Date: Tue, 21 Jul 1998 08:43:01 -0400 From: AJ Paquette Subject: [FRPG] Whose woods these are I think I know... Hello! I'm finally doing a post! On a side note, my server suffered a 'hiccup' yesterday morning and I lost all of my incoming e-mail. So from Saturday to Sunday, if anything was posted. Could you please resend it to me? It would be much appreciated. Thank you for you time. Bye Bye! Amanda (The Queen Otaku) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------- Title: "Whose woods these are I think I know..." As has already been discovered. Iya does not like anyone in her territory. So when she woke up that morning and caught the scent of some one in her area, she was quite angered. So when Iya found her quarry, she was even more enraged to find that the person in question, actually had the nerve to sleep in her forest. She sneered at the body. Until that is, she noticed the striking white hair. Pressing herself low onto the ground she stared curiously at his face. Surprised to find that he was not old like she had expected. She took little notice to the tattoo exposed on his right shoulder. Not knowing it's significance either way. He stirred and Iya took a small jump back. She crouched down, her tail swishing back and forth furiously. Finn awoke to the sunshine beaming down through the leaves and branches of the trees above him. He sat up slowly, turning his face skyward. Allowing the sunlight to shine warmly upon him. Then he heard the growl. A low and deep growl. Like that of a wild animal. Finn wondered if he had come near something's den. He gulped and tried to remain perfectly still. Iya sat crouched down, studying him, growling as menacingly as she could. Which came very easy and natural for her. Iya then leaned forward and hissed, the wings upon her back rose and fluttered back and forth rapidly. Causing a rattling sound. A hiss and a constant rattle. *Oh, great! What kind of mess have I gotten myself into THIS time?* He slowly turned his head and found that the sounds were coming from one place - directly in front of him. "What are you doing here!" asked a harsh and gruff voice. A demon? Or a monster? Perhaps the monster's keeper... One of these had to be right in front of him and that was what was making all of those noises. Whatever it (they?) was (were?), the voice deserved an answer. *Best not to choose the sarcastic answer this time around...* "Well, last night I was escaping from a bandit lair..." Finn tried to get to the point as quickly as possible, hoping desperately that whatever the creature was, that it wouldn't become even more angered and decide to rip his throat out. "Bandits? You are afraid of bandits?" the voice growled mockingly. "Well I couldn't fight them off. So I escaped and-and I stumbled into a stream and was washed away." Finn explained. The voice grunted, "What sort of an oaf are you?" "I'm not an oaf. I'm ... just blind." he said the last part quietly. He wondered if demons and monsters felt pity. "Blind?" the voice said, the tone sounding softer but confused. "Yeah, as in, can't see." Finn snapped. Instantly regretting it. There was an almost excruciatingly long pause. The only sounds were that of tree leaves blowing in the wind. "As in cannot see." the words were spoken slowly, and by some one who was obviously female. There was another pause, shorter though. "So you cannot see me?" came a soft feminine voice. "I can't see you, or anything else. My eyes were damaged in such a way that most magics can't repair them." he replied solemnly. *Where's the monster? This new voice can't be from the same being... unless...* Iya smiled. He couldn't see her! That was great! Well, not really, she knew that he couldn't see all the wonderful things around him. But at least he couldn't see her and that part was great. So she continued to stare at him. Her expression looked thoughtful and far off. "Hmm, strange. I do not know whether or not to feel pity for you... " Finn grunted and crossed his arms, "Or feel unimaginably happy for myself." she finished with a slight chuckle. "What have you to feel happy about?" he asked, confused with this strange girl. "Because some things are better left unseen." she replied softly, still smiling. Although Finn couldn't see that of course. "Don't you want to be seen?" *Could she be a...?* "No." she said simply. *Yes, she has to be! I haven't seen a hybrid since I was still Argie's slave. They're much more personable in the wild, I guess...* "I think I understand." Finn said rather softly, "I thought I heard a monster when I woke up, but that was you, wasn't it?" Iya looked sad, she sat down and curled her tail around her, she began to play with the tip of it. "I'm no monster." she said quietly, bowing her head, "They are lying when they say that. I did not mean to frighten you. It was just an act. I meant nothing by it. I do not wish to do harm to any one. I-I am sorry." "It's alright. Really." Iya looked up at him and immediately noticed his white hair again, "So what are you?" she asked, her tone seemed almost, hopeful. "Huh?" Iya leaned forward and carefully took hold of a locke of Finn's hair. She held it gently in-between her fingers, rubbing it with her thumb. Marveling at it's softness. "Why is it that your hair is white, and yet you show no signs of being elderly. It confuses me." "Oh that. Well, they say I might have some elf blood in me. I don't know how far along in the ancestry, but-" Iya's eyes went wide, "Elf?!" she shouted enthusiastically. She let go of the locke and brushed her fingers through his hair. She touched his ear and traced her fingers along the curve of it. Searching for a point. Finn's head was tilted uncomfortably to the side, "Uh... no, it's just the hair. I'll grow old just like any other human, as well." "Oh." Iya let out a sharp gasp as she just realized what she was doing. She quickly retracted her hand, "Sorry!" she said quickly. A slight heat washed over her face and she grumbled to herself. She looked up at him again, "So where are you headed?" her voice was a little harsher than it had been a few minutes before. Finn was silent, *Where AM I headed?* he thought. *Aaron never gave me directions - O'course, I never agreed to his proposal, either...* He turned to Iya, "Well, where am I?" Iya shrugged, "I do not know. I just live here." she said lazily, "To me it is just a forest. Although, I have heard it being called the 'De Fan Forest'. But it has also been called the 'Demon Forest.'" she spoke the last part bitterly, bowing her head she growled. Finn grew nervous, but was determined not to show it. "Wellllll, I guess I should find a town or something." "Hmm. Sorry, I cannot help you. I have lived within these trees for most of my life. There is a town East of here, I think. Perhaps you should head there." Iya looked at him. The cloth over his eyes made her think hard. 'He wouldn't know where East is you idiot!' she scolded herself. Iya sighed, "I shall take you there myself." "You don't have to," Finn said, "I know you don't want to be seen." Iya growled, "And just how do you expect to navigate through these trees, without sight? It is absurd." "So I've learned." Finn offered an amused grin. "Alright then, so you'll help me out of here, then return home?" "No. As I said, I have lived here for most of my life." she sighed again, "But it is time for a change. I shall travel with you. If you will allow me to." Finn blinked from under the cloth, "Yeah, of course." He began to rise up and stand. His joints still ached slightly from his tumble into the water and his run in with the bandits. A small smile fell across Iya's lips,"Good, you help me and I shall help you." "What do you need help with?" asked Finn. Iya also rose up. She furled her wings close to her body and she began to drape her cloak over them, "I do not know how to talk to people. I have been at a distance for a very long time. So I shall help be your eyes, and you shall help me on my 'people skills'. Is that alright?" "Sure. I've.. I once had a similar arrangement with a friend of mine. So we're partners?" Finn smiled and held out his hand. Iya turned and looked at the hand, uncertain. Slowly realizing what he meant, she firmly grasped it, "Partners." The two of them shook hands.