Rebel Yell {Terra}

[poseidon]

"The chthonic divinity was essentially a god of the regions under the earth; at first of the dark home of the seed, later on of the still darker home of the dead."
-- C. F. Keary

Through the years, Halcyon had grown from a merely rebellious young boy, into a manipulative man. But despite his years alone with his travels, he had kept to his values. The chthonic divinity was not beneath the earth of the kingdoms he had swept around, but of his home. It was a temple rising up from the earth, towering over the people of Elementis. It was the council of priests and priestesses who oversaw all that went on below their place of worship. The council that manipulated and put on false fronts to force others into their bidding.

Halcyon had learned of this young, in training to become one of them. He had been one of the manipulated once upon a time, and now as a man, he was free as one could be as a rogue. He had not whored himself to the living Devils.

Living just out of the radar of the council was not easy living. He'd abandoned the Temple on his 'promotion', his baptism that would make him a High Priest, and because of his betrayal, he was now considered a traitor to the council. His father. They were all out for his blood. And while he was free, he was chained. He had to keep to the shadows, to secrecy, so that he would not be handed over to the council.

But the treachery was worth it. Let them call him a rebel, a rogue; it was no concern to him. He would rather live a life in shadows, as his own man, than give his soul to those devils.

Despite himself, he was not wholly selfish. He felt the rare twinges of guilt and sympathy for the Old Powers caught in the Council's webs. They had yet to see beyond the facades of the Council, had yet to realize they were only being groomed to control the Kingdoms. To be the new force of 'living gods' as the Council considered themselves. But they were only twinges. Mostly he thought them stupid for not realizing, and their powers only caused their egos to grow.

He'd never met an Old Power, and he was glad of it. No doubt they'd all be stuck on themselves and their powers. He'd only be disgusted.

Alas, Halcyon was a curious man, and despite his unwarranted disgust, he found himself traveling the old familiar trees of the Satirean forest that surrounded Elementis. He thought to check on the current manipulations of his father and the Council's henchmen. He thought to prove himself right on his thoughts of the Powers. Just a small peak, one night spent watching, and he'd be on his way.

If only his horse could have handled the long travel, that would have been the perfect plan. They'd been low on water and food, the lands dried out in the heat of the summer months. Halcyon had grown used to the mistreatment of his body, but the horse was young, it had not yet found that trait. Dehydrated and exhausted, it had fallen along the walk and was too weak to rise and move forward. Sweat beaded along it's mane, it's ribs showing in its sides.

Halcyon had been too anxious to return to the Temple, to cause a mayhem with his appearance, to pay attention to the animal. And now he had no easy escape should he be found. This is just what he got for relying on a living thing for escape.

Drawing his sword, glaring at the fallen animal, he moved before it. He had no sustenance for it, nothing that would make it healthier. Before the sun rose, the horse would suffer and eventually die.

"May as well just stop the suffering," he muttered, raising his sword.

[`Terra Aetara ♥]

Terra had spent a sleepless night amongst the stars, dancing amongst the trees of the forest. Curfew had come and gone, but she had climbed down the tree beyond her bedroom window to escape. It was rare of her to be seen at home in the dark hours, to sleep in the room beside Maelstrom's. To be in the same house was heartbreaking, and so she chose to sleep outside most nights.

The gentle breeze of the night, the swaying trees, it was the only solace she could find in these times. It was time when she could be alone, where she didn't have to hide from anything. The trees reflected her mood, swaying unsurely, bowing in sadness, freezing in pain. She was alone.

But as she swayed around the trees and flowers, the dried grass and plantlife slowly reviving as she passed, she heard a whine, and a voice. There was a flash of silver in the soft moonlight as a sword was drawn and her eyes moved to the fallen horse upon the ground. The poor guy. So weak and frail, malnourished, and helpless.

It was no little surprise that Terra cared more for the earth and animals than she did most people. Humans had a chance to defend themselves, where in times like these, this poor horse was helpless to defend itself. And it's eyes... they were scared, pained.

"Just what do you think you are doing?" Terra snapped, stepping out from behind a willow tree. Her hands balled into fists on her hips, the look on her face. That look that made all feel ashamed, the motherly, protective look.

She wasn't the one with a sense of self preservation when she was feeling particularly protective, if the moving in front of the man's sword was any indicator.

"Why would you kill a helpless horse?"

She tried to give him cold glare, copy Maelstrom, but she knew she failed miserably. She was the gentle one, and did not come across as scary at all. So with the failed look, she turned her back on the man and the sword. Yes, she was not the brightest. Turning her back on a drawn weapon.

No, she was leaning over the stricken horse, making soothing sounds, a gentle cooing, as she carefully placed her hand on it's side. The horse seemed to relax, but his eyes were still round, terrified.

"It's okay, little one," she murmured, still gentle. "Everything will be fine. I'll take care of you."

[poseidon]

To say Halcyon was surprised would be a vast understatement. What kind of girl hung out in forests at this time of night? But he hid his surprise well, his face blank, his dark eyes calculating.

She was obviously foolish, possibly had a blow to the head as a child. To think of the nerve, reprimanding a man with a sword!

"What am I doing?" he said coldly, inching closer. His eyes narrowed, but he lowered his sword. He didn't attack a woman first. "The question is, what are you doing? That horse is good as dead in the morning. No amount of water will fix him at this point. Better to end the suffering now!"

She didn't answer. Instead, she just kept talking to that damn animal as if he could somehow understand her. "Are you even listening to me?"

He crouched down behind her, grabbing her firmly by the shoulder and shook her. Only to end up pulling his hand away with a startled look. The skin of her shoulder had been as hot as a branding iron. Rubbing his hand, he glared at the back of her head.

"What are you doing? What's wrong with you?"

And then he muttered, "Stupid girl."

[`Terra Aetara ♥]

Terra didn't take the goading, nor did she stop what she was doing. Instead, as politely as she could (which is pretty darn polite, since it's a natural thing for her.) she said, "Can you please stop talking? I'm trying to concentrate."

Her fingers glided along the horse's pelt, her hands warming up as she focused her powers out into him, healing him slowly. Sending him enough strength to not suffer so much, give her enough time to get him the nourishment he needed. It took a lot of effort, as he was pretty bad off. The warmth had spread from her fingers up her arms and through her whole body, because it was her strength that she was giving.

After a few moments, and she swayed and then leaned away from the horse. His breathing was back to normal, and he looked more sleepy than scared now. From the sachet she carried around her waist, she pulled a canteen of water out and helped him drink from it. And then she pulled out a fresh apple.

"Take it easy, honey," she said soothingly, pressing her hand to his neck. "Nice and slow. Too much too quickly, and it will just come back up. I'll bring you some more tomorrow, I promise."

With a soft smile to the horse, she tilted her head to look back at the man behind her. He was a bit too close for comfort, but she resisted the urge to scoot back. She was much too tired for that. "Can I help you with something?"

[poseidon]

"Can you...?" Exasperated, Halcyon shook his head. "You are a very odd... little girl."

He looked over at his horse, surprised to find it sleeping peacefully. He was just about to ask how she'd done it, when realization dawned on him. She was one of those Old Powers, no doubt. Which surprised him because he'd thought they'd all be absolutely rude and egotistical. But she'd somehow been polite when he was manhandline her, and yelling. And she'd been so... gentle with his horse. That was something he was not used to. Such... kindness. Now that was something he needed to wrap his mind around.

"He was going to die," he said in defense of his actions before. "It is not like I could have known someone was here that could help. A girl shouldn't be out in the forest at this time of night."

[`Terra Aetara ♥]

Terra didn't glare at him for his defense. She understood why he would feel the need to put the horse out of its misery. She'd just acted out of instinct rather than rational thought.

"He'll be fine now," she said quietly. "But he needs to rest for a few nights, get a few good meals into his system before any more traveling can be done. You look as if you could use the same."

And there she went, 'taking in another stray', as the other Powers would most likely say. It was usually animals that were injured or weak, but tonight it seemed as if she would be taking on a human stranger as well.

"We shouldn't move him tonight," she went on, in full protective mode, all gentleness and kindness, with a distinct note of determination in her tone. "But tomorrow afternoon, we could set him up in the stables, and I have a guest room..."

She trailed off, noting the strange look on his face, and gave him a questioning look.

[poseidon]

Ah. The look on his face. A combination of wary and cold. But also confused.

"I cannot go into the town," he said, reaching around her to run a hand down the horse's neck. His hand brushed hers momentarily, but he quickly withdrew. "Nor should you have a strange man in your home. I must admit... I do not understand your kindness. Why?"

[`Terra Aetara ♥]

"You... oh. Well, hmm, I feel awful to leave you to live in the forest though," Terra said thoughtfully. She knew that not all people favored sleeping among the trees like she did. "I'm.... just being who I am. You are both in need of a good meal, and I just..."

She shrugged in a silent apology. She wasn't great at explaining her actions. She was just nice, that was all. And she sympathized with them.

"Why are you not able to go into town?"

She blushed at asking such a personal question, and to hide her curious nature, she began to grow some more comfortable surrounding. Nice beds of grass, beautiful flowers and a nice apple tree for the horse. That way, since he didn't want a real human bed, she'd make what she did for her nights in the forest. What she liked to sleep on. To her, it was much more comfortable here.

"I promise I won't tell anyone, if you like," she said with all sincerity, turning doe eyes on him. She really was sincere too. How could she not be? "Or if you don't want to tell me, I'll still help you. You can just tell me your name. I'm Terra. See? That was easy. Just a name." She smiled sheepishly, realizing she was rambling like a fool.

[poseidon]

A crooked smile at her shy nature. A rebel's smile, full of charm and mischief.

"Halcyon," he said, taking her hand from the horse's neck and placing a chaste kiss upon her fingertips. "Rogue priest."

This was not something he would usually let slip, but her sincerity was affecting. Kindness did not go unappreciated by him.

"My father is on the Council. I was never meant to be a priest. It is a devil's cage of which I do not wish to be locked within. For that betrayal, if I return to the Kingdom, I will be put to death."

He glanced down at her hand and so quietly it was almost not heard, he added, "My freedom is worth the penalty. I am not one who would be manipulated."

He carefully released her hand and looked back up with another one of his crooked smiles. "I thank you for your help, though it pains me to accept it. It's hard to resist the sincerity of your offers, and it's been a long time since I've had the company of one so charming."

It was true, Halcyon was flirting with her. While she would think it was just innocent charm, he was finding her a refreshing change, defying all his thoughts of what the Powers would be like, what all witches were. She was... intriguing.

[`Terra Aetara ♥]

Manipulation. Freedom. Terra knew the feelings of manipulation, knew what it was like to feel like a caged bird. She always had to hide for the sake of the many, always manipulated into it by her mother, by society laws.

What she wouldn't give to possess the freedom she'd always dreamed of. But she could not let go of responsibility, nor did she have such courage. Especially since she now realized how ridiculous it would be to have her freedom. Freedom for what? To love someone who would never look at her the same way? Since that night she'd walked in on Maelstrom, she'd lost her hope in that matter. Now all she had was derision, scorn, for her actions and her dreams. She could not be free, for it would only cause more pain.

Secrecy was the glue that held everything together, it seemed. It was as her mother knew it, and Terra was slowly coming to accept, no matter how much it tore her apart.

"It will be our secret," Terra said, pushing away her own thoughts. "A secret between friends." For she considered him now a friend that she would protect and take care of. Even if his charming comment made her blush a bit.

She thought him nice, and thought it horrid that a nice guy like him would be sentenced to death. She would protect him, because of that. He should have the right that she didn't, to be able to choose his own course, to be free.

"I can run back home and bring you something good to eat, and then you can get some rest," she said with a smile.

But when she moved to get back up, the world rocked around her. She'd used too much power tonight. She'd need to recharge, a good night's sleep. But she'd promised him food...

[poseidon]

"Careful there, little one," Halcyon said, catching her before she fell.

She was cute with her always trying to help. But he wasn't about to force her beyond her limit just for some food. He'd gone longer without the nourishment, one more night would be fine.

Despite her protests, he forced her to curl up in a bed of freshly grown grass. "Get some rest, yourself. Tomorrow is not so far off."

With a charming smile, he rested beside her, to make sure she wouldn't do something stupid like run off to get him food when he fell asleep.

"Tomorrow will be here just in time," he murmured, rolling on to his side to watch her as she drifted off.

Cute. Intriguing. A nice old power, how about that?

~

And morning came before they knew it, the night of sleep doing the both of them well. Food was snuck into the forest, and they bonded the days after over her protecting him. She took care of him, and he listened intently to her stories. They learned much of each, bonded over their love of many common things. Argued over the things they did not have in common.

It was a friendship that grew in secret, Halcyon building a niche inside Terra's heart unbeknown to her, just as he would like it. But little did he realize, that she had done the same to him, and hadn't even meant to.

The kindness certainly never went unappreciated...