Vague Past [Open]

[Kristen]

Morning air filled Morwen's lungs, drawing her breath into a sigh as if she were about to blow out her grandmother's candles. The morning's fingers curved over the world, cupping it in her hands. The rosy colors were warm and welcoming, a comfort through Morwen's eyes. If no one ever took the time to set eyes upon Morning's features, they would miss a whole lot of beauty in their life. Luckily, Morwen was there to witness the brilliant colors brought on to a new day.

Morwen lifted a hand to her eyes, protecting them from the star's rays, her pupils adjusting to the difference in light. The world was welcomed to take on a new day, and so was Morwen. Her thoughts broke into a riot, her own words turning against her in an argument. As the beautiful scenery gathered around her, she thought, only her eyes focused into reality.

After Lorian's death, Morwen fell unconscious. She couldn't recall how or why, but all she saw in her memory was Geddo's face. The one she was loyal to. He had brought his trust to her by asking to become a royal guard, serving him by his side. Now Morwen stood here, oblvious to where he was. She was split up from him in the confusion after killing Lorian. Where was he, she did not know. All she knew was she was in the Alante Jungle.

It felt lilke her past life was all a blur. Thinking back to how she ended up here hurt her brain and would confuse her into thinking the unconscious mind's images were real. So she was brought back to reality, her mind's eyes seeing what her regular green ones saw. Her thoughts lashed out like a whip, trying to burst back into her mind, but she pushed them out like rejected gift.

The colors were now brighter, the pinks fading away to meet the other part of the world with their brilliance. But the way the world worked, Morwen would never know. She didn't even understand why her past loved ones have left this realm and journeyed on withouth her. It's not just her loved ones that have passed on but those who fought so valiently at their commander's side. The ones who feared their death but didn't fear life and what it brought. Morwen mourned for her enemies' deaths as well. They were just as much as a creature in this world as she was, fighting for survival, following their beliefs. They just wound up in a different belief than hers. But even Morwen couldn't decide what her belief was now a-days.

Morwen shrugged off the thoughts that had conquered her once again. She reached out for a branch that hung above her head, a whole jungle growing behind her. The lovely scenary, as vast as it was, supplied no answers to any of the questions she had.

"Or has it?" She said aloud, drifting back into her mind. A shreik errupted her thoughts, saving her from her own mind. She slipped off the roots she stood upon and cracked her back upon the soil. She gave out a deep moan as she rolled over to look up at what it was. Hand at the ready, her eyes fell upon an innocent monkey. "You little rat, Basil," she said, groaning as she stood up. Basil gave out a shreik of laughter and jumped down from the branches that supported her.

"It's not funny," Morwen said, as the monkey approached her. "You never know what's out there anymore.." she said, Basil's chirps fading away, into a different world...

[nina]

Nina had made a promise to herself as she left the great white ship of the Ice Warriors that she would make one final farewell to her love and then move on with her life. Nina's goodbye at the cemetery was not what she expected...

…She shook the thought from her head. That was the end; she would think no more of it. She needed to keep her mind focused on the hidden trails within the Alante Jungle if she were to find Racana Port and leave Danarta forever. It wouldn't take her long, as long as she remembered the landmarks Shonari taught her.

Nina spent at least four years in hiding within the jungle after her flight from Sanara with the old Monk, Shonari. The man was an exiled soldier - though Nina did not learn that fact until after his death. He furthered her understanding of swordsmanship while she stayed with him in the wood. The jungle held four years of brutal training, kind words, and an old man's support and understanding.

Leaves and twigs crunched loudly beneath Nina's boots as she trekked her way through vaguely familiar territory. She stepped around a tree and trailed her fingers lightly across the bark. Her eyes scanned the canopy of trees above as the sun flicked in and out of the many gaps within the branches.

The morning was truly beautiful, but its eloquence was soon interrupted by a rather loud screeched that echoed its way through the wood. Nina's first reaction was to seize her sword by the hilt and stop moving. Her eyes scanned through the thicket of trees, and detected motion in the distance. Obviously, the screech was a monkey, or some other primate, but Nina was almost certain that there was someone else in that direction other than a mere animal.

Nina advanced forward, crunching on another twig. Whoever was out there would know she was coming, but for some reason, being discovered in the jungle was the least of Nina's worries. After all, the jungle was her home for four years.

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[Kristen]

Morwen was pulled out of her mind like a cork from a wine bottle. Her eyes widened asif they too would sharpen her hearing as her ears strained to listen. She could have sworn she heard that of the decaying soil crunch underneath the foot of someone who dared to risk coming near Basil's loud screeches and Morwen's loud gasps. Morwen flipped her head around her shoulders and focused her eyes into the depths of the jungle. Her body slowly followed her head's path, twirling around to face the jungle.

Morwen wasn't ready for another battle. She had just gotten over Lorian's fate and she did not want to end another's life in her open presence. Her ears tuned in, away from her thoughts that began to grow through out her mind once again, like weeds in a meadow.

Morwen shrugged off her chance of survival by gicing away her presence, even though it probably already was. "Whoever is in there, I do not wish to tire my body even more than it already has been!" She yelled and turned back around, nonchalont now. She bent over and sat upon the roots she slipped on, gazing back into the rays of the brilliant star, giver of life. Morwen looked into the sun as if it held the answers to every question in the world. But what Morwen failed to realize was the sun didn't answer question, it created them. With every plant it fed, every land it warmed, it gave birth to life, creating every question imaginable. Life starts with the light. And maybe that's where it ends too.

[nina]

Nina heard the voice of another woman shout in her direction. She came upon the source of the voice in the next couple of yards and found herself facing a young girl in her late teens. Judging by her attire, she was of pirate blood. Nina released her sword from her grasp. This girl before her was no threat; she didn't seem to want conflict anyway.

Nina raised her hands, "I understand, I don't want to tire myself out anymore either. This jungle can wear any body out if you travel in it too long." She rested her hands on her hips.

She wanted to go on and ask why she was in the forest, but of course it was none of her business. Nina figured the last thing this girl wanted was another person to interrupt the solitude she was apparently enjoying.

Nina looked upon the same direction the girl was looking. The sun shimmered and illuminated the forest below. She looked back down at the girl. Would she tell her to go away and leave her in peace, would she remain silent, or would she respond at all?

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[Kristen]

Morwen smiled as was glad it was a women's voice. She wanted to get her mind off men right now. It seemed they didn't show emotion towards battle anymore. They continued to slash through their life, taking others'. And Morwen admitted herself she too has brought guilt upon herself for killing another. But she hasn't seen one man bless the soul he took away or at least admit he felt guilty. This is what brought Morwen here this beautiful morning; the past.

Morwen turned back her head to take in the appearance of whoever addressed her. "It's not just the lands. It's who's been fighting over it," she said, adjusting her position by sliding her butt on the rock, getting a better view of the lady she was talking to. Morwen scanned over ages and appearances and put it all aside for now. She didn't even care what alliance this women followed, which was unusual for this straight forward pirate.

The rays touched Morwen's hair with golden light. It outlined her figure for a moment and moved on with the world's rotation. She sighed and turned back around to face the star as it started its journey across the heavens.

Morwen patted the rock next to her, hoping this women had time to converse and forget about alliances as well. Morwen could talk and reflect about war all she wanted, but whatever she did, she couldn't stop it nor stop it from finding her. Her abilities will attract what she has trained for for the rest of her life...

[nina]

it's who's been fighting over it... The girl's voice had a slight sadness to its tone, a far-away thoughtfulness, and a the knowingness of someone who had seen battle, war, and bloodshed.

This girl is younger than I was when I first became involved with this war, and she's seen so much already… I can hear it in her voice... Nina's heart went out to her, and she cursed the war. It had done nothing but only caused Lilan and her people pain.

This jungle was a haven for the two ladies - a place where alliances and races did not matter. There would be a time when those coalitions would be significant, but it was not now. Nina approached the girl as she offered for her to sit down. Of course, Nina chose a rock opposite the girl rather than the one she sat upon. That was just her nature.

She untied the sword that hung about her waist and set it on the ground below her. Crossing her legs, and resting her chin upon her hands, she said, "You've seen the bloodshed of battle, the pain of war." It was a statement, not a question. "To be so young, and to have seen so much, I can almost understand you anguish."

She paused for a moment. "I'm Nina by the way."

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[Kristen]

Morwen couldn't resist the temptation of a smile that slipped onto her lips. She actually came to sit with her and to Morwen, that was kind enough. "Yes, Nina, war has sketched it's words into my heart and will continue to find me. Once trained for battle, one can never hide from it.." he words were painfully inside her but her ears ignored them. No sooner than spoken, she forget the words and pressed on. "I'm Morwen. And I didn't think you'd actually sit next to a pirate," she said, looking back to Nina, curiosity sparking in her eyes.

The clouds began to part and take flight with the sun. Birds joined in the journey across the lands, their shadows streaking over Nina and Morwen. Morwen wished she could just set free with them; have to worry about nothing but prey and weather. But she couldn't fly and she had to just face it. She couldn't live the rest of her life dreading everything that was bound to come to her.

Morwen forgot about Basil and the chirp of her monkey woke her from her thoughts. The small squarell monkey leaped onto the rock and stared wide-eyed at Nina, as if she was made of pure gold. Morwen couldn't help but laugh at the monkey's face. She pushed Basil off the rock and watched her just sit in the grass and continue to sare at Nina. "Please don't mind her," Morwen said, "She doesn't realize its rude to stare.. but I've never seen her look at someone like that before, haha," she laughed, staring at Basil.

[nina]

Morwen spoke of war like someone who had known it all her life, which was probably true. If she was as old as Nina guessed, she had known war since childhood at the least. Thinking back, Nina was older, late teens when the rumors began to circulate...

Morwen shoved the talk of war to the side. Obviously, it was a sensitive subject, and Nina didn't really wish to discuss the matter either. Nina raised an eyebrow at her next comment, and waved her hand in the air as if to shove the issue aside. "I've no room to judge, nor condemn anyone for where their heritage or loyalties lie. I have no alliances, except for Lilan herself." She said casually.

Nina stopped talking as the monkey leapt toward her. She stared down in the monkey's eyes as she continued to stare. "She's a pretty animal. Not sure what intriguing about me, either! What's her name?" Nina asked, looking back at Morwen.

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[Kristen]

Morwen listened and nodded at her first words. She relaxed on the rock a bit more, her shoulders settling into her skin. Morwen smiled and answered, "Basil. She follows me, I follow her," Morwen shrugged and continued, "We make a pretty good team."

Basil lifted her head from it's hanging spot when she heard her name. She chirped and bounced up and down in the grass. After the random entertainment, she settled herself back down again, only to go back looking at Nina with her wide eyes. Morwen rolled her eyes at the creature and looked back up to Nina. Her words still echoing in her head; No alliance, but Lilan herself..

[nina]

"Basil," Nina repeated the name. Nina was still staring down at the monkey, watching her jump around and eventually come to rest a few feet away. "Guess it must be nice to have someone to keep you company all the time. Basil seems like a good girl," Nina finished, raising her eyes up to look at Morwen.

"Just out of curiosity, how old are you anyway? Not much older than - what? - seventeen years old?" Nina asked rather bluntly, "Seems quite young to be wandering in these woods by yourself - with Basil, of course. Never know who's drifting through here."

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[Kristen]

"16, soon-to-be 17. I've had to live on my own for a long time now. Not many pirates anymore to be around with. I can take care of myself," Morwen said, hinting her sheathed cutlass.

Basil finally decided to jump up on her newly-made friend. She clawed up the rock and landed heavily on Nina's lap. She tugged at Nina's shirt and looked back over to Morwen, but she was lost back into her thoughts. Are the pirates slowly vanishing off the face of these lands? Where are they? The only other pirate that came to mind was Geddo and she had no idea where he was after the incident with Lorian. No- wait... I remember now a fellow named Poker and another Chase. When she first stumbled upon them in these lands, they were the first pirates she had met. Where were they now? What had become of them?

Morwen snapped back to reality, relieved of her flash-backs. They continued to permeate her mind and Morwen began to notice it happened more often now. She brushed them away and looked back to Nina, realizing she had just been staring at the ground.

"I've been alone for some time now.. It's a lonely world and it'll probably stay like that for me. I was probably just a test-person when the god's created me. They must be having fun poking at me for 16 years," she said, sighing and turning to look at the sky.

What were they thinking to make me suffer like this? Morwen's eyes flooding to the rim, glossy as a reflection in the water. Her eyebrows lowered and her concentration narrowed to what she was determined to do now.

Morwen stood up, continuing to stare at the sky sketched with colors. The sun showered them with light, cloaking the world from darkness for one day. This day seemed different from the others. Will it be an illustrious day- one to remember?

Her eyes still determined as much as she was, she spoke her thoughts instead of keeping them bottled up inside her head. "I'll show them. I'm going to fight through my life and not let it go to waste like the God's planned," she said, a spark of life in her voice. Her words rang in her ears, she will remember them forever now. Once spoken, always spoken.

Morwen puffed out her chest.

"I don't know about you, but I will not stand being pushed around my life, going with the flow of the current. I'm going to fight the waters and land and prove myself worthy of life."

Basil chirped and chirped at her words, as if she understood them clearly. She leaped off Nina's lap and climbed up to Morwen's shoulder. Basil looked proud to be standing on her friend, as if Morwen was worth something finally. Basil's small head turned to look into Morwen's eyes. She looked deeply into the human as if telling her to do it; finally reveal herself to the world as a gift from the God's, not a tool.

"Watch out world, there are pirates abroad," she said softly, but for the world to hear. Her whispered words danced away in the wind as if it were a message that will be sent to every corner of the lands and seas. Hopefully her words will be discovered by those who need to assuage their faith. Even if they weren't a pirate, Morwen wanted to strengthen their souls for battle. Not just physical, but the battle of faith; and trust. The battle that Morwen has been fighting all her life and forever will. And the God's acknowledged her strength by sending the messengers of the skies across the land. Small shadows appeared over the mountains, teeming with life and sound. The birds would carry-out her words, working with the wind. Morwen's heart had eyes itself, watching the birds coast along the land that rested before her eyes. Her words have finally been spoken, and will be heard.

[nina]

Nina nodded at Morwen's reply. "That's what I thought," she said. Basil came to sit with her, and Nina gave the monkey a little pat on the head.

She looked up at Morwen, who was speaking once again. Nina couldn't help but sigh. Morwen had such a hopeful prospect of life, the gods did not matter to her, Fate had no control... She was going to live as she wanted, not bound by any rule or guide.

Basil leapt off Nina and stood proud on top of Morwen's shoulder. Nina watched as Morwen seemed to triumph over some inward turmoil.

"I stopped believing in the gods a long time ago. I'm sure they're out there; they had some sort of plan, but it's all gone now. They've abandoned this world- let us go on and live as we please, never even bothering to look back or take another glance. There's no god watching us, or enjoying our suffering. You can be sure of that." Nina told her. An obvious grudge could be heard in her voice.

"I envy you, Morwen. Your life is governed by no one and nothing but yourself. I fear, even without the gods looking down upon me, there is still some force that leads me. Some destiny is searching for me. The more I try to fight it, the more I'm led by it. And when I go astray too far, fate finds a way to restrain me..."

Nina was thinking of Vance once again. They had so many plans, and for once, Nina was choosing her own way. Or was she? War had engulfed the land then, Nina was still restrained by fate's cruel hand. Another step off the path, and Vance was stolen from her.

Nina shook her head. "Such asinine thoughts," she mumbled as her voice trailed off.

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[Kristen]

Morwen peeled her eyes away from the traveling birds and brought her mind in to focus on Nina's words. She gave out a laugh/sigh and said, "I don't know if I'm much to envy. I'm just another pirate fighting for what they want. I'm a theif and I'm stuck between believing I'm a horrible beast that steals or a young girl that doesn't see a future in herself."

She paused and looked past Nina then back to her, "Because I'm governed by myself, I have to face myself to decide what I want. I just.. casn't decide," she said, her shoulders settling down into the blades as a new set of thoughts convinced her that those birds weren't any messengers, they were just trying to find warm weather.

She sighed and continued, "Please tell me," she started, turning her body to face Nina, "what do you see when you look at me?" Her blouse ruffled in the new sets of the wind. It was fresh from the mountains that lay off in the distance. The Ranges thought they were brave guards protecting the land as they towered above the world. But they were just simple pieces of land that have risen higher than other parts. Nothing special about them... or was that the point that Morwen missed, [i[everything[/i] has something special about them/it because they are different than another..?..[/size][/color]

[nina]

Nina couldn't help but smile at the young girl before her. She had so much potential, so much heart, and a brave spirit. Oh, yes. Nina did envy this girl. She had so much freedom...

Morwen's question intrigued her. It's funny how much you can learn about someone though a short conversation. Morwen showed so much personality, she had nothing to hide. I on the other hand have to hide it all. Or risk death... Nina thought sarcastically.

She shoved the thought from her head and looked at the girl. "I'll tell you a secret. You are neither a horrible beast, nor a futureless girl. Thievery is an act of survival. Those who have much are too greedy and do not share what they have with those less fortunate. Those less fortunate are therefore stronger, for they survive by taking control of their own fate. You steal to survive; there is nothing criminal in that.

“Morwen, I see is clever individual sitting before me. You are a pirate, but that does not make you unworthy of yourself or anyone else. You fear your own potential. I look at you and I see a brave woman who fights for what she believes in. You're loyal to those who gain your trust, and shun those who betray you. You have a burning fire within you heart and a passion in your spirit." Nina told her. "Morwen, you are a beautiful young woman. You've so much to offer the world. I'll be you one thing, you're not as alone as you think. There are people out there that care about you."

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[Kristen]

Morwen was stunned by her answer. Nina was so compationet, she just couldn't believe herself to be. Morwen couldn't help but smile at the words Nina gave to her. Her lips focused on her own words now, stringing them one at a time:

"Thanks Nina. Sometimes I need someone else's opinion to determine whether mine is correct or incorrect. I guess I'm no monster, just one fighting and doing for what I believe in. Everyone else does that.. some just might not know it," she said, slightly raising her eyebrow to Nina in case she didn't believe herself to be a great warrior.

There was nothing else she could say with this, her lips couldn't permeate the silence with anymore of her words on this matter. She looked to the sky then back, thinking about the lands that layed past the towering mountains. [v]"Where do you come from, Nina?"[/b] she asked, wnating to know more about her. Morwen wasn't so great at tellng someone who they are as well as Nina just had. Morwen was more of a good listener than a speaker.[/color][/font][/size]