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Post by The Stray on Sept 13, 2015 22:29:29 GMT -5
"Damn," Cael cursed as he looked down at the ground, where two sticks formed an X. "I knew I'd crossed through here before. What's going on?"
He had marked this spot after the second time he'd thought he'd passed through just in case, but he never thought his worst assumption would be true. He'd been going in circles. He was lost. He never got lost. After he'd joined the cult he'd gone exploring. It was a standard thing for him to do in any new location. He'd been scouting out the areas around different entrances to the catacombs when he'd entered a forest nearby and...well, now this. There was no end to it, and he felt a tingling a the nape of his neck. Something was wrong.
He looked up, spinning on the spot and observing his surroundings. Trees. Endless forest. He would have taken a moment to feel nostalgic about the groves back at home, but despite the abundance of trees he wasn't feeling particularly sappy.
"Welp, if you can't go through it or around it..."
Glancing up at the nearest available tree, he judged the distance from the lowest limb and leapt for it. Quickly and lithely, he scaled his way skyward through the branches, movements smooth with practiced ease. He climbed higher and higher until finally he was perched at the very top. Standing precariously on a all too thin tree branch, he cast his gaze to the horizon.
"Oh ifreann, what've I gotten myself into..."
When he first entered the treeline, it had spanned hardly a mile across, and was probably just as deep. Now? He couldn't see the end of it. Was it illusion? Some other form of magic? It had to be. That'd explain the tingling and the wandering in circles...
As quickly as he climbed he descended, making a leap to the ground when he was about seven meters up. Sighing, he ran his hand through his hair. He'd been in plenty of tough situations, but this was new. Suddenly, barely perceptible even with his senses, he heard a soft rustling. He spun on his heel, glancing around him.
"Who's there?"
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Post by The Stray on Sept 13, 2015 23:43:33 GMT -5
Cael almost had to do a double take. At first he thought one of the trees had started to walk and talk, which albeit, wouldn't be the oddest thing he'd seen in his day but it wasn't exactly run of the mill. On second glance, he noticed that there were no branches or foliage to be seen. In their place was a head of shocking green hair, obscuring the eyes of this stranger. This...very, very tall stranger. He let out a low whistle before his habit of thinking aloud go the best of him.
"You're a right tree, you are."
Realizing what he said may have been a bit blunt, he continued.
"Sorry, I'm Cael," he said, stretching out his hand to shake the other's. He didn't sense any immediate threat from this person, and he seemed to know what was going on with the whole never-ending trees thing.
"So, this is your place then? Sorry to intrude."
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Post by The Stray on Sept 14, 2015 0:26:49 GMT -5
His ears flinched a bit at the sudden loud laughter, but he'd be lying if he didn't find it oddly comforting. Laughter that honest was always a comforting thing, in his opinion. It made for good company. But, he had to admit, after a solid minute or so he was wondering whether Leland was alright. When Leland finally spoke, he almost had to lean against a tree for support. He was cracking up, doubled over even. He was still trying to catch his breath as he spoke.
"I...I can't...I can't believe I made a pun that good, and had no idea! I, shite! Wheeeew, okay...okay I can breathe now. That was priceless."
Once he was able to stand straight again, he looked at Leland, eyes still sparkling with laughter.
"So, Leland you said? I like it, rolls off the tongue. You're right in assuming I'm new. Freshly initiated, matter o' fact. Hate to impose, but I still have no clue how to get out of here and seeing as this is your place I figure you know. I've sill got a few more locations to scout before the day is through."
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Post by The Stray on Sept 14, 2015 0:59:40 GMT -5
"Nice!" Cael yipped, hopping a bit as he started walking after Leland. "And no worries about getting me stuck here. I'd be lying if I said it was no trouble, but I rather like trees. Plus, meeting you made up for it," he said, smiling up at his walking companion. He was being honest too. He'd already taken a liking to Leland. If his sense of humor was any indication, they'd get along just fine. However, his smile quickly morphed into more of a smirk.
"Next time?" he said, voice taking on a teasing quality, "We only just met, and you assume there'll be a next time?"
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Post by The Stray on Sept 14, 2015 1:26:35 GMT -5
Cael gave Leland a not so subtle once over, really taking in details of his appearance. He liked what he saw. A solid but lean build, dark skin, and...were those freckles...glowing? Incredible. Well, he couldn't tell in this light to be honest, but either way freckles were a plus for him.
"Can I take it that you mentioning your looks means you'd like if I noticed them?" Cael replied. "Well, you do fit the bill of 'tall, dark, and handsome' to a T, I'll give you that. And you like puns! Can never go wrong with puns. So, if our paths were to cross again, I suppose I'd rather like that too."
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Post by The Stray on Sept 14, 2015 19:01:31 GMT -5
Cael wrinkled his nose a bit at the mention of housing arrangements.
"Yes, I've been staying there. It's just...off, I suppose. I'm used to somewhere more open and high up. The housing they give is mostly underground in the catacombs. They are nice, yes, just...not for me."
He sighed, running a hand through his hair again, only adding to its messiness.
"And I can't afford a new place of my own until I snag a job, but word is that there's already an informant in the area so it's gonna be tough. And his clients are loyal to boot. No ones spilled anything about him."
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Post by The Stray on Sept 14, 2015 19:44:55 GMT -5
"'Whoops'? What do you mean whoo- OOOOOOOOOOOOH, YOU...! Wipe that smirk off yer face, ya bastard!" Cael said with a significant lack of venom. In fact, he was flashing that lopsided grin of his and chuckling as he shook his head. What were the odds? He always did have strange luck.
"Ah, don't worry about me. A roof over my head is more than enough for now. Although, I can't help but be inclined to accept your generous offer of, hmmm, partnership," Cael said, rolling the last word off his tongue and letting it drop. He wondered if Leland would pick it up, or choose to let it lie.
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Post by The Stray on Sept 14, 2015 21:11:08 GMT -5
Cael practically purred his response.
"Stamina, a mhuirnín, is hardly the scope of my abilities," he chuckled. "I think we could work very well together. Although, sorry to say, I can't exactly reveal my secrets of the trade in the middle of a forest. Unless you've got a more suitable location on hand, then I'm afraid it will have to wait until next time."
He gave Leland a once over again then stared up at him, eyes glinting, enjoying the situation far too much as he stepped in a bit closer. He was walking step in step with Leland now.
"Well, 'afraid' may be the wrong. More like...anticipating."
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Post by The Stray on Sept 14, 2015 23:30:10 GMT -5
Cael was pleasantly surprised that there wasn't pure suggestiveness in Leland's voice, but also a noticeable hint at genuine interest. That was...rare. Usually chance meetings that took this route ended after a day. Well, night. And that was that. After double checking that eh hadn't accidentally glamoured the poor lad, he found himself smiling. An unexpected reaction. Closeness of any significant kind hadn't been his forte in ages, and the fact that he was easily warming up to this sort of "bonding time" was an achievement in himself. Perhaps i was time he took another step forward.
"That sounds lovely," he replied with honesty. "Lead the way. If you have any questions you're free o start asking. Consider it a trust building exercise for our future business exploits."
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Post by The Stray on Sept 16, 2015 21:41:25 GMT -5
He laughed at the string of questions. He hadn't expected so many at once, but it was a nice kind of unexpected.
"Around the block doesn't begin to cover it, but I'm sure you understand that just fine. I've been in the business long enough to know all its ins and outs. Just after I, ah, started my journey, as a matter of fact. A bit over sixty years. As for why I Started I..." he trailed off.
He hadn't really thought about how to answer that question. Could he trust Leland? He definitely seemed like the decent sort, but simply decent and trustworthy were two different levels. But then it occurred to him that, unlike others, Leland may be able to actually help him. He took a breath.
"I'm looking for someone."
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Post by The Stray on Sept 17, 2015 12:28:36 GMT -5
Cael was grateful for such a genuine offer. Honestly, he was. And he had been thinking the same thing himself about Leland being able to help after all. It's just that he didn't know how much he could tell him without risking either getting stabbed in the back later down the road or driving Leland away with the scale of it all. Both possibilities were daunting to say the least.
But he'd never get anywhere without a few risks.
"Thank you. It's just...it's complicated. You've probably heard that before, but this is...I hardly know where to start. He's a Fae named Aedan. He's the Prince of my people...or he was. There was a war. Civil. And we lost. I...didn't acually just up and go on a journey. Aedan's brother became King, and Aedan was the first to be exiled. As his right hand, I was next. But, I was around long enough to learn of the King's scheme...but I was too late to stop those bastards from..." he growled deep in his chest, ears back. His brow became knotted as flashes of the past came unwelcomed to the forefront of his mind. He whirled to face Leland directly, a cloudy and desperate emotion in his eyes. "I need to find Aedan. He needs to know what's happening to our people. I can't-"
Cael halted himself before he could say anymore. Just what kind of sight was he showing to someone he'd barely met? He took a deep breath and unclenched his fists, trying to calm himself. He was letting his emotions get the better of him when he knew better.
"I'm sorry. I've probably told you more than you wanted to know. Ah, in any case, I've been just a few steps behind him for decades now. I've got informants in my clan telling em things are getting worse by the second. His trail led me here. I felt like I was closer than ever and then i suddenly went cold...I'm beginning to think I've just been chasing a ghost."
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Post by The Stray on Sept 17, 2015 15:19:11 GMT -5
As soon as Cael felt the steady hand on the back of his neck he could feel a sense of calm rushing over him. He'd never tell a soul, but that area was a weak spot of his. It was a bit sensitive, and it made his muscles feel less tense. He could never really explain why. He was practically putty in Leland's hands now, whether the other was aware of it or not, and he was surprisingly okay with that.
"Mhm," he hummed in agreement. The sound rumbled a bit in his throat, almost resembling a purr. He looked up at Leland and brought one of his hands up to gently grasp the arm that was reaching towards him. He smiled gently and gave it a squeeze.
"Thank you," he continued in a quiet but steady voice, the rumbling in his throat still happening ever now and then. "Really, it means a lot. You're so..."
Leland had been nothing but kind and charming and understanding towards him, and they'd only just met. It was more than he could count on others for that he'd known for years. He had a good feeling about Leland.
"...I guess you're just good. It's nice."
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Post by The Stray on Sept 20, 2015 0:24:24 GMT -5
Cael felt a shiver jolt down his spine, and he was forced to tighten his grip on Leland's arm to lean a bit of his weight on it. The muscles in his legs were starting to feel a bit too relaxed, and his body was beginning to have a pleasant ache to it. The kind you stretch out of your bones as you're waking up and makes you want to keep laying in bed. He would have felt mortified if the feeling weren't so quickly replaced by being a bit offended. He threw a glare at Leland, but it lacked any punch to it.
"I'm...aware of my weaknesses thank you. It's usually..." he had to pause to consciously stop himself from relaxing any further...or purring. "...not a problem though. If someone's aiming at the back of my neck, it's...usually with a weapon. Not...this..."
Another glare with distinct lack of force.
'Damn, it's getting hard to concentrate.'
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Post by The Stray on Sept 20, 2015 0:56:12 GMT -5
Cael saw Leland smirk and knew immediately nothing good could come of it. Just then, he felt another shiver run down his spine, but instead of fading away it seemed to keep moving up and down, and spread to his fingertips.
""You little...Ah...!" Cael let out the soft exclamation before he could stop himself as he had a particularly strong shiver. At this point it was taking a significant amount of willpower to stay standing. This was beginning to become a problem in more ways than one.
"If...this is your idea of foreplay, it's...in poor taste," he joked defensively.
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Post by The Stray on Sept 20, 2015 1:17:34 GMT -5
Cael thought that his "weakness" had achieved some new level and was making him hallucinate. What he could only assume was Leland's home had peeked into their line of sight not ten seconds ago, yet here it was, suddenly only a few paces away. He wracked his mind for a better explanation, and i suddenly occurred to him that Leland could be doing this. He didn't know the scope of a forest guardian's powers, but manipulating the forest itself may very well be one of them.
However, whatever questions he had about that were shoved to the back of his mind at the sight of that predacious grin. He found himself wanting to know just what lay in store for him beyond the door. An insatiable curiosity. He smiled coyly at Leland.
"Why do I feel as if I'm walking into a lion's den?" he joked.
He glanced through the open doorway, then back at Leland, his gaze lingering as he walked forward.
"Well, curiosity killed the cat..." he chuckled. As he stepped up next to Leland, he gazed up at him with a smirk. "And satisfaction brought it back."
And so he stepped inside.
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