Thread: Souls Bound in the Sand (Closed to Armphid/Misanthropiclove)

Taredo eyed the man bowing before him and said nothing. The form he used walked around the man, taking in his form as he judged him in his mind. His memory was rushing through the thoughts he had had before, the fragmented memories that made no sense. The ones that stated he should love this man. His upbringing won over against the centuries old fragmented memories. You are a child of the Nightmare Lord. The four-armed sun champion who scorched my people into obeisance in the old days back when we were cruelly lorded over by the Great Liar. The careless father who abandoned us to the care of the Sweet Moon Caretaker who sent us both mother and father from her merciful womb. Perhaps you seek penitence from your lord's uncaring attitude? Perhaps you are a test for me to kill. Perhaps I am completely wrong. The circling ended and Taredo looked deep into the eyes of this Northern man. My sobriquet is Sunscorner. Taredo waited for a flinch, perhaps some sense of weakness where he would end this trivial name game and lunge for this person's throat and take his flesh for himself. There was none. Good. My tribesmen will be at this very spot in three days time. If you can wait right here and survive the harsh days and cold nights, I will introduce you to them in a way they won't immediately try and destroy you. If her prophecy was correct, you are here to help me, Sun Child. I will accept it as I have no one else to give me any. Make no mistake I would never work with you otherwise and as soon as our business is concluded, I shall be through with you. The final words were just slightly off from the woman's clipped, angry tone. As if she didn't quite believe it herself. Taredo started shifting once more, taking on the appearance of the steel shadow once more, the stolen woman's voice levying his last words, Stay and prove yourself worthy or run and prove yourself prey. I am satisfied either way. The last bit was choked off as the vocal chords rearranged themselves. With a buffet of the powerful wings Taredo launched himself up at the light of his moon maiden, his sapphire eyes aimed down at this strange man. This strange man who conflicted him in so many ways. As much as he wished, he couldn't stay away. He returned later that night when he was certain the Exalt was asleep and laid a dead desert hare near the blanket before slipping back into the sky. As much as he wished, Taredo couldn't watch this man starve to death. Besides, how was he to find his own food if he stayed in one spot? As the Unconquered Sun arose, Taredo took the form of a sandswimmer and dove under the protective grit of his homeland, his body listening for tremors as he dreamt. He saw a woman out by a lake, the fear of the world around her. The lady was collecting fruit and a monkey came and grabbed the basket. The lady did nothing but reach into the lake and produce a shiny stone and grabbed the monkey's attention. With a quick toss the lady launch the stone into the air, the monkey leaping after it and dropping the fruit. The monkey landed in the water and the woman caught the fruit. It was some time later, as the lady had been aged by years. She was selling produce and every time she would sell some to a person dressed in extravagance, she would place a shimmering pebble into the bag. The same monkey from before ran after the stone, coming back with it and the fruit. The lady seemed pleased and fed it. People with weapons. They had discovered the game and killed her pet. She stood, looking scared and wept. They ran for her, intent of retribution on their mind as the land under them gave way. The woman looked down from the pit with a contemptuous sneer on her face. Then came the rains. A laughing maiden, waking her up. The lady looked shocked as the woman takes the form of a monkey and hands her a piece of fruit. The lady bites down and the moon shines on her. She is now in the trees, both ape and woman, both trickster and warrior. The world needs freed. Taredo awoke, the cooling sands telling him it was safe to leave the cover. He grumbled to himself, coming out as odd lizard clickings. More bizarre dreams. More ones from times he didn't remember. He was getting irked. Time to go check on the Sun Child.