Jalleia sits with her back against the border wall. Her legs are out in front of her, and she props her right arm on her bent right knee. The canteen of water in her hand is hanging loosely by its strap from one of her fingers. Beside her sits a small, shaking Highborne with mahogany hair curling beneath her jaw. Her glowing green eyes are wide as she takes in the sight of the Dead Scar before them, flinching each time she sees one of the undead. She fidgets within her green ranger armor, and finally chances a glance at Jalleia.
"Why do you not wear the standard clothing?" her voice is meek, quiet, uncertain. Jalleia's head turns lazily, assessing the female with narrowing eyes, though her dark lips smile as the female turns away, embarrassed at having asked.
"I find them ah.. less fashionable. Green is hardly my clothing hue of choice." While the other rangers about them are donning a mixture of green and gold leather, Jalleia is encased in black, also lacking the short sleeves the other females possess on their cut-off shirts. She holds her canteen out to the small female beside her, shaking it to get her attention. "What are you called?"
The female takes the offered water and gulps greedily. Jalleia calls to another ranger, and lifts a finger to signal for another. They craft an identical container and lob in her direction. She catches it effortlessly. Finally, wiping her mouth, the young female speaks. "Trillia. Tr-trillia Suntreader." Jalleia nods.
"And I'm to assume this is your first field assignment." It wasn't a question, more like a begrudged statement. Jalleia turns her eyes towards the rangers as they fight a few undead creatures, soon finding her friend Ayai's figure dodging and ducking beneath blows and delivering fatal hits of her own. Her black hair whips around her face with the fury of her movements, face hard in concentration.
There had been rumors that an actual organized attack would be coming soon, and thus, their superiors had ordered the drafting of novices. This girl must have barely reached maturity, and here she was stationed at what was possibly her last living location, an expanse of rotten earth, broken stone and gore separating her from her death. Jalleia did not approve of this method, and had become all but entirely fed up with her occupation here. She gave Jaela's back a dark stare as Trillia responded.
"I am that obvious?" Jalleia chuckled heartily.
"I'm afraid so. Usually those that have been here for a prolonged period do not shake at the sight of abominations," Jalleia says quietly, watching the fight. Two rangers are called from the stationary ranks to assist. Now there are only four extra. This fight was taking longer than any of the others, and Jalleia straightens, but makes no move to rise.
"I must have been a fool to agree to such a thing.." Trillia sighs, holding the canteen in her small hands. On the ground next to her, Jalleia spots the issued ranger swords and she presumes it's never been unsheathed. The metal of the hilts gleam, proving her thoughts true.
"I don't believe so. They give you little choice and always make it a point to state that it is for the good of our people overall, and that if you do not accept, you're somehow ah.. disregarding your heritage. It's hardly a fair claim." Jalleia lets her eyes move to Trillia, and soon after is gripping the female's shoulder in what she believes is a reassuring gesture. Trillia jumps to the contact, staring up at her. "The bottom line is that you are here, and you must now deal with your decision. You obviously wanted to help, otherwise you would have fought against it, correct?" Trillia nods, and Jalleia's hand falls from her shoulder. "You will do fine." Jalleia twists the cap of her canteen off and takes a long sip, rinsing her mouth before swallowing. The back of her hand swipes her lips slowly, and the pair sits in silence for a few moments.
"How long have you been fighting here?" Jalleia refocused her attentions onto Trillia, her mounting concern for the fight some yards away weighing in her mind.
"Let's see.. this will be my ah.. seventh year, I believe. Ayai, however, has been here longer than I," Jalleia nods and points in the direction of the only black haired Highborne assembled. "I met her here. She is the best of both worlds, a skilled fighter and healer," she pauses, eyeing Trillia, who was taking in her words like water a sponge, wanting to learn anything that would help her. Jalleia felt she should oblige. "Since you are fairly new, you should stay to the back with them," she then points to the now two remaining rangers. A yell from the fight grabs her attention, but she forces herself to keep speaking with Trillia, intent on helping her. If this was to be her first fight, Jalleia wants to make sure its not her last. "Do not be afraid, above all else. Rarely do these battles end horribly, and if you were selected, you must possess some skill. Have confidence, but yes ah.. stay in the back until you are called."
"JALLEIA! SHINDU FALLAH NA!" Ayai's scream causes Jalleia's head to whip around, and she is greeted with the sight and stench of more than twenty undead remnants. Behind them, a massive troll strolls lazily towards them, its fat stomach wobbling with the motion. Arms as big as tree trunks sprout from its shoulders, and one just behind its head. In each hand, it brandishes a sharp, bloodstained meat cleaver.
Jalleia stands quickly and drops the canteen to the ground. In a flash, she draws the scimitar from its ghost sheath on her hip. She holds the blade horizontally before her body, the sharp edge outward. Unlike the rest of the rangers, Jalleia wields only the one sword. "Remember what I've told you, Trillia. Stay in the back and calm yourself until you are called," Jalleia says over her shoulder prior to licking the pad of her right thumb. At the touch, neon green sparks crackle, and she drags her thumb down the length of the blade. It in turn begins to emit a vibrant green glow. She spins the sword within a hand, casting a last glance back towards the fear stricken Trillia before speeding off in the direction of the fight.
Ayai curses under her breath as Jalleia joins her in massacring three undead at once. "Do you think this is what they were talking about?" Ayai asks, blocking the arm of one with her sword and using the other to slash at its chest. Once her friend finishes with its front, Jalleia spins to its back, slashing its spine in half with a quick strike. The halves fall to the ground with a last growl.
"I have no idea. To think these.. things.. have the ability to think for themselves is ah.. disheartening." Ayai laughs, slicing the leg and head off of another creature in two lightning fast movements.
"The Forsaken can think for themselves."
"True, but the Forsaken are not trying to kill us. What of the troll?" Jalleia spits out sharply, piercing the chest of an undead from behind, spinning on a heel and throwing its body over her head and down into the ground.
"I don't know," Ayai answers, obviously concerned with its proximity. She veers to the left as Jalleia goes right, slashing the legs out from under four undead bearing down on two rangers. They shout their thanks as she continues onwards, glowing greens searching for Trillia. She was nowhere to be found.
Without warning, Jalleia flies forward, the wind knocked from her lungs from the impact. She feels the creature plant its massive foot into her back to hold her down. The leather armor gives as the undead slashes down upon her. The rotten flesh left behind in the wounds makes the sting all that more painful. Jalleia grips her sword firmly, trying to suck in air through the pain and the weight pressing her into the ground. She coughs and yells as the undead's scratches hit home once more.
Suddenly, she hears Trillia's voice, shrill and angry, and a great wind as the undead is blasted from atop her, and sent in pieces to the ground some ten feet before her eyes. Jalleia pushes up enough from the ground to roll to her back and look upwards at her savior. Trillia's face is stony and focused as she stares at what she'd done. Jalleia chuckles up to her, finally able to breath rhythmically.
"I told you you'd do fine."
The ground begins to shake as the troll advances, and Jalleia is tossed into the air and left to slam down into her back. Behind Trillia, she sees the blue monster, but the girl doesn't seem to notice and has turned into a statue.
"TRILLIA, RUN!" The words were hardly formed before the troll stoops and backhands the small Highborne from her feet. Trillia spits blood instantly, spiraling through the air as if she was made of rubber, and collides with the barrier wall a fair distance away.
"AYAI!" Jalleia shrieks, scrambling to her hands and knees. She crawls out of the way as one of the large cleavers sinks into the ground were she was previously laying. She stumbles to her feet and begins to sprint, putting as much distance between herself and the coming troll as possible. In her run, she spots Trillia's body lying still, her legs and arms bent at awkward angles. Ayai cuts down the last of the undead attackers, and she begins to run in her direction. Upon reaching her, Jalleia grabs her shoulders and all but growls at her friend.
"We have a serious problem."
"Why do you not wear the standard clothing?" her voice is meek, quiet, uncertain. Jalleia's head turns lazily, assessing the female with narrowing eyes, though her dark lips smile as the female turns away, embarrassed at having asked.
"I find them ah.. less fashionable. Green is hardly my clothing hue of choice." While the other rangers about them are donning a mixture of green and gold leather, Jalleia is encased in black, also lacking the short sleeves the other females possess on their cut-off shirts. She holds her canteen out to the small female beside her, shaking it to get her attention. "What are you called?"
The female takes the offered water and gulps greedily. Jalleia calls to another ranger, and lifts a finger to signal for another. They craft an identical container and lob in her direction. She catches it effortlessly. Finally, wiping her mouth, the young female speaks. "Trillia. Tr-trillia Suntreader." Jalleia nods.
"And I'm to assume this is your first field assignment." It wasn't a question, more like a begrudged statement. Jalleia turns her eyes towards the rangers as they fight a few undead creatures, soon finding her friend Ayai's figure dodging and ducking beneath blows and delivering fatal hits of her own. Her black hair whips around her face with the fury of her movements, face hard in concentration.
There had been rumors that an actual organized attack would be coming soon, and thus, their superiors had ordered the drafting of novices. This girl must have barely reached maturity, and here she was stationed at what was possibly her last living location, an expanse of rotten earth, broken stone and gore separating her from her death. Jalleia did not approve of this method, and had become all but entirely fed up with her occupation here. She gave Jaela's back a dark stare as Trillia responded.
"I am that obvious?" Jalleia chuckled heartily.
"I'm afraid so. Usually those that have been here for a prolonged period do not shake at the sight of abominations," Jalleia says quietly, watching the fight. Two rangers are called from the stationary ranks to assist. Now there are only four extra. This fight was taking longer than any of the others, and Jalleia straightens, but makes no move to rise.
"I must have been a fool to agree to such a thing.." Trillia sighs, holding the canteen in her small hands. On the ground next to her, Jalleia spots the issued ranger swords and she presumes it's never been unsheathed. The metal of the hilts gleam, proving her thoughts true.
"I don't believe so. They give you little choice and always make it a point to state that it is for the good of our people overall, and that if you do not accept, you're somehow ah.. disregarding your heritage. It's hardly a fair claim." Jalleia lets her eyes move to Trillia, and soon after is gripping the female's shoulder in what she believes is a reassuring gesture. Trillia jumps to the contact, staring up at her. "The bottom line is that you are here, and you must now deal with your decision. You obviously wanted to help, otherwise you would have fought against it, correct?" Trillia nods, and Jalleia's hand falls from her shoulder. "You will do fine." Jalleia twists the cap of her canteen off and takes a long sip, rinsing her mouth before swallowing. The back of her hand swipes her lips slowly, and the pair sits in silence for a few moments.
"How long have you been fighting here?" Jalleia refocused her attentions onto Trillia, her mounting concern for the fight some yards away weighing in her mind.
"Let's see.. this will be my ah.. seventh year, I believe. Ayai, however, has been here longer than I," Jalleia nods and points in the direction of the only black haired Highborne assembled. "I met her here. She is the best of both worlds, a skilled fighter and healer," she pauses, eyeing Trillia, who was taking in her words like water a sponge, wanting to learn anything that would help her. Jalleia felt she should oblige. "Since you are fairly new, you should stay to the back with them," she then points to the now two remaining rangers. A yell from the fight grabs her attention, but she forces herself to keep speaking with Trillia, intent on helping her. If this was to be her first fight, Jalleia wants to make sure its not her last. "Do not be afraid, above all else. Rarely do these battles end horribly, and if you were selected, you must possess some skill. Have confidence, but yes ah.. stay in the back until you are called."
"JALLEIA! SHINDU FALLAH NA!" Ayai's scream causes Jalleia's head to whip around, and she is greeted with the sight and stench of more than twenty undead remnants. Behind them, a massive troll strolls lazily towards them, its fat stomach wobbling with the motion. Arms as big as tree trunks sprout from its shoulders, and one just behind its head. In each hand, it brandishes a sharp, bloodstained meat cleaver.
Jalleia stands quickly and drops the canteen to the ground. In a flash, she draws the scimitar from its ghost sheath on her hip. She holds the blade horizontally before her body, the sharp edge outward. Unlike the rest of the rangers, Jalleia wields only the one sword. "Remember what I've told you, Trillia. Stay in the back and calm yourself until you are called," Jalleia says over her shoulder prior to licking the pad of her right thumb. At the touch, neon green sparks crackle, and she drags her thumb down the length of the blade. It in turn begins to emit a vibrant green glow. She spins the sword within a hand, casting a last glance back towards the fear stricken Trillia before speeding off in the direction of the fight.
Ayai curses under her breath as Jalleia joins her in massacring three undead at once. "Do you think this is what they were talking about?" Ayai asks, blocking the arm of one with her sword and using the other to slash at its chest. Once her friend finishes with its front, Jalleia spins to its back, slashing its spine in half with a quick strike. The halves fall to the ground with a last growl.
"I have no idea. To think these.. things.. have the ability to think for themselves is ah.. disheartening." Ayai laughs, slicing the leg and head off of another creature in two lightning fast movements.
"The Forsaken can think for themselves."
"True, but the Forsaken are not trying to kill us. What of the troll?" Jalleia spits out sharply, piercing the chest of an undead from behind, spinning on a heel and throwing its body over her head and down into the ground.
"I don't know," Ayai answers, obviously concerned with its proximity. She veers to the left as Jalleia goes right, slashing the legs out from under four undead bearing down on two rangers. They shout their thanks as she continues onwards, glowing greens searching for Trillia. She was nowhere to be found.
Without warning, Jalleia flies forward, the wind knocked from her lungs from the impact. She feels the creature plant its massive foot into her back to hold her down. The leather armor gives as the undead slashes down upon her. The rotten flesh left behind in the wounds makes the sting all that more painful. Jalleia grips her sword firmly, trying to suck in air through the pain and the weight pressing her into the ground. She coughs and yells as the undead's scratches hit home once more.
Suddenly, she hears Trillia's voice, shrill and angry, and a great wind as the undead is blasted from atop her, and sent in pieces to the ground some ten feet before her eyes. Jalleia pushes up enough from the ground to roll to her back and look upwards at her savior. Trillia's face is stony and focused as she stares at what she'd done. Jalleia chuckles up to her, finally able to breath rhythmically.
"I told you you'd do fine."
The ground begins to shake as the troll advances, and Jalleia is tossed into the air and left to slam down into her back. Behind Trillia, she sees the blue monster, but the girl doesn't seem to notice and has turned into a statue.
"TRILLIA, RUN!" The words were hardly formed before the troll stoops and backhands the small Highborne from her feet. Trillia spits blood instantly, spiraling through the air as if she was made of rubber, and collides with the barrier wall a fair distance away.
"AYAI!" Jalleia shrieks, scrambling to her hands and knees. She crawls out of the way as one of the large cleavers sinks into the ground were she was previously laying. She stumbles to her feet and begins to sprint, putting as much distance between herself and the coming troll as possible. In her run, she spots Trillia's body lying still, her legs and arms bent at awkward angles. Ayai cuts down the last of the undead attackers, and she begins to run in her direction. Upon reaching her, Jalleia grabs her shoulders and all but growls at her friend.
"We have a serious problem."