View source for Truce! Compromise between two warriors

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2013/01/08
|Location=Bramble Woods
|Synopsis=While on the way to investigate the increased presence of Heartless in the Dwarf Woodlands, Maira, Avira, and Katyna run into the mysterious Black Wind. Maira shatters the tension between Kaze and Avira and an uneasy promise is made to alert Kaze to further appearances of the White Cloud. Kaze is also renamed to Murdock by the excitable fire mage. 
|Cast of Characters=Katyna, Kaze, Avira,  Maira
|pretty=yes
}}
:'''[[Avira]] has posed:'''<br><span></span>Nearly a week has passed since the attack on the Dwarf Woodlands by the hand of Baron. Truly, great devistation was wrought there, not just by Baron's machines, but by a pair of mysterious figures that had been caught up amongst the battle as well. Furthermore, since then, the Dwarf Woodlands had only worsened. <br /><br />Mysteriously, there had been reports that the number of Heartless in the area had drastically increased. It's hard to say if the attack could be blamed as Heartless were typically attracted to Hearts and if anything that attack likely reduced the number of Hearts in the area. For this particular mystery, Avira had grown mightily suspicious. It had the markings of Shadow Lord involvement written all over it. Meaning that VALKYRI had damn well better interfere if this is the case. Yet what would they want out here...? <br /><br />Avira knew the Bramble Woods pretty well so she navigates through it with ease. It was tempting to swing by and visit the "pack" on the way but Avira had resolved (and promised her wonderful travelling companion) that they'd do so on the way back. First things first, of course, was business. <br /><br />Maira might have a hard time keeping up with Avira, who moves through the forest swiftly. It's as if she's actually practiced this kind of thing!! "We have to move fast." Avira explains, "Or my 'friends' might find us and we'd get delayed." Fortunately, there have been no signs of the wolves yet. No howling, no rustling in the bushes. Nothing.

:'''[[Kaze]] has posed:'''<br><span></span>The Bramble Woods might be familiar ground, but something about them seems... off. The usually-thick brush and brambles are torn and broken in places, and the ground is churned and pitted in ways that aren't really the norm around here. To a hunter's trained eye, it might be signs of predators fighting for territory or dominance -- /big/ ones, by the looks of it.<br /><br />To the /exceptional/ sort of woods(wo)man, it becomes quickly clear that this wasn't made by animals at all.<br /><br />Questions of the damage's origin are immediately answered short steps past. A sharp turn off the path turns to a trail, breaking into a clearing usually choked and closed off by the winding brambles. An ancient tree stands at the center, long dead, the dried corpse of this sentinel of the forest still a towering monolith amidst the younger woodlands.<br /><br />And at the base of the tree, facing away from the 'path,' rests the Black Wind.<br /><br />There is no way to mistake him for anyone else. Kaze's garb is distinctive; the apparently-freshly-scabbed cuts across what skin is visible perhaps moreso. His eyes are closed, and his back is to the tree trunk, both legs sprawled out before him with one knee slightly bent. His left hand is clearly visible, fingers half-clenched, with the bright red gun of his just out of reach amidst the scrub grass and turned soil. The golden thing on his right arm is plainly visible, only the part at his elbow concealed by the cloth that cloaks him.<br /><br />Brambles surround him. It looks like he's been here for weeks or months, but that's flat-out impossible. They've grown over him and around him, the thorned branches thick around his golden arm and clutching the rest of him like a wood dragon's claw. Something about him, maybe...?<br /><br />A moment after he hears the sound of footsteps, Kaze opens one eye and stares out into the forest. More of them? His left hand gropes for the weapon. He glances towards it, finding it beyond his reach. If it were more of them, though, they'd be on him already. Then who?

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:'''<br><span></span>"You'll have to practice then~" Avira teases in a quiet voice. In fact, the whole time she's been mostly quiet, keeping her conversation to a whisper or a murmur. She seems to disturb as little as possible as she moves through the forest, weaving between brambles and bushes easily. <br /><br />Though Avira does rather miss her enhanced strength and flight as a mutate. Only when it was all gone had she realized how much stronger that body was. Everything suddenly felt much more painful and duller. Then there was the matter of no longer having the freedom of the skies. It's actually quite surprising to be /missing/ it. <br /><br />As they move deeper into the woods, Avira is quick to notice the damage. She slows, picking at the broken twigs and poking at the gouges in the ground. "There was a fight here." she says suddenly, "...it looks recent." Slowly, she starts to follow the damage, piecing together movement with how the ground and bushes are disturbed. <br /><br />Avira leads Maira to the clearing in front of a huge tree that she recognized from her week spent training here. She'd never breached the almost protective barrier of brambles around the clearing before, deterred by the bushes and the very open nature of the space. At the time she had been hunted by wolves so exposing herself in that area would have been suicide. <br /><br />As she creeps in closer, she spots the man leaning against the tree, overgrown in thorns. "...what the..." she murmurs, edging closer. She recognized the man, sure, but to see him like this...well, maybe he was dead? The overgrowth is strange since Avira had seen this guy fighting Makenshi less than a week ago. <br /><br />It isn't until Avira's in pretty close that Kaze's eye opens. Then he starts to move, reaching for his weapon. Avira gasps in shock and immediately stumbles backwards, likely falling onto poor Maira. <br /><br />"I-it's the Black Wind!"

:'''[[Maira]] has posed:'''<br><span></span> Idly wondering when Avira picked up those levels in Ranger, Maira is stumbled into. Having fairly abysmal balance, she, of course, falls over, arm windmilling as she tries to grab onto something. Alas, to the ground she goes. <br /><br /> She's on her feet again though, looking around for this black wind Avira is suddenly so scared of. Black wind? What was that? Some kind of miasma? "Black wind? What are you talking about?" she asks, climbing up as she peers over toward the figure of Kaze. "I don't see any black wind. Just some guy. Oh hey! I know him! Heeeey! How are you!" she calls, raising a hand to wave emphatically in his direction as she begins to push her way through the forest toward him, since she doesn't see this 'black wind' Avira is talking about...but she trusts Avira, so if she says there is a black wind there must be and maybe Maira doesn't see it yet BUT if something bad is coming she had better help this guy out of all those vines and things so he can run, obviously! <br /><br /> When she reaches him, she places her hands on her hips and smiles. "Did you get in trouble again? Do you need to be healed? We should apparently run, some kind of 'black wind' is coming!"

:'''[[Kaze]] has posed:'''<br><span></span>The fact that only one of the two who stumble upon Kaze is immediately struck with fear is probably a positive thing, all told. It means he's less likely to be immediately and accidentally immolated.<br /><br />Kaze's visible eye tracks Avira first, following her stumbling till she's out of his line of sight. He stops reaching for his weapon. Whether this is because he doesn't consider Avira a threat or because he's making some manner of peace offering has yet to be determined and likely never will be. Instead, he focuses on Maira. It takes a second before a flicker of recognition passes over his face.<br /><br />"...the beach," he murmurs. He looks down at himself for a second, perhaps examining the brambles, and then just leans back against the tree. Kaze looks up and over towards where Avira stumbled, tensing somewhat. He lifts his legs enough to bend both of them, digging in his heels for leverage to try and get up if he has to.<br /><br />Maira might get the sense that the two of them have met, and not under favorable circumstances. She might also be totally clueless on this front. Such is life.

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:'''<br><span></span>Those levels were picked up quite a while ago, actually! This is the kind of thing the guys in her life beat into her (both figuratively and literally). In fact, it's quite ironic to encounter Kaze in this forest. It was her fight with him that lead to Skoll dumping her here alone to survive a week. <br /><br />Where Maira picks herself up, Avira is dragging herself backwards on her butt. Of course, she doesn't draw her own weapon, perhaps knowing how futile it would be to fight this guy. She seems to have absolutely no desire to do so again either. With that gun of his? No. Just no. <br /><br />"Him!" Avira points at the rousing Kaze. "He's the Black Wind." Then Maira goes over to actually offer help to the red-haired man. <br /><br />Avira's eyes widen and in an instant, she's on her feet, rushing over to Maira's side. She can just envision, in her mind's eye, Maira bending over and getting blown away in one of this man's rages. "H-hey, Maira, be careful. This guy is dangerous." <br /><br />Of course, Avira also had her encounter with the "White Cloud" in recent memory which wasn't much better. Anger flashes on her face for a brief moment, "...I think some people can tell when you've been around him."

:'''[[Maira]] has posed:'''<br><span></span> "You bet!" she replies, pleased that he remembers. "That was a crazy day, huh? Though it looks like you've been busy getting into trouble still--to be fair so have I. Sure has been busy. What was your name again...let me see...trying to remember..." she says, chewing her lips as she examines the vines and whatnot that surround Kaze. She sort of pokes at them a little. "Hey, why don't you let him go eh?" she asks the plants, as if actually expecting them to answer. "Got to gooo you know...." she continues, sing-song. <br /><br /> Maira looks to Kaze then, who is looking back toward Avira like he's expecting conflict. "Oh that's just Avira! She's my best friend. Oh, did you guys--" Maira pauses her influx of words to look toward Avira. Her mouth opens, incomprehension plain on her face. She looks back to Kaze, then Avira. "But...he has red hair...shouldn't he be like, the red wind or something?" <br /><br /> Right then. "Dangerous? Oh, I've helped him before. Besides, lots of people are dangerous. Angantyr is dangerous but he's still a friend right?" <br /><br /> Well, since she doesn't have an actual black wind to flee from, Maira takes a seat nearby Kaze. He's probably still like to be untangled. "What did you do to these plants that they did this to you?" she asks. <br /><br /> See, it doesn't matter so much if Kaze doesn't talk much. Maira does enough talking for two. <br /><br /> "So. I take it you guys know each other huh?" Duh.

:'''[[Kaze]] has posed:'''<br><span></span>'Black Wind.' He's been called that many times before. Once more doesn't matter. A name, though...<br /><br />"My name..." He pauses. There's a moment more of silence. "...I have forgotten it."<br /><br />Maira talks. Maira talks quite a bit, actually. With how dangerous this place can be, he's surprised she's apparently so at ease. He watches her, expression impassive. It's so strange to actually hear someone else talk, and to him, at that. Part of him aches for conversation with another human being. Another part screams caution, that he should move on. Staying here is dangerous. He has to continue on. "Heartless," he says. It's as much an explaination for the damage to the forest and the plants as he's apparently willing to give.<br /><br />Kaze's gaze slides to Avira. He stares into her -- through her, maybe. His eyes track to her distinct weapon of choice. "...the jungle," he murmurs. He remembers /that/ encounter quite clearly. His left hand tenses at the thought, trigger finger twitching... but just a little.<br /><br />The man called 'Black Wind' starts to stand. His shoulders press against the brambles, and there's a brief expression of pain. He slides back into a sitting position, exhaling something close to a sigh. He shuts his eyes for a few seconds, and then looks back up between the two women. "White Cloud," he asks. "Where is he?"

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:'''<br><span></span>Sometimes Maira is just too friendly for her own good! But for this, Avira can understand. Maira hasn't experienced this man in the way Avira did. She did not have the displeasure of fighting him and nearly getting torn to pieces by his bullets. The place where Kaze shot her in the back has a permanent scar though it is seldom shown due to her shirt and armor. <br /><br />"Well uh..." Maira brings up a good point with Angantyr. Avira's cheeks redden a little, "W..well that's a little different than this. He..we...we've known each other." Though she was a teeny bit scared of Angantyr. Being attacked by him is quite frightening too! <br /><br />Heartless. Well, that certainly explains the damage Avira spotted earlier, "So they've spread out here too." she says, a hint of worry in her voice. What about her pack? Surely...they could survive. They were professional predators. But still, that concern remained. <br /><br />There is a long bout of silence following Maira's question and Kaze's pronouncement of the jungle. She too remembers that fight quite clearly. Occasionally, it still gave her a nightmare. <br /><br />She stares right back at him, first into that one visible eye she can see, and then down to the mysterious golden cylinder that comprises his right arm. "...the only thing we really know about each other is how we fight..." She says, her muscles tensing. Her hand does not stray to the Spine, though, for Avira learns. She started the fight with Kaze and she started the fight with Makenshi. Neither worked in her favor. Clearly a different approach was needed and this time, she was not going to be the one to draw first. <br /><br />When he starts to get up, Avira actually recoils a little. "I don't know." she says hastily, "Last I saw him he was fighting you." <br /><br />Bitterly, she realizes that the next time she encounters Makenshi, he's going to ask her the same question of Kaze.

:'''[[Maira]] has posed:'''<br><span></span> Mair tilts her head, her wide amber eyes filled with sympathy and confusion. "You don't remember you name? Well, I'm not going to go calling you Black Wind. That's just silly. I'll just call you..." Maira purses her lips then. She needs to think about this very carefully, reaching up to tap her chin thoughtfully with her index finger. <br /><br /> Her eyes brighten, as apparently she has reached a conclusion. "Murdock! Yes, you look like a Murdock to me. I mean, at least until you remember your real name," she informs him. <br /><br /> When he says 'Heartless' it would seem that one word was sufficient. Maira sighs, nodding. "Everywhere, aren't they? Glad you're okay, Murdock." Yes, this is a thing. <br /><br /> When Kaze makes to stand, she actually reaches out to help him. When it becomes plain he is too injured to stand, and still trapped, Maira places her hands on his shoulders to ease him back down. "You /are/ hurt. Why didn't you say so?" she says in the sort of tone that implies if she had sleeves, she'd be rolling them up right now. <br /><br /> Maira takes a deep breath, beginning to summon her magic. A calming coolness will begin to seep into Kaze, soothing his pain and healing his injuries some. Of course, he'd need a good bit more than /that/ but it is a beginning. <br /><br /> Maira looks back to Avira just in time to see her blush. Maira blinks, then looks slightly uncomfortable, then laughs. "So, you don't know anything about each other but you've fought? That...well, that's pretty silly if you ask me. How do you even know you are enemies if you don't know anything about each other? And who is the White Cloud? I assume he's a person too who probably doesn't remember his name huh? Now, if these vines are not going to cooperate with me I'm going to have to get....creative," she says, wiggling her fingers lightly at the tangled roots.

:'''[[Kaze]] has posed:'''<br><span></span>The fact that he's stuck here until he's more fully recovered in irritating. Kaze should already be out there, hunting White Cloud. The idea that he's so limited is...<br /><br />'Murdock?' Well, sure, why not. He raises an eyebrow at the appelation, but doesn't say anything about it. He doesn't say anything about a lot of things, so it isn't terribly unusual. Fighting Heartless here might be, though. Maybe that's why he's called 'Black Wind' -- maybe he's some kind of beacon for the Heartless, drawing them to places normally free of their influence.<br /><br />...Nah. That's ridiculous.<br /><br />"Hnh." White Cloud escapes once more. His brow furrows, an expression of annoyance crossing his face. After that last battle, though, he's not one hundred percent certain he's recovered enough to fight him one-on-one and come out on top.<br /><br />Kaze sighs quietly when the magic passes over him. He can feel some of the deeper wounds lessen in severity. Strength starts to seep back into his limbs almost immediately. He may have just needed that boost. For some reason, the sword-wounds from White Cloud still haven't healed. He recovers quickly, but they just... wouldn't. The brambles are still a problem, but not an immediate one.<br /><br />"A swordsman," Kaze says by way of explaination. "I'm going to kill him." His tone brooks no argument.

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:'''<br><span></span>This 'don't remember my name' thing does very much explain why when Avira demanded who he was when they fought, he certainly didn't answer. Hell, Avira didn't get ANY answers that day! Very frustrating! "Yeah." Avira says slowly to Maira, feeling kind of stupid when she puts it that way. But she's quick to follow up: "Skoll told me he-" she gestures at Kaze/Murdock "-was reponsible for the destruction of his world somehow. Though..." <br /><br />She squints. A lot had been learned since that day months ago, especially about Skoll. "Skoll also says that his memories have been messed with. I'm not sure what to believe. White Cloud is this...white-haired guy with horns and a large sword. He can summon a dragon that turns into lasers." <br /><br />Maira offers to get 'creative' with the roots and to Avira, that means she's probably going to start using fire. "Maira, I don't think they're going to be talked off." <br /><br />Now Avira draws the Spine. Kaze would remember this weird weapon well, no doubt. Cautiously, she approaches the still-entangled Kaze and places one of the serrated edges of the blade against a brambled vine. Before continuing, she looks down into Kaze's eye again. <br /><br />With a sudden push against her weapon, she saws one of the vines apart. "That White Cloud guy tracked me down not too long ago and demanded I tell him where Murdock was-or rather, the Black Wind. Took me some time to figure out they were talking about him." Slowly, she moves the Spine and puts it against a different vine, sawing it apart. <br /><br />"...do you know why you two are fighting?" she asks Kaze.

:'''[[Maira]] has posed:'''<br><span></span> Maira will take Kaze's silence for approval. Murdock's a good name! He must really like it. It is certainly better than Black Wind. At least it isn't Brown Wind. That would just be...so...so very wrong. <br /><br /> Since wiggling her fingers threateningly at the brambles didn't do any good, Maira is going to have to resort to plan B, which with Maira, is very often actually plan A; fire. <br /><br /> Ah, Avira! You know her so well! "Great, you can help me then Avira! Stubborn things, hold still and I won't burn you," she then tells Murdock, leaving no time for response before she channels a couple of very carefully aimed flames at the brambles where they are holding Kaze. If Kaze has a good sense of magic, he might notice that the flames seem to leak out of Maira, set free more than conjured. To draw them back she simply pulls that energy back into herself. <br /><br /> "There, you should be able to get up now, then I can see better where you are hurt," she says, smiling, obviously pleased with her accomplishment. If he complains about being nearly set on fire, she'll give him the patented 'oh don't be a baby' look that all healer types know instinctively. <br /><br /> On the subject of this White Cloud, she exhales sharply and shakes her head. "Kill him? Okaaaay....If I ask why will you say more than two words at a time?" she asks Murdock, smiling mischievously.

:'''[[Katyna]] has posed:'''<br><span></span>The Bramble Woods had been the site of a recent Baron invasion, but it was one that 'Ember' had not been a part of. No, she had actually been busy doing some 'soul searching' with Riku in some random desert that she kept getting the name wrong, and then searching the expansive nothingness for some rumoured treasure.<br /><br />Whatever the results of that little escapade, she's here now, curious to see if the post battle had left any treasures or munny strewn across the battle field. Oh yeah, and to aid with VALKYRI stuff to of course!<br /><br />She catches sight of them in a particularly thick clump of brambles in the forest, and Maira's flash of fire is unmistakable. "Hey, guys!" She calls out as she nears them, "Sorry I'm late. Soo, what's up?" She peers at the guy caught in the brambles, tilting her head. "Huh, so like, what happened to you?"

:'''[[Kaze]] has posed:'''<br><span></span>Responsible for the destruction of someone's world, they say. Kaze has nothing to say to that. If it was him, then it was him. The heavens alone know the tally of destruction he's left in his wake -- he certainly doesn't. But if it means getting to White Cloud...<br /><br />Avira draws the Spine. Kaze's eyes flick to it, and then to Avira, eyes narrowing very, very slightly. She doesn't seem hostile this time, though; there's no attempt here to finish off a wounded foe, even if it would be perfectly in-character for her, from what Kaze knows of her. She did not really make the best first impression upon him. Cutting him loose is... unexpected.<br /><br />The fire, perhaps moreso.<br /><br />Kaze doesn't move, or cry out, or complain. He watches the fire, and how Maira calls it and controls it. It's an unusual sight. Part of it reminds him of... of...<br /><br />'Murdock' shakes his head slightly, as if to clear it. The brambles burn, crackling as they blacken and turn to ash. The fire passes near the object on his right arm, and the gemstone inset into the 'bottom' of it, near the inside of the crook of his elbow, glimmers faintly at the proximity. There's a tugging sensation as the unleashed flame is seemingly caught by it, tongues of flame drawn inward in a spiral and disappearing into the stone. It only happens to the precisely-aimed embers used near that spot; it looks like the phenomenon is localized.<br /><br />Pulling his legs beneath him, Kaze slowly draws himself to his feet. He leans forward and takes the gun lying on the ground sliding it into its holster. He stands unsteadily for perhaps a second before he catches his balance, then uses his free hand to brush the rest of the brambles off of him. He glances at Avira at her last question, and then stares at Maira with an expression that edges on one that says 'don't be a smartass' at hers.<br /><br />"He destroyed my world," Kaze states, after a long moment. "I'm sure of it. It is all I remember." Hey, more than two words!<br /><br />And then he notices Katyna. Kaze exercises a new-found sense of civility and kindness and does not immediately draw his gun on her. She seems to know the other two, and he isn't in the business of shooting strangers unless they hinder him. She hasn't.<br /><br />Yet.

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:'''<br><span></span>Quite ironically, Avira has never actually KILLED anyone. Back when they fought, she even felt bad when she noticed that Kaze was bleeding from her attack. <br /><br />As she speaks, she watches Kaze, hoping to hear a rebuttal of some kind. Or maybe a denial that he's a world-destroying maniac. Anything. But there is nothing. This does not put Avira at ease at all. <br /><br />She's quick to back away after cutting, especially when her cheerful little mage friend breaks out the fire. She's watching Maira carefully now, her eyebrows raised. "Wow Maira..." she says appreciatively. "Your control has really improved." <br /><br />Something catches her eye though-the unusual flow of magic that is not caused by Maira's control. It seems to be reacting to that strange golden cylinder of his. In fact, didn't her ice magic do something strange around it...? <br /> <br />The Spine spins in Avira's hand so she may invert her grip upon it. With one fluid motion, and not even really looking behind her, she slips it back into the sheath at the small of her back. <br /><br />The answer Kaze has both surprises her (he actually said something!) and confuses her, "/He/ destroyed /your/ world?" She repeats. Oh wow, what if Skoll had it wrong. What if this ally of his destroyed Skoll's world but his memories were altered? "Then why is he after you?" <br /><br />Katyna shows up and Avira gives her a friendly wave, "Hey, glad you could join us. Uh. Just a little delay from bumping into a...n acquaintance."

:'''[[Maira]] has posed:'''<br><span></span> In response to Kaze's look, Maira gives him the absolute most brilliant and warm smile. She doesn't mean any harm by the little bit of teasing! Indeed, she was merely trying to draw him out of his shell. It seems to have worked too, for he he does utter several short sentences. Rather than carry the joke though, Maira knows this deserves a more reserved response. Yet another who has lost their world. Lost everything. 'Murdock' has little memory. He's even lost his /name/. All he remembers is vengeance. <br /><br /> Chewing her lip, Maira steps closer to him and places a hand on his arm gently. There must be a a lot of darkness in his heart if he can't even remember the light. It is there though, she's sure of that. "I'm sorry. My world is gone too...don't really have one person to blame though. It was lost to darkness and the Heartless. I guess I could blame the Shadow Lords and hate them for it but....I don't know. The only one I have met so far just...made me feel sad for her," she replies. <br /><br /> Speak of Cao Cao....<br /><br /> Maira turns as she hears Katyna's voice, smiling welcomingly to her. "Heeey Katyna. This is Murdock. I met him before on a beach when we had to fight some Heartless. He and Avira apparently fought once but they don't really know each other. I'm thinking there have been some misunderstandings..." she informs, summing it all as only Maira can.

:'''[[Katyna]] has posed:'''<br><span></span>Katyna smiles and nods at Avira and Maira, although giving Murdok a confused look. "Hi! Who is this guy? Friend of yours?" Although with Avira's spine drawn, who knows? She peers curiously at the stranger, not recognizing him in the least. But it seems both girls know him from somewhere. How odd, was he a friend of one and an enemy of the other?<br /><br />"Heheh.." She scratches her head, arching a brow at him. "Hmm, who destroyed your world? Heartless y'mean?" Well, Kat doesn't draw her own weapon, not sure if this guy is friend or foe, or..Useful in other ways. Best to watch and listen for now.<br /><br />She nods to Maira when she mentions Avira fighting with her once and misunderstandings. "Huh, really? So are you a friend or enemy then?"

:'''[[Kaze]] has posed:'''<br><span></span>Even the most brilliant of smiles cannot penetrate Kaze's stony exterior, Maira. You got him to speak up; don't push your luck.<br /><br />Kaze doesn't react to that, though. She /could/ hate the Shadow Lords, but she doesn't. But he doesn't think she knows quite what he means. There were a great many worlds taken by the Heartless and the darkness, but few of them fell in a way that is so deeply personal. People carry a torch into the night to light it up and banish the encroaching blackness, even use it to fight back in the name of the once-brilliant place they called home, but they weren't /there/. They just found it amongst the driftwood and decided they'd take it up.<br /><br />'Murdock' shakes his head at Avira. He doesn't know why. He never asked why. He assumes because White Cloud knows he's after him and is taunting him -- but he said something about him not remembering. What doesn't he remember? What specific thing is he talking about? It doesn't make any sense, and just thinking about it drives him to restlessness. He has to keep moving, has to go. Why is he still /here/?<br /><br />Kaze fixes Katyna with a stare. His expression is serious. His left hand lingers at his side, near his weapon. Something about her puts him on edge. There's a part of him that urges him to attack, but he doesn't know precisely why. He forces himself to calm down, but he doesn't say a single word to her. The gleam in the golden arm's stone flickers for a second more, and then goes out.<br /><br />He looks around. Kaze steps away from the tree, disentangling himself from Maira's hand and circling the overgrown 'clearing.' Stretching his legs, maybe.

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:'''<br><span></span>"...wouldn't say friend or enemy." Avira mumbles, shaking her head. Either way, the Spine is put away and it doesn't seem like Avira's going to be attacking anytime soon. "It's a long story, really." A long story of Avira doing a very stupid thing! <br /><br />Avira's eyes narrow. "I know exactly who to blame for my world's destruction." One of Avira's hands curls into a fist, "But we also know the way to undo it. That will be my /first/ way of getting them back." <br /><br />Her head tilts at Kaze, a frown upon her face when he seems to indicate he has no idea why the White Cloud is after him. "...hm. I wonder." Her speculation goes unvoiced. There's no good it will do now. As she watches 'Murdock' he seems to grow restless with each passing minute, though no fault of herself, Avira is sure. <br /><br />Something about Katyna's addition puts him on edge and Avira looks from him to her fellow VALKYRI. Well that was unusual. "...so." she says, turning to Kaze. "Do you have a Ma Belle? A way of contacting you? Because I strongly suspect your White Cloud will find me again at some point." <br /><br />Her eyes narrow, "...I'd rather have you fight him than me."

:'''[[Maira]] has posed:'''<br><span></span> Murdock is growing distressed. Something about Katyna showing up has put him more on edge. Perhaps he is just feeling cornered? Well, he's free now, he could very well leave if he really wanted to! Though she hopes he'd at least say thank you first! Manners are important! <br /><br /> Maira watches him, frowning gently. He's pacing like a lion in a cage. <br /><br /> "Well, I'll say friend," she replies to Katyna. Neener neener Kaze/Murdock, welcome to forced friendship with Maira. "Um...are you okay Murdock? I thinking you could use a couple more healing spells, but you seem pretty eager to be off," she comments. <br /><br /> Maira looks to Avira then, smiling. "Yes! One of those thingies. Then we can contact you if we see this White Cloud guy," she adds. At least White Cloud apparently sort of resembles his name, though if she meets him she's going to name him too. It would be only fair. <br /><br /> And if Murdock has a Ma Belle Maira can talk at him--FOREVER--

:'''[[Katyna]] has posed:'''<br><span></span>Katyna also notices the uneasiness of Kaze when he glances at her without responding. "What, what is it?" She smirks, "You're not afraid of a kid, are you? But it's not like I'm gonna bite you or anything..Honest!"<br /><br />Well, she had a good guess as to what bothered him, but she says nothing, just scratches her head in confusion. "Fine, be that way." she arches a brow at the others, "Huh? There's a way to restore lost worlds? Like Manhattan, y'mean? How is that possible?"<br /><br />Well..Maira seems to think of him as a friend and so she doesn't draw her weapon. "Heh, alright. well, my name's Katyna. And you're..Murdock, y'say? Nice t'meet ya. Sorry about your world." She pauses again, peering curiously at Maira. "White Cloud guys? Who are they?"

:'''[[Kaze]] has posed:'''<br><span></span>Kaze doesn't even warrant 'frienemy.' He's closer to 'walking disaster waiting to happen.' Neither is something you call someone in polite company.<br /><br />"I'm fine," he says brusquely. He rolls his shoulders a little. He doesn't seem as stiff, or as weary, as he was prior. This is not the first time that he's inexplicably recovered from something far worse than Maira's little healing touch could fix right after a brief application of it, and it likely will not be the last time.<br /><br />A Ma Belle? Kaze suddenly looks to Avira and then Maira with a hint of confusion. He frowns slightly, slipping his left hand under his poncho (or maybe cloak; it's kind of somewhere in between). He pulls something out of a pocket somewhere, holding a... device. It looks like a linkpearl worked into the surface of a phone. There's a curious crest on it, something like a pair of squares joined diagonally at a corner and with wings affixed, but that's the only marking on it that isn't the keypad. "Like this?"<br /><br />He has no idea the long-term ramifications of this action.<br /><br />"Hnh." It is uncertain if that is general acknowledgement, a 'you too,' or a 'thank you for your sympathy. The man they're calling Murdock shoots a one-eyed glance at Katyna, the other hidden by the single-lensed sunglasses he wears. It's about the only thing he's willing to say to her. Someone else can fill her in; he may have exhausted his word budget for the month. He doesn't look unnerved by her presence, or anything near it; he instead has a look of mild impatience.

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:'''<br><span></span>Good, that offer did get Murdock's attention. Avira is pleased. Let the guys with ridiculous powers and weapons fight each other-she was not yet strong enough to deal with them effectively. The thought of fighting Makenshi as a human alone makes her cringe since facing him as a much stronger mutate was difficult. <br /><br />"Yeah. One of those." Avira digs a hand into one of her pouches and flips out her Ma Belle, which is a cellphone of course. Avira DOES have a linkpearl...but that's attuned to the VALKYRI. Popping it open, she shows Kaze her number. "Show me your number. If I see him again, I will call." <br /><br />Katyna hops on the original purpose she and Maira were out here. "There's a way to restore worlds that were destroyed like Manhattan was with the Heartless." Avira says carefully, knowing Skoll alluded to something else entirely destroying his world. "We need to retrieve the world shards. Right now we're looking into a lead we had on one. In fact, we should probably get moving now." <br /><br />Kaze's not the only one uncomfortable here. Avira has had enough Kaze for the month. "I'll explain later, Katyna."

:'''[[Maira]] has posed:'''<br><span></span> Maira looks very doubtful at him saying he is fine, but she seems to know better than to press the issue now. She got one heal onto him, and he /does/ seem to be doing better rather quickly. She supposes she can leave him be. <br /><br /> Maira just grins as Avira takes down numbers, etc. "Ou, let me add you too," she says, pulling out her own device. <br /><br /> They are essentially trading phone numbers, which is hilarious. Guess who is first on the 'drunk dial' list now? <br /><br /> When that is taken care of, Maira looks back to Avira and Katyna, nodding. "Mmmhmm, the world shards. I wonder what they look like...Merlin seemed to think we'd know when we saw them though," she adds. She can't even begin to hope her world might be restored. If the world itself was restored, what good would that do if all the people in it were gone or turned to Heartless? <br /><br /> Maira looks between Murdock and Avira once more. "I guess we should move on, yeah. It was nice to see you again Murdock! You let me know if you remember your real name. I think Murdock suits you though! And if you need any help, let me know okay?" She's not expecting any response. A nod would probably blow her mind. Still, she had to say it. Offer extended. <br /><br /> Maira moves to stand beside Avira, ever-faithful. "Alright, ready when you are."

:'''[[Katyna]] has posed:'''<br><span></span>Katyna blinks. "World shards? Oh..I wonder what those look like. But if they can restore worlds..They must be powerful.." And well hidden. she sighs wistfully, thinking of her own home town, her home world of which only small portions now remained. "I..I wonder if it's possible? If I could see that place again.."<br /><br />But the thought makes her sad. "I guess even then, it wouldn't be the same.." No, everyone's dead now. All her friends, all her family. No, she had nothing back there anymore. She gives a little shrug and a smirk, as if she wasn't all that fazed.<br /><br />"Well, guess we'll have to keep looking then! But where do we look?" Kat glances expectantly at Avira, who often seems to be in the thick of such things. Did she have some sort of plan as leader? Let's hope so..

:'''[[Kaze]] has posed:'''<br><span></span>Anything that means Kaze is one step closer to finding and destroying White Cloud will get his attention. It's like some kind of killing word. Speak it, and he is there.<br /><br />You know. Killing.<br /><br />Kaze opens the thing and fiddles with it for a second. He finds the number pretty handily, flipping it around and giving the two of them a brief look. He /could/ read it off, but that means more word expenditure, and we've established he has a limit. Or maybe he just doesn't like talking. Sometimes being a man of few words is an advantage.<br /><br />Maira's mind remains un-blown. Kaze slips the comm device back into a pocket, looking at her for a second more and then turning away from the group of them. Without another word, he starts off back out of the clearing, getting on the rough, winding path and then immediately disappearing off it again. His back is visible for a short distance, until he ends up passing beyond a cluster of trees that have grown together in a twisted, generally creepy way. Then, he's just... gone.<br /><br />And so the Black Wind blows, hunting White Cloud once more. Except this time, someone actually knows /why/.

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:'''<br><span></span>Avira would rather read a phone number than have it read to her. She's quick to take in that new number, happily anticipating calling this man in the future when she inevitably runs into White Cloud again. Somehow that person could tell she was around Kaze before. It was bound to happen again, especially now that she was once more human. Heck, Makenshi could mistake her for a whole different person with a Kaze encounter like this, couldn't he? <br /><br />Avira is silent as she watches Kaze leave-and keeps watching him leave until he is fully out of sight. It isn't until this has happened that she continues to answer Katyna's questions about world shards and the like. <br /><br />"Well the world shard we're /currently/ looking for looks like a big green gem." Or at least it looked green to Avira since that's her favorite color. "It's just one of many we'll have to get to restore Manhattan, according to Merlin. We've noticed a lot of Heartless activity in the Dwarf Woodlands since Baron's attack last week and it's kind of suspicious. Why would the Heartless be there now? It's not like there's a whole bunch of people there attracting them." <br /><br />Avira continues leading the way through this familiar (to her!) forest. "So we're going to investigate. The dwarves there do mine a lot of gems out of the ground there."

:'''[[Katyna]] has posed:'''<br><span></span>Katyna continues to stare at Avira for a loooong moment, seeming confused about something. Then it hits her. "Green gem, huh? Alright then...Oh, Avira..! You're..Back to normal!" How..When did that happen? Was Angantyr's noble 'sacrifice' legitimate then? Had it worked out afterall? She smiles, although her smile is hollow. Yes, keep dreaming that dream, that fairytale world..She's sure there's a dark side to it all, there always is.

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:'''<br><span></span>"....what?" Avira says in response to the long, long stare. Did her explanation fall short? What else about world shards should she explain? As she reviews her words in her head, Katyna points out something else. "Yes! Yes I am! We got the cure we were promised...and we took it to Merlin to get it duplicated." Avira grins a devilish little grin. Screw the rules! "So it all worked out!" <br /> <br />It didn't all...quite work out as intended, actually, but those particular details are things Avira has no intention of sharing.

:'''[[Katyna]] has posed:'''<br><span></span>Kat nods and smiles, "Then I'm glad, and relieved that your wish was granted..Maybe there really is such a thing as true love. That guy...Wow what a sacrifice he made.." She sighs wistfully, knowing what high prices sacrifices can have..Even death. "I wonder, was he alright too, in the end?" If nothing else, perhaps it meant her opponent would be weaker when next they faced each other.

:'''[[Avira]] has posed:'''<br><span></span>There's a smile on Avira's face, it's a lot more subdued than before. There's eomething on her mind, for certain, but the look passes. "Yeah he...well. He's back to normal now too. I made sure for him to take that cure."