Xiao

[Levedara]

Finding Prey.

The night dark, leaves rustling like spent souls to exhausted to drift away, cold moonlight illuminates master and pupil standing in small clearing between long forgotten trees.

A rasping voice speaks.

They move about, carefully. Living things. With fear.
Find that fear. Make them prey. Feast.
Those that fear ask to be hurt. They ask to be hunted. Hurt them.
Do you fear?


A hacking wheezing laughter. An elderly woman swipes her long nailed fingers viciously down towards the upturned youthful face, tearing flesh open wide. The dark eyes of a hungry predator watch for weakness.

Pupils dilate, fingers clench around the haft of a large two-bladed sword. Yet there is no attempt to flinch away. Ground held.

The resolute sound of a determined woman shatters the long minutes of ensuing silence.

I am not prey.

Blood drips, clogging lashes, impairing sight. Eyes narrow but do not blink. Breath comes evenly. The wait is unbearable yet maintained. The hag watches, poised to strike. The youth watches accepting the threat and the pain, her sweat soaked muscles clenching only with tightly controlled rage.

Then you are ready to Hunt.

The young face remains resolute as it turns to the side, chin to shoulder. Not turned in deference, but simply to leave. Pale irises slide to watch out of the corner of the turning eyes as body shifts, shoulders first then hips, to stalk away. Blood drips.

Spin. It's a quick motion on the heel, the great two bladed sword whipping quickly, momentum bringing the youth into abrupt steps forward to keep balance.

The hiss of breath, eyes wide. The hag shows a grimace, jaw clenched, surprised. That is all the youth needs.

You are now my prey

The blade slams home, ripping into soft abdomen. The light weight of the old corded body easily lifted and heaved backwards. The youth lurches to give a violent shake, tossing the torn woman from blade to the ground in a squealing pile of hot viscera. Time passes with screams. Each cry raises the youth to greater violence. Finally there is death.

The woman stalks away. Time takes her across the land in search of prey. The nail wounds fester, then heal slowly, leaving scars across her face. She steps into Greatgaunt hungry.

I smell prey

[Levedara]

Testing

It started easily enough, a simple conversation. The brown robes and the lack of height drew Xiao's hostile curiosity. Here was prey.

*looming close she lifts onto the balls of her feet as if six imposing feet were not enough of a show of height. The cowled woman cowered against the counter*

She pressed eagerly, forcefully. Edging close. It didn't take long before the woman struck. Yes, this was prey. Playful prey.

*She licked her split lip, spreading blood across her teeth. Watching the woman as she shuffled along the wall, making a retreat after another patron had barged past*

Xiao found the retreat alluring yet she did not chase. Instead she offered a lie.

You are not prey

Here was a toy. Every uncomfortable "Uh" warmed her blood. First named. None of the other humans surrendered their name before this one. Genna. First prey.

*Xiao licked her teeth and ran her fingers along her blade*

[Levedara]

A short morsel

Purple led the way. Without fear. Yet.

A short wide man stood there. Bearded and bald.

Xiao bristled. She would not share the hunt.
He jumped back at her approach. Fearful.
She began to salivate as he edged towards the wall.

~ Her thoughts drifted slowly as she licked her teeth.

Little things so easily fear. What will you do in the corner. Hammer bared. Will you strike at me?
~


The reward was swift found as the stout went through motions quickly, dumping poison and fire onto his hammer and throwing stinking powder against her legs. She stood against his assault, raising her blade to catch his hammer. She watched him as she moved defensively. The pain of the hammer was great, it's crushing force bruising to the bone and yet she did not back away.

Purple demanded it to stop. Xiao stepped away, keeping blade raised to block should the fearful man press his charge. Yet he did not. Attacked out of fear. Cornered animal. Yes, he was prey.

When purples hand touched pain depeleted.

~ Does she think me weak? She tests me. Does she seek prey? Xiaos thoughts shifted to focus on the two figures that watched from the maw that was the dank tunnel entrance. Interlopers to the hunt. The dwarf will flee before me. ~

*Steeping forward again she drew yet another assault from the dwarf, his acid bomb splashing those that might think to aid him. Tense elf bow drawn. Xiao paid no heed, looming over the dwarf despite the stick of acid across her cheek*

You go.

~ Flee from me. Prey. ~

The dwarf left quickly, backing away. The interlopers followed.

[Levedara]

Square, wolf watch

The storm and his close ones lead through.

Table with chair. Fences.
Walls mundane claim to be civilized.
An elf leans against the post.
She is small.

~ Frail. Small. Prey? Elves were often stronger despite their light bodies. Spirit. Bonds. ~

*Ground to a halt. Shifting poise, balls of her feet, calves coiling to spring. Narrowed eyes, choosing the tender spot where blade would tear flesh asunder*

~ between the ribs, a twist to make them pop. Lungs to fill with blood, wailing choking gurgles. There is only the cut. There is only the strike. There is no hesitation. I am the blade ~

*The she elf let her hand fall to blade, yet she relaxed. Her small lips smiled. She was ready, not fearful. She was prepared, not hostile.*


~ The quiet growl, below the range of most to hear, slipped into Xiao's ear and spoke of a determination. No, not prey. Consideration. Territory. This was a foe, yet not prey. The challenge must be made~

*A last step, a show, boot driven down firmly. The suddenly vicious face answered the challenge. More words than could be spoken aloud passed in the narrow eyed gazes, Xiao shifting her face, but not her eyes away, offering her cheek as a clear gesture*

~ I do not fear ~

Fence. Sound, steps. Behind, an interloper reached a hand.
In that instant the choice was made, matter clattering from mind.
Foe, not to be hunted. Not at this time.

*she turned her features back to the elf, having given her more than enough time to strike. Agreement it seemed. She curled the words across her tongue, voicing for the sheer sake of the woman behind her, to tickle her concern.*

"Not prey. "

*she stalked away*

[Levedara]

Killing a hunter


The room was peaceful. Lined with cots.
Candles flicker. Locked doors stood guard.
A man lies on his back, tears staining his cheeks.
The sharp point of a two-bladed sword digs into his chest.
A woman looms over him. She waits.


*Xiao leaned her weight into the sword, pushing it down into his enchanted flesh. Her pupils dilated as his fingers clenched the sides of the cots, as he bit back a scream, yet he did not protest*


~ there is no hunting one that is not alive she thought. her mind drifted across their first meeting, and the subsequent few thereafter. she considered the irony of the blade she was sinking into his flesh being one he sold to her the night before ~

- looking back -
She stopped in the square, waiting for purple.
Her gaze crossed the square, a sitting man at the table.
Elves speaking under the tree.
A stranger passed, drawing her eyes to him by nearing.
She returned her attention to the square.

The sitting man stood. Beckoned. Spoke.
The womans mind raced. She watched him narrow eyed.
He sat with a sigh. His chin on hands, propped by elbows.
The sigh drew her. There was something.
Swift step. Her heavy greaves clattering as she slams her foot down.
She looms over him. He speaks. She steps closer. A question.

He gave her nothing. Turning on heel she walked away.
Hunting him would not be so easy. Or would it?
No. It wouldn't.
He followed. With questions. She answered. And asked.
When he told her what he feared she walked away.
She knew he would follow.
He wasn't her kind of prey.

*Leaning down*

*Her hands tightened around the grip as she leaned into the blade. It sank into his flesh finally, slowly. Blood oozed. When he didn't scream she leaned harder*

You want to die?

~ she knew the answer. he hunted himself. his suffering was a mundane grey. there was nothing to be had from it. a waste. ~

*she continued to press down, her blade only with nearly all of her weight forcing it downwards, cracking through his skin, slipping between his ribs into his yielding lung. she smiled at his rasping gurgle, tilting her blade to leaver under the rib covering his heart, pushing down like one would on a prybar when opening a crate. she pushed down until the rib over the blade snapped upwards, the one below it cracking under the force leaving a mangled bloodsoaked chest, black cloth stained darker still with his blood.*

A cloth polished red from a long blade.
The stench of death slowly seeped into the room.
A heavy boot turned and a gauntlet greeted the door.

Who care for you cry now. You make them weak.

~ It seemed strange to her that those that feared being alone would be so ready to leave others behind. Yet she expected he would return again. And again. ~

The door closes behind her.

[Levedara]

Sowing the Seed


Steps carried to backsides.
Dwarves stood near in body and name.
The long end of her bottom blade jerked.
A pointer to indicate each in turn
Dangerously close to unprotected brows.
A voice rung out with caution and her heart began to beat faster.

step away carefully from that woman... come towards me now.... now!

Dwarves stood looking at her. Meaningless.
She walked between them. Tight fit
Pupils dilate as eyes narrow and lips pull away from teeth.

just try it witch, i dare ya

His retreat was surprisingly rapid.
- Her lips slide back further into a wolfish grin.
His accusation rings loudly.
- Her denial snakes through the air as she licks her teeth.

one more step im warning you

*She steps forward again, turning her chin to the side, nearly meeting her shoulder as she watches him from the corner of her eye*

*He casts a spell, holding it in his hands, energy flickering*

"You act for fear" ~ an accusation to meet an accusation ~

Dont make me! ~ why claim to act if you have no desire to? ~

"I make nothing"

*she continues to watch out of the corner of her eye, stepping forward again, weapon casual on her shoulder*

come closer and i release!

"I no fear." ~ the challenge would be met ~

*she walks forward, head still to the side*

fine, try and kill me see what happens

*she turns her head to him, raising on the balls of her feet to take a slight advantage in height*

"I no kill" ~ no, this prey was worth more alive. his discomfort so plain. his anger so clear. Given his gear and air he was experienced. It was unlikely she could best him in a fight. Yet the challenge was made, and she would meet it. ~

im outa this place, freak show town
"Yes flee."
shut yer mouth
"So angry. So fear"

*her laugh is harsh, a barking sound of triumph. Purples words of caution passed her by. His turn to her and his beckon edged a shadow of doubt across her mind. Yet she could not back down. Following the enraged man out the west gate she paid little attention to Purple as she trailed along behind them. His white cloak was bright in the daylight. She considered what it would look like stained with her blood. ~ Better than it does now ~*


Outside the gate.
Wind blows, grass stirs.
They stand face to face.
Threat to threat.
Purple watches on side.
The very shadows twitch.

Did you kill him?

*her feet carry her intimately close to him, yet he steps away and warns her to keep distant, his words warn her off. ~ he speaks of the man that hunts himself. what did he say? i don't bite.. ~ her lips slide back away from her teeth*

"You think I bite?"

His excuse rattled through the air, warding off sickness, she brushed it away and continued his accusation. Purple laughed, the cold sound making shadows cringe.

~ Seperate the flock. Do not allow them to come together. Alone they suffer more. Joined they gain strength ~

*she turns her head to the side again, exposing the scar streaked side of her face. she gave him her jugular plainly. she showed no fear. the challenge was met*

~ keep them seperate. she mixed truth with vague riddles, metaphors ~

"Who radu?" ~ he who hunts himself ~

did you kill a man in the inn today? ~ oh yes. and will again ~

"I kill many thing in inn" ~ men were things. living things. animals. ~

yes but a man?

Purple tongue cuts in. Shadows coil.
She adds to the riddle already playing in Xiaos mind.
Big rat men.

"Man. Rat. Both. Task is key" ~ yes, the task was key. he said murder. she did not murder. she put a skulking weak animal out of it's misery. he even asked it of her. ~

"I give to man. He like." ~ he did. she expected to see him again. obviously he was cared for. how ashamed would he be? ~

alright ..so you wont admit it...tis fine...but remember there is no warning outside the gate here...i'll act with pleasure


"You kill?" ~ no, you wont. ~

if you step up to me like you did earlier yes

*she licks her teeth again, eyes narrowing, it was time to press the challenge, make it clear. She leans towards him, head still to the side*

"I no fear. You say no murder. You lie?"

take a step forward if you think im bluffing

*keeping her face turned to the side, leaving herself completely vulnerable she steps forward. his hands flash while he chants, the power of his divinity reaching out and grasping her where she stood, freezing her in place*

The purple voice snakes fourth, sounding as unimpressed as her posture indicated, arms folded across her chest. "Hold spell."

i warned ya, now...

*He puts the blades up to her throat in a cross fashion*
*her head tilted to the side, her eye continues to watch him at it's leering sideways angle*

now.....grunt if you did not kill my friend? if you dont make a noise you die

*she continues watching him, without much choice, and not a sound is made. Her pupils remaining fixed, showing no reaction and her breathing stays steady*

Purples voice speaks again warning him of crime. Of murder. He brushes the claim aside.

*the spell fades, yet she does not move, leaving the blade to rest against her throat in the ensuing silence. then finally her lips part in response*

You want to kill? ~ no, you do not. you fear to kill. weak. you thrive on mercy. ~

His parting words fell at her feet like rain, something she paid little mind to. His threat of vengeance did not rattle her. Death was not something to fear. It would come, likely far to easily for her taste.

"I hunt. You murder."

you live today, but who knows about tomorrow aye?

~ tomorrow will come again and again, and when the time is right, I will hunt you ~