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An open portal hovered before the Amazon, eyes closed she searched the planes for a familiar presence, ignoring the brooding Changeling behind her. "There," she said softly, "Its Elyen.... but I can't seem to direct the portal to his location." Frustration drew a sigh from her and she turned to look up into Chez's golden eyes, "I know you were only following the instruction of our Goddess, Prince of Inligh. But I am bonded eternally to Elyen; I cannot leave him to this fate... I do not know why the White Witch feels I should not be there," confusion furrowed her brow, "But I fear in this case I must disobey her." Turning back to her portal she closed her eyes again, "There... I sense Railen... he is within the temple at least." Not bothering to see whether the Changeling would follow she stepped through, the void opening before her as she fell into the darkness. With a jolt she hit cold stone, biting back a cry of pain as she scrambled to her feet. She met three sets of curious eyes, Railen's, Shadow whom she was sure she had seen before, and a set of sea green eyes that seemed somehow familiar. Shaking her head she looked to Railen, "Well? Where are we now?"
Galain was slowly getting to his knees and seeing that Railen had temporarily gotten the wind knocked out of him, decided to answer. “I believe this is hell.” He said it matter-of-factly as he gazed back at a pair of green eyes that set off something that hovered just beyond the edge of retrieval in his tired mind. He tried to grasp the memory and winced when all he got was a minor throbbing in his head for his efforts. Just what he needed on top of the poison and dark energy that waged a slow-burning war inside his body. He stared back at the woman, and then without a second thought yanked her further onto the platform as the Guardians turned around and headed for them. He withdrew his touch almost immediately, his hand shaking -- whether from the irritating inability to place her face or from the energies channeling through him he didn’t know. “Don’t tell me. You know Elyen too?” He asked before the platform suddenly plummeted like a wild thing into the darkness, leaving them all frantically grasping whatever they could for fear they would fall off to their deaths.
The Amazon nearly jumped out of her skin as what felt like an electric shock ran through her when the blond elf grasped her hand. Holding her arm close to her chest she stared at him for a moment, her brain taking a second to register the question. "Elyen? Yes, he is my Sy'Rish," realizing the term would be unfamiliar she shook her head, translating to Elven, "My Melda..." The gaze of those sea-green eyes was somehow familiar, and she found herself unnerved. "I... I can sense him, but there is interference, someone is trying to snap the bond." What was the matter with her? Elyen was in trouble and she was wandering around in a stupor, "We should go..."
Galain’s startled mind registered the woman’s explanation as they plummeted downward. Well heck, she had the most reason to be here if she was Elyen's melda. He’d be more welcoming as soon as this thing stopped moving. Which it did. With a resounding crash. All four toppled off the platform into a dank darkness that reeked of many things, not the least of which was certain trouble. Galain guessed zombies. Zombies seemed to like this place an awful lot. And damn, those annoying bodiless voices were taunting them again. He really, really wanted to strangle them. Quickly he sidled up to Shadow, Railen and the newcomer, sword drawn. They all looked okay and he breathed a sigh of relief. “We may just die while trying to get Elyen out of here and away from whatever it is that has taken a liking to him, but just for the record I’m Galain. And you?” He directed a glance toward the red-tressed woman, realizing she was half-Elven. Gods, he averted his eyes after a moment, frustrated that he couldn’t quite figure out where he might have seen her before.
Shaken yet again the Amazon unconsciously drew her daggers, they spun in concentric circles, a nervous habit she had sported for centuries. The elf provided his name... again she experienced a mental tug of war in her subconscious, with some effort she shrugged it off. "I am An'Thaya D'Riel," she provided her name without the titles usually tacked onto it, "Are you a good friend of Elyen's? Funny... he's never mentioned you."
Damn. He had her name and yet he still couldn’t figure it out. Galain mentally cursed, deciding to blame it all on the dark energies and the poison within him. Maybe later he’d remember. He was surprised by the rest of her response though as he peered into the darkness, every nerve stretch taut. “Actually, we’re pretty good buddies. We tend to thrash each other a lot, but I consider him almost a brother. Maybe he’s just never had a reason to mention me...” Galain shrugged. Elyen had other friends too, probably lots more who were closer than he for all he knew. Something skittered in the darkness beyond and then a sudden blast of chill air swept through, moans and cries borne upon it. All four ducked their heads until the wind had blown by and Galain felt his heart begin to hammer.
“I think we should get out of this open space.” But where would they go?
RUN! Is what came to Shadow's mind as she listened barley listened to the conversation around her. Shadow pulled her an old looking dagger from her belt, then her punching dagger with the other hand. She looked over at Railen and half felt like stomping on his foot. "Come on High Elf...wake up here, or I'll start tossing daggers at your head again." Shadow looked at the other two, then at An'Thaya. " I might be able to find him if I can figure out where in the Goddess' name here is...but until I get that tapestry in my head untangled or your web with Elder rights itself, I have to agree with Atto...we need to get out of here. I don't like the idea of having so many open areas around me." Shadow smirked; "Call it an old habit that's hard to break." She glanced at Railen and pretty much read the same feeling on his face.
An'Thaya stared at the back of Galain's head for a moment... well, whatever reason Elyen had for not mentioning this fellow she was sure they were good ones. Elyen had nothing to hide, and he had plenty of friends, no big deal if he forgotten to mention one... even if that one was so close he considered himself a brother. Shaking off the odd tension she was feeling she let her eyes adjust to the darkness, "He is in that general direction," she pointed into the void, "And he isn't alone." The Amazon was no Jedi, but she was a Mage, and every part of her that used the life energies was cringing in disgust from the dark energies emanating from this place. She didn't dare light her bale fire; it would draw every critter in here like moths to... well, to a flame. "Lets move, I'd rather be a moving target then a sitting duck."
Galain nodded and the four of them moved in the direction An’Thaya had indicated. Having both Shadow and An’Thaya aware of Elyen’s general whereabouts was a boon. What he himself got came only in fits now and then although right now he was definitely feeling something and he cocked his head, sending an involuntary glance toward his friend’s bondmate. “Whatever is messing with him has really got him screwed up,” he whispered as they stepped further into the dark, the sounds following them more quickly.
Disturbed about described An'Thaya's mood, Elyen did not rise to anger easily, and whatever was out there in the darkness had him angry. "Damn you..." she echoed his words, then realized Galain was looking at her, an eyebrow slightly raised. "Sorry, not you, Elyen... whatever is out there has him riled." If this elf was as close to her bondmate as he claimed, he would know that this was out of the norm for the stripe haired elf. "I don't know what this... force wants of him, or why, but he's not giving in easily." She was struggling to keep her emotions in check herself, the Amazon lost her temper all too easily, and the angry emotions coming from Elyen were setting her off.
An uneasy feeling swept over the High Elf as he listened quietly and intently as they moved through the darkness around them. He wasn't too thrilled about the conditions... but having more to the group was definitely an advantage he liked. Now at least they had another that seemed to be able to keep her own. He nodded at Shadow first, then the others, letting them all know he was all right, merely in thought. “Thank whatever gods exist, if they do exist, that he’s not. I can feel him through a secondary link, An’Thaya. Not like you though. Just occasional snatches here and there and it’s been... weird.” Galain shook his head and then stopped abruptly, raising his hand in the darkness to halt them. Shadow bumped right into him, but the others managed to see him in time. The shuffling was a whole lot closer now and Galain risked one small ball of handfire to light their immediate surroundings up. He bit his lip as the dark energies coiled sickeningly through him and the poison temporarily got an advantage. The elf gasped and extinguished the handfire in time for the others to see a nice little army of zombies coming at them from all directions as he struggled to regain control of the inner battle his own body was fighting. “We’ve been finding that running usually is the best method of defense here,” he said as he straightened and drew his sword once again.
As Galain stumbled An'Thaya realized that the blond elf was injured. Reaching out she touched his arm, nearly pulling away as she felt an odd familiarity. Ignoring the approaching zombies for the moment she tapped into the life energies around them, limited as they were, and cast her healing spell. Her veins burned as the poison transferred, a slight gasp escaping her lips as her body fought, asserting its regenerative powers to heal her as she leached the sickness from his blood. Drawing her hand away she wavered a moment, several locks of auburn hair clung to her sweat dampened face... then flipping her daggers forward she nodded to Shadow and Railen, she was ready to fight if she had too.
An’Thaya’s healing touch sent his mind into a helpless tumble. It was a touch so familiar and yet oddly alien and he choked back a gasp. And just as quickly it was gone. The poison was gone and he was able to release the energies he’d been channeling. Galain breathed deeply, then groaned as he caught Shadow advancing upon the zombies. Well heck, they were nearly surrounded... “Thank you,” he said in a low voice to An’Thaya before he wheeled about and slashed wildly at the advancing zombies. "You're welcome," the Amazon barely had time to reply as she launched herself into the air, flipping over the slow moving zombies to attack them from behind. Her nose wrinkled with disgust as her daggers penetrated dead flesh, just how does one kill the undead? Blades were useless, relying once more on her magic she nailed the nearest walking corpse with a blast of balefire. She was rewarded with a puff of smoke, zombies being dead were dry as kindling, and lit up just as fast.
~*~
Watching Shadow pass through the floor the Amazon shuddered, that was a particularly eerie talent. It gave 'Thaya the creeps really. "Remind me not to look when she does that," she muttered to Galain. Taking another look at the blond elf she wracked her brain, why the in the name of the Goddess did he look so familiar? Having nothing more to say she played with her daggers for awhile...
Galain watched An’Thaya play with her daggers, fascinated by the dull glint of metal in the semi-darkness. He had grinned when the woman shuddered. Shadow’s abilities were something to get used to. “Ever stab yourself with those?” He finally asked. He hated waiting here in the darkness and had pulled his own hunting dagger out, a gift from his bondmate many years ago. He didn’t play with it, instead simply staring at its markings as he wondered what Railen had managed to fall into this time. He cast a sidelong glance at An’Thaya again, certain his mind was playing tricks with him again as he tried to place her face again. She was quite lovely from what he could see in the dark. Petite, red-haired, sparkling green eyes... dang it. Well heck, Galain figured to himself. He didn’t normally forget faces, especially female ones. Maybe it would come in time.
Sheathing her daggers, the Amazon looked up at the elf, he was rather tall, and handsome too. She wished she could remember... a sudden headache had her rubbing her temples. "Yes," she answered, "I have quite a few scars from when I was learning to use them." She pointed out a few on her arms and one on her upper thigh. "It’s been centuries since the last time though," she grinned, "Have you ever seen the Amazon Dagger Dance?" Her eye caught the glint of the dagger he held, "That is an interesting design, where did you acquire it?"
“The Amazon Dagger Dance?” Galain’s eyes lit up. That sounded highly intriguing. “Can’t say that I have or that I recall at least.” He shrugged, not trying to remember anything for now. But her question about his dagger had him smiling again. “A gift from my bondmate, Cevanxet. He taught me how to hunt with just this.” Galain’s eyes clouded over. He and Ce traveled apart too often and he felt a sudden pang. Gods, he missed his russëoirönya. “The dagger was made by a fellow in Ce’s homeland. Apparently it was made just for me before Ce and I ever even met.” Galain grinned at the Amazon. Unfortunately reminiscences and further conversation were abruptly cut short as the walls began to crack around them and zombies poured forth. Both of them sprang to their feet, weapons drawn. Something told Galain though that these weren’t your regular, run-of-the-mill zombies though… He backed up against An’Thaya, prepared to fight.
The zombies they had run into previous had sickened her somewhat, but these were walking horrors. Sword drawn she placed her back against Galain's... sort of... he was quite a bit taller than she. Striking out she found these creatures were alittle harder to kill...bale fire leapt to command in her hand and she lashed out, finding the effect less than desirable. "Can you do a link?" she inquired, "With your magic I mean... I don't think either of us alone is going to do much here. If we combine our magic perhaps we can make it stronger."
Galain heard the sizzle of balefire from behind him and knew the Amazon was using magic to drive back the zombies. He was loath to use the energies of this place again, but it seemed there was no other way. Their weapons were utterly useless. “I can do a link. You’ll need to initiate it though. With my luck I’ll mess up and link with a zombie instead.” Galain gritted his teeth. He was getting better with his abilities but he still had a hit-and-miss ratio that tended to send others running when he tried anything other than the few small skills he had mastered. He let his mental shields down just enough for An’Thaya to tap into the energy he was channeling. Gods, this had better work. At least he was reasonably certain they could run...
An'Thaya balked, she was putting an awful lot of trust in this elf she had just met. Then again, their lives were at stake. Normally she would not have attempted a link with someone she didn't know, but the situation didn't leave many options. The life forces here were dark and she wrinkled her nose in disgust as she began to weave the web of a spell. Reaching out she nudged gently at Galain's metal walls, slipping in to form the link that would join their powers and magnify them. For moment she nearly slipped.... the paths of his mind were intimately familiar... shoving the thought aside she focused on the task at hand. Combining her will with his she brought forth the bale fire, shielding her eyes as a wall of flame rose to encircle them. Her mouth fell open as it seared away from them, the stench of zombie flesh announcing their fate... she had never seen anything quite like that before... then again, she had rarely linked before...
An'Thaya stood stock still, it appeared their little trick had done its work. The darkness was eerily silent... "I think that did it." She turned around and nudged Galain, "We should move on." Casting about in the darkness she felt for the link to Elyen... barely detectable it was somehow tangible... like he wasn't sure of his own mind. "This way," she pointed with her dagger, "I'm sure he is this way, but he feels so... dark." She shook her head again, "Elyen never uses magic, yet the bond has the sent of brimstone... dark magic."
Galain too had been startled by how easily the link was established, but he was too focused on the uber zombies to closely consider the why of it all. He was immensely pleased when they appeared to be victorious though. Galain turned at the Amazon's nudge and relied upon her bond with Elyen to direct them. His own link to his friend was far fainter and completely unreliable at the moment. "Do you think he's somehow being used by whatever is tainting the energies around here?" The elf asked. It was bad enough when Elyen did try to use magic, but it would be no laughing matter if he were indeed somehow caught up in whatever was controlling the darkness of this place. He followed after An'Thaya, senses stretched to catch the tiniest sound or movement that might herald more trouble. He prayed Shadow and Railen were all right -- separation seemed inevitable at the moment.
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