Peacefulness in Darkness

[clouds just clouds]

Crystals lined the path that often wasn't taken by others, along with many other paths that marked the underground area. A small stream had plenty of small rocks which soaked in the glow from the crystals. Humming lightly, Imani followed the stream. Reaching down, her pale, thin fingers wrapped around a perfect, round stone. Only bits of sparkles reflected the stone, making a smile widen gracefully on her lips. It was beautiful. Something darted in the water, reflecting the light like a stone. A fish.

Immediately, Imani darted along with it, following it up the stream. A smell of blood twinged her nose, but she quickly brushed it off. If she didn't, she would find herself questioning her sanity. Yet again. A small smile continue to grace her lips till she reached a round room with a small waterfall within it. The fish darted around a small pool, along with five or so other small fish. Crouching down by the small pool, she took small pieces of dried herbs and threw them in the water. At first, the fish darted away from the weird herbs, and then eventually came back.

They ate all them up, resolving in a small laugh from Imani. Slowly standing, Imani walked over to the small waterfall and held her hand underneath it. The cold water cooled her hand, and with a bright smile, Imani pulled off her mask and took a few drinks from the water.

Despite her sister's wishes, Imani continued to go out on her own. It was places like these that she loved to discover, with blue crystals lighting up the small room. The stone looked black, which could create good hiding place. Even with the darkness, Imani felt at peace.

Slowly, she sat down by the pool and slipped off her shoes. After her small feet were exposed, she dipped them in the icy cool water and laughed lightly as the fishes darted away from her feet, then slowly came back to nibble at her skin.

[Dina Doo]

Perhaps a day or so had passed since he had found this hiding spot of his; he didn't know for sure, there was no way to see the sky or the sun in such a dark place. Compared to the plains and vast sky he had lived and trained under for years, this place dark, cramped, and alien. Tired and wounded, the lost warrior finally found refuge in a small circular shaped area with a waterfall and stream. There, he hoped to remain hidden, having already noticed -and just barely slipped by- a few patrols.

But he couldn't remain hidden there forever. That became apparent when hunger started to gnaw at him. Before he could worry about the apparent lack of game, he remembered seeing fish in the stream. They would have to do. Grabbing his broken spear, the warrior started towards the stream, only to hurry away when he heard someone approaching. What kind of warrior was he? Hiding? But there was no need to attack mercilessly like the generals always taught. No. Appearing in the room, Areus saw a young woman. He observed her for several silent moments and decided she posed no threat. Her laughter made him lower his spear. No, there was no need to attack. She hadn't done anything to provoke him. This was the same warrior that had been chastised for associating with the slaves of his home and the same warrior that had been usurped because he appeared 'too soft.'

Hunger began to gnaw at him once again, clawing at his insides. He needed food, now. Stepping silently out from behind his hiding place, Areus raised his spear again and aimed. No, it wasn't a good idea. Someone was there and he could hurt her if his aim was off. But he was a man and there was no stopping him as he sent the spear torpedoing towards the stream. The broken weapon zipped into the water, creating a splash as it plunged into the water. Maybe, just maybe he caught a fish. Genius.

[clouds just clouds]

Things suddenly flying into her vision, so when the spear hit the water and made it splash up onto her face, she didn't scream, only gasped. With warrior's reflex, she leaped out of the water and crouched, pulling out her knife--but then she saw a fish pinned under a spear.

A broken spear.

That looked nothing like the spears they had. Her eyes narrowed and flickered up, only to have raw fear fill her face. A man. A whimper fell from Imani's lips and she scrambled away until her back slammed into other side of the room, her eyes wide as she watched him.

Her breath hitched and her vision blurred as panic settled in--and then it slowly set in. He wasn't... he looked different. First of all, his skin wasn't pale. In fact, it was... tan. Her brow crumpled as she stared at him, and then she slumped, with a long sigh.

"Cadoc hates me..." She pulled her legs to her chest and she watched him with cautious eyes. "Why did you spear a fish at my feet. You're more insane than I am!" Her voice was thick with frustration, because of course she was having another hallucination. "Can't you guys just leave me alone?"

[Dina Doo]

Eager to claim his dinner, the warrior made his way over to the stream and hoisted his spear from the water. Then he decided to address Imani, now that he had his prize. "Not my fault all the fish were near you, alright?" He growled lightly. "I just want food. It's been kinda hard to come by in... where ever you call this place." Areus sat himself down by the bank of the stream, examining the fish at the end of his spear with a smugness that was hidden behind his mask. "You want to be left alone? Fine. But if I do, you have to promise not to turn me in. I don't really need to have other tribes after me." With a scowl, he muttered, "Those coyotes are already enough." His eyes darted back up to Imani. "And tell me where else I can get more than just fish around here." Setting the fish down in front of him, the hungry young man proceeded to skin the fish.

[clouds just clouds]

"Oh," Imani said slowly, as if she were talking to an Elliot, "I see. You're hungry. Of course, the coyotes. Of course." Rolling her eyes, she ran her fingers through her hair. "Yeah, no. You don't have to worry about me telling anyone. They think I'm crazy enough..." With a long sigh, Imani shakily stood and looked away, letting out a shaky breath. A man now. She was hallucinating another man.

Reaching up, she rubbed her eyes and realized that she had her mask off. "If you don't want to have guards after you, wait to light a fire for your-" Cutting herself off, Imani pressed her lips together and stared down at her feet, unable to look directly at the man anymore. "Why am I helping..." She murmured and then walked over to a more comfortable place to curl up.

She put her head on her knees and glanced up the man, but only for a moment before dropping her eyes. "So, what do you call yourself? And what's with the whole beaten-up look?"

Might as well learn what crazy story her brain has made up, right?

[Dina Doo]

Areus ignored her earlier comments, instead rolling his eyes. But as she moved around, he too noticed that her mask was off. In all honesty, she was adorable. But that's as far as his thoughts went, only because he had been stopped by her later words. "I'm Areus. And I look like this because I was beaten up." He wasn't sure how much detail he wanted to give this stranger. "Yup. A group of warriors beat me up, dropped me off in the middle of nowhere. And here I am," Areus finished, shrugging. He stood for a moment, stretching his sore arms. What he wouldn't give to have a soft bed to sleep in. Not rocks.

He stepped over to the wall opposite of the one Imani was add, curiosity consuming him for a moment. Despite the alien darkness he found himself in, the glowing crystals drew him closer. Areus reached a cautious hand out, his fingers lightly brushing up against the oddly smooth texture of the glowing rock, as if it was something he wasn't supposed to. Suddenly he wished he could bring a few of these back to his sister. She'd no doubt love them as much as he did.

"So, your turn. Who are you? And what is this place?"

[clouds just clouds]

His words caused her eyes to flicker up to him again. Every time he moved, her entire body was hyper aware of what she was doing, and where he was. Again, she had to keep repeating in her head, He's not real. He's not real. He's not real... And still, stubbornly, her heart stuttered in her chest in fear. Pressing her lips tightly together, she stared down at the ground. Well, at least his story was better than the other more extreme stories her mind made up.

Imani lifted her eyes and watched as he examined the crystal. A small smile lifted her lips, "They're beautiful, aren't they?" She glanced up and crystal near to her. "As you can tell, we're underground. The Almasi tribe take residence here. It's dark, and there's no sun... but it's beautiful." She stood, taking out her knife, stepping over towards a small crystal in the wall.

Taking out her knife, she dug around it for a while before dislodging it. "I'm Imani," she looked sad to say her name. "I'm..." Her happiness began to fade and she deflated a bit. "Used, unneeded, and crazy." Turning to Areus, she tossed him the small crystal. "You're proof of that. The craziness, that is." A small smile lifted her lips, but she still avoided his eyes. "If you think that's pretty, look at this..." She fished the rock out from before that looked like the fish, the one where only speckles of the rock illuminated. "Here..." She tossed that to him too and walked over to her corner again, sitting down.

Wringing her fingers, she said softly, "Why... why did they beat you up?"

[Dina Doo]

"How am I proof of your craziness?" Areus wondered, a brow lifting. After clumsily catching the crystal and the stone, the warrior returned to where he had left his fish and set them down beside his spear. Finally, he sat himself down and continued to watch her from afar. He wouldn't ask, but he really did wonder how she was crazy. However, when Imani pressed further into his own past, all previous thoughts were forgotten as he turned away. "Because I was a higher rank than they were and they were jealous that. Simple as that." He didn't want to talk about the full story. Not after it just happened.

He fell silent for a moment, trying to imagine how a tribe could live in a place with no sun. How could anyone manage that?

But as his thoughts trudged on, something else caught his attention. Once again, he lifted his gaze to Imani, dropping his hands in his lap like a curious child eager to learn more. "Why do you say that, huh? Why do you say you're unneeded? And crazy?"

[clouds just clouds]

Imani flickered her gaze up to his face, searching it as he spoke. "I can... make a beaded bracelet for you, with those, if you like them." Maybe she was avoiding answering. No, she definitely was avoiding it. Her mind could have been offering her someone to talk to, to get over... Letting out a shaky breath, she rested her head in her arms for a few moments before glancing up curiously at Areus again. "Areus..." She tested his name, smiling lightly because of it. "I... I was..." A sigh left her and she slowly scooted back over to the small pool and dipped her feet into it again, examining the water. "I was going to be chief. It was my right as first born. But... s-something h-happened... I-I..." Tears filled her eyes. Swallowing thickly, Imani continued. "When I was sixteen, I started seeing things... and... hearing things that... weren't really there. And anyways, I got it handled. But. Th-the... something happened, a-and I... I am unfit to be chief anymore..."

Imani looked down at the pool. "You're proof of it, because you're not real. Which is why I can stand being with you." Reaching down, she dipped her fingers onto the water and let out a long breath. "I don't want to talk about it," she murmured. "Tell me more about you. Where did you come from?"

[Dina Doo]

He wasn't real? He wasn't real? Why did that rub him the wrong way? Areus wanted to tell her he was real but listening to how broken she sounded, he held off. Areus took in a silent breath before trudging on. "I came from the ílios tribe, we live out...." He paused, then motioned around him. "Where ever... Anyway, we're very much so a warrior tribe. Training's pretty intense, especially since they start you out non-stop when we turn seven. I'm not sure how your tribe works, but ours turns both males and females into literal war machines. Even when you're considered an older member, you still have to train every day." It was hidden under his mask, but it was no doubt easy to hear his soft smile. If it meant stopping her from thinking about unwanted memories, Areus went on. "I'm the oldest of (three/four) siblings. Any questions so far?"