Nocturne

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Aria raised an eyebrow, she really didn’t think her behavior showed that she was going to eat her….playful yes…eat her?

”I did not think my behavior sided with normal predatory behavior…when I for the kill I usually do it before the prey recognizes the need to run….if they are allowed to run or if you scare them to much the meats gamey. As for defending yourself I wasn’t surprised, why do you think I did not begrudge you for hitting me in the face? I did say I deserved it.”

Aria rubbed the bridge of her nose, really there was no dealing with this woman till she calmed her tits.

”I am not treating you as though you are stupid, you learn quick enough considering when we first met in the springs you didn’t understand much of the language. There is a difference not knowing the language and being purely idiotic and once more I DID say that I would explain. But if you’re going to be so pushy and impatient and not listen to all of the answers given about it then perhaps I should wait.”

Really Aria could be just as stubborn; it would do no good for her to explain only to have the woman ignore half of what she said and demand to hear it again.

”What do you know about Fated? It will help to begin there.”

[Claire]

Claire was about to open her mouth and inform Aria that she did not care about her excuses, that any animal jumping onto a person’s chest would be seen as a threat, but elected to shut her mouth instead with another hard frown. She watched the girl rub her face and try to explain, but it was obvious that this conversation would be going nowhere fast. She waved her hand.

“You Fated are not from this country. From very far away, like myself. But I am not ‘Fated’.”

Claire made a ‘tch’ing noise under her breath, looking up and down at the stark naked girl. “Do you not have clothes?”

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”As far as I can tell fated people can come from other worlds, countries, or even times….and the times can be alternate…..I myself am from the last group. I’m fated from a thousand years from now, sort of…but anyways….we are supposedly brought here by a god name fate….whom as soon as I get my hands on is going to give new meaning to Sadens wrathy paper cuts…. ”

There was a slightly wicked glint that managed its way into Arias eyes when she spoke of the promised beating to come. She would be tracking that man down one way or another…as soon as she caught whiff of his scent….

”Either way we are ripped from our homes without say…and thrown into this city without much of a reason why. That and as far as I can tell if you’re a magic user half if not more of your abilities are ripped away from you; I myself lost the use of a large portion of my magic. One of my abilities regards the tattoos you seem so interested in. They are actual weapons, if I could access the spells I would be able to pull them from my flesh…..Before I go on what do you know of this country?”

Aria paused when the woman asked if she had any clothes, Aria blushed and scratched the back of her head.

”I have some hidden in a tree near the barracks but that’s a good long hike from here. I was fated here without any clothes that I could be wearing around. Since I’ve been sleeping outside I am mostly in that large tiger form you saw. The fur protects me from most of the cold; I would grow my own fur coat but it seems like it bothers you right now. So I’ll mind the cold; my old teacher use to hit me to when I transformed like that in front of him….he didn’t like it either.”

[Claire]

Claire stared at Aria for a while, and she could understand the words coming out of her mouth, but not so clearly the context. Another… world? Time? Such a thing was impossible, even for the gods. But she listened, her expression gradually hardening the longer she talked. Clearly she would have to speak to someone else about this- this girl was useless with her explanations. Crazy. The Mother had sent her to a crazy girl.

“I know your country is cold. Most of you have pale skin and the white of the snow on your mountains has touched your hair as well. You have a king and this country is well-feared, but not by all of the world. Most of your people are kind, however.” Claire paused, scratching her jaw thoughtfully. “Surprisingly kind. To a stranger.”

Claire groaned, tilting her head back. Great. She was living outside as a giant man-eating cat in the woods. Partially naked with her clothes far away in the castle. And crazy. She narrowed her eyes back over at Aria when she lowered her head back to her, undoing her cloak. She threw it over the girl’s shoulders, immediately regretting it due to the bite of cold on her skin. “We will walk and talk to get your clothing. A girl like you should not be sleeping outdoors, men are dangerous.” Her tone shared no room for argument with it.

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Aria watched as Claire stared at her like she grew a second head. She just shrugged, really that didn’t surprise her was so ever it did sound pretty crazy. It was clear however that if she didn’t believe that much then the rest of her explanation would be a waste of breath.
”Talk to other fated, you’ll find they have similar explanations.”

Aria nodded when she explained what she knew about the kingdom.

”It warms up in the summer months, but then it’s hot, humid, and miserable….what is your country like?”

As the cloak was thrown at her Aria held it awkwardly, then held it back out to the woman.

”I have magic, and if you can tolerate it I can grow my own fur coat. That and I have a very handy spell that locks in heat. If you would like I can charm the cloak to do the same. As for sleeping out doors I have done so since I was…I think around seven…or was it six…either way I have been outside on my own ever since my orphanage tried to burn me. Lovely folk they were really….I’m quite aware of the dangers of men….and frankly there are bigger things in this forests then men to worry about….like me for example”

Aria scratched the back of her head and sighed, it would seem Claire like Garrett was worried about whether or not she slept under a roof….back in the glade she could sleep where ever the hell she wanted.

[Claire]

"My country is warm. Even in the winter months. I lived by the sea."

Claire adjusted her crossed arms, tilting her head up to the trees. "I never saw snow before I came to this country. Only heard of it. I am not certain if I like it." She frowned thoughtfully. Some things were so different, and others so similar. Like the stubbornness of young girls.

She looked back down as Aria handed the cloak back before sighing and taking it back, wrapping it around her shoulders. "We will still walk. Do you have a different form other than that... Hell beast?" She grimaced. "I will not have you walk in the nude or as a gigantic cat. I will take care of your shoes situation."

Claire's brows pinched at the story of her sleeping outdoors. It sounded like a bizarre fiction. Goddess above, it sounded like this girl was spinning tales. But she was alone outdoors in the middle of winter, and despite how confident she was she was still in danger. She would have to remedy the sleeping situation as well, regardless of Aria's wishes. She took a step forward, looking down at the girl.
"Come now."

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Aria perked up at the mention of see, she really did love that giant body of water. It did wonders for the range of her magical contact with animals. That and it was fun to get tossed to and fro by the waves.

”I love the ocean! However I’m afraid I burn like there is no tomorrow in warm climates…However I do a wonderful impression of a boiled lobster if left out long enough.”

Aria chuckled at the idea of not liking snow…she could see why one wouldn’t.

”Its only fun if you make it fun; if we can snatch some shields from the local guard I must show you a fun use for them!”

Aria grinned, she loved shield sliding; back in her time she even roped a foreign king into going sledding for pedestrians. Really it was to fun to resist…then again with how Nova was set up you’d likely be skipping into the harbor at the end of your ride. But there were sure to be other hills around. Claire elicited another peel of laughter at the mention of her hell beast form…for some reason she thought her Dad would probably agree with the description.

”I use to have many, however being brought to this time limited me down to four. It may take me a while to gain more of my forms back. But I can transform only parts of my body if I wish; for example”

Arias form shifted slightly as her legs shifted into the back strong paws of a tiger, a thick coat of striped fur covered her entire body. Ears traveled to the top of her head and formed into that of a tigers; a tail sprouted and grew to where it brushed along the ground. Her eyes filled out to where no white was to be seen, just blue green orbs surrounding large black pupils that soaked in the moons dim light. The end result was a perfect mix between a human and tiger.

”Is this acceptable?”

Her tail swung back and forth in a lazy motion, it brushing the ground ever so slightly as it sweeped.

”I do have shoes…I ended up caving and purchasing a pair. They are hidden with the rest of my belongings. Really must I start calling you mother? You seem awfully worried over someone who seems to just piss you off”

[Claire]

Claire could feel her eye twitch as Aria transformed, looking up and down at her with a look of clear… well. It was clearly disgust at first before she shook her head, grimacing.

“No, that will not do either.” she pushed her cloak back over Aria’s shoulders and fastened it, pushing the hood over her head. She grasped the edge of the cloth to tug her along as she walked back in the direction of civilization. Never again with the late night walks. Never again. It was not worth the trouble. She just scowled straight ahead.

“Call me what you wish. I care not. And the Mother has called for me to find you.” she looked back briefly, trudging through the snow. “I must look after you until I receive another message. Keep you alive.” At least that was the assumption from the distinct silence she had been getting from the Mother. Other than the strange fever dreams she had heard nothing. That, most of all, disturbed her.

“You will no longer be sleeping out of doors. We will collect your things and find you a room.” Claire looked back to Aria again, narrowing her eyes. “Do you have an occupation?”

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Aria sighed as Claire gave her the look of disgust, she shrugged her shoulders and opened her arms in a players flourish.

”The majority of people compliment me on my superior quality of fur.”

It was Arias turn to look exasperated as the cloak was forced upon her. Claire went on about this mother again, and how it was her job to protect her now. Arias eyebrows shot up when suddenly she was being told she was no longer able to sleep outside. Well….no one said she had to make her job easy. At the question of her occupation, Aria squirmed and pulled out of the cloak by pulling it over her head and backing up.

”YOU CAN’T CAGE ME MOTHER! BUAHAHAHAHAHAA”

Aria flipped Claire off in a rude gesture before taking off into the woods at a full run; laughing like a maniac the whole while. Her form changed once more as it took the form of an owl and took off into the night.

[Claire]

"I am sure." Claire rolled her eyes right back, shaking her head. She turned to begin walking forward when she heard rustling. Cloth rustling.

She turned hard on her heel in the snow as Aria yanked the cloak off. "What are you-" it was too late. All she could do was watch as Aria cackled in glee and changed forms again. She looked up as the girl shot into the air in the form of a bird, leaving her cloak in a lump on the snow.

" <Goddess above-> WAIT!" Claire took off after the girl- well, bird now- as she took flight into the trees. She grabbed her cloak and bundled up her supplies quickly before running at full speed after her.