Evening Warmth

[rhaxma]

The graveyard proved to be very cold later that evening, when the sun ceased to provide any more heat to the earth. Rhaxma sat between two small grave stones, those of her parents, with her eyes closed and her hands entwined together. She had been sitting there for hours, ignoring anybody that passed by. Rhaxma had refused to enter the graveyard for almost a year, but now she had entered once again and could not leave. Eventually, however, the cold was becoming too intense for her to handle. She felt a sudden, sharp pain shoot to her finger tips. Her eyes shot open and she knew that if she stayed out any longer, she would get frostbite. She stood up and brushed the snow off of her skirt. She grabbed her white robe and wrapped it tightly around her body. She walked away from the graveyard at a brisk pace, growing colder every second that went by. She froze in her spot and tried to warm her hands up, but it didn't seem to be working. She looked around and spotted an inn nearby. She may have never been inside the inn before, but right now, the unfamiliar was very welcoming.

Upon entering the inn, the warmth of inside calmed her and she released her hands from their previous position. She found a chair nearby and welcomed herself to sit down. She wondered who the owner of this inn was, as she's never seen it here before. Although, avoiding the graveyard for such a long time probably also made her avoid anything surrounding it. She leaned forward in the chair. She rubbed her hands together and took her cloak off, hanging it over the back of the chair. Soyala, just a minute later, pounced into the inn, though she struggled opening the door, and made her way towards Rhaxma. She smiled at her slightly and picked her up, placing the small cub on her lap. "Finally we can be warm."

[Ice]

Ice was on the frozen creek. He was gracefully gliding along on ice skates up and down the rather wide creek. He had both hands behind his back and his feet were moving in a steady rhythm. Skating gave Ice time to think about anything and everything. Right now he wasn't really thinking overly hard now. It was rare that he got a break and the cool wind on his face was soothing. He didn't need to think of politics or war or his father. He could just skate and for a few hours he could be just a normal Ice Warrior.

Samara ran up and interrupted his thoughts. She didn't jump onto the ice to start sliding around at Ice's amusement, but instead stood at the side making loud chuffing noises. It seemed there was someone at the inn.

Ice glided to the edge of the creek and stepped off the ice onto the snow. He took off his skates and walked up to his inn.

Inside, he saw Rhaxma sitting on a table, patiently waiting.

"Hello, Rhaxma." Ice said, smiling. He bowed and walked over to her table. He put his skates on the table and looked at her. Samara sat by his side looking lazily over at Rhaxma. She had been the only person besides Ice that Samara had ever let touch her, Ice reflected.

"Excuse me for not telling you about this inn but I'd rather not have myself pulled out every ten minutes at every little disturbance." Ice laughed humourlessly. "How selfish that sounds." He looked down at the ground and bit his lip. "Never mind. Can I get you a drink?"

[rhaxma]

As soon as someone had entered the door, she felt Soyala's body shift against her legs, but Rhaxma kept her in place. She looked up and saw Ice walking in. Slightly surprised that he was here, she watched him and noticed the skates he put on the table. He ice skates? Rhaxma would have never guessed that her leader, and a person like Ice, enjoyed to ice skate. However, Rhaxma wasn't going to judge Ice, him being someone she didn't know all that well, and her thoughts drifted elsewhere as he began to speak.

Rhaxma saw Samara looking at her and she smiled for just a moment before reaching down and lightly petting her on the head. But, that only lasted a few seconds when Soyala clawed at Rhaxma's legs, in a way to ask for attention that Rhaxma had directed to Samara. Rhaxma gave a blank look to Soyala, before looking at Ice as he spoke and lightly placing Soyala on the ground next to her chair. She almost laughed at his comment, but refrained herself and simply returned a smile. "A drink would be very nice, thank you." She thought for a moment, wondering what she was thirsty for. "Water would be just fine." It seemed Rhaxma could never get enough of it. She looked around. "By the way, this is a very nice place you have here." She didn't add that she was very relieved to find it.

On the ground, Soyala twirled in a circle when her eyes suddenly spotted the large creature sitting across from her. Soyala didn't know how to respond to such a... fierce looking beast, in her eyes, but instead, Soyala found her to be an opponent. Soyala pounced at Samara and lightly head-butted her side, but Soyala bounced backwards and rolled. Startled, she ran back to Rhaxma and sat next her chair with ease.

[Ice]

Samara watched the polar bear cub as it bounced off her side. She made a slight chuffing noise and stood up, flexing her intimidation skills it seemed. Ice could only laugh.

"Water it is," Ice said, standing up and going to one of the barrels at the back of the inn. He was standing there for a minute before returning to Rhaxma with a mug in hand.

"It's half frozen at the moment but you're going to have to make do with that."

[rhaxma]

Rhaxma gave Ice a curious look, unsure as to why he was laughing, but then noticed Soyala beside her seat. She figured she must have done something, but what was beyond her. She touched her head lightly, only to have Soyala nip her fingertips. Rhaxma rubbed her head with ease and pulled away, waiting patiently for Ice. When he returned with the mug of water in his hand, she smiled and nodded, "Thank you, this is fine." It wasn't like she wasn't used to her water being frozen. Either way, she knew it would completely melt soon enough.

Her eyes trailed across the room. She looked at Ice and said, "This is a nice place you have here." She looked away suddenly. "Right next to the graveyard, however. I would never expect an inn to be here." She took a deep breath and a sip of her water. She turned to look at Ice, but her eyes instead stopped on the ice skates on the table. She raised an eyebrow slightly and asked, "Has your day been all right? Seems you went skating."

[Ice]

"I often do when I am here." Ice said, airily spinning his finger around the rim of his cup. He wasn't overly thirsty but he had still gotten himself a drink when getting Rhaxma's.

"Yes, this close to a graveyard..." Ice trailed off and looked out of the window. "This is the only surviving establishment within at least fifty miles of the graveyard." Ice looked back at Rhaxma.

"Does the location disturb you?"

[rhaxma]

Rhaxma continued to watch him, her eyes trailing away only to look at Soyala. The fact that the inn was the only establishment near the graveyard did not surprise Rhaxma, for the graveyard was not an often visited place where right afterwords someone would not want to go straight home after the mourning. And of course, there are the few people that were scared of the graveyard. Does the location disturb you? She looked away sharply. She respected the dead a great deal, after what had happened to her parents, but she could feel them looming over her, and that made her uncomfortable, no matter how much she may want them there. She took a deep breath and shook her head. "No." It was only a small lie. She looked at him. "But it's a bit unusual. Why did you choose here, of all the places you could have chosen?"

[Ice]

Ice looked back at Rhaxma and paused for a long while before answering. "The dead hold all manner of stories and secrets. Here I can be close to those secrets and those stories. It almost has an energy, this area. It helps me think. Maybe it doesn't really and I'm imagining things." It had been one of the reasons he had built the inn here. Ice didn't feel comfortable sharing the others.

"But if it helps me just that little bit than this is where I should stay, don't you think?"

[rhaxma]

She looked at him, her eyes narrowing. She couldn't tell if that was the only reason, as he was keeping it very well hidden. She told herself to not bother with it, for if it mattered, he would have mentioned the others, if there were any more reasons. His explanation was, however, surprising. "Yes. When you put it that way, it does seem like the perfect place." She looked out a window towards the graveyard, thinking of all those stories her parents could tell. She looked back at Ice. He obviously respected the dead. She stretched her legs. "Do you know how the Fallen Angels are doing, by the way? I haven't heard anything recently. They seem to be... hiding."

[Ice]

"I'm honestly not sure." Ice said, looking back at Rhaxma.

"They do seem to be hiding. I haven't heard word from any of them in quite some time. They have hidden back in their treehouses no doubt." Ice rolled his eyes. "Maybe the allegiance isn't very much to my advantage."

[rhaxma]

Rhaxma had almost forgotten about their new alliance with them. She always thought of the Fallen Angels as a threat, but now, they don't seem to be doing much at all. She took a deep breath and shook her head. What was the point in an alliance with them if they can't even come out in public, let alone, help the Ice Warriors fight a war when the time comes. War... she couldn't wait to fight the Southerners. She gritted her teeth but quickly recovered herself. "Whatever they are doing, hopefully it's something useful." She doubted it. She never did like the Fallen Angels much anyway. She narrowed her eyes. "I heard a rumor that the Navy was planning on attacking a Pirate Port in the south..." She almost laughed. "The Pirates and Southerners don't stand against the Navy." Actually, she knew that they had a good chance, but Rhaxma liked putting the Southerners down when the opportunity presented itself.

[Ice]

Ice rubbed his chin.

"That's interesting." He smiled a litte. "That's quite interesting. How did you find out about this? With every other army but the Fallen Angels in combat now might be our time to take some Pirate land."

[rhaxma]

Rhaxma couldn't help but smile at the thought. If the Navy is attacking the south, then the Pirates must be helping to protect it... Now would be the perfect time to take Pirate land, while the Pirates are away. "In Elïna. I overheard a few people talking about it. They said they were traveling near the South and saw a Navy Fleet heading towards one of the Pirate ports. Of course, they may have been just making up stories. You know how some people can over exaggerate." Soyala climbed onto her lap and fell asleep. She looked at her and smiled lightly. How were they to know for sure that the Navy was attacking the Pirates? Rhaxma could always travel to the South, just to spy on the Southerners, but she wasn't sure if she would be able to control herself from helping the Navy, even though she doesn't have particular interest towards them. She looked at Ice.

[Ice]

Ice was looking out of the window again. Thinking deeply.

"If these tidings are true then now is the time to attack Teer." Ice smiled. "Rhaxma, I do believe my scythe hasn't seen blood for too long a time, your mace too. What would be your council as my Royal Guard to attacking Arna?"

[rhaxma]

Rhaxma smiled in return. It was true, she hadn't fought anybody in quite some time, not with her mace at least. The thought of battle soured through her, and she immediately knew that she wanted to fight. "Dispose of the families in the cities who try to fight back, their strength small compared to our's. The city does not have any walls, so seizing it will not be difficult. We now have the option of attacking from the ocean, we might want to take advantage of this opportunity, to help gain full control of Arna. But we mustn't get caught off guard, as the Pirates are feisty and have much pride. I have no doubt that many of them will try to fend us off. Our strongest warriors may be required."