Tempest Rages:First Sightings:Part I - Keraida "They sicken of the calm, who knew the storm." - Dorothy Parker ========================================================== Across the plains came a storm born of heavenly strife. The clouds roiled darkly forward, as the skies trembled in fear. The plains had never been welcoming, but now they stood like dark warnings to all mortals who would seek to cross them. Some sunlight fought through the tumbled pitch, only to be turned a sickly crimson color by the advancing unnatural storm. It crawled like disease through the sky. Somewhere, We turned to face that unvoiced cry that tore at our souls, even if We could not see it. I could. I had been left behind for this purpose, so long ago. I stood atop the tower and felt the fear claw at my heart, attempt, in vain, to claim me. The guard bolted down the stairs, nearly pissing himself, screaming a warning no one else would at first believe. I didn't blame him; he simply couldn't take it. It wasn't his fault. They would call him mad until they saw it as well; understanding always came too late. I saw, and I understood. I was neither fear-stricken nor storm-claimed. If anything, I was glad. I walked calmly downstairs, and to each face that questioned me in sconce-flame as to the guard's behavior, I merely replied, "Do not go up there; do not look out across the plains. You will end up like him...or worse." They nodded, some bowed, but they all stayed put, casting only a morbidly curious look up the stairs I was descending, as if certain doom followed me. In a way, it always had. They had mocked me for years, and I had turned as much of a deaf ear and blind eye as my constantly wounded pride would allow. Now they would also understand, and now they would respect. Now is the time for a vengeance I will be too busy to savor. Now is the time for action. I will protect the town before I leave it, and I will find the rest of Us. We will save your cringing lives and disperse the coming darkness before it is strong enough to destroy the souls of your children. You will worship Us as saviors, and then even your grandchildren will forget Us. Your great-grandchildren will torment Our great-grandchildren until the next storm comes, until once more you turn into rabbits, hiding from the ravenous wolves of the skies. "What are you going to do?" It was the captain of the guard. Behind him, two pompous lieutenants attempted to calm the fear-stricken guard. They did not seem well-suited to comforting anyone, let alone their terrified comrade. He was rocking and muttering, arms wrapped around himself, gaze a thousand leagues into eternity. I addressed the captain but never let my eyes leave the huddled human on the floor. "What We must. For now, I was going to pack and get something to eat." The fear-stricken's muttering began to differ in pitch, in tone, in words. Words that made no sense to mortal ears, that had the baffled lieutenants questioning each other's sanity. My eyes narrowed. The captain apparently didn't like my answer. I wasn't terribly surprised, given our somewhat sour relations. He was a man of action, dashing, heroic, responsible; I was merely "That Odd Woman" who read a lot, talked to no one, walked about in starlight and asked questions of the moon. "THAT'S IT?! What about...?" Before the "dashing man of action" could get any further along his tirade, I slid my small crossbow out. In one quick motion, the sidearms sprang open, loosing the arrow into the muttering guard's skull, just as his eyes flashed a murderous red. The lieutenants gasped and stepped away. The captain jumped a little with shock, eyes wide. The corpse laid there silently and bled. "I'll do my job, Captain. You do yours. Keep your men off the towers and highwalks. Anyone goes up there, you may as well kill them. The storm is starving; it will not be choosy about its meals for now." And then I walked on past. I caught the captain's dazed nod out of the side of my eye, but I merely closed up the crossbow and returned it to its sheath at my hip as I strode off. Some food, pack up, and try to keep my heart down. I'd see him soon. I had no idea what he'd be like now. I entered the inn where I lived with little fanfare and headed upstairs, still lost in my thoughts. No matter how many years it had been, I could still picture him perfectly. Once as I'd first seen him, and then again as I'd last seen him. It made my blood surge to recall. I closed the door behind me, pulled out my bag and began to pack away my few worldly belongings. After this, maybe things would be different. Or We'd be dead. Or We would fail and all of humanity would suffer slowly, rot from within and die. The "or's" ate at my dreams of him, of the future, of being lauded instead of avoided. They were my own internal storm, clouds of uncertainty and ever-hungering doubt. My self-appointed apprentice hardly knocked at all before he came crashing into my room. I didn't even turn around. "Your manners need some tending, Jonas." "But...it's out there, right? They say it is! We can't see it, but..." "No, and you won't see it at all if I have any say in the manner." "I can help you, Keraida! It's just a storm! I can take it!" "Just a storm. Yes, that's all it is. Just a soul-eating storm born of the wrath of vengeful gods. You'll be fine." I noted my sarcasm was not lost on him. He might be young, naive, and inexperienced; however, he was neither stupid nor deaf. "Keraaiiiidaa...." "How many times must I tell you I cannot train you to withstand the storm's evil? It is not something one learns, it is what one is born to." He fell onto my bed, soaking in disappointed knowledge. I kept packing; I didn't have much, but there were somethings that needed careful attention. "I know, but..." "Your little crush on me is flattering but futile, and I cannot take you with me." I knew he was blushing; I could feel the heat from his face on my back. "You know this. You have always known this." In a softer tone, I admitted, to ease his sting, "You have been a help to me, Jonas, truly. Stay here and protect these people for me." "You're just saying that so I'll shut up and go away," he replied dejectedly. He wasn't entirely wrong; he had a nose for truth, in his own uncanny way. There were humans with powers, true enough. They were rare, but they existed. But in the face of the storm, they were still human, still vulnerable. There was no protection for their souls, for their children, for any of them. "Yes." Even if I could lie to him, I wouldn't. I tried to be as truthful as I could be; it made the times when I lied that much more effective. "But I also mean it. The town guard can protect the citizenry from physical threats, but they are worse than useless against the metaphysical. You know what lies beyond the gates; you alone are the most help this town will have, aside from the wards I'll place around the walls before I leave. You can help calm people, help organize them, keep them in line and keep them informed. You will save lives in this place, Jonas. I'll see to it that the captain of the guard will come to you for aid in this crisis. This is your home, Jonas; it's up to you." "Isn't it your home too, Keraida?" "No. It is just a place I've stayed for the last few years, Jonas." He exhaled and I turned around. "So, I'll need to eat before I leave. Care to join me so we can work out our battle plan?" I smiled as best I could at him. He'd always liked the few smiles I'd given him over the years. "As if I could ever say no to you." The perpetually tousled blonde head lifted, doe-brown eyes rose to mine. He had never been good at hiding his own emotions, but I'd never seen him like this. His sadness and longing were as clear as rice wine. "Congratulations. You've finally started growing up. C'mon then." I grabbed my bag and headed out the door. After a moment, he joined me in the hallway. "Gods' speed to you, Keraida. Our hopes go with you." He locked the door with my key. Whether he'd return it to his father the innkeeper I knew not, nor particularly cared. It was effectively his to deal with as he saw fit. My mind ticked off my immediate itinerary: a meal, an audience with the governor, goodbye to the guard, ward the walls, then I would be off to start a life barely half-lived. My blood roiled like the clouds ahead. At long last. Our time had begun again.