[Killing Spree]

(ooc: Kaz, try clam chowder. Or if that's even too chewy try mashed potatoes. Maybe popsicles? Tomato soup? Just trying to help! I regret to inform you all that Midget will be unable to play this weekend. Therefore, I will start the sub-plot as Maverick, and Midget can come in at his leisure. Watch out, this is gonna be a LONG post... Green is Chani, silver is Maverick.)

~Twas dark in the damp caverns the feet of Chani Ravenwood traced. Distraught was the face of the odd-blooded woman. The lines along her shadowed cheek contorted to a look of agony, her jaw clenched tightly concentrating. One foot. Then the other. One foot. Then the other. Unnaturally long fingertips sat at her side, nervously fidgeting with girdle and scabbard alike. Her steel-set eyes looked warily about as the limbs encased in leather boots refused to carry her further. A flickering torch hung on the wall of the cave, ironically far from the civilization which she had come. Sitting along-side a stagnate pond she peers at her tear-stained reflection. Hands fold in prayer to distract herself from previous heart-ache.~ "Mielikki, forgive my ignorance." ~Words are mouthed silently, being more than routine this night. An aching spine leans against the stone wall, whispering to herself, trying to straighten things out. A hand reaches to piece a loose strand of hair behind her tapered ears.~ "I should not have run from Larry and Mistral without exclamation. They flaunt their happiness rightly. 'Tis my own selfishness and ignorance." ~Her fore-head meets her knees, drawn to her chest.~ "Why was I a fool again? Can my incompetent soul not learn from its past mistakes?" ~Her words flowed like a jovial bard-song, though the words were cryptic and stung the suddenly taciturn air. She crawls a few hobbling steps, to the pond, trying to splash her face to somewhat presentable. Her nose wrinkles, wiping her face with a silken ebony tunic.~

~A silent stalker hounds the darkness, looking at the back of an intrusion upon his camp.~ "Must be a drow... Who else would wander this hellish plane." ~The man was pure wood-elven, standing at the crossroads of the dark. His skin was a deep bark-like brown, with hair to match a healthy dogwood. His eyes were a unique black, midnight without a star to hold a candle. These same midnight eyes gracing the pointed ears only helped confirm his false suspision. Across his entire face was a thin green line, like that of a tree which had been cut open. T'would be a scar, though ignorance would contribute any view-point it wished. A well-made dagger was pulled from a loose-hanging vest adorning his torso, as well as a meer drop of fatal poison. Bare steel slid between his teeth, a sea-elven arrow was shot at the flickering torch upon the northern wall. Darkness consumed the area.~

~The impending shadow would not have scared the girl had it not been so abrupt. The stalker strains her eyes for infravision, a faint crimson stain in her vision where the torch had once been. The frigid cavern gave off no other sign of heat. At least it didn't, until the dagger was held to her throat.~

~A satisfied grimace crossed the face of the assassin, holding the blade to the neck of the intrusion. An inquisitave, yet near inaudible voice found her ear.~ "My... What have I stumbled upon pray tell?" ~The flat of the blade poises a threat closer to flesh.~

~She inhales sharply, her eyes trying to look back at her shadowed captor. A shaky version of her normally confident voice escapes.~ "R... R... Ravenwood..."

~A dis-believing look crosses his invisable face as he pulls the dagger back, and with a swift motion re-lights the torch. He stands tall in the now bright light, pointing a gauntlet to the woman.~ "Face me Ravenwood."

~Fear had taken her tear-stained skin to a surprised pale. She gets to her feet, holding her hands in the air, her sleeve rolling down to reveal the red scythe on her wrist. This dissapears from its momentary veiw as she turns around to face the wood-elf. Her lower lip quivers involuntarily and she bites it to cease. Her eyes look in a terrified manner at the theif, lowering her hands and creasing her brow. Her lips move as if to speak, but no sound escapes.~

~The elf strides forward, forcefully taking her left wrist in his hand, he pulls back her sleeve, looking at the red scythe in dis-belief. His body shakes in-voluntarily in a comforting medolic laughter. His lowers his lips to kiss the scythe, then raises his head to eye level with her, a wry look on his face.~ "Might I ask what you are doing here dear one?" ~He laughs at her confused eye.~ "Don't you remember me Chani?"

~Her eyes widen as his ebony ones had.~ "M... Maverick?!" ~She throws her arms around his neck, a broad smile crossing her coloring face. She takes a step back, her eyes dancing, not knowing what to ask first.~ "I haven't seen you since you were bow high!" ~An inexplicable look crosses her face, one of dis-belief and joy.~

~A rare grin grows along his face. He puts his hand on her battered shoulder, a look of genuine loving concern in his eyes.~ "In time dear one. In time." ~He eyes the fresh and open wounds across her face and neck. And with grim determination continues, pointing to a well-concealed camp in a high outcrop behind her.~ "You rest. We can talk later."

~A defiant look enters her eye.~ "I'm a big girl now Maverick..." ~She pauses and gives him a smile.~ "Besides, these are mere scratches. I will be all right. I should really find my comrades."

~He gives her a well-natured glare, and hoists her over his shoulder with developed muscles. He grins as she shrieks in protest and he tosses her into the alcove. He gives her a stern glare.~ "Tommorow." ~He nods his head in approval as she consents, curling up beneath the blue blanket.~ "Atta gal." ~He nods his head to her a last time before walking back along the cavern he came, likely scouting for ways out.~