale chuckles with Ragnhildr returns, a sly smile on his face. "That Kaven, he used to be quite the ladies man. Has lots of stories, that one. Being in the Arrows though, we are sworn an oath to uphold and protect the lands and we don't often have time for pleasures such as that. Surprised it took him this long, it's probably been years."
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Elisai smiles as she watches the escalation of frustration from the other women, before raising an eyebrow in minor confusion."I have no idea why she seems to be reacting in that way, had it been Grace or myself, we probably would have joined in...what does she have to be frustrated about?"
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"Maybe that IS what she wanted to do and Krysta told her no? Or she lost her nerve." Sunday suggests.
"Or perhaps our mighty battle mage's boldness on the battlefield is tempered by timidity in matters of the flesh. We all have varied pasts, her scars may run beyond those we heal with magic." the witch conjectures, her tone a little less amused than before.
"We all have varied pasts, her scars may run beyond those we heal with magic." the witch conjectures, her tone a little less amused than before.
Sunday's eye twitches as he gets up and quietly heads off in the direction of the lighting.
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"I'm unsure whether my words just made things better or worse." Yavenee says to Elisai as Sunday heads over towards Ragnhildr.
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Elisai considers before shrugging slightly."Maybe he is going to help create a frustration outlet for our frustrated friend" she remarks in an idle tone as she watches Sunday head off.
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"We are a broken little party at times, I think." Grace notes. She looks at the two directions where each has gone. "Elisai, how is it you and I ended up being the sane and rational ones who have not gone off to f$%* or fight our way into a stupor?"
Krysta came out the door, dressed and armored, and looked around noting the missing faces. She arched one eyebrow and asked, "Where's Ragnhildr?"
Elisai gestured off towards the bushes. "Having some alone time working off her frustrations" she smirks
The spot Ragnhildr had gone off to isn't hard to find. Hoarfrost coats everything for a score of yards around the tree that she is now slumped against, and the smell of lightning lingers in the air. There's still an energy in the air near her that causes hair to stand on end, and her breath comes out in puffs of cold steam.
"Come to make fun of the stupid ulfen again," she asks in a tone as bitterly cold as the air in the small patch of winter she'd made for herself as Sunday approaches.
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"No, I just wanted to make sure you were okay." Sunday says as he approaches, ignoring the elemental disturbances.
"I believe she has a difficult time dealing with embarrassment..... something common to many great warriors I have found." Yavenee replies to Krysta. "Some of we humans have odd inhibitions about the most natural of things. Not all mind you but definitely quite a few."
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"Oh, just fine! Apparently I'm the only one that thinks making love in a troll's barn is creepy, but what do I know? I'm just the stupid girl from a small clan just north of the Grungir forest," Ragnhildr answers with a false grin on her face and her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Can't tell the bloody difference between Magnimar and Korvosa," She adds as she stands up, arms wide as if presenting herself and that same fake smile on her face. "Been fighting witches, hags, and trolls since I was twelve, and all I am is some joke."
Her face twist in rage as she spins on the tree and slams her fist into it as lightning arcs over her armor and her gauntlet. Thunder and wood crack as one and the echoes rumble for some seconds before silence returns to the woods. For a long moment, Ragnhildr just stands there, breathing heavily.
"While you and them were learning about love, romance, and all that other stuff I was having to learn to fight and had to beat trolls, hags, and worse that would come for me. Just for me. The Jadwiga wanted me for themselves, and if they could kill my clan, my family, so much the better. Seeing Aifa captured and beaten like she was... That was one of my worst nightmares come true. I just wanted to see the world beyond Whitescale Keep and see the Swallowtail Festival, but i'm starting to wonder if I'd have been better off just staying home," she says quietly before slumping against the tree again.
"I've been too busy trying to survive to see tomorrow to even worry about what if it never comes," she mutters after another silent moment passes, "I just don't think that way." She looks up at Sunday, silver eyes tired and dark, "I'm just so tired of feeling like everyone's laughing behind my back."
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I've never been to Korvosa so how the f&$* should I know the difference either? Sunday thinks to himself as the white haired warrior rants, his hands nonchalantly in his pockets.
"You don't f@%!ing know me." he flatly says back at her allegations. "And no one is laughing at you for surviving. It's all I do too. You though? You should try and enjoy that life you're trying so hard to keep. Otherwise, what's the point? Why do you survive?"
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Krysta looked towards where Ragn went and nodded, her form shifting as she reverted to her true self and flew in the direction indicated. She found the space easily enough and noticed Sunday was there as well before she landed in the clearing. She caught only the last few of their words and said, "Why would I laugh behind your back and would it make a difference?" The dragon seemed genuinely curious as to an answer and somewhat concerned as she noticed the destruction. After a moment she finally asked, "Did I do something to make you mad Ragnhildr?" She looked at Sunday and then asked, "Are you two going to mate now? Can I watch? I'm learning about something new and wonder if everyone does it the same way or not." Despite her topic of choice there was a certain innocents in her line of questioning, she was a young dragon after all.
Sunday slowly brought a hand out of his pocket and up to cup his face.
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Letting out a sigh he brings his hand away from his face. "It would be rather boring if everyone did it the same, wouldn't it, little dragon? If you wish to watch two people making love I suggest you go ask Elisai and Grace. I'm sure they would be more than happy to put on a breathtaking and extravagant show for you. They might even ask you to join."
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Ragnhildr's face almost instantly turns to beet-red as she looks away from the dragon.
"N-no! I'm not mad at you, j-j-just–" she stammers before her voice trails off.
Why would anyone even ask about that?!
After several moments of awkward silence, Ragnhildr manages to regain some of her composure.
"I'm sorry about losing my temper like I did," she apologizes to Sunday, "I made the mistake of sailing on a Chelish merchantman and it wasn't easy sailing from Kalsgard to Korvosa, and things haven't gotten much better since. Between the goblins, the Skinsaw cult, and now the trolls, I just want a break."
"Then why don't you take one?" he simply asks.
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Noting the continued silence Sunday scratches the back of his neck before he steps up and slowly puts his arms around the mageknight. This worked when Jessica and Kiley did it...
Krysta nearly responded to Sunday's suggestion before Ragnhildr began to speak again. She stopped and watched the woman as Sunday hugged her, pondering the words Ragn had spoken. "Precious told me of the goblins, and I saw what the cult did to her." A set of furrows were gouged into the ground by her claws, "I don't like them. I don't like this Chelish Merchantman guy either." Her expression softened a moment, "He hurt you, you are of my horde now and I don't like people who damage my horde." It seemed that, having accepted Ragnhildr as part of her horde Krysta was becoming irate at the thought of her being hurt. "Show me Merchantman and I will destroy him for you." She found a nearby rock and began to send that vibrating bellow at it. An instant later the thing exploded away from her as the sound caused it to simply fly apart, the debris flying away from her and slamming into a tree.
The hug proves to be appreciated, if unexpected. After looking at Sunday with an expression of curiosity, the young ulfen gratefully leans against Sunday and rests her head on his shoulder as she listens to Krysta with a twinge of panic at her words.
"A merchantman is a sailing vessel. I don't think the Church of Shelyn would appreciate you turning pirate, no matter how justified. Besides, all they hurt was my pride when you get down to it," she says with a smile. A few heartbeats pass before Ragnhildr realizes how Krysta was referring to her.
"Uh, Krysta, what do you mean by 'horde,'" she asks, starting to get a little alarmed.
Krysta's anger calmed at Ragnhildr's suggestion that piracy might be frowned upon and she said, "Oh," after she calmed down. It was then she noticed Ragn's seeming concern and she said, "Exactly what I said, you are part of my Horde now." She lay down on the ground, her legs pulled in much like a cat, and twisted her head slightly to one side in a quizzical gesture, "All dragon's have a horde, I don't have a lair in the traditional sense, but I still need a Horde. I like pretty things and people so the art at the temple is my Horde, the twins, annoying as they are, are my Horde, Jessica and her baby are my Horde." She preened slightly at Jessica's name, "Grace is part of it, Yavanee too, and now," she pointed one talon at Ragn, "so are you."
The young dragon's eyes sparkled in avarice at the thoughts of her collection and continued, "My Horde is to be protected, if it's damaged it must be avenged. Jessica was hurt badly by that snake woman and so her injury must be avenged. Since the snaky b&%!& got away I have to go find her and discipline her for her transgression." Krysta's attention turned back to Ragnhildr, "Since you too are of my Horde now if you are hurt I will avenge your injury too."
For a moment, Ragnhildr is too dumbfounded to even think or say anything.
"Uh, I don't think this has ever happened before in my clan," the young Ulfen says slowly as her mind begins to start working again.
Sunday stands quietly and lets his eyes drift around aimlessly while Ragnhildr and Krysta have their conversation.
Krysta nodded abruptly and said, "As expected, I don't know of dragons that claim people. It is only natural you would be the first of your clan."
"Okay, so why pick me," Ragnhildr asks, wondering why Krysta had chosen her to be a part of her "hoard."
She likes women squishier than herself?
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Krysta looked at Ragnhildr thoughtfully and then said, "I heard enough of your story to feel you are like me, you can understand some things that I do." she looked sad all of a sudden, "I am alone with no family, I don't remember my parents or siblings, I was too young when I fell through a rift and ended up here. I was tricked, put in a cage, and people paid to see me, to poke at me, and if I didn't put on a show of being angry and violent I was beaten by my 'owner'. I enjoy my freedom now, and I am building a family of my own, the people of my Horde are my family, and now you are too." It seemed the dragon had cheered up a bit by the end of her explanation.
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Sunday starts to grind his teeth instinctively as Krysta explains her past. He didn't really know what to say to her, or if he should say anything to her. And he was already using his arms to hug Ragnhildr.
Delendir can do nothing but feel pity for Krysta "We are your family now Krysta. And we have a purpose on life" the half-elf readies his bow "To kick giants' asses"
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Hearing Sunday's teeth grind together, Ragnhildr is struck by an idea.
"Hey, Krysta, can you change back into your other form," she asks the dragon.
Once Krysta has changed into her smaller form, Ragnhildr pulls her into a group hug with her and Sunday.
"Sorry I'm such a mess," she apologizes as she holds both of her companions tight.
Sunday blinks, curious, and slightly worried, as to what Ragnhilder had planned.
Sunday awkwardly looks around as the dragon joins the hug.
Shifting her form as requested Krysta was slightly startled at Ragnhildr's actions. She hugged the woman and Sunday back and said, "It's alright Ragn, all of us have moments."
"Yeah. I know. You don't have to be alone, though," Ragnhildr replies softly, "we're family after all."
The arm holding Sunday squeezes a little tighter for a moment.
"You too, Sunday," she tells him.