desolution.... (open)

Raven kicked against the brackish water with the remnants of his fading energy as he struggled to keep himself afloat in the void. He could no longer tell where the black water ended and the dark sky began, he had been swimming for hours now, since he had run away from the shadowy figures he was certain were from the government, he had seen enough of them as they checked up on his family to know them by sight and pretty much by scent. Theirs was a scent of sweat, stale cigarettes, and decay. The odor of their bodies as they began their final descent into the eternal void of death. He wasn't opposed to helping them along this pathway, they had always looked at him with their probing glazed eyes and he had fought to hide his abilities lest they discern who he really was. His parents had taught him from his earliest days to hide who he was and what he could do, their experimentation done out of "love" but if the government discovered what he was capable of...

He pushed the thoughts of the last moments he had seen his parents from his mind, it had been a strange chain of events which had caused the explosion and he had been the catalyst. He was more than average intelligence, brilliant even, so he knew the government would be hunting him down. Which was why he had gone to the secluded cabin in the forests to rest for a couple of days and gather supplies. He had been stowing money and setting up for his eventual plan to leave once he turned 18 for a long time. He had amassed a false identity and not a small amount of money. His parents were leery of the government and he knew where their stash of money was located also, a location he planned to visit as soon as he felt it was safe. The cabin had been his own personal hideout; a remnant of bygone days that had somehow withstood the fallout. In reality it was not much more than a fallout shelter that had actually worked, although it had saved no lives for its remote location had deemed it unusable.

Now Raven paddled against the current; the waterproof bag a solid reassurance against his back that he was awake and that this was reality. He had no idea where he was, but he could make out a mass of land ahead now and his strength returned to him. He had always had more energy than anyone he knew, his parents gift to him... now he was almost grateful for his abilities, he had an ominous feeling for what lay ahead, and yet a yearning to continue in the direction he was headed... the darkness called him as if beckoning him home.

Sally walked out on to the sand before the ocean, the waves hitting her boots. Her trench coat floating a inch above the ground behind her and her black hair tied up in a long pony tail. Her skinny jeans had a rip at the knee and her red t shirt needed a good wash. She could sense someone out at the sea. Her main reason for standing there, other wise she wouldnt be there at all. She was always on the hunt useing her ablity to sense other gifted people like her. She could bearly see the person out on the sea but she knew it was there.

She waited, her steal toed boots keeping her feet dry from the ocean waves. She knew the person was getting closer and she could tell it was a boy of a mere 18 years old. She wished her abilties could help her with other information but sadly it couldn't. She sighed as it seemed to take forever for the boy to reach land.

Raven felt his feet hit the sandy bottom and he stood up wading ashore now. He smelt something alive; his senses on full alert as his fatigue lifted fully in the wake of his newfound information. He relaxed into his stance ready for anything, he knew nothing about where he was or what to expect. Purple eyes roved the landscape and his fingers raked through his black hair wringing out the water. His other hand remained relaxed at his side nearest Narwa Rilma in case he should be needed tonight. The lack of moonlight was not disconcerting to one who worshipped the darkness as enthusiastically as the sunlight. His features settled into a smirk as he made out the form visible only as a darker shadow in teh night.

His clothes were wet and his long coat might be a hindrance if it came to battle... his jeans were skin tight as was his dusky blue t-shirt, so no problems there; but getting the coat off would be as he wasn't about to lose the bag which was his chance to start over in a new life now. He was barefoot, his cons stashed in the bag for later; but he liked being barefoot and often ran that way so it also was no hindrance to him. He hailed the shadow...
"Hail friend or foe..." his tone was level and his voice strong in the night, he was ready for anything.

Sally watched boy younger then she and stuided him for a second before answering "It depends, but I'd rather be friend." She was in no mood to bring her sword out off her back. She looked the boy down for a second more offering her hand to shake. She waited "Or are you Foe." she said asking wondering, if that was so she would bring her sword out. She really didnt want to have to though.

She waited still haveing her hand out but had her other hand ready to get her sword if the boy tried anything funny. She had her gaurd up and wouldn't be able to get a surprised attack.

Raven laughed, his voice loud against the silence of htis place; "friend as can be."

He took her hand and gripped it being careful to be gentle, his ability gave him strength and he was always acutely aware of how strongly he reacted to people. It was a girl, he could see her clearly now his eyes quickly took in the darkness and adapted to it. She was in a ready stance, and he approved of her wariness but acceptance, feelings he could echo.

"Where am I? Or do you know?" he asked in an attempt to be polite.

His smirk faded a bit as he realized the pathetic figure he cut, too thin but muscled his clothes clinging to him from the water barely a slice of humanity against the thick darkness of the beach. He appraised her as he withdrew his hand, hoping for some answer that he might understand, he needed to get his bearings and find somewhere to hole up while he contemplated his next move. He hoped she was friendly, he knew travelling in pairs was always preferable.

Sally smiled and pulled out of her stance relaxing a bit. "Nice to meet you um?' She said not knowing the boys name. She looked at him as he carefully shook her hand. "Im not exactly sure." she said shrugging her shoulders. "What might be your name? Im Sally Ruby." she said friendlyish. She was hoping she could travel with him seeing how she didn't know anyone really and it would be a nice change to have someone to watch her back.

Raven stepped back a little shaking water off himself trying not to get any on her. It seemed she was as unsure to their surroundings as he was, not a good thing to not know where one was, better that they were now two instead of solitary travellers. HE looked at her again, "I'm Kai..." he gave her the new name he had taken, it felt wierd to use it now but the identity would help hide him and it had been well crafted to withstand even government scrutiny. Perhaps if he came to trust her-- something he was not inclined to do easily, he would tell her to call him Raven, his dark hair and the tattoos on his back lent themselves to that name easily, and he doubted anyone would ever guess it was his real name rather than just a nickname he had chosen, and his call name by rights.

He surveyed the area again, there weren't any creatures here; something was wrong with this place to have no habitable life at all even after the annihilation of civilization. He pondered his next move, which was to find or create some shelter and a fire to dry out his clothing and change into some of the scant spares he had in his bag. there was a darker trail where he ahd moved from teh water towards the girl and a puddle where he had stood. Another puddle was forming under his feet as he stood still dripping with the bracken of the water he had swam in. Not just anyone could have even survived the water as he had, but that was the boon of his gifts; stamina and regeneration, coupled with speed and strength-- along with his ability he rarely allowed anyone to see for its rarity even in these times, he knew he had a better than average survival chance.

That she was here alone and willing to approach a stranger was an obvious clue that she was also not a mere human, and he wondered what she could do and how it would figure into his new survival plan. He was curious, but he was more cautious. So instead of prattling off the thousand questions in his mind he asked the most direct and simple, "Do you know of shelter around here where I can dry off and change?"

If need be he would strip right there and carry his wet clothing until it dried, he wasn't shy --merely cautious and it took time to trust anyone. But getting out of his wet clothing was necessary and he wanted to dry his longcoat so it would no longer weigh him down, but also as it was bedroll and blanket for him now. Also food would be needed to help with his regeneration, he had nearly died in the water, having jumped in hastily without knowing where it would lead nor just how big it was. He had small provisions with him, but hunting and foraging were useful skills he had taught himself camping out alone over summers just to get away. He wondered if the vegitation was edible here, and if there was any life he could hunt and be safe to eat. HIs eyes roved the area lookign for shelter and any telltale signs there might be somethign to hunt for food.

Sally watched as he walked back a foot and shook off the water he was drenched in. She looked at him thinking that he would be a good fighter by the looks of it. She looked at him as he said his name and knew right away it was a fake name, but she understood why he gave her the fake one as you can't always trust a person no matter how friendly they seem "Hi Kai." she said playing along with the fake name game. She cursed herself for not thinking of that, she would keep that in mind for future reference.

Sally watched him looked around not sure of what he was looking for or at. She looked around as well and seen what he was serceahing for, there was no animals, no inhabitants at all. No inhabitants ment no food leading to stravation. She would have to go hunting later, something she didn't all that much liked.

Sally looked at him and thought for asecond to see if she had seen some shelter or not. "I haven't a clue but im sure there might." She said shrugging "The only reason I came was because i sensed you." she told him thinking still yet if she seen shelter on the walk to the ocean sand.

He nodded as she explained her being there, he guessed she had a power to sense people like him, ones with powers, unusual people... but his kind of people. He shivered slightly from the cool darkness of the night and grimaced. He had no way to air out his coat, but he needed to get out of the wet clothing. HE debated, just change out or try to start a fire and see what happened... the seeming desolution of the place could be a mirage, hiding the true inahbitants of the place, creatures who had also been touched by the aftermath of the annihilation that had destroyed much of the planet and made people like him possible. HE shook his hair out like an animal and decided that shelter being uncertain he better get out of the wet clothing now.

He took his bag and laid it on the beach at his feet placing one foot on the straps he turned and slipped his coat off in one movement, and then shook it out away from her so as not to soak her too. When it was as dry as he could manage he rolled it into a ball and laid it beside the bag. He turned to face her and smiled almost shyly, or maybe it was conspiratorily, before stripping the shirt off over his head and wringing it out, he turned to shake it also before using it as a towel to get some of the water out of his hair. He wrung it again and laid it on his jacket then unzipped his bag about 6 inches and reached inside extracting a t-shirt, jeans, his cons, and a plastic bag by feel. He was cautious and didn't want her to see the extent of the contents of the bag just yet.

He pulled his jeans off and stood unabashed and in the nude wiping his sandy feet off on the wet jeans. he pulled his dry jeans on and buttoned them and then slipped his dry t-shirt on, noting it was the blood red one by its feel; it was near too dark to see colors yet. He slipped the cons on without unlacing them and stuffed the wet clothes into the plastic bag along with his coat for now. he replaced the bag on his back, it was nearly dry now as its waterproof surface let the water bead off it, and he picked up the bag of wet clothing.

" Now for a fire and somewhere to rest... I guess retracing your path is probably the quickest route, you came from some civilization, correct?" his purple eyes were bright and his thin smile was genuine, a companion was definately better than travelling alone. Once they found a place to camp he would share the rations he had in the pack, and he would try to hunt or forage along the way. But for now, finding where he was and where he was heading were priority number one.

Sally watched him changed his clothes, it didnt bother her much as it was something you had to do no matter who was around. When he had finished she waited for him to talk, but didnt have the answer he wanted. "No,.. I've actually been traveling alone for sometime now and tend to stay away from civilization because of the government."She said shaking her head as well. "Im looking for the Outcasts, the ones who are rebellioning against the gov." She told him.

Her words meant much to him, but he tried to hide it; outcasts who rebelled against hte government were exactly the type of people he needed to find... and were the exact targets of his own travels. HE laughed, it was too loud in the silence but he couldn't help himself. He had been an outcast since he was conceived, always hiding from the government, an experiment to see if meta humans could be created in more humane and predictable ways than just exposure to radiations and abnormalities of their parents. He was definately on the run form teh government too; after all what reason did he have for destroying his parents sanctuary? It had withstood the attacks and held up, his parents not even knowing what had happened save for the lights going out and the high powered generators kicking in instantly so it was a mere blink and not really even interrupted service. Their computers hadn't even cycled the break in power was so unnoticable. Their subterranian labs afforded them weeks and even months spent underground with little or no contact from the above world, so they were extremely surprised to emerge from their laboratories to discover a radically altered landscape and the largescale annihilation of much of the worlds population! They had been contacted by the government within hours of their emergance, and had begun work studying captured meta-humans resulting from the first wave of after-radiation. It was mere weeks before they unlocked some secrets of the code of genetic transformation and began experimenting on their own on the side. Raven had learned the painstaking effort it took to keep the government unaware of these side experiments from his earliest days.

He was the culmination of their work, his parents naturally born child who was conceived in the old invitro manner and enhanced before implantation in his mother's womb. For all intents and purposes he seemed normal, and he had remained hidden from the government for his entire 18 years... until one day he discovered a new program his father had just written. The large scale ability to recreate what had been done to him on demand. He had argued with his father, confronting him of being no better than the government they scorned... of selling out to the highest bidder. He was regretful of his harsh words, and even moreso of the drunken three days his father had spent afterwards. When he had seen his father last he had overheard a phone conversation that the program was ready and could begin testing immediately. It was on that third day that he also learned his mother was pregnant again... that this sibling was an altered child like himself, but that there had been even further distortion to manipulate the brain in a way so that the human became a robot forced to follow orders and without a will of its own. He had gone into a rage and had gone ballistic on the lab destroying everything in sight with his strength-- the first time his parents had ever seen its full ability. It happened on his 18th birthday, the day his powers fully awakened.

He tried to rationalize he hadn't known his own strength, but he had revelled in the newfound ability and had delighted in destroying the lies his life had been founded on. He a loved child, who realized he was no more than a lab rat who had been used. He had not planned on his own anger and he had killed his parents with his bare hands. He alone had survived the fire he set to hide his actions and much of his body had been burnt in the process, penance to pay he had considered it, but he had regenerated within a week. It had been painful and he had struggled to not cry out for help from the government men who came to clear through the rubble to try to salvage the research and records from his parents. There was nothing left.

So yes, outcast... that was him, one who rebelled against the government and everything he had ever known. He had learned never to trust anyone, not even someone you thought you loved. His laughter had subsided almost as it had started and he wondered if she would think him imbalanced, but perhaps he was. HE looked at her, "I have to find civilization; I'm searching for something important... and I may not be one of the outcasts you are searching for, but I am an outcast-- I have no family or friend, and I am no friend of the government. I will kill anyone who stands in my way without a second thought," his face had grown somber in the thin light of earliest dawn. The night was passing and they needed to be moving before they were spotted by the very people they both seemed most to need to evade.

"Travel with me and we may both succeed in finding these outcasts, I would think I may be helpful to them in both ability and knowledge." he left off saying anything about the knowledge he carried in his brain, 18 years of testing and research on the very people like himself. One thing he had always hated of his parents; their ability to say they loved him, yet to be equally able to test, dissect, and torture those like him. He moved to head back down the beach, there was no path the way he had come so away from teh water was the only logical course.

Sally nodded, she was the same way as well. She would think nothing of it to bring her sword out and kill. She pondered thinking for a moment before answering him. She had no friends, nor family and it would be a nice change for her to travel with someone else. That way when she hunted it would hopefully bring more food for the both of them if they both hunt. She looked at him and seen the sun coming out, "Yes ill travel with you, but we must get out of this place quick, I've heard stories about here and its not safe in daylight." she said to him ready to leave.

Raven's face faded into the smirk it was accustomed to as the sun began to make its mark on the day. He paused for a infinitesmal moment to thank the sun God Apollo for the day and thank the Moon Goddess Hecate for the new moon filled night that had passed. Then he began to walk towards where ever this path might lead him. He glanced at the girl, Sally, and was thankful for her although he'd never admit it. Her words were registered and he would wait until she gave him more information, she had some clue where they were.. rumors meant something, so he would wait until something triggered her mind or she gave a clue. Until then they would walk.

He felt a gesture of friendliness was in order, and slipped his hand into the pack again quickly zipping it shut. He held out two granola bars, "breakfast?" he asked politely. He didn't have a lot of rations, but he had soem money if they could find somewhere to buy food, and he had a decent hunting ability to catch game, and he could cook it with little other than a few twigs and brush. This was looking to be a better day...

Sally watched as he walked towards and path and quickly caught back up walking beside him. Even though it seemed as if it was a good day she kept her gaurd up all the while. She looked at him as he offered a granola bar, she hadnt had real food in ages so not knowing what it was and took it poilently smiling "Thank you." she said looking at the bar trying to firgure out how it opened. She felt stupid but she couldnt help it, "Um how do you open it?" she asked Kai with a confused face.

Raven had to try hard not to laugh at her inocence, he forgot he had been raised in civility and pretty well comfort in the labs, but most people who were as he was weren't so lucky. Now he was as they were... and he thought he might just be worth something to help them. He had resources and information they could use...

He held his bar out and ripped it open being careful to show how it was done without seeming to be demeaning or rude. It was his favorite, peanutbutter and chocolate and the taste exploded on his tongue. He had been rationing his food for quite a while, and he was almost out of reserves. He would have to be especially on teh lookout for berries mushrooms or anythign edible today.

Sally frowned at the bar of food and watched as Kai showed her how to open it. She imitated his movements and awed as the wrapper came off. She took a little nibble not knowing what it would taste like and grin. It was good, she couldt descirbe the tastes she was having. She looked over at Kai and smiled "Its really good." she said amazed almost.

Raven smiled at the girl, he could finally see her now that there was enough light in the early dawn. She was small but pretty enough, he thrilled vicariously in her enjoyment of something so simple. What it must be like to be free, perhaps this outcast life wasn't so bad. He had always been watched cautioned and taught, to finally have just simplicity and being was going to be different. These past 6 months had been trying on him, and he was glad he had insisted on learning martial arts and that his father had taken him on practical things like camping and hunting trips as these skills he could use. Although the ever watchful presence from his earliest days had taught him how to hide in plain sight and how to fix little slips he made.

He breathed in teh air of this place and found it thick and stale, a desolute dead place to be certain. Also the sun should be up by now and it was still dark and dreary. Where was he?

Sally thought for a second and finally remembered the name of this place. "Hey Kai, this place is called the dark world, there is also a Light world as well."She said smaking her head as she remembered she couldnt believe she had forgotten that. She was glad she remebered it though. She looked at him finally able to see more, she liked his purple eyes. She kept walking forward as the reached the end of the beach finally. it had seemed as if though it went on forever.

He realized just how much he had to learn of the outside world, he was more a child than she ever would be as she had advantage of being on her own on her side. He could handle it, but he had lived the civilized life and it made him softer. He had to be extra vigilent and now he had to watch out for anything. Darkworld, he had heard of it, but how in the hell had he wound up here. It wasn't necessarily a bad thing, he felt at ease here, strangely enough. He had never feared the dark, not even now when on the run... and the darkness would help them hide if it came to it.

He said the name, liking the power naming somethign gave over it... "Darkworld... nice." His purple eyes were glinting in amusement.

Sally looked at him and laughed "Its comforting here i think, i perfer the dark." She said sighing. She really didnt like the light as it could expose her hiding spots when she is stalking a person and it becomes a pain in the arsh. She sighed as she took another bite of the food bar, she was really likeing the taste of it but she wasnt going to allow herself to become accostume to it.

Raven chuckled as she echoed his thoughts, but then perhaps she could read minds, he had met some who could. He finished his bar and stuffed the wrapper into his pocket so as to leave nothing more to trail them by. They were now meandering down a path away from teh beach, and looking over his shoulder told him they had passed a good ways, but looking forward said there was too far to go.

He began to take note of the foliage beginning to creep around them. Perhaps there were edible roots and things, now was the time to watch out; although a place like dark world would the edibles be safe? It was merely darkness not poison right? He tried to recall what he knew, which was far too little to be certain.

He asked uncertainly, not knowing if she knew either..."If we find plants and foliage is it safe to eat here?" He knew the worst effects of the damage had passed but some places were still not safe to eat the natural vegitation or animal life.

Sally walked with him quiet for a while as her head started to hurt. She looked over to him and tried to think of the plants they could eat. "Im not sure, there might be some wild boars around that we can hunt and eat, or a deer." she said sugesting what she knew of that she passed earlier, or at leasts thats what she thinks she passed, she isnt so sure of it.

Raven nodded at her suggestions, he was a fair hunter but he had only the barest rudamentary supplies; quick to eat rations, that were lightweight and nutritious and a few implements for hunting, cooking, and survival. He had nothing beyond his long coat for shelter, and the worst predicament was that he barely knew where he was. Darkworld was not much more than a place of fantasy to him, it and its opposition Lightworld were barely more than tales heard as myth since his childhood as places where the inhabitants were more than met the eye... some of an order beyond meta and human. His parents had tried to convince him they were just stories they told to amuse him, he never could discern when they were joking; they never really did much. But he knew the truth, something they didn't know he knew... like about Sammrion... his proposed brother... he stopped this thought before it could run its course.

He liked the feel of the katana at his side, his one insistance from his childhood, he had demanded to be taught how to wield it and the form and kata of martial arts. His parents had indulged him, how could they not a child who was only three and so precocious and intelligent. That he hid the majority of his intelligence from them was to his credit, he understood too much way too young. Before he was a year old he understood the need to pretend to be as "normal" children were, so when he had been put to bed in his mother's office, where he most often slept in his playpen, he had raided the computer databases and learned what normal children should act like. That they were voice activated had thwarted him at first, but by seven months he had learned to speak-- his education to that point to watch the faces of his parents closely to discern if what he was doing was acceptable or not. It had killed him to have to pretend to be unable to roll over until he was four months old or sit up in their presence for so long! But that magic of speech had opened the computer to him and he had learned so much more than his parents ever knew. Moreover he knew their own passwords and how to break into their private files.

Knowledge he now contained in his brain... names, dates, powers, locations, and information that he knew would save him or get him killed depending on who knew what he held in his brain. So he chose to walk in silence beside the girl, pondering what he knew about this place, and chastising himself for not delving into its mysteries further and more fully!

Darkness rose up in front of the two travelers, like liquid night. The shadows themselves writhed and moved, as if bowing to the orb.

As the Darkness dissipated, a young boy, looking to be somewhere between fifteen and eighteen, but it wasn't really decernible due to his facial features, stood before them, his head bent low.

His cloths were torn, and dirty, but made of pure silk. His face was smudged with little flakes of dried blood, more mud, and chocolate, giving him an even younger look.

His eyes never went up, and his head never rose. He seemed to be too deep in his own thoughts to even see the people standing before him.

Right next to him appeared a giant of a man. He stood almost seven feet tall, in Black armor that could have been black jade, eyes glowing from the healm's slit, an eiri blue that seemed like hell fire, and a black crown glistened upon the 'man's' head.

Who do you think you are? Outsiders in my lands? The dark figure boomed, his voice like thunder on a dark and forbidding night.

Raven was proud of himself that he didn't jump when their travelling duo was interrupted by the appearance of two more... an ominous feeling settled in Raven's stomach... "my lands..." it appeared as if the ruler of the realm himself had chosen this moment to notice them. He cast a slight sidelong look at Sally, and then looked fully at the towering figure before them. His eyes settled on the boy; what meaning for him to be so dissheveled and dirty? He was saddened to see this neglect.

"Hail, Master of these lands, I am Kai Roths I mean you no disrespect, we are merely travellers who have lost the path to civilization, I swam in the ocean and washed up on this beach where I met up with this girl...we seek only to pass through your lands on our way." he didn't look at Sally to see her reaction, but he hoped she understood he was being chivalrous in not offerig her name or recognition other than to state she was travelling with him.

He wondered what the fates had in store for him now, to wash him up on this barren beach only to find himself thwarted in moving forward by the master of the realm himself. But strangely enough it was the boy who drew Raven's attention, that almost magnetic pull emanated from him! He was no mere paladin, he had secret power Raven was certain of it... but then again why else would the master appear with only a boy as his liasion, although Raven began to doubt what menace he and Sally comprised here in the Dark World. He didn't even know what she was capable of! Intrigued he wished the boy would look up and acknowledge him, it was almost as if he deliberately was snubbing them by not even noticing they were there and Raven felt his ego wounded to be so easily dismissed.