A different perspective… (WoD)
The shining white towers of Avalon rise over the grassy plain beneath them as Aditu and her two charges begin their trek down the low hill towards the city. The wind sweeps clean and brisk over the grass, puffy white clouds the color and texture of sheep’s wool flee across a crisp blue sky as birds chirp greetings from their arcing flights over the travelers. The Sithi woman smiles to herself as she watches them fly, secure in the knowledge that these humans would soon be back in their city and in the hands of their own, relieving her of the responsibility of maintaining their safety.
She shifts the poles of the makeshift travois, bearing the limp body of the old man, to a more comfortable position and turns her cat-like eyes on the man walking with her. Staggering, not walking, would be a better term. His breath wheezes in and out of his chest as he struggles to keep up with her, his wounds reopening themselves with the effort. Blood seeps slowly down one arm, leaving a faint trail in the dirt. She debates on stopping to minister to his injuries but the faint beckoning shine of the city dissuades her. There were people in Avalon who took the healing arts to their greatest and her small healing magics pale in comparison. Giving the tall human a quick once-over as they walk, she decides that he is far enough from death’s embrace to survive the last mile or so to the city walls.
He was a strange sort, she thinks as she walks easy, barely noticing the weight of the travois she is pulling. Her understanding of humans was limited; she had not the familiarity with their behavior and customs that her brother had, as the defacto ambassador from Asu’a to the rulers of Avalon. Her uncle Khendra’jaro had little patience with humans, and often spoke harshly to his sister, her mother, about her tolerance of human intrusion into their secret world. Likimaya had listened to her brother’s advice and then ignored it, infuriating him and amusing others who, though fond of him, thought he needed to lighten up a little.
Aditu’s brother Jiriki was one of those. Little ‘Willow-Switch’ needed to have more respect for his elders, she thinks as she walks. Humans were interesting enough, but they were too destructive and aggressive in their ways for her to be entirely comfortable with the idea of living, literally, on top of them. How long would peace last? The Zida’ya had long kept themselves distant from the Sudhoda’ya, the humans, except for a few small exceptions, notably in the regions the mortals called Ireland and Scotland. Legend had it that Sithi blood had mingled with that of the acient Celts; the truth of this assertion was unknown, but it was not unheard of.
The Sitha turns her attention back to her injured companion. He was ugly, as most humans were, too wide of bone and coarse of feature to be attractive. Deep, sunken eyes the color of slate and a sharp hawk-like nose gave him the bearing of some sort of predatory bird while the strange markings on his arms increased the similarity, like the shadowed plumage of a raptor. Flight was far from this mortal’s grasp, she muses, smiling, as he drags himself along, his eyes never leaving the city walls. He had strength, she had to give him that. But could he ever understand what truth lurked in a lion’s leap and appreciate the assurance of the rose? Could he sing a song to make angels weep or fathom the subtleties of playing Shent? Humans just didn’t live long enough to be truly wise, and all the strength in the world wouldn’t unlock its mysteries.
And their behaviors made little sense. She’d watched them the night before they were attacked and heard them talking, fighting, arguing. Heard the old one, whom she’d already christened ‘Fast-to-Fight’, call the taller man a coward and accuse him being ball-less, less than a man. This was clearly an untruth, as she’d cleaned the blood off of him as he’d slept and his manhood had seemed perfectly intact to her. The fact that the man had accepted the lie as truth confused her. How odd these mortals were!
The sun was already high in the sky as they reached the city walls. Relieved to at last pass her burden to another, she smiles in amusement at the bafflement of the gate guards. Looks like she wasn’t the only one confused by those who traveled with her.
(DIsclaimer- Some characters and material is Copyright Tad Williams. Everything else is Copyright White Wolf or myself. -Rebecca)
very nice, she’s going to be fun. I hope we don’t fall flat on our faces while trying to show her the good sides of humanity. We probably will though. Fall on our faces I mean. Anyway…cool beans.
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