The Vale of Shadow (Part 5)

[Zekafae]

He looked to her and pulled her gear closer to her and shrugged slightly" Nope, everything was left back in hells kitchen." He mused slightly back to the three infront of them and closed his eyes taking a breath thinking for a long moment." It'd be far nicer when we can get this done, will let the energy and tension settle down."

[Inriiaynrae Jaelre]

"someone owes me a cookie when this is done."
the pile was pulled over to her and she grabbed her pack, letting her portion of the blanket slip from her hands and around her frame. being that it was dark for the most part and no one was watching her directly (as far as she could tell since the two are engaged in lovey dovey stuff....ewww lol. and zek closed his eyes, unless he peeked...tsk tsk...bad boy!) she decided to get dressed. she lifted the articles of clothing first.
"tense?" she chuckled slightly while sucking in slightly then breathing out slowly, "why so tense? you know what you need?" she started as she searched the clothing for posions or curses or anything of the such, tho having spells would have been best for those more hidden ones. but she would have to wait till she could fully rest.
when nothing was seen or detected, she attempted to first pull her loose jet spidersilk shirt over her head, a feat more difficult than it looked apparently. the drowess sighed at how foolish she looked at the moment as she was sorta caught in her own clothes.
and she use to have some dignity...

((yes i know i need sleep.))

[Zekafae]

opening his eyes he felt movement and reached over and pulled the shirt down, undoing where she was caught up on. he didn't even really look over. finally he spoke" You really should find a way to heal that old wound..."

[Inriiaynrae Jaelre]

Inrii didnt noticed till her shirt came down over her. her cheeks were slightly tinted, "its not like i havent tried," she blurted. "despite my appearence, i do try to keep my self up at times. Besides i got more pressing problems, like getting us out of this mess. or finding that bard and squeezing the last breath out slowly."
Inrii hadnt intended to sound as such, but it was a habitual reaction (think of her fiery temper flare up and go away in seconds). she breathed out slowly and turned her eyes away and focused on getting dressed. tho she knew sooner or later someone would ask or say something. she hadnt shared the truth with anyone other than Mayindia, and only because she had found Inrii that morning. her teacher had tried everything, but whatever magic Vorndrin used in the dagger was strong indeed. it remained- a blatant reminder of such a defeat always there.
she paused almost mouthing an apology, but just continued.
she slipped her form fitted pants on. then reached for the rest, her buckled gloves and knee high boots. they slid on and the magic began forming them around her. getting her piwafwi around her was most difficult as she had to manover in a way that didnt put a strain on her ribcage and the broken bones. but the jet black magical cloth was fasened and settled around her.
it took her longer but soon she was dressed as at last her ruby belt clasp snapped into place. she felt the magic again from her stuff emanating in her, a good sign that it was hers. rifling thru her stuff, she found a long cloth of strong fibers. wrapping it around her was the next step, tho how she didnt know.
the drowess started to lift her shirt to begin the process and wishing she had some healing spell handy again.
"its...not that simple..." this time more controlled as she was still sitting next to the ranger, tho she had still not looked back at him, or anyone, just stared out into the deep darkness as she continued with the wrapping.
why she began to begin a slight explanation floored her.

Zarstra cringed slightly, knowing it was a touchy subject. for even she didnt ask or speak of that day. for Inrii held it in even with her. but the outburst was a step. more than she had gotten in the last few years. she wondered if pushing her to confront it all was the better option.
the lizard crawled closer to Inrii and loked up her, a knowing look.

[Zekafae]

Watching her quietly he shook his head slightly." No I know, such things take years to heal. Five thousand years is just about enough to remove the old scars, even then they're still very visable." Hearing the last part he spoke" nothing ever is inrii, as for plans? We settle business here and when it's done, we stop making side trips."

[Inriiaynrae Jaelre]

Inrii nodded her agreement to leaving as she finished and straightened her clothes out. “not like I have that long,” she said off handedly, “not if things continue like they have.”
Still looking down she pulled out the original map given to her my Mayindia. On it in the desert west of their location was a U shaped mountain range that had been circled. Several other markings were scribbled.
“here,” she started, “this is the area we need to go. And before you say such of anything, yes I knew the general area the entire time. I hadn’t spoke of my knowledge because, well. Would you trust another drow upon meeting them?”
this time she looked into his (what ever color) eyes to watch his reaction. (im guessing Veraka is still chatting or whatever their doing w/ Neriah. Tho if he is listening to Inrii, he can speak or say something).
Looking down again, “spending time traveling with yall” she paused trying to figure out what she wanted to say, “I dunno. Maybe something’s changed?” the drowess cleared her throat.
Then in hopes of changing the subject, “well, I say we move when their ready.”
they needed to get moving soon, even if she was barely able to. she hoped she wouldnt slow them down.

Zarstra rolled her violet eyes and reached into her the pouch to pull out some venison jerky.
“[i:1ujsb4rq][color=red:1ujsb4rq]yeah somethings changed[/color:1ujsb4rq][/i:1ujsb4rq],” the lizard smirked, “[i:1ujsb4rq][color=red:1ujsb4rq]tall, dark…[/color:1ujsb4rq][/i:1ujsb4rq]”
“hey! Lets not go there,” Inrii said aloud to Zarstra.

[veraka]

Veraka was sitting there, listening to Inrii and Zek talk, while letting Neriah rest still.

[color=indigo:2f721cku]“not like I have that long,” she said offhandedly, “not if things continue like they have.”[/color:2f721cku]

"If things continue like they have, you will live, and I'll be damned if it turns out otherwise," he said, looking into the drowesses eyes with his own silver orbs blazing with a vengeance.

[i:2f721cku]And that goes double for me; I haven't traveled alongside this lizard, and I refuse to see her, and my, friend go off and disappear into nothingness.[/i:2f721cku] As Aurora said this to Inrii, she stared into her eyes with those glowing ice-blue eyes.

[i:2f721cku]Oh, and Inrii; yes, we're going there; tall, dark, and has the same pyro-sarcastic attitude that you do.[/i:2f721cku]

[Inriiaynrae Jaelre]

((waiting for zek's reaction also))

the sorceress narrowed her eyes at the wolf and stuck out her tongue. then took the bundle Zarstra had and pulled out a piece to munch on.

--
Alya stood there over the scrying bowl. she knew that Inrii had been rescued since the view of things were cloudy now. the chain demon huffed. he was determined to have some fun.
"patience, they will come."
he huffed again and plopped down on the stone floor, ignore the fact of the room rumbling a bit from the force.

[Zekafae]

Hearing her he shook his head" Say something like that again, and I'll cuff you upside the head with my bow." Eili chimed in "He would too." Looking at the map finally he studied the area quietly on the map and looked to her." No, I wouldn't trust another drow upon first meeting them, infact I don't think I ever will." His eyes were an odd violet with a silvered hue to them somehow mixing in to give it a little bit different look the look was subtle. He looked at her and poked her right in the temple." You're going to be fine, so enough." Looking to the others he nodded" whenever you're ready inrii." Looking at the lizard then to her." I don't want to touch even think about what you two are going on about.."

[veraka]

Aurora merely smirked, if a wolf could, at Inrii's little show.

Veraka decided to awaken Neriah at that time, seeing Inrii and Zek prepping to leave.
"Hey, you with the tail, wake up," he said to the fey'ri. Neriah stirred as Veraka prodded her gently.

"Hmm, what did I miss? Did you decide to strip me down?" she asked, her face going into a very coy smile.

The aasimar shook his head, "as tempting as THAT offer might have been no, I might have woken you up."

[i:oszvz8a1]With what? You falling on your ass? Cause if that's the case, we shouldn't have come on this little quest at all.[/i:oszvz8a1] Aurora teased.

"Hey; we were sent here by our tribe because they believe this place to be of sacred importance. So we must continue onward."

Neriah's face suddenly grew slightly sad; the aasimar noted this with more than a little intrigue; "Your tribe didn't send you here because of that reason; for that is the reason I gave them [b:oszvz8a1]to[/b:oszvz8a1] send you here, and specifically you."

The silence that ensued from Veraka was beyond deathly. His eyes became unreadable, his muscles couldn't be used to hint at his body language. Aurora even shied away from him as a new persona came over him.
Getting up from his position, he grabbed his gear unceremoniously, slung it over his shoulder, and said in ice-dead tone "Let's go; we're burning daylight."

[Inriiaynrae Jaelre]

(ah! it finally loaded! so a quick post before i head to bed.))

"what, Alya didnt do a good enough of a job?" she joked with her usual sarcasm, "you'll find I'm a bit more formidable than that. besides, i might have a secret weapon."
as he studied the locale, she looked around her surrounding, mostly because she did not want to be caught off guard and secondly, because Alya still held an advantage over her. she glanced over to the ranger, almost studying him as he was memorizing and looking over map. she shook her head slightly when he looked back to her. then she felt his finger on her head.
"hey! i can take you too. this little set back just evens the playing field." she crossed her arms in a fake protest, tho she hid the pain from that action.
rewrapping the food after Zarstra had her bit she tucked it into her pack with the map.
Zarstra started to speak again, but Inrii grabbed her, gently, tho enough to quiet her.
"nows not the time," Inrii said sternly. the lizard took it stoically. Inrii rarely meant it when she scolded her.
over on the other wall, Inrii noticed that Veraka was waking the demoness. she still was not happy about Neriah joining. for she knew the fey'ri would turn on them. and even if she didnt, she still owed her. the change in the warrior's demeanor paused the sorceress a second. she hadnt been paying attention to their conversation, but something happened.
"[color=red:2gr0m0d0][i:2gr0m0d0]showed her true colors and because she has such assets he wont do anything.[/i:2gr0m0d0]" [/color:2gr0m0d0]she said to Zarstra alone.
Inrii maneuvered again to try and get up, every move as painful as another. she breathed out slowly and held her breath in another attempt to move. She grunted thru her teeth as a sharp pain filled her left side. she continued to struggle as the others were obviously waiting on her.

[veraka]

If a hurricane could be found on land, it was in the walking, hulking frame of Veraka, as his emotions ran over, under, and through each other in a huge swirling vortex of mental energy.

They clashed with such fury and strength that if anyone could see what went on inside of him, they'd be astounded at just how he still held himself together without coming to pieces.
Never before had the aasimar felt so betrayed, used, and smashed down, like a patch of grass that's been mercilessly stomped on for its entire life.

Neriah was the woman who'd stirred up some very deep emotions within him to begin with; and now, she was here telling him that it was [b:11k0ozbe]her[/b:11k0ozbe] that had literally sent him to this decrepit place. She was the one whom he had sensed some degree of goodness in, that she wasn't completely evil at heart; and now, she's telling him that she had orchestrated his entire trip out here. Something about that shook him to the core, and very deeply. The young aasimar had never dealt with emotions like love before. Buy he [b:11k0ozbe]had[/b:11k0ozbe] seen and felt betrayal before, and he knew [b:11k0ozbe]exactly[/b:11k0ozbe] how to deal with that. It was his emotions that raged with kindness and compassion for the young fey'ri that slammed into his rage and hardhearted wrath and disdain that now felt for Neriah.

Veraka didn't know the hardships that Zek and Inrii had experienced, being drow as they were; but this was probably the closest he was gonna get for a long time; and at the moment, he didn't know what to do.

On one side, he wanted to forgive her for telling him this knowledge, and for using him up until this point. His celestial bloodline cried out for him to do exactly that: to just forgive her and move on with his life, without her or not.

It was the other side that scared the aasimar, for he wanted nothing more to do with the fey'ri and just launch his wrath at her in full-force. That what frightened the aasimar, for it was the berserker that roared inside of him at that moment, wanting, begging to be let out and unleashed upon Neriah at that instant. So, the aasimar did what he knew he could do; suck up his anger, contempt, and wrath, and use it to fuel his actions forward, even if his rage showed through his emotionless, cold expression.

[Zekafae]

He looked at her and chuckled" You're a drow, of course you would, as I'm sure she's waiting with hers." He patted her shoulder as he stood up and watched her quietly for a moment. Moving an arm around her he'd help her up and out of the cell, he noticed Veraka's temper flaring it was easy to read him at times. Just shaking his head slowly he spoke" lets go, Neriah, you're going in front. You know very well why too." Two reasons, if they were walking into a trap, she'd be hit first, and the other was if things did go sour, he could easily and literally stab her in the back.

[veraka]

The fey'ri heard the ranger and decided not to argue the point; besides one wrong move and she'd be dead either way. Veraka right now was like a walking time bomb.

[i:p509nqvl]How can he take such knowledge so harshly. Does he not like being used?[/i:p509nqvl] she thought to herself.

[i:p509nqvl]No, he doesn't like being left out of the loop like that, especially where, not only his life, but the lives of others are concerned,[/i:p509nqvl] Aurora put in, as she made her way over to Inrii.
[i:p509nqvl]Then he is in for a world of disappointment and hurt,[/i:p509nqvl] Neriah thought back to the wolf.

Aurora narrowed her ice-blue eyes at the fey'ri; [i:p509nqvl]you just gave it to him[/i:p509nqvl] she retorted, her thought one of pure malice. Neriah recoiled slightly at what the wolf had said. She then just turned and started walking onward, keeping ahead of the ranger but behind the aasimar.

[i:p509nqvl]Get on, pyro-nut; we'll move faster with you on my back,[/i:p509nqvl] Aurora said to Inrii, looking the sorceress in the eyes.

[Inriiaynrae Jaelre]

((post sniper))

"i think i would rather actually walk. being strung up like those straw human (scarecrow) things makes one a little kinked up."
Inrii appreciated it. but with Zek helping her, she kinda didnt wanna ride anyway.
walking was easier with help, tho Inrii would never admit it. and had her boots or gloves not been magical, they would have surely rubbed along the raw skin.
they paused to allow Neriah to exit followed by the fuming warrior then the drow. Inrii thought to joke, but let it go.
they climbed, flew or jumped down, Inrii levitating to a soft stop. they were back in the corridors with numerous cell doors. Zarstra atop of Inrii's should shuddered slightly.
"which way did yall enter?" Inrii asked softly.
the main hall led to a large bolted door. behind it was seen the exit to the valley within the camp. some bits of light came under and indicating it was bright outside.
the way they entered was barely visible and only seen if one knew where to look. but that way led back into the maze labyrinth.
"that way," indicating the bolted door, "prolly leads to their base."