-> Once Upon a Shattered Life

[Evadne]

--- What have you done? A tear slipped listlessly down Evadne's polished human face as the words reverberated through her memory, the drop shattering the calm surface of the water she gazed into. She lay at the edge of the lake, her head resting on the crook of her elbow as her other toyed with a clear, twisted jewel. Her human hand stroked the cool surface of it, spiraling and swelling elegantly in some places, giving it a heavenly look. She saw her reflection there, her wide blue eyes wrought by pearly tears, glistening like miniature jewels. She stared into it with sad incredulity, gazing at her contorted vision, remembering the man who had given the trinket to her. You are our salvation, he had whispered in her ear. Do what your heart knows is right. When will you be back? she had said, holding onto him desperately. Placing his precious jewel in her hand, he had said, I'll never be away. But she knew better. Because of her, he was dead now, burnt alive and tortured by inhuman punishments. Because of her childish cowardice she had let him go and he had been captured and murdered for high treason, a treason that Evadne herself had nurtured. And for that, he suffered for her. For everything she had ever done. A twig snapped, leaves shuffled. A crow croaked in the distance. Evadne twisted around, tossing her legs around herself so she could gain a more posed position. Her gingery hair glistened in the moonlight of the Three Moons, imitating the glistening magnificence of the jewel perched in her palm. She glanced up continuously at the silverly beauty of the three discs, gazing through them and into the lonely heavens that she longed to rest in again. Her mind wandered to her innocent days, when she was pure and unadultured by the hate of the world that she lived in. She shook her head slightly, amazed by the corruptedness of her fortune. Another twig snap, a crow fluttering away with a fading cry. Someone was there.

[Kivona]

OOC; Kivona has never seen a human before. Wonder how she'll react. IC; She'd been traveling without her best friend, Jaselin, for several months, and she often prayed that he was okay and that his pack had accepted him back. She hoped they had and that the feud between the two was over. She'd never be able to go back, though. They had shunned her against her fathers wishes, just because she was too small. The she-wolf had tried many times to tell them that size didn't matter; that intelligence did. They never listened, of course. Most of them were too stupid to understand, anyway. Kivona was not ashamed of her size, even if she was far smaller than even most females of her breed, the mexican wolf. But at times like these, in these forest, she often became uneasy and wished herself just a tad bit bigger. The trees all loomed over her golden brown and black form, reaching their branches out to pull her to them so they could squeeze the life from her body. The female swallowed slightly, and quickened her pace. She'd seen no wolves, nor canines, in these new lands yet, which made her fear the beasts that might lay inside. The ones who had killed them all and taken them for their own greed. Kivona shook her head. She shouldn't think such foolish ideas. She was supposed to be intelligent, not a compleat dunce into believeing such fairytales. Still, one could only wonder when you were alone in such a dredful place. In her pace, Kivona had not realised the branches she had stepped on, alerting the beast of her presance. Normaly Kivona would have been much more careful, but her instincts to flee from this place was really getting to her. She brushed out of the trees, to see a lake and...and....a beast. The thing was very tall with pale skin and it's front legs did not seem long enough to be walked upon. Her heart lurched into her throat, and began to beat rapidly. She could hear it, and she wondered if the beast could, too. Keep your cool, Kiv. She imagined Jaselin telling her, and she somewhat calmed down. Jaselin could always make her feel better, even when he wasn't there directly. He was there in spirit, she liked to tell herself. "I-I..." She managged to sputter, taking a few uneasy steps backwards. Perhaps she could outrun this thing, if she tried?

This post has been edited by Kivona on Jun 22 2007, 07:42 PM

[Evadne]

--- "I...I..." The sound of speech awoke Evadne from her stupor, her gaze snapping down to meet the mezmerizing stare of the little wollf in the clearing. Her bare feet scambled against the smooth ground surround the lake, the tall grasses hissing as her pristine dress fell to its length. Eva felt her hair tumble over her shoulders as hastily crouched down and grabbed the necklace in her fingers, dirt staining her clean hand. She frowned at the creature, then quickly brushed away the wet trails her tears had let behind. "And who might you be?" Evadne asked, cautiously stepping forward. Her lips twitched upwards in a halfhearted smile at the animal's fear, the tension the air between them seemed to hold. Its eyes seemed to enchant the goddess, her expression falling into one of curiosity. She hadn't seen many animal's eyes that vibrant of a color, or that color in general. She crouched down barely a few feet away, her dress folding into deep ripples. "Or maybe the question is," she said, "what might you be?"

[Kivona]

OOC; ;O Has she never seen a wolf, either? IC; "And who might you be?" The beast went into a crounch, and was only a few feet away from her. Kivona stepped back again, her bright green eyes stuck upon the face of this pale beast. the only fur on it visible was upon it's head, and that was extra long. This beast was unlike anything she'd seen before. It was something that she didn't know about, and her search for questions began in her mind, digging for all possible questions. "I-I'm Kivona." She blinked some, still mesmerized with the hairless face of this beast. "What kind of creature are you?" She asked with a tilt of her head, eyes still locked in place. The question was not ment to be rude, but it was Kivona's way, to ask questions. She liked knowledge, and wanted to learn all she could about most things she came into contact with. If it was there, the little she-wolf wanted to know everything about it. "Or maybe the question is," she said, "what might you be?" Kivona girnned in a silly way at this question. Who, in their right mind, would not know what she was? Then again, if she didn't know about this thing, then it wouldn't know about her, would it? "Why, I'm a canine. A wolf." Her eyes were large now, and her fear eased off. If this creature did not know of her, perhaps it would think that she was not food, and was not any harm. Still, the canine fangs in her muzzle might tell a diffrent story. All that she had ever killed, though, were mice and bugs. It was scarcely done, though, as she hated the blood and violence.

[Evadne]

OOC: I guess not. O.o She's usually confined to her little copse in the middle of nowhere, so she doesn't get out much.

IC:

Evadne couldn't help but smile as the wolf began to lose its caution and boost its confidence. "Kivona, hm?" she said, sitting back on her haunches and curling her legs together. She tucked the shorter sections of her hair behind her ears, revealing more of her clear, white face. "Well, Kivona, that's a difficult question you pose for me. You see, I'm a melting pot of many different creatures; an embodiment, if you will." She stretched out her left arm, watching in almost dark amusement as it melted into the form of a horse's hoof. Her right arm then glowed strange colors, like that of a bruise, contorting into a dangerous talon. Her eyes radiated a light of unearthly power, her eyelids flicking up to focus on Kivona's. "Because, Kivona," she said, her voice echoing throughout the landscape treacherously, the wind rushing through the trees, "I am not any one creature."

Her eyes squeezed close and her lungs took a sharp intake of breath as she regained her normal form, the wind dying down and silence rising again. She opened her eyes as if in shock, the irises no longer glowing, and her breast heaving with breath. "I...I'm sorry," she said. "Sometimes...I get a little carried away." Evadne quickly stood, touching her hand to her head as it pounded briefly. Eva, you idiot, she thought, control yourself! You're becoming like your sister!

And how so, she snarled back to herself.

Her conscious's voice was precatious and sinister as it spoke to her. You're becoming completely obsessed with power.

[Pyralis]

Upon the rim of Aliant Lake in the territory of her fellow goddess Twilight, Pyralis lurked. She did so in her human form, since it was much less conspicuous than the great equine shape would be. She was following the conversation, and smirked when the so-called paragon of kindness and virtue started to glow. Pyralis realized that Evadne was more like herself than she knew.

When Evadne started breathing raggedly, it was time to interfere. As she was on the opposite side of the large lake, Pyralis took a small breath and stepped out onto the water. The three orbs that were the full moons shone both upon the silvery mass that was her hair and on the water, making the sight an ethereal beauty.

It only took several of her long strides to make it to the opposite bank, but Pyralis took them slowly, showing off her power. After all, that was what she was all about. Accustomed to power, she never passed up the chance to instill fear in the lower beings of this world.

"Evadne," Pyralis said smoothly. "How good to see you again." Her voice was polite, and contained no emotion whatsoever. It was as ice. She glanced over at the wolf named Kivona, but cast the thought aside. It was a meaningless creature, a mere pawn in the great scheme of things. "What a touching moment," said she, her small smile not reaching her glacier-blue eyes.

"It seems as though you may have picked up one or two of my traits." Pyralis stroked Evadne's formerly glowing arm, letting her cool fingers linger on the smooth surface. "I always knew we were sisters, through and through, no matter what you stand for." Although her tone was polite, and her visage devoid of expression, the words were meant to strike like barbs. Pyralis knew both of her sisters almost better than she knew herself, and thus knew their weak points. Evadne's pride would be shot clean through before this insignificant creature, something Pyralis didn't understand.

Why would her sisters care about mortals, little chits with a comparative lifespan no longer than that of a mayfly? Pyralis didn't know. She left her affairs with the humans of this world, even though they didn't live much longer. But the humans had so much more potential, the potential to be horrendously evil. The crimes they committed against themselves, and called it morality. Pyralis internally shook her head in amusement, laughing on the inside.

[Evadne]

"Evadne, how nice to see you again."

Twilight! Evadne thought with relief, quickly turning around on her heel to face her sister. Her breathing began to slow with the knowledge that the other goddess was there, hopefully in a mood that would bring Evadne comfort during her emotional trauma. "Twilight," she sighed, "Thank the stars that you're-"

"It seems as though you may have picked up one or two of my traits. I always knew we were sisters, through and through, no matter what you stand for."

The goddess's heart lurched with sudden panic and fear, her eyes growing round and glistening with anxiety. Her lips parted and revealed gritted teeth, trying to ward off her explosive emotions that bubbled with her gasping breath. She glanced down in disbelief at the slender fingers resting on her arm, sending an icy chill up her veins. Her lips quivered, unsure of what to say, or scream, if necessary. "Pyralis," she whimpered, her face taking on a disgusted expression as reality smacked her across the face. She ripped her arm from Pyralis's grasp, her body stiffening as to ready herself for a blow. "What are you doing here?"

Pyralis's cool gaze continued to linger on her own, boring into her conscious and delving deep into her soul. Eva's skin tingled with a violated sensation, feeling as if her thoughts and feelings were bared for her demonic sister to see. She glanced with furrowed brows back at the wolf, still standing still at the edge of the clearing, before turning back to her sister with an enraged expression. Her breathing ragged, she pointed a reprimanding finger at Pyralis. "I would rather die in the fiery pits of hell than call myself your sister," she said, her voice dropping. "Although we may be of the same blood, at least I don't take pride in disgracing it."

Evadne turned back to face the canine, Kivona. "That, instead, wolf, would be who your blasphemous whore of queen is." She turned with a set expression to her sister. "A disgrace."

OOC: Anger issues... O.o

[Kivona]

OOC; ;3 Woot! IC; Kivona watched in utter disgust as the two-legged's hand sbegan to turn and switch. The small wolfs nose began to wrinkle dreadfully, and she backed up further. Of course, her first thoughts of this magic was, "Witch! You're a Witch! You vile, vile, witch! Taking animal's legs for your own! Vile, vile MAGE!" She wans't even sure if she'd be able to stay alive long enough to tell of this witch elsewhere, and she didn't even know, hardly, what a witch or mage was. She knew she had head the words by some doves, when speaking of terrible magic... The small wolf shook her head softly as another two-legged appeared from the other side of the lake, and walked across it. Her mind was screaming at her, 'Witch, witch! They deserve to burn!' But her whole body told that, evidently, she was frightened for her life. The witches' were so tall, and she was so small. With the vile, vile magic, they might take her life and use her legs, too. She shivered slightly at the thought, manageing to slightly listen to their conversation. "That, instead, wolf, would be who your blasphemous whore of queen is." She turned with a set expression to her sister. "A disgrace." Kivona turned her head to one side slightly, and shook her hea stubbornly. Although she was small, and knew she could easily loose a fight if she was in one, she still had to speak her mind, and felt it her duty to set these two to right...even if she died or failed in the process. "Sorry, but I have no Queen. My loyaltys lie with my best friend, or my own purposes....and if she is your sister, 'blasphemous whore' are rather harsh words, don't you think?" She blinked her bright green eyes a few time. "But I suppose your family matters aren't mine. Jaselin told me not to butt into peoples matters unless they concern me."She shook her head again and went silent, her words said. Truthfully, Kivona did not find that she liked the thought of Queens or Kings. she liked the thought of everyone having equal power, and that you should only serve who you think deserves it, even if it is your best friend, mother, or brother. Her loyaltys, as she had said, were with her best friends, Jaselin. She thought him to be the right place to place her loyalty. With the only one who cared much about her.

This post has been edited by Kivona on Jun 25 2007, 11:21 AM

[Pyralis]

Sorry I took so long to post... D8 Hm. Evadne had a temper, after all. How strange. "I would rather die in the fiery pits of hell than call myself your sister," she said, her voice dropping. "Although we may be of the same blood, at least I don't take pride in disgracing it." Maybe they weren't the same, after all. Pyralis didn't have much of a temper, staying glacier-cool and calm throughout her evildoings. Although, that didn't really surprise her. Those who deluded themselves into thinking that they were so pure and virtuous were really the most temperamental of them all, the ones who tended to get a little testy when you challenged their views. Pyralis internally shrugged and turned to the pawn as Evadne began to speak again. "That, instead, wolf, would be who your blasphemous whore of queen is." Evadne turned towards Pyralis with a strange expression upon her face. "A disgrace." The "blasphemous whore of a queen" raised an eyebrow, mocking the sheer absurdity of the words. "A disgrace? If you remember correctly, I was always Father's favorite. You, Evadne.... Well, that's a different story." She waved a dismissing hand and turned back to the mortal. It had begun to speak. "Witch! You're a Witch! You vile, vile, witch! Taking animal's legs for your own! Vile, vile MAGE!" A faintly puzzled expression spread across the icily beautiful face. "Witch? I think not, mortal. I am," she said, spreading her hands, palms up to the sky, elbows bent, "a goddess. It's that simple. If you recall from your childhood stories, witches are ugly. Do I look ugly to you?" Pyralis bent down to stare the creature in the eyes, blue boring into jade green. But no, it was speaking again. How annoying. "Sorry, but I have no Queen. My loyaltys lie with my best friend, or my own purposes....and if she is your sister, 'blasphemous whore' are rather harsh words, don't you think?" She blinked her bright green eyes a few time. "But I suppose your family matters aren't mine. Jaselin told me not to butt into peoples matters unless they concern me." How amusing. It had morals. "It's right, you know," she said to her sister, eyes blinking innocently. "Your words cut so, so deep." The last sentence dripped with sarcasm. Pyralis shook her head dramatically on the second "so", but it didn't really matter. "Evadne, why must we bother with these pestering mortals? You know they're not as amusing as the humans. For one, they're not nearly as long-lived. They just get born and die, all in the blink of an eye. Oh, wait. That rhymed!" The goddess let out a clearly fake girlish squeal. All business now, she said, "Are we done here?"

[Evadne]

Evadne was too taken aback to speak, and merely stared with wavering eyes at Pyralis. Her fingers curled around the enchanted necklace in her hand, clutching it with every ounce of self-control she had left in her veins. Just the sight of her sister made her emotions writhe with uncontrollable ire and, although she would never admit it, a hint of jealousy. After all, Pyralis had always been the prettiest, the strongest, and the smartest. She was the one that everyone gravitated towards. She was the favorite. The most powerful.

An angry shudder tickled Evadne's spine. The necklace in her palm suddenly lost its soothing touch, a heatwave of fresh anger swamping over her.

Slowly she began to realize that she and the rest of her measly army of rebellious followers stood no chance against her sister. Whether they fought or not made no difference; they would be annihilated and mercilessly punished either way. But they did have but one shard of hope left--one slender opportunity--to at least unsettle the balance of her sister's corrupt reign. And it was constricted in her sweaty palm.

Pyralis pierced the silence by asking, "Are we done here?"

A sketchy plot began to take form in Evadne's mind, a halfhearted smile spreading over her lips. "I don't know," she said. "What is it that you want?"

Immediatley, Evadne thrust her mind into Kivona's, who was still lingering in the clearing. I know this startles you, but do not move, she said, quickly easing the wolf into her spontaneous plot. If you do, she will raze you to ashes. Just listen to what I tell you, and you'll live....maybe.

The goddess twiddled the five fingers that engulfed her necklace, hardly drawing any attention to it at all. You see, in my palm rests a gem that withholds a power great enough to eradicate even the gods. As you can imagine, if it were to fall into the wrong hands, this world as we know it could be and would be transformed into a living hell. A horror beyond a mortal's wildest imagination would errupt and demolish whatever didn't submit to its will, and that is something that I refuse to see happen. But with the given circumstances, I'm afraid that even the slightest error in my actions could put it in jeopardy. So I am going to ask you to hold it for me until I am free, for the sake of everything I've been assigned to defend. Protect it with your life, if necessary, and whatever you do, whatever you face, do not relinquish it to the Queen.

I know this is sudden, and you most likely do not understand most of the brief information I've given you, but I want you to trust me. I'm a stranger to you, as you are to me, but it's vital that you believe that I want to help both you and the greater good. So, once you have the necklace, I want you to run--flee--as far away from here as possible. Destroy it if you can and keep it from discovery if you can't. I'll find you as soon as it's possible. The fate of the world rests on your shoulders, Kivona.

Evadne, unwilling to wait for a reply, gave the animal a sharp glance, then turned to Pyralis. "Whatever it is you came here for," she said, "let us discuss it in private, where tender ears cannot spy." Evadne fought down her fear as she placed a shaking hand on her sister's shoulder, turning her so she faced the glistening pool. Once she was certain the woman wasn't looking, she let the necklace slide from her fingers and fall soundlessly into the grass.

Run.

OOC: Euh...crap post but oh well. Sorry it took me so long. x_x And sorry for the god-mod Twi! =/

Kivona, if you're confused, all you really need to know is that Evadne is making Kivona take the necklace so that Pyralis doesn't find it while they're talking.