Let It Snow

[Airi Jesna Kalryn]

If there was one thing Airi hated most about wandering this far from her homeland was the cold. In the south, close to Keniver and Southernmarch the winters were mild compared to the snow that currently blanketed everything in sight. She hadn't intended to come this far up but fear of discovery by an unknown assailant kept her on the move. Her brother, who hated cities more than she did, hung back near the boarders, waiting for her inevitable return. They were running out of supplies and with the onset of true winter that meant catch able food was scarce.

Thankfully she'd been able to barter coveted 'lightening stones' for the supplies that she needed: some sturdy leather boots for her and her brother, oiled cloaks to keep the snow from melting and seeping through the wool ones they'd wear underneath. a well oiled leather satchel to carry the supplies they needed to keep dry and of course food.

She briefly debated horses but she knew that the creatures would eventually become more of a burden than an asset. It was harder to hide horses and easier to track them, they cost money to feed and neither she nor her brother had any means to properly shelter or care for the animals. It wasn't fair to put them through such strain.

As she purchased the last few food items from a vendor the snow that had been falling in gentle wisps began falling more earnestly making it difficult to see as she trudged back onto the main street. People were scurrying too and fro, no one lingered too long at any one stall. Shoppers today were out only for necessity and browsing was not an option.

Nearly finished, Airi?

The voice that echoed in her mind was warm and comforting. Tilo waited on the outskirts of the town. Even in weather like this he did not risk exposing himself to the public though she wished he were pouncing through snow drifts beside her.

Very nearly, I'll be heading your way soon, Tilo. she replied, a smile touching her lips. Shifting her few bundles she got them adjusted so that they hung over her shoulder, weighing her down a bit but leaving her hands free in case of an emergency.

[Melchiah Bryant Vasser]

He needed time away from behaving. Denic was just far enough away that it felt safe to let his hair down in public. No need to smile at strangers, or force pleasantries. Just be himself. Despite his reputation, he'd done well to avoid any solid proof, and he planned to keep it that way. As long as he presented a well mannered acceptable young man around the people that mattered it seemed to work.

All of which had brought him here. A hole in the wall tavern. His fist hit the table. " Another round!" Melchiah demanded, then lifted the glass over his mouth to catch the remaining foam. The tender rolled his eyes and nodded to another man over his shoulder. As long as he was paying people in these parts seemed to put up with his attitude. The waiter was quick to drop another full glass to the table.

" Two bits." The man held out his hand.

"Put it on my tab. I don't plan to stop here." Melchiah lifted the glass, grinning at the man behind a gulp. Then something outside caught his eye. A woman? That was usually enough to get his attention, and this evening was no different. Four heartbeats past before he was able to stand. The few failed tries had left him using the table edges to move towards the door.

"Where's he gettin' off to?" The tender pointed at the door.

"Don't worry...." He huffed dismissing the man with a wave of his hand. " I'm not going bloody far. Just make sure my drink stays put." A chuckle to himself and he opened the door to the outside.

Cold bit into him even through the drunkenness. A shudder before he was once again distracted by the passing woman. Snow crunched under his steadying feet.

A voice broke the hush that had taken hold of the streets. Still a bit slurred and heavy with alcohol.

"Now that's far too much for one little thing to be toting around." Melchiah circled around her side. His head lowered, lips curling into a predators smile. His gaze only left her to shift around. " Especially alone." The words left his mouth in plumes of white, tongue tracing over his teeth before the smile reformed.

[Airi Jesna Kalryn]

"Now that's far too much for one little thing to be toting around."

The voice floated towards her through the thickening snow and caused her to turn her head sharply towards the source. She was no stranger to alcohol, the effects of alcohol or those that were ensnared by it. The man her eyes landed on as he managed to slid smoothly up beside her smelled like he'd taken a bath in the stuff. She wrinkled her nose slightly, trying to work up a small amount of fear but bringing herself to feel nothing but mild disgust.

Airi? What's wrong? What is that smell? Apparently her dislike of the odor had been enough to reach that of her bond animal waiting half a mile away over the ridge. She made no immediate effort to reply because the man had spoke again and his words carried with them an ominous feeling. Her gaze shifted towards him and she felt her stomach do a little, unpleasant flip-flop when she caught a glimpse of that smile.

"I've not too much further to go, my house is just up the street here," she replied attempting to be polite as to not anger or excite the man in any way that caused him to try and hinder her. Even so, her hand fell to the hilt of her blade, ready to draw it if necessary. How was she to know that there were no more homes this way? Her pace quickened ever so slightly though she tried to rein her uneasiness about the entire situation in.

Ran into a spot of trouble, keep your position, I should be clear of the town soon. she assured her waiting friend. She could sense his tension crossing over the thread of a bond they shared and she was certain he could feel her own unease.

[Melchiah Bryant Vasser]

"I've not too much further to go, my house is just up the street here"

Melchiah burst into laughter. "Oh is it now?" He squinted ahead into what he knew to be nothing but a string of closed shops and empty carts. Dark eyes flashed back to her, his brow quirked. " I appreciate you lying to spare my feelings, but it's not necessary." When her steps quickened so did his own. Easily keeping up with her smaller strides Melchiah came along side her once again and offered a less ominous smile. " I assure you there's no reason for alarm." The already aggressive nature of the man had been amplified by his intoxication. A hand shot out for her own. Too mentally gone to even notice her hand going for her blade, the grasp was unheeded.

"Why the hurry to get away?" He chuckled. If he didn't know any better, he'd say the girl already knew him well enough to know run. But then again, he seemed to have that effect on people.

[Airi Jesna Kalryn]

It was both frightening and frustrating when she could not manage to shake him. It was clear enough that he was aware of her lacking desire for company and even clearer that he seemingly didn't care. Thus her mounting frustration. She was no stranger to men who'd had too much to drink, her people were not impervious to such vices, but that did not mean she enjoyed attempting to handle them.

"Who said I was alarmed?" she replied without so much as a glance his way. She could see him just find out of the corner of his eye and while he thought his movements were quick and smooth they were seemed sluggish in her mind. Foolish. He never caught hold of her hand.

The blade was loosened from its sheath with a soft hiss of metal against leather. Parcels hit the snow with a barely audible thunk and Airi twisted on her heel to nearly bump chests with the man who undoubtedly walked another step or two before he realized what had happened. Between them her weapon lay, the curve of the blade resting snuggling against his throat.

"I suggest that you return to your table and your liquor before you find yourself relieved of a few body parts," she replied in a voice so even it surprised her. Threats weren't exactly her forte and she wasn't all that keen on fighting either though she could handle her own if necessary. "I would hate for you to spend the rest of your life needing to use your toes to count to ten."

[Melchiah Bryant Vasser]

His hands drew back, held up along side him expecting her to strike, but instead he felt metal touch his throat. "Who said I was alarmed?"

"You never had to say anything. I've caused enough unease in my time to know when I encounter it." And that is the only reason her drawing a weapon only came as half a surprise. At least it wasn't a pistol, he thought.

Melchiah laughed. A brittle sound deep in his throat. This would not be the first nor the last time someone held him at blade point. " Go on then. Slit my throat. End my life." The mans smile faded. His words were becoming less jumbled. Nothing like the cold steel against your neck to rid you of drunkenness.

"Or do you lack the courage of your conviction? I do not see it in your eyes. Heh, you are no murderer." And he would know given his background. He pressed more against the blade. Not enough to draw blood, but the blade dented his skin. There was nothing threatening about the woman. She was nowhere near his size. Likely lacked any real weapon training. He could probably have her off her feet with one blow. Perhaps it was the alcohol clouding his judgement, but he doubted such. He'd had worse odds before him and come out for the better.

[Airi Jesna Kalryn]

Airi was doing what she could to maintain a calm, expressionless exterior but on the inside she was nervous. She'd never engaged in actual combat before. She'd been taught, naturally, how to wield the weapon she held in her hands but the steal had never tasted blood at least not while she'd been the owner of it.

" Go on then. Slit my throat. End my life."

She'd certainly never killed a man. Had never contemplated killing a man. The question that remained was this: could she if she needed to? If her life depended on it?

"Or do you lack the courage of your conviction? I do not see it in your eyes. Heh, you are no murderer."

"I may not be a killer but that does not mean I will not defend myself to the death. Truthfully? You aren't worth the time it would take to explain the reason," she replied seemingly un-phased by the way he'd leaned into her weapon. Her foot shifted slightly to help her balance the added weight. He was heavier than he'd first seemed, larger now that she had more time to examine his physique. Perhaps running would have been a wiser tactic.

Truth was? With each second this remained unresolved in a fashion that suited her she grew more nervous that it was going to end unpleasantly. "I'm sure no one would judge me for removing a few less vital appendages?" she added trying to keep up her bravado. "Besides, I have a companion who would have no qualms tearing your throat out."

She could feel the bobcat drawing closer, the animal was highly agitated and having trouble tracking her scent mixed with all the others in the snow. She didn't reach out to talk to him, however, fearing that it might distract her too much from the task at hand. "Your final chance to walk away unscathed." This time she pressed the blade closer though like his own motion, not hard enough to actually break the skin.

[Melchiah Bryant Vasser]

"I'm sure no one would judge me for removing a few less vital appendages?"

He sighed heavily, rolled his eyes. Why did women always threaten to dismember him? If he had a nickel for every time he....well you get the picture. He fought off an urge to shield his vital parts and kept his stance as her shifting weight. This was taking far too long. And this companion she spoke of didn't sound too promising should it not be another bluff. Witnesses only brought trouble.

Black orbs rolled over her. This would be easy, he smirked. With surprising aplomb Melchiah's hand came up to meet her wrist. It arched upward and then down. Meant to disarm her or get the blade a more comfortable distance away. Either or, he was moving toward her with all his weight behind him. Shoulders flexed and he brought his head down hard against her forehead.

"Enough of the pleasantries," he grunted. Worth her time or not, she'd be forced to something. Even if it was lay there unconscious.

[Airi Jesna Kalryn]

Each second that tick by in silence was another second longer for Airi to worry. Silence meant only one thing -- he was thinking and that was never a good thing in situations like these. When he did move it was far faster than she expected and with more strength than she anticipated he'd have considering the state of his sobriety when he'd stumbled across her a few minutes ago. A disgruntled shout escaped her lips as she tried in vain to jerk her wrist free and maintain her hold on the weapon in her hand.

Strength of will was no match for physical force and he soon enough had her weapon in a position that was least threatening to his life. She felt a moment of untainted fear and the next thing she knew she was sprawled out on the ground and her head felt as though it had been hit with a hammer on two sides for when she'd fallen the back of her head had smacked against the snow covered ground. While not exactly unconscious, something she was lucky and likely fighting from taking over, she wasn't in any position to move very far, very soon. There was ringing in her ears and she couldn't get her eyes to focus properly but she knew her attacker hovered up there somewhere.

In the back of her mind she felt Tilo's presence but the pain was too much to even attempt communication. Would he be able to find her wherever this low life decided to take her? A wave of nausea washed over her and she rolled onto her side in order to vomit.

[Kuruk Rion Lorne]

How the hell had he lost her? He'd been hot on her heels for the last couple of miles, doing well enough to stay out of both her's and her bobcat's range of detection. And that was certainly saying something. It was that damn shopping center. And the damn snow.

I think I can smell Tilo to the west of us. Calia's feline voice filled his head and he nodded in response, falling in step beside the lithe animal.

Things had been slow in the camp and Kuruk had thought this the perfect opportunity to find Airi and gather supplies in the process. He hadn't been doing so well until yesterday when he had caught up to her. Hopefully he hadn't fallen too far behind and lost her again.

His fingers trailed absently along the length of his leopard's spine, her cool, soft fur sliding against the rough pads of his finger tips. "You were right, of course." He muttered quietly to her. Kuruk could feel the press of Tilo's mind. "What do you see?"

I don't think Airi is with Tilo.

Kuruk frowned, wondering if this was as good a time as any to present himself to both Airi and Tilo. He decided it was. Trudging forward through the snow, they approached Tilo. Kuruk was going to let Calia handle the niceties when the leopard quickly spoke up.

Tilo says that Airi's not responding. He thinks something is wrong and he was just heading over to her now. I think we should join him. Without waiting for a response, Calia followed after the bobcat who had taken off at a run. Seeing no other choice in the matter, Kuruk ran after them, bounding through the snow like the Sairrdenian he was.

It didn't take long for Tilo to locate Airi and the man with her and come leaping out of the tree front, long, deadly fangs bared in a menacing roar. Calia mirrored the bobcat's actions, tipping her head to the side as she cut loose with a vicious snarl. She hunched down into that feline hunting stance just as Kuruk emerged, his dark eyes quickly taking stock of the scene.

"Well, isn't this just quite the picture?" The temper he had little control over was bubbling to the surface when he saw Airi sprawled out on the snow with the man standing over her.

[Melchiah Bryant Vasser]

The surge of energy had left his head swirling. He cupped his forehead trying to steady his spinning gaze.

"Bloody Hell." Melchiah rubbed his head." I knew you didn't have it in you. Shows you better for trying, eh?" A chuckle, then he picked up her weapon. Admiring it from under a wrinkled brow. It didn't look like anything from around this province. Having acquired an assortment himself from nearly every blacksmith, he could easily point out one man's work from another. The woman had to be a drifter of sorts. It would explain the bags. How she'd made it thus far eluded him. When she rolled to her side vomiting was the last thing he expected her to do. There really was a first time for everything it seemed. That thought was both condemning and motivating.

" I do hate to pass up an opportunity to catch a woman on her back, but for you I'll have to make an exception." Finger tapped his lips, head canted. A moments pause. He might have looked as though he was pondering the deepest of thoughts, but in reality there was barely a wheel turning. " You're coming with me, " he said, nodding. Reaching downward he took hold of her ankle and yanked her closer. He crouched down and over her so he was straddling her torso, then leaned inward.

His voice was low, despondent. "If you are together enough to hear me, consider this your first and final warning" His hand went for her throat. "Resist me and you will die. I won't feel a moments remorse in your passing." He smiled." I'll probably enjoy it." His hand pulled from her neck, then patted it with enough force it could have been mistaken for a series of slaps.

"Come on then, stand up." The man stood, then knelt to take hold of whatever was covering her shoulder. Nothing about his advances were kind or gentle. He might as well be handling a sack of potatoes. Eyes shifted over the empty streets.She must have been blowing smoke up his pipe about having someone near by. Surely they would have come by now.

If only the courts of smiling ladies and gentlemen could see him now. It was a wonder how far a few greetings and false concerns could favor one so well. Damn it was good to be him. Well, at least for a moment.

The sound of someone's voice jolted his concentration. " And this must be the friend you spoke of, hmm?" When he looked up he couldn't believe what he saw. A man accompanied by giant felines? Couldn't be. At this point he was more than reconsidering having drank. He studied the lot, the features of his face twisted harder. Then his personality kicked back into gear.

" I hate being interrupted." Whomever this person was he wasn't going to get the best of him. Of course the furry friends at his side might prove an issue later on, but he'd cross that bridge when he came to it." Can't you see I'm busy. " He moved so he was facing this newcomer. He gripped the handle of the blade in his hand, then eyed the girl at his feet. He smiled, dropping down to hold its tip against her throat. His free hand pressed against her chest.

A glance down toward her." Now, you didn't tell me you had a boyfriend."-e-

[Airi Jesna Kalryn]

For several long moments, Airi felt as though she were drifting in and out of some surreal, non existent world. She could hear someone above her speaking. His voice sounded muffled and distant and Airi found herself wondering if perhaps she had died. No, the pain in her head was too great for that and she could taste the bitter residue of vomit in her mouth.

It wasn't until she felt herself moving that her head began to clear enough for her to comprehend what was going on. The pressure against her torso as he straddled her caused a flutter of panic in her chest. Naturally her first instinct was to fight though her attempts were off their mark and short lived as he leaned forward and this time his words were clear enough to understand.

"If you are together enough to hear me, consider this your first and final warning" The hand at her throat was nearly as nerve wracking as the words he spoke next. "Resist me and you will die. I won't feel a moments remorse in your passing. I'll probably enjoy it."

The urge to vomit again rose strong in her as her stomach twisted suddenly in fear. She had heard stories of city dwellers, of their carnality, their wanton natures, idle hands and all that came with them. She had only half believed them, never dreaming that she'd find herself in such a position. The snow at her back had long since seeped through her clothing leaving in its wake a cold chill. None, however, colder than the one that sank to the core of her.

"Come on then, stand up."

A task easier said than done. She felt her knees buckling as her head whirled beneath a fresh wave of pain. She managed to keep her balance though with his assistance. All the while the coherent part of her mind was screaming at her to fight. That death would be better faced than the shame of being too weak to protect herself. Her limbs felt heavy and sluggish. She'd gain nothing from a fight except a few bruises.

She was barely aware of her surroundings and didn't realize anyone had joined them until he spoke.

"Well, isn't this just quite the picture?"

Kuruk? There was no way, it wasn't possible. Why in the world would he be in... where was she again? Cold, snow, right, Denic. What was Kuruk doing in Denic? No, she had to be mistaken, hearing things. It wasn't until Melchiah spoke that she knew for certain she was not just imagining the voice of the Undiri clansmen.

"And this must be the friend you spoke of, hmm?"

For the first time since she'd crossed Melchiah's path she felt a flicker of hope, a glimmer of light in an otherwise dark cave. As much as she hated to admit it, even to herself, Kuruk would be capable of remedying this situation. It killed her to think she'd have to thank him later. What else would it cost her?

The pressure of a blade against her throat brought her back to the here and now and she discovered she was holding her breath. This made things tricky. She certainly didn't want to get her throat slit but she had no doubt that her captor was acting in mild panic. Kuruk would not have come alone, his bonded companion would be with him and Calia was something to be feared. Thinking of Calia made her think of Tilo but the pounding was still to fierce to attempt communication.

"Now, you didn't tell me you had a boyfriend."

"You never asked," she ground out from between grit teeth.

[Kuruk Rion Lorne]

"I hate being interrupted. Can't you see I'm busy?"

Kuruk could only chuckle as the sound of Calia's voice filled his head. It was said that the bonded animal was supposed to be the perfect counterpart to the human with which they were connected. They were to fill in the gaps in the person's personality and to best benefit them on their journeys in life. Calia couldn't have been a more perfect fit for Kuruk. The big cat had quite the fighting spirit. And people blamed all the fighting on him alone. "Okay, okay, I'll tell him." Kuruk's voice was laced with laughter at Calia's insistence, the sound a sharp contrast to the hardness reflected in his eyes.

"Calia would like me to ask you if you also hate having your entrails? Because she'd be more than happy to remove them for you." The leopard to his left gave what could only be taken as a grin, complete with long, gleaming teeth as she padded forward two more careful steps. The bobcat to Kuruk's right mirrored the advance, circling slightly to the right as Calia did the left, both animals moving completely silently.

A quick flicker of hatred flashed across Kuruk's features when the man dropped to press a knife to Airi's throat before being carefully concealed. He'd learned a long time ago it helped to keep one's head as long as possible.

He heard the murmur of their voices, but couldn't make out exactly what they were saying. Without any provocation, Calia filled him in on what he was missing.

"Aw, sweetheart. You forgot to tell another suitor about me? Tsk tsk." Kuruk's voice was still light, almost playful, as he spoke to Airi. The leopard and bobcat were slowly circling around the man and Airi as Kuruk took a few more steps forward. "We'll have to have a long talk about this when we get home." He shook his head as though amusingly exasperated with her.

"Hard to keep track of one's women these days, isn't it?" Kuruk directed his question to the man kneeling beside Airi, almost conspiratorially.

He didn't take another step forward until Calia and Tilo had taken up their places to the left and right of Airi and the man, nearly perfectly distanced from one another and himself. "Unfortunately, this woman is mine and I'm going to have to ask for her back now." At that exact moment, the two oversized cats started up their snarling again, the menacing sound filling the crisp air with their vicious and deadly intent.

[Melchiah Bryant Vasser]

The male strangers flippancy was refreshing.Should they have met under different circumstances he'd have bought him a drink.

"How interesting."He grunted, tension caught his voice,eyes narrowing to near slits.

"Calia would like me to ask you if you also hate having your entrails? Because she'd be more than happy to remove them for you."

Looking on in confusion, Melchiah listened.Curious behavior.Talking to animals and gaining a silent reply? Was this man mad? A scare tactic perhaps? Not very effective, he glanced over the circling animals and frowned.Trick or no trick these creatures were acting out the man's agenda.But how?

......Then it dawned on him.Tales of tribes to the South rushed his memory.Freaks of nature bound to wild animals. Could this be one of them? He'd left the rumors to folklore. Yet here he was, faced by two beasts and their human counterpart.For a moment he lingered. Knife to her neck, his face devoid of emotion.

"As much as it pains me to back down from a fight, I must depart." The situation was far too vitriolic for his liking. But he didn't intend to just walk away. That would just be silly.

" Call off your creatures and I'll release your woman." His hand edged the knife against her skin.

[Airi Jesna Kalryn]

"Aw, sweetheart. You forgot to tell another suitor about me? Tsk tsk. We'll have to have a long talk about this when we get home."

If Airi hadn't had a blade to her throat and if her head hadn't felt like someone had bashed it with a hammer -- she would have punched Kuruk in the face. Who the hell did he think he was? At the moment, however, all she wanted to do was be free of the man presently threatening her life even if it meant she would be in the Undiri's debt as a result. Not a place she particularly wanted to be considering the nature of their unique relationship or lack there of.

She could tell her nameless captor was growing uneasy simply by the way his body had grown tense behind her. Airi had to admit, the man had a set of steel balls to have stood up this long against Kuruk and the two felines circling him. There was no doubt that he was outnumbered though he did have a small advantage it wasn't enough to save him from having his body torn to pieces in a matter of seconds.

"Hard to keep track of one's women these days, isn't it? Unfortunately, this woman is mine and I'm going to have to ask for her back now."

Airi fought the urge to roll her eyes. She didn't understand why men obsessed about laying claim to any and everything that they could. If only she hadn't hesitated to drawn blood, if only she hadn't given herself away with her eyes. Then she could have walked away and she wouldn't have this undeniable urge to throttle Kuruk. Where had he come from anyhow? She found it hare to be grateful for his presence when she was so annoyed by it.

Without warning the world around her suddenly fell away. She could feel the pressure of the blade against her throat still, she could feel the arm that held her, but all around her people ran, screaming, from something Airi couldn't see. The sky had grown black and she could smell burning, something was on fire. People were stumbling and tripping over something on the ground. Airi tried to peer closer and could faintly make out those that had fallen either during the stampede and a as a result were trampled to death or prior in some sort of battle she had not been privy to. A cold bolt of fear shot through her and she screamed.

The scream pierced the real world that Airi suddenly found herself crashing back into. She felt cold all over as though someone had dumped ice water over her head. She couldn't stop trembling as the weight of the vision settled heavily on her shoulders. There had been death, so much death and something horrible had been coming.