Thread: War and Greed (Javorcek x ClearSight)

Myra was a vice-captain, and had previously held the rank of captain, several times in fact, but her mouth often led her to move up the ranks only to be smacked back down. She was charismatic, a capable leader, and a skillful veteran, but she was also a smartass who didn't do well with authority. In the military that made her life difficult. Still, big mouth or not the aristocrat often had an air of dignity and grace, and even when joking came across as charming. However, even since the army departed from the capital she had been nothing of the sort, absolutely forgoing that dignified presence to instead lean over and press her face into her horse, pouting and muttering to herself. The unit under her command couldn't help but laugh, poking fun and getting belligerent grunts in response. None of them knew what happened but they let their leader know just how stupid she looked, Cap, if you're not careful they might just bust you down another rank for being such a sight. The one speaking was a soldier that had been under her command long enough to see her rank go up and down, in fact most of her squad was comprised of veterans, and most of them still referred to her as a captain, refusing to add 'vice' anywhere on the title. In their eyes she was the reason they had made it so far, and they were clearly comfortable poking fun at the powerful alpha. Shut your traps she spoke, shooting a glance at her soldiers and sighing, all of them laughing and enjoying the atmosphere far too much to try and figure out what was behind it. Little did they know it was over their princess. How could anyone guess they had been on such good terms in the past, not only as friends but as temporary, young lovers. They had spent countless nights together, fooling around and learning, and it hadn't been that short a fling. Alas it had ended roughly, and Myra had come out banged up, a little worse for the wear. Heartbreak eventually faded but she hadn't forgotten about Danika... The princess... Her princess. Her feelings weren't as solid as before but the moment she had seen her childhood friend she had been all grins, desire and some lingering affection making her act like a fucking fool. She had been so friendly, acted like she had been on good terms with the woman, and then boom, shut down. Danika hadn't been happy at all, only cold and professional, as if they barely knew one another. Not only had she lost some face with the surrounding officers, but the wolf had quickly turned in to a pouting mess, which would have been adorable if it hadn't continued almost the entire way to the elven forest, only then did she pop up and act something like an officer, eyes to the trees and ready to fight if they were welcomed as trespassers instead of guests. She knew elves, she knew how they could be. Luckily nothing of the sort had happened and they had come to a village without incident, but that didn't mean her guard went down. --- So many humans had arrived that the elves of the Dark Forest couldn't help but be astounded, irritated even. To them humans, and their pathetically rushed lives, were nuisances to their race. Of course some watched with interest as the human race attempted to make something out of less than a century, but most would rather stay out of it and forget they existed. At least some humans weren't so bad, and among the humans elves could relate to the most... That happened to be mages and werewolves. Sure certain other races and subsets would naturally have overlap, but werewolves and mages had a deep connection with nature, wolves living longer than average lives with unique vitality and a primal connection with nature, very similar to their own druids, and mages tapped in to mana, the divine source of power within the earth. Not everyone shared this sentiment but most did, tolerating those groups more so than others. Still, the arrival of such a large group did make them uncomfortable, not because of fear but general tendencies to be reclusive and not receive guests. Among these was Sora, though as with most elves this was but a common name, her true name held too much power to be given out. Upon acquiring a true name anyone could hold power over even the most skilled elf. It was guarded more closely than life and given to spouses upon the day they were wed. Sora despised having people enter the village, and while it seemed the wolves had arrived on business it didn't comfort the young elf. She was still in her second century of life but she already held a vast enmity for humans, and mainly for mages. The youth had the usual elven features, femininity and beauty that was breath-taking, subtle curves, and a grace that came naturally to the ancient race. Sora was one of the clans elites in terms of status, a border captain with unrivaled archery skills and the innate magical talent of her kind, a formidable and agile combatant usually so deadly anyone attempting to cross in to their land didn't know they had died until they had passed over. So when wolves came to request aid in forging weapons and counteracting the magic of the humans she was one of the few suggested, and while she had a right to decline she did not. As much as wolves annoyed her she hated human mages much more, their abuse and disregard for nature and mana sickened her. Of course even with her agreeing it wasn't set in stone, the wolves had to offer appropriate compensation, and the elves were often shrewd and unyielding in regards to military aid, knowing a few of theirs were worth tens of any normal soldier. After all they had soldiers who perfected their abilities over hundreds of years and powerful magic. Their gift with mana wasn't like a humans, they didn't have to rely on luck and talent nearly as much, it was innate, a gift they were often born with, and thus the availability of skilled users was vastly superior to any other race. --- Sora hadn't waited for a deal to be struck to wander over to the wolves camp. She had a feeling they would pay whatever price to acquire some magically capable soldiers. Not that she heard the details. Really she didn't care, her entire body was covered in a cloak and a mask covered her face, she didn't have any plans to stand out or talk with anyone, instead looking around and trying to get a feel for the army. As far as she was concerned they were mere brutes, most of them looking like nothing more than piles of muscle, but upon watching some spar she found herself surprised at the agility wolves possessed, not having any interest in humans but some in the primal gift werewolves had been bestowed. It made them stronger, faster, and gave them reflexes and instinct that could cause even the most sheltered lamb among them to put up a fierce fight. Still, when faced with magic instinct didn't mean as much as experience, and she had a feeling most of them hadn't seen real magic.