Patreon LogoYour support makes Blue Moon possible (Patreon)

Portal - A Fall From Grace (BurningWillows and Black_Out)

Black_Out

Semi-Pro Stalker
Joined
Jul 9, 2018
The chilled crisp air felt quite brittle so high up among the snow swept peaks of the modestly sized mountain range. There were certainly more impressive collections through out the world, but here, on this vast island lost in the ocean these mountain tops were a singularity. Their impressive white capped jagged peaks soared upwards, parting the lowest and densest of clouds with ease. Layers of old and frozen snows were buried beneath fresh white powders that shone and glistened in the cold illumination of the suns rays. They sparkled upon the pristine albino blankets of snow, reflecting dancing motes of brilliant short lived colors into the frigid air.

Few living things dared to venture, let alone dwell in such fragile heights. Such a place, serene as it's beauty was, offered little in the way of comfort or sustenance. Life was full of miracles and surprises though, as even in the frigid and thin mountain air things found a way to survive. Drinking in the sun, dark freckled patches of icy moss clung upon sheer stone surfaces were no snow could settle into place. In smaller crevices, hidden from the brutal wind and suffocating snow, more traces of hardy weeds and dense mosses had taken delicate root. Rarest of all was the briefly lived mystical beauty of the winters bloom, a flower that breathed life into snow and ice with the rising of the sun. Glorious petals, the winding, bending stem, formed from those very elements granted serenity for mere minutes before they melted back into the snow from which they arose.

Tiny furry white rodents made a meal of these limited offerings, surviving on the nutrient rich mosses, hardy weeds, and the abundant sources of frozen water. Some glided about the heights of these mountain tops, thin flaps of skin stretched out between their spread legs as they rode the winds. Other small rodents and mammals managed to eke out an existence as well in the inhospitable climate of the piercing and jagged mountain peaks. Beyond the harsh and difficult conditions of their elevated domain they fortunately had few other things to contend with in their quest for survival.

Soaring gracefully above even the furthest reaches of the snow drenched mountain tops was one such worry, the great white condor. Several families of the majestic large condors had established nests just beneath the fringes of the white snows blanketed a top the mountain ranges heights. Their keen and powerful eyes swept over the lands that stretched out far below them. Often they hunted in the more open ranges beneath the path of their soaring surveys. But, there were young beaks to feed back in those nests and food was in high demand. An easy meal could be snagged if one of the mountains tiny residents was caught out in the open by the eyes of a soaring condor, providing a quick meal for the young eager bellies within those nests.

As the sun hovered in the sky, nearing the apex of it's travels for the day, a small fury rodent happened to be basking in the warmth it so rarely offered here. The winds were hidden from the little brown critter within the wide stone alcove as it's small mouth dipped down, large and thick front teeth tearing off a chunk of dark green moss it had thawed out with the heat of it's belly. Cheeks of the small bunny like herbivore puffed up as it nibbled innocently unaware of the danger lurking over head. Wide spread wings of one of the condors circled far above, a mere speck of it's form briefly visible as the blinding light of the sun obscured it.

No shriek, nor warning call was offered from the Condor as it's gaze settled upon the opening carved into the side of the mountain where the rodent contently lingered in the faint warmth of the sun. Just silence, and rippling feathers from the turbulent air that rushed around the condor as the great bird tucked and dipped, streaking downward like an arrow through the sky. Thick yellow talons, sporting sharp and rigid black claws opened as the avian predator streaked towards it's targer. The rodent never even saw the blurred and speedily descending shape of the great white condor, until it was to late to do anything about it.

Peacefully the absent minded rodent nestled up against the inside edge of a pristinely manicured, lightly tanned foot. Dark straps of brown unblemished leather held a sturdy sandal in place, the straps rising upward along the strong and firm muscle of a mans calf. Sitting upon a short flight of snow-less steps, immaculately carved into the stone as they retreated into the mountain, was a man of physical perfection, stunning immortal beauty, and divine grace. Alexander saw the swiftly descending approach of the mighty condor, he had seen it from the very moment it took to the sky. His left arm slid under the shimmering freshly polished silver shield he had been dutifully attending to. Large white as the snow wings were folded inward against the bare, broad, and well defined muscles of his upper back. His fingers went firmly around the handle straps as he brought the oval shaped protection upwards and out to his side, offering a perch for the condor as it's wings drew wide while vigorously flapping as it's rapid descent slowed.

Strong talons sank in around the rim of the shield, leaving no scratch or mark upon the mystical silver metal that barely budged in the angels mighty grasp. Alexander's bright golden eyes watched, his lips turned faintly upward in a pleasant smile as the massive bird found it's balance and came to a rest upon the shields edge. The angels head turned, just enough to glance back over his shoulder, smiling warmly to the red headed celestial woman just a few short steps behind him. His attentions were abruptly shifted back to their avian visitor, a slender silver brow speckled with creamy white highlights arched as words soundlessly resonated from the visiting condor, emerging in full bloom within their thoughts. Their tone was deep, the voice rich and bold, and it belonged to the lord of their pantheon, the All Father, Lowkurye.

The time to fulfill your duties has arrived. Find the Portal, seek out your Mother there, then the Lady of the Veil will set you upon your path.

With those words, deeply echoing in the minds of the two angelic figures, the majestic condor turned and with a renewed flapping of it's wings, it returned to the sky. You are on your own, now. Was the last words that seeped into their collective thoughts, as the great white condor vanished down into the depths of the chasm below.

There was an almost immediate sour breeze that swept over the alcove where the angels had taken a form of residence. It was carried towards them from the distant ridge line of the neighboring mountain tops upon the other end of the deep chasm. Wafting across them was a foul and putrid odor, as Alexander tilted his head sharply back towards Kyharra. His soft silver hair flowed within the wretched breeze, the demeanor of his normally pleasant features fell upon his companion, sharpened and hard. His hand was already tightening the other straps of his shield about his forearm as the all to evident presence of fiendish intentions lingered in the air. "We have company." Those firm words barely left his lips as he felt a sudden sensation ripple through his body, as a feeling of diminishment over took him. His wide and clear golden eyes filled with a momentary sensation of sorrow as the color washed away, replaced with a clear blue hue. "...I don't feel Mother, anymore, I don't feel any of them." He gasped out in a stunned state as he lifted up his long spear by it's stout handle and turned his gaze away from Kyharra to look out over the distant mountain peak across from their abode.

There sat a massive, bloated, and disgusting bearded vulture, one of the small gliding rodents stuck between it's cruel hooked red beak. The insidious beady dark gaze of the scavenger leveled across the gaping chasm, focused directly upon the two angels. "Pazilnar..." Was the only word that Alexander could get out of his lips before a host of vile screams erupted from beyond where the devilish vulture had taken a perch. Darkly winged forms rose up into the air from behind the curtain of the mountain range, as four fallen angels, their skin sickly cold and pale swept over the perching vulture as it snapped the bones of the rodent within it's powerful beak and swallowed it whole. A torrent of arrows streaked from the black bows wielded by the foul devils guardians, tracing lines of hell fire through the cold air. With his shield raised, Alexander hastily backed up the short flight of steps. "We need to get inside..quickly." There was a sense of calm urgency in his voice as the first volley of flame drenched arrows rang against his raised shield and struck against the stone cliff about them.
 
Further up those stairs sat in the doorway another beautiful, divine creature who called herself Kyharra, whose pale blue eyes studied her arrows as she used a knife to sharpen the points, only looking up at the presence of the elegant Condor. Her breath all but stopped, as she cocked her head, her beautiful long auburn curls tossing over her shoulder.

"Lowkurye," she breathed, his voice within her mind before she even spoke his name, and she bowed her head to him in respect and honor. As she lifted it he was already flying off and her eyes jumped to Alexander, her partner on this holy mission.

"Why is the All Father here Alexander? What's-" she lost her words as something unsettling touched her within, and she could feel her divine power diminishing, the glory of Heaven within her draining.

"Neither do I my friend! What is going on?" She rose, her arrow still in hand and sheathed her knife as she drew her bow, taking a single step down to look out into the beautiful scenery before them. It was uninhabitable for mortals, but it was perfect for them. And the untouched beauty of the mountains left even this angel breathless.

But not today. The beauty was tainted by a disgusting vulture across the valley, his bloated ugly form a sore sight to any eyes. She cocked her bow, nooking her arrow and glaring at the creature, knowing this was something evil even before Alexander called out the name.

"Are you sure?" she asked, raising her bow higher, "Shall I shoot - Alexander watch out!"

She tugged him back as his shield rose, the volley of arrows hitting it and fortunately missing them. Then at his order she pulled at him, dragging them both within and locking their door, turning to face him, her perfectly sculpted face creased with lines of worry. Never had she not been able to feel their Mother, or the other gods. Never had she been stripped like this of her glory, feeling only the shreds of it remaining.

"What is happening? Why is All Father here, and why is Pazilnar only revealing himself now? Something is amiss Alexander."

She grabbed her quiver, then began pulling on her armor, having only been wearing a light tunic as they had not been expecting to fight today. Her eyes flicked back to him constantly, waiting for some form of answers, some kind of plan. She had nothing, because she did not know what they were facing. If Lowkurye was here, something terrible was upon them.
 
The angelic abode was one fashioned by divine grace and power. Stone was melded and reshaped as the two angels saw fit. Each had their own separate chamber, fitted with whatever comforts they desired and conjured up into existence. Within Alexander's room was a large hammock made of supple silk ropes, a fluffy pillow of the softest down feathers was tied into place at the head of the hanging place of rest. Sets of weapons glistened in the soft yellow light that basked upon the room from magical glowing sconces set upon the wall. Stands were adorned with different sets of armor, all of the highest quality, the care taken to maintain them was quite evident. There was a small basin, filled with cool refreshing water that would never turn sour or run dry. Upon a few ledges, and mantles in the room were an assortment of trinkets and souvenirs that Alexander had acquired during his brief time on the island. Beyond that, the room had few furnishings, save for a pair of stone stools that emerged seamlessly from the floor.

Leading away from Alexanders room was a long high vaulted hallway awash in the same illuminating yellow glow of the magical sconces. It led towards the main foyer, passing the great doorway and the general room where the two angels could meet at the altar of the pantheon of gods that they served. From there the hallway swept on towards the room Kyharra had brought into being for herself, leaving the stone benches and the etched symbols of the seven gods that they dutifully served behind. Among the face of the long hallway that connected the simple three roomed dwelling were well hidden arrow slits that had been rendered into the stone by their hands. From the outside they were nearly invisible, as they were well camouflaged against detection.

The searing sounds of hellfire drenched arrows sinking into the front of the door thudded to their ears as the thick door slammed shut behind them. Alexander spared a brief wide eyed glance back to his companion as he leaned his spear against the wall. His lips moved as if to answer her desperate inquiries, but he could find no clear answers of his own to offer to her. Instead he turned back towards the doorway, bowing his head, his sliver tinted hair curtained downward across the stoic and sharp features of his troubled face. "I don't have any answers, Kyharra, I wish I did." He flicked his hand across the razor sharp tip of his spear, drawing blood upon his palm, and squeezed his fist, causing bright red to surge out from between his clenched fingers. With a swift motion he passed his palm along the entire length of the doors edge, blood smearing and streaking upon the stone frame, swirling into mystical shapes and symbols that glowed a dim red hue.

"A sanctuary, a refuge from evil I call upon, let none pass that bare fiendish blood!" His voice boomed out, echoing through the small dwelling they had established up in the mountain tops. The angelic form of Alexander trembled as he sunk to a single knee, the expenditure of such a power should of hardly phased him, but now, he felt the weight of it as the seal was set into place. Their house though was secured now, at least from the gathering of fallen angels, and the devilish presence of the bearded vulture that lurked beyond their doorway. The magnificent form of the winged warrior took a few deep breathes as he settled his grasp around the leather wrapped handle of his spear and used it for leverage to regain his feet. "Be wary, Kyharra, our divinity, seems, threatened, our powers limited, and costly to be called upon." His words were tinted with discomfort, and he did not dare to look back towards her as his brows knitted together while his facial features were etched momentarily with worry. "The seal should hold, we should be safe, for now." He stated as he bit his lip and regained his composure.

The horrid and shrill screams issuing from beyond the barred and sealed doorway to their abode slowly subdued and then ceased all together. Alexander turned his head, angling an ear towards the doorway as he listened, catching the faint sounds of feet landing upon the cleared landing beyond the steps that led up to their steel hard and thick oaken door. He glanced back towards Kyharra, switching the spear into the temporary grasp of the fingers that were around the strap upon the interior of his shield. His index finger settled vertically across his closed lips as he locked the gaze of his blue eyes upon hers. "Shh.." Was all he quietly murmured as he held up two fingers and pointed them towards the doorway.

"What's a matter, my lovelies?" A sinister voice, gurgling and reptilian, rose up and dominated the wind swept mountains. "Have your gods, forsaken you, my, what a blessed feeling that must be." The booming voice belonged to Pazilnar as the ancient devil had taken it's truest of shapes.

The massive being was the size of some of the tallest of giants, standing easily twenty feet in height, and far more obese then anything one might see in their life time. The immensity of the devil was littered with boils and open puss spewing blisters. The sickly green and yellow fluids issuing forth left the air around the devil filled with the smell of well rotted flesh. Even the nearby mosses that had found shelter upon the mountain top wilted and died in the fiends presence. Pazilnar licked leering wide smiling lips with the tubular length of a sucker riddled tongue while it's bulky mass hovered just mere inches from the snowy mountain peak it had been perched upon in the guise of the bearded vulture. The large black leathery wings stretched out behind it's bloated oozing form, though they obviously were not the means by which the disgusting figure of Pazilnar floated.

Clicking long immaculate crimson needle sharp nails together the words of the devil echoed across the chasm, taunting at the ears of the pair of angels that had taken cover. "Cowards, I like that." The great devil then swept the meaty palm of a hand towards their abode. "I do have a rather busy schedule today, such a bountiful harvest of souls is set to begin, mmmmm....So I can't concern myself entirely with your demise." There was brief pause. "Stay here, they'll come out, eventually. When they do I want what is left of their corpses for my artistic, endeavors." The devils large eyes swirled with multiple pupils of differing colors as they observed a pair of darkened shadows that had vaguely horrid demonic shapes worming their way up the face of the mountain beneath the safe haven of the angels. "I could put them in such wonderful poses." With those last musing words filling the air, the massive devil shot upward with a single, mighty flap of it's powerful wings, before twirling with unnatural grace and disappearing as it dove downward behind the opposing mountain range.
 
Kyharra rushes forward and touched his shoulders in worry as he knelt.

“Do not expend your strength then, not before the fight ahead,” she replied, watching the door, her eyes dancing with annoyance, “Pazilnar cannot get in now, even if he wanted to.”

She rose and let go of his arm, her bow still nocked and ready in one hand. She had all but stopped breathing for several minutes now to hear their footsteps, as an angel unneeding of oxygen. Then her eyes grew bright, almost glowing, as she whispered the words, “I call upon my sight, let me see through the eyes of others, and witness the world in new light. Condor.”

Her eyes flowed brighter and she was no longer in their sanctuary. Well Kyharra still was, but her sight was that of a circling Condor above, looking down towards the hideous beast Pazilnar and his sickly followers. She made note of them then let go of the spell, stumbling back and leaning against a wall as she breathed heavily, feeling a great weight rest on her from the spell.

“I understand what you mean,” she gulped, “Alexander, what has become of our gods? Where has our great strength gone?”

She righted herself and picked up her bow she had dropped, “if we do not have our strength, how will we stand and fight here and now?”
 
The winged, muscular form of Alexanders body turned and looked over to Kyharra with an expression of compassion as he took a single step towards her and leaned in so his face was alongside hers. With a lowered voice he spoke firmly but softly into her ear. "We were chosen by Lowkurie, by our Mother, to be here, for a reason." His cerulean blue eyes hovered upon hers as he continued. "Even without the full potential of our divine graces, we have been training for countless ages as warriors in their army. There are few, if any that I have ever seen that can wield a bow as deftly as you do." The lips of the taller angel pressed upon her forehead in a gesture of comfort. "When you've finished putting your armor on I will open the door, hold them at the base of the steps, while you keep to the door, and use that vantage point to take care of their archers. We will persevere, Kyharra, we must." Alexander drew his lips back from her forehead then and turned to head swiftly down the hallway towards his room. "I'm going to gather one of my blades, I will be right back."

As Alexander worked his way down the short curving stone hallway his eyes caught the sight of a shadowy form swirling in through one of the hidden arrow slits. Bright, burning red eyes within the manifesting devilish shape of the swirling shadows locked upon his as it flowed through the narrow opening and fell in a puddle that began to coalesce upon the stone floor. As the shadows began to sprout claws and legs, wings, and tails Alexander lunged forward, and drove the blessed tip of his silver spear right between the glaring hateful eyes of the shadow devil. A loud hiss that caused the angels hair to stand on end erupted from the creature as the spear blasted divine light into it's malignant dark form and dispersed it into oblivion. He glanced back over his shoulder in time to catch the sight of yet another fiendish shadow creature puddling upon the floor in the fringes of the hallway leading towards Kyharras' room. "Ky! Look out! Behind you!" He yelled as he turned her way, but was to far removed to offer any immediate aid to his companion.

His fingers clenched over his spear, hefting it upwards over his shoulder, but the slow curve of the hallway and the body of Kyharra made it difficult and very risky to find a clear line from the point of his spear to the shadowy devil that was now lurching and surging towards her. He waited, looking and hoping that she could dispatch the beast on her own, but ready to throw his spear at the first offering of a clear shot towards the foul creature. Lunging through the soft yellow light of the hallway the foul and twisted winged creature of shadow drew its elongated sinister looking claws upward. It sprang through the hallway towards her and opened its ebony mouth, revealing black fangs of dark negative energy as it went to sink its claws into her.
 
Last edited:
"Alexander..." she didn't know what to say. His words inspired her though. He pulled back and she stared up into his eyes then shook her head. Now was not the time to speak more. They had a fight to win. With that in mind she headed towards her room, making a list in her mind of what she needed to bring. Her armor was the most important, as she was in none, but she had a pouch of coin from the locals she knew could be invaluable if the journey was long, and a hunting knife should they need food.

Then she heard his call.

Kyharra spun, bow raised but the foul creature was too close. She did a back flip to get out of the way as it swiped at her then hit her bow with the back of her hand, and it instantly split into two perfect pieces. Where the middle had split, she now grabbed with each hand, the wood there smooth and encased in fine gold so it would not split. Upon first glance her bow looked to be made of wood and polished but dull stone, but on the contrary it was silver, like Alexander's spear tip or her arrows. And it was far from dull. The string of her bow all but magically disappeared as she spun her new weapons in her hand, two identical curved swords of silver, the blades as sharp as her arrows and deadly. She attacked the demonic creature with finesse and grace, never letting it so much as touch her as she spun and beheaded it, then lodged her second blade through its chest, ending any chance of survival. Rising, she reconnected the swords at their hilt and once more it became an elegant bow that she pulled across her shoulder and looked towards Alexander.

"Thank you," she nodded, heading for her room once more, "I'll make haste."

Her armor was white in color, but made of divine metals so it held stronger than anything forged on Earth. Hers was slimmer and lighter than Alexander's, the archer needing to be versatile and fluid in all her movements. Unlike her partner, her wings were not out today, Kyharra preferring to hide them when within their dwelling, as to not feel so claustrophobic in such a small space. Of course her armor was fitted to allow her to open her wings or hide them, and as she undressed and tugged it on now she felt it snug into place against her body. She adjusted the boots of the armor, the leggings of her outfit made not of the hard metal but finer, more fluid metal that mimicked what the locals called leather, yet it hugged her legs and ass tighter and stronger than leather could and was much harder to pierce.

Stuffing the pouch of coin down her tall boots and filling her quiver with her entirety of arrows she rushed back out, shooting an arrow at a third swirling mass that had leaked through the arrow slits.

"We have little time Alexander," she called, grabbing her arrow and looking for her next target. Her voice was melodious and soft, angelic as she was, with a slight etching of an accent to it that did not belong to any angel but she had picked up from another visit to Earth and found beautiful. It certainly pleased mortal's ears.
 
Alexander watched, the tension of his body written all over his hawkish facial features as Kyharra dispatched the shadow formed devil that had sneaked in through the arrow slit within the curving hallway of molded stone that led towards her chambers. As his angelic feminine counterpart vanished into her room to gather some of her belongings, Alexander turned and moved quickly up and down the hallway. His hands reached up and grasped the steel shutters above the arrow slats and tugged them down, effectively blockading the arrow slits and preventing any further entries from his end of the hallway. "Ky! Close and lock the shutters!" He called out towards her as he turned and moved with long hasty strides into his chamber.

Steely blue eyes swept over the assembled weapons, he was going to need something small and quick, as fighting up on the steps that led into their home would mean the nearby walls and overhanging ceiling would get in the way of larger weapons. He settled on a very short blade, several feet in length and freshly sharpened to a razors edge as he let his spear drop from his grasp and rattle upon the hard stone floor. The handle and hilt of the short sword had a solid guard that should be sufficient enough to catch a striking weapon and stop it from doing any harm. Hardly having the time to fully equip his armor, Alexander grabbed his bracers and shin guards, and quickly strapped them into place. On his way back out of his room he reached down and lifted up a longer gently curving blade of blue tinted white steel, the handle crafted of ivory in the shape of a tightly spun and twirling ballerina whose outstretched arms formed the hilt of the magnificent sword.

"It's time to dance, Jasmine." Alexander directed his gaze towards the blade as the blue tint upon the long elegantly curved sword hummed to life and basked the hallway in dazzling motes of blue light. "I thought you'd never ask." The sword quipped in the light and mirthful voice of a younger woman. With a flick of his wrist, he tossed the blade out in front of himself and instead of clanking upon the floor the sword floated out and up into the air, a melodious humming sound emerging from the weapon as it danced down the hallway before Alexander. As the duo rounded the bend they witnessed Kyharra sending an arrow through the darkened heart of another wispy shadowy fiend that had slipped through an open arrow slit. Jasmine gracefully twirled through the air with a purpose as she sang "Oh, that kind of dance, again." as she finished the devilish creature of shadow stuff off, slicing through the top half of it's insubstantial skull and dispersing it into a cloud of darkness that quickly filtered away into nothingness.

Alexander skidded his sandal clad feet to a halt in the foyer as he looked towards Kyharra and gave a dip of his head before looking towards the doorway. He took a few quick breaths as he readied himself for what waited outside and let his wings sink back into his body figuring they would only get in the way while offering a tantalizing target to their enemies. If he needed them, he could quickly call upon them again, at least the strain of their divine blessing seemed more bearable then the other powers he might call upon. Jasmine swayed back and forth, light as a feather in the air between the two angelic warriors, the tip of the sword pointed towards the closed and sealed door. "He never wants to dance with me, Ky, I think he doesn't know how." The sweet and lighthearted voice of the blade quipped. "You should teach him, sometime. I certainly don't have the patience." Alexander gritted his pearly white teeth with a slight shake of his head as a fluttering moment of amusement worked over his lips before returning to a stern expression. "Are you ready?" He asked as he looked towards Kyharra.
 
Kyharra closed the shutters quickly as the demon was killed, then looked to Alexander in surprise, “Did your weapon just speak?”

She blinked at the hovering object then him. She knew little of Alexander’s ways, other than his fighting skills. They were acquaintances in heaven, on good terms, brought together by their god to do this task. Picked for their unique skills that would aid one another. His earlier kiss to her head was a sign of good faith and friendship, though they were still learning plenty about each other. She had been on two other missions before this with him in the many millennia’s of their lifetimes. They had been much quicker and far cleaner than this one, and Kyharra had a sneaking suspicion their mission was about to get much more complicated if the All Father was involved. Not to mention something had drained their divinity.

She shook her head of the distracting thoughts and nocked an arrow, “I am.”
 
Adjusting his grasp over the handle of his short sword, Alexander settled his silver shield against the door and took a deep breath to gather his senses before shoving the door open and going out upon the steps that flowed downward to meet the enemy. Jasmine though immediately darted her slender form through the barely open door and by the time Alexander stepped foot outside the dancing and humming blade was already engaging the pair of fallen angels that were waiting at the base of the steps. The enemy seemed vastly caught off guard by the shimmering blue blade that was apparently wielded by the air itself. The dancing blade weaved in, ducking beneath one of the pale skinned devils sweeping swings of it's two handed cruel looking black sword. The keen edge of Jasmine sliced down across the female devils hip as she let out a hiss of pain and drew back a step as her dark as coal eyes settled on the sword.

Flaming hellfire soaked arrows came flying in, fired in triplicate from a single hovering icy skinned woman with long flapping black wings of a raven. The arrows came hissing through the air as Alexander drew his shield upwards and knocked one away while dipping his body as another flew past him, as the third bit into the solid oaken frame of the doorway just a foot or so from his left shoulder. "Ky! Archers!" He shouted as a warning while one long stride carried him out the door and another sent him leaping through the air. Rising up out of the chasm was a second archer that joined the hovering first, her gaze drawn towards Kyharra at the doorway. Her twisted bow of black wood was brought to bare upon the angelic archer as a trio of equally black arrows were being drawn. Alexander landed at the base of the steps, his body flowing into a forward roll, his smaller faster sword slashing out and up as he settled his blade into the gut of the fallen angel that was still recovering from the looping swing she had taken at Jasmine.

There was a second of the two handed, black clay-more wielding twisted female devils though out on the would be patio of the domain of the angels so high up in the mountain tops here. She had already begun to wind up her swing, her shoulders lurching back as she watched Alexander leaping through the air. She timed her strike with his momentum as he carried past her and laid his grievous blow into her hellish associate. Alexander had seen the swing coming out of the corner of his eye, but he was already mid leap in the air. That arcing heavy black sword with it's jagged blade tore down towards Alexander just as his blade was sinking into it's own target. He managed to flash his shield up and cover the vast majority of his back and all of his head as the darkened grim steel crashed down into the luminous silver of his shield. The force of the impact sent Alexander sprawling forward as his chest, elbows, and chin absorbed the majority of the impact with the stone floor beyond the descent of the steps.

His sword skittered out of his grasp as Alexander felt an ear splitting ringing as his chin bounced off the hard stone. Momentarily dazed, the instincts of a trained warrior who had seen a life time of battles kicked in as he rolled swiftly like a log towards his sword. His hand clenched around the handle as he caught sight of the devilish warrior that he had grievously injured slinking back from the fight and turning to flee as she jumped down into the crevice with a cry of anguish and disgust. Jasmine was already turning to face down the remaining threat, buying time for Alexander to get back up to his feet and shake the cobwebs from his head.
 
Ky got no answer, but there didn’t seem time to press. She would have to ask him and the seemingly sentient sword again later. He was already out the door, leaving her little time to rush forward and bend one knee to aim.

Her aim was deadly, always precise, and never slow. As he called she was already knocking off arrows into skulls, quickly emptying her quiver. With her last arrow she readied herself to hit an approaching demon when out of the corner of her eye she saw him fall. Jumping up she turned and aimed at the foul beast looming over Alexander, and with her last arrow took the beast by the knee, so he could finish the job as it shrieked, unable to advance. However now the demon with its sights set on her was too close for comfort. And Kyharra had no arrows. With a flourish her bow once more became two swords and she rolled into the attack, dashing up and slicing vertically through the beast before kicking it back several feet and beheading it where it stood. Leaving Alexander to his fight she took the remainder, making sure none were left with their heads on their shoulders, lest they weren’t entirely dead.

“Alexander,” she turned, blades soaked in red, looking to see how he was faring.
 
Alexander was in the midst of scampering back up to his feet, a thin trickle of blood flowing out of his mouth from the harsh impact upon the ground. As he readied his sword the last of the fallen angels, hellish mockeries of the glory they once were let out a shriek as Kyharra's arrow sank into it's knee. The she devil turned with a parting hideous glare and threw herself over the cliff, her raven black and red wings spreading wide as she vanished into the depths of the chasm and retreated. Alexander followed with slightly wobbled steps, peering down into the mists and clouds that the fleeing devil vanished into. His lips twisted into a slight frown as he spat out a mouthful of blood and wiped the back of his arm across his mouth.

He turned then, immediately setting his gaze on Kyharra, the concern for her evident in those soft blue orbs of his. "Are you alright Ky, are you wounded?" He inquired, ignoring his own aches and pains as he stepped over towards her. Jasmine meanwhile hovered over towards Alexanders side and lingered in the air near him. "Your the one who's bleeding, not her, she pretty much saved your hide." Alexander spared a brief roll of his eyes towards Jasmine as he sheathed his short sword at his hip and reached out and took the floating blade into his hand. Immediately the humming, blue glowing sword dimmed back to it's inert state as Alexander smiled over to Kyharra with subtle nod of his head towards the sentient blade in his hand. "It was a recent acquisition, liberated from the possession of a hex fiend about ten years ago." He sighed with a soft smile. "She talks a lot, but she's been helpful to have along."
 
Kyharra wasn’t wounded at all. But she was worried about him.

“Your sword is right,” it felt weird to say even as he explained what it was, “She is helpful indeed but she cannot repair your wounds. Let me see you. Come on, inside. Let’s get you sitting and look at the damage.”

She hooked an arm under his shoulder and helped him inside, keeping her senses alert for any other threat. Once inside she locked and warded the door, growing dizzy from the dimple spell.

“We must conserve our divine magics Alexander. Even wards take their toll. Now let me see.”

She brought a bowl of warm water and some cloth to clean and dress the wound, but worried it would be too deep to leave at just that. She could use her own power, a single gift each angel was bestowed that they alone had and could possess even without their divinity. Hers was to heal...in a way. But it had a toll. A consequence.

“Did they strike you twice or only once? I can’t see any other wounds.”
 
On slightly wobbled legs Alexander followed Kyharra back into their mountain top den, the fresh gash that ran across his bottom lip and along his chin leaving a crimson sheet of blood around the sturdy chin of the angelic warrior. His form settled with ease upon the stone bench in the foyer where the intricate symbols of the pantheon they served had been carved upon the walls. Deep blue eyes observed Ky as she went to fetch some things from her room to tend to his wound. As she disappeared he wiped his hand across his chin and brought his hand out in front of himself to stare at the sight of the blood streaked across his palm.

As the sound of Kyharra's footsteps returned and she came into view Alexander turned his head to meet her. "It's not that bad, Ky." He gestured with a pair of fingers to the gash. "Just clean it, and some time in the sun will see it healed." The angel spoke of his own unique gift, that allowed wounds, disease, and worse to be cured as long as the sun was shining upon his body. "She just got me once, it could of been far worse if I didn't see it coming."

He smiled gently while he let her wash and clean the blood smeared upon his chin and neck away. "We shouldn't dare to stay here long, not with that devil knowing where we reside." His gaze looked to hers as he settled the tips of his fingers lightly upon the back of her tending wrist. "Whatever is happening, our enemy seems to know far more then we do, as it currently stands."
 
She leaned down on her knees in front of him, “Maybe, but let me clean it first and we will see. If it’s too deep I can share the burden to ease you.”

Her gift was the ability to draw pain from others, to pull wounds into herself, in order to heal another.

She cleaned his wounds until he touched her wrist and she froze, her eyes snapping up to meet his. Their faces were rather close, and she nervously pulled hers back a bit.

“I understand. And agree. We should follow our Fathers advice anyways. When should we leave?”
 
There was a subtle flinch of his hand as Kyharra drew back during that fleeting moment of tenderness. Sure, Alexander had admired her beauty before, but here and now, with a measure of his divinity stripped away and finding himself with a more mortal shell he was surprised to find himself attracted to her in a way he hadn't considered possible. He formed a quick smile and sought to move past those thoughts even as his gaze briefly lingered on her soft and full lips. "I'm not sure where we should start, but we should take our leave promptly."

Alexander took to his feet, the pounding ache in his head had dimmed to a manageable level now as he looked around the small but exquisitely crafted stone dwelling they had formed together here. "We should make sure to seal the door, despite it paining us. I don't want Pazilnar or his cohorts being able to rummage through whatever we have to leave behind." His gaze swept back over to Ky's and he nodded. "Let's gather what we can manage and find a place among the forest to settle for the night. The dwarven kingdom isn't far, and while they won't open their doors for us, they'll more then likely let us camp outside their gates for a few coins."

He sighed softly as he turned to head back towards his bed chamber. "Maybe we can find out if there is any news or rumors, or at the very least collect our thoughts."
 
She nodded, agreeing. They needed to leave. She already had everything she needed so she moved to clean up her mess of cloths, leaving him to grab his things.

“I have the coins,” she watched him go, catching herself admiring him and stopped, “And we can leave as soon as your ready.”
 
Alexander swept through his room, picking out a variety of items for their departure and the journeys ahead. He grabbed a well kept leather back pack, unhooked his hammock and rolled it up, stuffing it into the backpack. Then a coin purse he took, opening it and briefly examining the magical depths of it, which were littered with a variety of sparkling gemstones and other trinkets of value. He settled into his armor then, taking some time to make sure the mithral plate mail was properly fastened and fitted into place on his body. He kicked off his sandals, opting to replace them with a red stained pair of leather traveling boots. Snatched up a red woolen cloak with a hood and took one last look about his room.

On his way out of the room Alexander stopped by every sconce set upon the wall and plucked the glowing yellow stones from within them and stuffed them into his coin purse. Returning finally to the lobby of their home, the lights from his half of their abode gone now, and filled with darkness. He had his spear in hand, a small curved dagger at his hip, the short blade tucked in a sheath next to the dagger and small but deadly sharp hand axe hanging from his right thigh. Jasmine was sheathed in an elegant gold and silver leather harness at his left hip as he stopped and looked to Kyharra.

"Alright, shall we?" He gestured towards the door and slowly opened it, stepping outside into the brutal winds and cold that greeted them. Traces of flurries falling from the sky as he held the door open for Kyharra, and once she stepped out, Alexander would shut the door, take a deep breath and seal the dwelling with a powerful ward meant to bar any fiends from entering.
 
Kyharra had her armour, her bow and quiver, and her pouch of coin. She thought it was enough but on second thought she went and rolled her similar hammock and a change of clothing, a silk dress she often wore when not in battle. She doubted she’d need it any time soon, but it was smart just in case. Both these fit into her pouch, magically enchanted by a witch to carry more than it looked.

She was waiting for him by the door when he reentered, stepping out into the cold her eyes scanned for returning fiends as he warded the door.

“Be careful,” she warned, “that spell is strong, and we are not as powerful any longer.”
 
Alexander offered a simple nod of agreement to her words as he felt his breath stolen away momentarily after completing the warding of the door. His hand settled upon the nearby wall as he caught his bearings and regained his breath. "I felt we had little choice, Kyharra." His deep blue gaze were drawn to the concerned look of his red headed companion. "We can ill afford for Pazilnar to get his hands on anything that belonged to us, too easily he could track us down." The form of Alexander rose back to his full stature as the splendor of his feathered white wings spread out from between his shoulder blades. Even that felt an odd sensation to the angels being as he looked towards Kyharra. "I can carry you in my arms if you wish, to save yourself from having to expend your own energy." He offered with a light smile.
 
Kyharra watched him, concerned. Her own power wasn’t strong enough for the ward. Indeed she felt already too weakened by the magic spent and knew she needed rest in order to recuperate, but now was not the time.

“Are you sure?” She asked, admiring his pure white wings. They were whiter than the snow. Hers were a brilliant gold, almost like the sun. She didn’t draw them out, his offer more desirable. It would save her strength in case another fight came, one he might not be able to fight if he was too weak.
 
Alexander smiled genuinely towards Kyharra as his brilliant sky blue eyes sparkled in the slowly fading light of day. "Yes, I'm sure." He spoke warmly as he stepped over to her and with a moments hesitation to make sure that Kyharra was ready the tall athletic figure of the angelic warrior knelt down and settled one arm behind her armored thighs as the other fell firmly about her back. With one swift and effortless motion of working muscles Alexander scooped up the red haired archeress and carried her towards the precipice of the edge of their make shift porch.

"You might want to settle an arm around my neck." Was all he said with brief lingering glance taken upon her ever so close face as the wide pure white wings spread out and Alexander leaped off the edge of the cliff. Those wings of thick albino feathers and sturdy sinew and bone swept out to his sides, turning to catch the breeze and drift upon the winds. Slowly they descended down the ravine between the jagged snow capped mountain peaks. Wide sweeping circles drawing them lower and lower as the pair glided in effortless tranquility until finally the cold domain of the mountain tops was left behind as Alexanders boots met the hard dirt and stone banks of a swirling river of clear waters that cut between the mountains at their base.

He knelt slowly, lowering his passenger until her own feet softly touched upon the ground as his wings withdrew and faded into the grooves of his armor. "We have a few hours maybe until night fall, so we had best find a camp." He looked briefly away from Kyharra and up the shadows of the mountains that were drenching down into the valley and the river that swirled through it. "The Dwarves are to the south, although I'm honestly not sure how long it will take to walk there" His lips twitched into an amused smirk. "I suppose we'll find out."
 
She wrapped an arm around his neck, clearly aware of their proximity but there was nothing to help it. She could even smell the fragrance of his skin in this position, but could do nothing but hold tight and pray he did not see the blush rise on her cheeks as he took off. Since their grace had been diminished, she had noticed these odd emotions bubbling up and fading, some she had never experienced before. Angels weren't immune to emotions, but they were rarely ever greatly effected by then, and logic always led the way. But now, now she was feeling stronger emotions than she was used to. Fear, anger...both of those had surged up in their fight. Now...now there was a new feeling as he held her tight that she did not know and could not describe. She did her best to stare at the passing mountainside instead and try to calm herself, finding it by the time they landed.

Her feet lightly touched as she stared around, taking in their surroundings. It was beautiful. But it would be brief.

"We shall. We should head south until we find our camp, get nearest the dwarves as we can. The further from this mountain now the better yes?"

She looked southward and shrugged, "I have not a clue how far they are. But I suspect flying there might bring unwanted attention. Shall we?"

She gestured towards walking then led on. With a few hours still of sunlight, they could make some headway, and hoping find a safe sheltered place to hide and camp for the night. They didn't need any fiends finding them in the dark of it all. After only an hour she found a small but tall enough cave that could fit the two and searched it, finding it rather shallow, but big enough for them, their hammocks, and a fire. Rocks jutted out of the walls, giving perfect footholds to set up their beds, and while she left him to set his, gathered firewood and returned with what she could find to build a small fire, as twilight set in as did a cold breeze.

"You don't think they'll find us tonight do you?" she asked, sitting and watching Alexander curiously. On their short hike she had snuck glances at him to try and tell what he was thinking, but mostly all he got to see was her backside and her hips swaying side to side in those impossibly tight pants as she lead their way south. "I should have enough energy for a protection ward, to hide our cave from the naked eye. You've used enough today."
 
Alexander was relaxing in the depths of his hammock which he had stretched out along the edge of the cave. His armor was off, settled into an orderly pile to one side of the cave along with the few weapons he had brought along. The traveling sack was mushed beneath his head, along with his hands which were clasped together and cradling the back of his skull. The blue of a soft toga that was knotted together with a white cord was his garment of choice for the evening. His body was comforted from the chill in the air by the large knitted blanket of white wool that dangled down from the sides of the hammock.

"I don't know, but I'm sure if there were more around they would of been part of the assault at our home." He shrugged his shoulders lightly as he watched her lingering by the fire while he swayed gently within the comfort of his hammock. "All but two were killed, and one was wounded fairly badly from what I could tell. So that leaves maybe one, and knowing how they are, they don't care for fights where the odds aren't in their favor."

Alexander smiled lightly, the depth of his clear blue eyes solely upon Kyharra and absently allowing himself to admire the beautiful features of his traveling companion. "You did well today, Ky. I don't know if I would of been so fortunate if another was my partner in that battle." He spoke quietly with a grateful and warming smile. He had always had a measure of respect for her since they arrived here at the beckoning of the Lady of the Veil. The knowledge of her skill as an archer was something he had already known through passing tales and stories, but now that he had seen it first hand, the measure of respect he had for her had blossomed further. "Maybe save your wards, we could cover the front of the cave with some limbs from a tree, or just douse the fire low."

"One of us should stay on watch while the other rests, regardless." His gaze moved to the fire briefly and then back over to her eyes. "It looks like it's going to be a cold night, if you need a blanket you can use mine."
 
Kyharra found herself blushing and turned away, "Thank you Alexander, your words are kind. I did my best."

She calmed herself and turned back, "I could cover the front of the cave so we can both get proper sleep. I don't know about you but with our power drained, I feel the need for some rest. A couple hours may not suffice if we take turns. Hold on."

She disappeared into the dark then soon returned with a fallen tree, pulling it up against the cave entrance and hiding their camp. The branches let the smoke blow out, but less quickly, and the fire was small nevertheless. Then with a few words under her breath she drew a rune on the floor inches from the entrance and as it glowed she shook and leaned sideways, losing her balance for a moment.

"There," she breathed huskily, like she was out of breath, "A smaller ward, to wake us if something gets near. I...I need to rest now."

She rose and stumbled a step, righting herself and smiling at him, "I am alright. Just weary. Let us rest."

Getting to her hammock she let her armor fall off, leaving her in just her undershirt and the tight pants. She didn't feel like changing any more and fell into the hammock, passing out without much more prompt.
 
Alexander stifled a yawn as he laid within the comfort of his hammock and watched Kyharra, finding his eyes drawn towards her place of slumber. As much as he agreed with her assessment that some sleep would be good, he couldn't bring himself to sleep just yet. With the threat of Pazilnar and his minions still fresh in his mind and reminders of the encounter echoing from the ache in his chin he decided to maintain vigil for as long as he could manage. Even with Kyharra's ward in place, Alexander felt more at ease with one of them awake. Sure he might suffer from some exhaustion in the morning, but he figured the dwarven settlement couldn't be that much further, and the opportunity for a more secured rest would find them there.

As the chilled air of the night began to seep into the shallow confines of their cave Alexander got up and tended to the dwindling embers of the small fire. He peaked out of the limbs and branches that Ky had laid in front of the small entrance to the shelter of the cave, listening to the sound of the running river that swept through the valley. Everything seemed peaceful, and he couldn't detect any sense of danger looming as he turned back into the cave and glanced over Kyharra. Before he laid down to catch his own sleep for the evening, Alexander lifted up the heavy wool blanket he had been using and settled it across Ky's body. Not long after that his eyes fell closed and he drifted off to sleep.
 
Back
Top Bottom