Thread: The Travelers Gate {Kay & Chaos}

The night was like that of any other, the sky was clear and glittering with the constellations that were named after the stories of the people that lived peacefully with their lands. Eastern winds wistled softly through the gorge, singing a song, and small shafts of smoke came from the chimneys as they warded off the cold from inside the various humble homes. Nestled between the mountains laid a village, native to the lands, scattered, sometimes miles between homes and crops, but they stayed connected through signals and knew the land by where their bare feet touched and when they got old enough even through the soles of their shoes. But... tonight was different... An ice blonde haired girl sat upon a woven rug, her features soft, the roundness in her cheeks still indicating of her youth. The pebbles that she had been collecting all day laid out before her as she arranged them into pictures and hummed a song to herself. Dark blue eyes focused intently. The heavy wooden door opened and she hopped up, but an older girl, almost the exact same completion as the smaller, getting to the door first to greet their father. His heavy boots littered with fresh snow and over his shoulder, dangling from rope, were rabbits that she and her sisters were to skin tonight before they were to go to bed. Papa! Yelled out Olesya, as she ran and jumped into her fathers arms, Did they find her? She as asking about the girl that was lost, she left her home before sunset to fetch water from the river and never returned home, her father had offered to help search while he hunted. No, my star, no one has. His usually happy features were weathered and tired, he was only thinking about how that little girl was the same age as the one in his very arms, he gave Olesya a strong squeeze and let her go, giving his eldest daughter Storna, a loving squeeze of her hand before handing her the rope from over his shoulder, Will you begin on these, daughter? It wasnt really a question, the teenager gave a sigh and went off to do as she was told, still unhappy that she hadnt gotten to do what she had wanted to because of the disappearance. But! But! Papa, where is she? Olesya asked with wide worried eyes, she knew the girl, she was a friend even, they picked peaches together for their chores often. They played in the gorge together, hopping on and climbing boulders. They had shared so many secrets together. We will find her little one, was all he could manage to say, Now, go, help your sister clean the rabbits before you go to bed. Hours passed and sleep came unwillingly to the whole village. Olesya tossed and turned all through the night. Her teeth clenching and unclenching, forehead beginning to sweat as images began flashing in her mind, that of death and horrid smells, that in which she had never seen, skin stretched over bones, and teeth biting into flesh. Over and over and over and over and- No! Yelled Olesya Westbourne, sitting straight up in her goose feathered bed, throwing off the covers and running outside, bare feet hitting the ice covered ground. She heard her fathers familiar yells as he called to her but they seemed so far behind her, she had to keep running, had to find... No matter how many times she slipped and fell, how red and cold her cheeks got she didnt stop. It was like the girl was being compelled to run and find what needed to be found. And she did... she found her. Olesya fell face first into plush fresh snow. She began to sit up only to look up and see the same little girl that everyone had been looking for, her cheeks pale and there was a dark liquid coating her neck and soaked into her light green shirt. And she was crying, hysterically crying, calling out for her mother, hands rubbing over and over again against her eyes. Rosi? Olesyas voice was gentle, Everyones looking for you. She scrambled up from the snow and crawled closer to the crying girl, What happened? Please dont cry, everything will be alright, no ones mad at you. Its ok. She tried to reassure her, to make the girl stop crying. Finally, to her releaf, Rosi, hiccuped and began to slow her crying. No ones mad? She asked softly as her eyes finally rising to look at her. No silly. She gave a small smile. Olesya!!! Yelled a familiar voice, the faint glow of torches now coming through the thick trees. Olesya! Please! Papa! Over here!! I found Rosi! I found her! She was smiling now, as she stood and motioned the girl to do the same, Its ok Rosi, lets go home. Heavy foot falls came up behind her and she heard her father begin to ask a question but it was quickly cut off as he ran past Olesya and Rosi do a dark patch just a few feet from where she had found Rosi crying. No... no no no... was all her father could muster. What Olesya saw that day was not something she would ever forget. What are you doing papa? Shes right here. She motioned to her side, were Rosi was still walking with her over to her fathers side. Before them was a small body, torso ripped open, jugular ripped open and neck snapped with pale brown hair sewn across the scarlet red snow... Olesya... was confused. Rosi was right beside her. That... that couldnt be her... Im so sorry, my little star. Her fathers voice shook as he spoke, he was saddened not only by the death of the little girl before him, but by the fact that his daughter had inherited the sight, just like his mother, and her mother before and so on. He had just hoped that since it hadnt gone to Storna... Her life was to change forever. The horses hooves trotted pleasantly across the wooden bridge, her cream colored coat freshly brushed and mane braided in thoughtful swirls as the sound of glass bottles clanged together in her satchels, the only sound that could be heard for miles. Her breath tickled her cheeks, even though the sun was shining through the leafless trees. Olesya was heading to town to trade with the local general store owner. She was usually the only one in her town that was able to do it seeing as they respected her enough not to cause any trouble. But her people could survive without the new comers to their lands. One day they simply just showed up, and started building structures, destroying the land, and disrupting the way of the land. The way Olesya saw it was, there was no claim on the land so why should they care? It wasnt their land either way, but not all felt as she did. It came into view, a small town, unlike her own spread out one. This was straight, packed close together, two story buildings with signs hanging and painted across the front. Even in the early morning everyone was already busy, students were doing their chores, waving to her every once and a while as she passed by small homesteads on her way in, the church doors were opening to reveal the pews, men were heading off to their ships to fish and work the land, women in large skirts were chatting with one another, all looking up as her horse trotted past. While the women of their society wore skirts, billowing and flowing, her people wore pants, no matter the sex, unless for ritualistic purposes. They wore pale pastel colors, they wore pelts, carefully crafted to keep one warm in the winter. Her hair went down to her waist, many small braids decorating the pale white tresses, even a few feathers from a night when she allowed the girls to do it while she meditated. Even their complections were different, while the new comers were olive toned and dark haired, her people were fair skinned and light colored hair. They were so different and yet the same. She gracefully got off of Holla, her wild horse, one that she had tamed herself, and tied her, getting the bag from her back and heading in, ignoring the various stairs she got even now knowing that they have all seen her before. The bell chimed, Good day, Joc, she had picked up their language quickly. The weathered man was tall and lanky, glasses slipping off of his nose as he looked up from his books and smiled up at her, Always prompt as usual, Olesya. He gave a small laugh and he rounded the corner and watched as she set her heavy load onto the counter. What do you have for me this time, dear? He asked as she started to hand him bottle after bottle of peach brandy, as well as herbs and medicines that she knew they used. Just what you asked for, she was resectful to him, and his actions were always the same, he was also her elder so she treated him even more so, And a little something for you. She gave him a soft smile, her pale lips revealing straight teeth as she pulled out a store sign, carved from wood, OPEN written in graceful scrolling letters. Joc had also been teaching her how to write their language and it was simply something to thank him with. Setting down the bottle, Oh! His long fingers took the sign, a broad smile on his face now,This is beautiful Olesya! Very nicely done! He gave her hand a tight squeeze and imidetaly set it in the window, There I think, thatll do nicely. Dont you think dear? He was a happy old bat. Yes, I think so. The door chimed again as Joc rounded the corner and came back to their transaction. Several footsteps going about the store behind her now. Well, just like we agreed, his eyes peered through his glasses up at the people that were in the store now, he seemed unsettled all of a sudden. Olesyas brows came together and she looked up at him inquisitively but all he did was begin to grab her things, bullets, cheese, fabrics, spices... Oy! Sounded a male voice behind her, she knew who it was, the voice distinguished, it was Clide, the owner of the brothel just across the road, she and him did not see eye to eye, Hav you and your white faced people been good lately? Her hand balled upon the counter, he was simply trying to get a rise out of her, One of our towns girls has gone missin and I think it was you and your people, stealin our girls. Olesya... warned Joc as her hand twitched. She knew what he was talking about one of their girls had gone missing and neither her people nor theirs could find her, little did they know was that she was standing right outside in the middle of the mud street... He walked closer to her Bet you people cant find her because you snows cant even find your own. She swirled on him, in one swift motion, feet barely moving, hand reaching down and pulling the loaded revolver at her hip, and cocking it as she raised it into his face. Shut your animal mouth. She stated slowly and clear, wanting to wipe that cocky smirk off of his black bearded face. Dont need to get so savage on me, snow. Snow was supposed to be a derogatory insult but she didnt see it as one. His hands up, and her finger still on the trigger, she heard the bell ring. Spurs clicked against the hardwood floors. Sheriff, how damn convenient of you to show your face. Said Clide, his men laughing behind him now that they knew there was nothing she could really do. They were still afraid of her at least. Olesya, I suggest your finish up your business and I pretend I never saw this. Stated the gruff, mustached man. She gave a nod and put away her gun, grabbing her bag of goods and headed out the door past all of the damned men in her way. Olesya, Sheriff Olson followed her out, I need your help. She already knew what he was going to ask, Shes dead Sheriff. Her eyes glanced over his shoulder at the little girl walking down the street, her night gown muddy and a black stain covering her abdomen, I would say some sort of animal attack, wolf? The sheriff knew about her gift but chose not to share it with the whole town knowing that they would be too frightened of her and her people to live in th somewhat peace that they were maintaining at the moment. No, Olesya, we already know about the first one, we- Her dark blue eyes snapped up to him, Theres more? Yes, theres been three.