Post by Chani {♥} on Dec 22, 2008 5:51:52 GMT -5
Kimiko walked at a leisurely pace to the makeshift wooden wall the Gnomes had recently built around their small village. To her delight, she found it just as she had been told she would; in great disrepair and torn apart completely in some places. She could hear synchronized footfall just beyond the shabby wall; doubtlessly a Gnomish patrol force. She smirked as she came to the gate, where three Gnomes stood guard on each side, as if she couldn't have just went through one of the gaps.
She was in her cloaked form, which she normally used to blend in, but she stood out almost as much as she would in her half-breed form, anyway. She was taller than the Gnomes, with sun-tanned skin and shoulder-length, auburn hair. Her gold-rimmed amber eyes were alert and almost seemed to laugh at the world. She was wearing a red, silk kimono with elaborate golden flowers embroidered into it. Around her small waist, a fox-fur obi was tied.
"State your name and business," one of the guards demanded in Common.
"What's in a name?" she responded casually, her lashes fluttering ever so slightly. "I think you'll find my business interesting enough."
"Don't play games," another of the guards growled, not enticed by her heart-melting eyes in the least. Must be partial to his own race, Kimiko thought silently. "Answer or take your leave."
"I'm Kimi," she said innocently enough, her voice like poisoned honey. "And I'm looking to terminate the demon that has been harassing your village." A couple of the gnomes laughed, but the one she had batted her eyes at was polite enough to restrain himself.
"He is an impenetrable monster," the courteous one said. "A smart girl like yourself shouldn't go picking fights."
"You underestimate me," Kimiko said, narrowing her eyes. "If you aren't willing to give me any information concerning him, I'll gladly go hunt him down myself. If you're willing to give me a little insight, however, I won't even tell him you sent me, and his wrath might be spared for your village. It's already looking quite shabby. I don't think it could stand another attack." The gnomes stopped laughing and examined her with dislike.
"Our commander is at the tavern for lunch. You can speak to him there. But I'm warning you..."
"Save your breath," Kimiko hissed viciously, and her face was contorted in an evil glare for a moment. The deadly look was gone almost as quick as it came. She snaked through the gate before it was even entirely open and made her way down the main path. "Not much to this place, is there?" Kimiko muttered critically as she examined the small shops along the short path. It wasn't hard to find the tavern, it was made even less difficult by the fact that a few inebriated Gnomes were sitting on their rumps outside, singing a song in their native tongue in drunken tones that wouldn't even be appealing in a language Kimiko understood. She ducked into the tavern, which was not made for humans, but was larger than most of the Gnomish buildings.
The commander was easily spotted. He was wearing finer clothing than the rest with a few gleaming medals attached. His long, silvery hair was pulled out of his face, which was one hardened by his position, and he was the only Gnome actually eating rather than drinking. His eyes quickly turned on her, along with the rest of the tavern's. She stuck out like a sore thumb.
"Sir," Kimiko said with fake reverence. "I'm here to ask about your demon problem..."
"With all due respect, my troops are dwindling. Our resources are short, because no one will make the dangerous transport to get them to us, not like we have the money for them anyway. I have lost many friends in the pursuit of this creature. You, madame, would do best to spare your life and my time by taking your leave now." The Gnome's Common was perfect, but Kimiko frowned as if she didn't understand.
"If you don't give me information, I will seek him out myself," she spat. "And, if he asks who sent me, I'll tell him exactly where to go. Would you like to lose more friends, Commander?" Her eyes narrowed into slits, her eyebrows were turned in a frown, her lips were a thin line. The commander glared back.
"He is impossible to defeat," the gnome said. "Magic nor weapons can break him. He stands eight feet tall. If you still wish to try your pretty little hands, then go. There is a hill several miles northeast of here that he likes to cook his... prey... on, or so we guess from the smoke. Wait until evening, following the smoke, and you'll find him."
"Thank you," Kimiko said, as if they had been having an entirely sweet conversation. There was no adversity in her voice, it was poisoned honey again. "Farewell, Commander." She ducked out of the tavern, straightening out her back outside so that it cracked a few times. "I don't need the smoke. The smell of burnt flesh lingers." She smiled, pulling out a folding fan, and made her way toward the gate.
The demon wasn't hard to follow after Kimiko got far enough from the village that she could transform into her half-breed form. She removed the obi and slung it over her shoulder, standing still as she allowed her body to settle into its natural form. Her hair grew down to her waist and changed in color; it went from fox-red at the roots to a black ring toward the bottom and was tipped in white. Her eyes were golden and cat-like and her frame was larger and stronger. Her fancy kimono was gone, traded for a leather bodice and loose green trousers. A belt held them up and attached was a sheath, containing her trusty Isamu-kun. Her folding fan had disappeared and her complexion had become very fair.
Her nose also became more sensitive... The nasty aroma of burnt flesh, stale blood, and smoke stained the air for her sensitive nose. She wrinkled it in disgust as she drew closer.
She finally came to foot of the hill, breaking through the trees. It was steep and high, almost intimidating. Kimiko circled around it, sniffing experimentally, and finally found what she was looking for. There was a cave indented in its northern side. The stench was undoubtedly coming from there.
"Ugh," Kimiko groaned. It was just repulsive. How could the demon stand to live there? She began climbing the hill with great reluctance; she couldn't stand the scent much longer. She hurried up, but the smell only grew stronger. She covered her nose with one hand and used the other to balance herself as she ascended. Just as she drew near to the mouth, which was much larger up close than it had been at the bottom of the hill, a flash of black bolted out. She turned quickly, following the blur to where it landed. At the foot of the hill? How had he leapt so far?
"I'm sorry, does that smell foul to you?" the demon said. He was definitely eight feet tall and appeared mostly human. His neck was abnormally long, as was his sharp nose, and he had incredibly small teeth. His arms were oddly long, too. "I wouldn't know. I don't have a sense of smell." He flashed his tiny teeth.
"I'd be grateful, if I were you," Kimiko muttered, her voice muffled by the hand over her mouth and nose. "It won't be long until you have no senses at all. Unless, of course, you can see without your head being attached to your body."
"So you came seeking a fight? Did the gnomes send you?"
Kimiko grinned, uncovering her mouth and beginning to descend down the hill. "The gnomes don't 'send' me anywhere. I do everything of my own accord."
"Good. I would almost feel bad if I killed you because you were on some heroic mission to save all of Sallic." His eyes were filled with mock. "I'm Oryk. What's your name? Not that it matters... You're a half-breed, aren't you?"
Kimiko made a very animalistic growl then, coming from the depths of her chest and rolling past her fangs with a fierce sound that said the battle had commenced without the need of words. She crouched and leapt within the same second, her strong legs boosting her off the side.
A second later, Kimiko and Oryk were fighting. Kimiko was wild, unpredictable. That had always been her strength in martial arts; her style was fluid, constantly changing. But Oryk had no problem warding off her attacks. He stayed purely on the defensive, seeming content to let Kimiko wear herself out and become more furious every time he thwarted a swift kick or an elbow. The amused smirk he wore only angered her more as they danced into the trees.
Finally, Oryk made an offensive move. A kick that Kimiko didn't see coming sent her flying into a tree. Winded though she was, she was back on her feet in a breath, ready to block his next attack... or so she thought. He was gone.
No, he was behind her, and she only realized this a second too late. She heard the wind created by fast motion and turned to receive a knee in her ribs, tossing her onto the ground. She rolled onto her feet and was kicked on her left cheek, slamming her onto her side on the ground. Blood dripped from her lip where one of her fangs had broke the skin.
She was in her cloaked form, which she normally used to blend in, but she stood out almost as much as she would in her half-breed form, anyway. She was taller than the Gnomes, with sun-tanned skin and shoulder-length, auburn hair. Her gold-rimmed amber eyes were alert and almost seemed to laugh at the world. She was wearing a red, silk kimono with elaborate golden flowers embroidered into it. Around her small waist, a fox-fur obi was tied.
"State your name and business," one of the guards demanded in Common.
"What's in a name?" she responded casually, her lashes fluttering ever so slightly. "I think you'll find my business interesting enough."
"Don't play games," another of the guards growled, not enticed by her heart-melting eyes in the least. Must be partial to his own race, Kimiko thought silently. "Answer or take your leave."
"I'm Kimi," she said innocently enough, her voice like poisoned honey. "And I'm looking to terminate the demon that has been harassing your village." A couple of the gnomes laughed, but the one she had batted her eyes at was polite enough to restrain himself.
"He is an impenetrable monster," the courteous one said. "A smart girl like yourself shouldn't go picking fights."
"You underestimate me," Kimiko said, narrowing her eyes. "If you aren't willing to give me any information concerning him, I'll gladly go hunt him down myself. If you're willing to give me a little insight, however, I won't even tell him you sent me, and his wrath might be spared for your village. It's already looking quite shabby. I don't think it could stand another attack." The gnomes stopped laughing and examined her with dislike.
"Our commander is at the tavern for lunch. You can speak to him there. But I'm warning you..."
"Save your breath," Kimiko hissed viciously, and her face was contorted in an evil glare for a moment. The deadly look was gone almost as quick as it came. She snaked through the gate before it was even entirely open and made her way down the main path. "Not much to this place, is there?" Kimiko muttered critically as she examined the small shops along the short path. It wasn't hard to find the tavern, it was made even less difficult by the fact that a few inebriated Gnomes were sitting on their rumps outside, singing a song in their native tongue in drunken tones that wouldn't even be appealing in a language Kimiko understood. She ducked into the tavern, which was not made for humans, but was larger than most of the Gnomish buildings.
The commander was easily spotted. He was wearing finer clothing than the rest with a few gleaming medals attached. His long, silvery hair was pulled out of his face, which was one hardened by his position, and he was the only Gnome actually eating rather than drinking. His eyes quickly turned on her, along with the rest of the tavern's. She stuck out like a sore thumb.
"Sir," Kimiko said with fake reverence. "I'm here to ask about your demon problem..."
"With all due respect, my troops are dwindling. Our resources are short, because no one will make the dangerous transport to get them to us, not like we have the money for them anyway. I have lost many friends in the pursuit of this creature. You, madame, would do best to spare your life and my time by taking your leave now." The Gnome's Common was perfect, but Kimiko frowned as if she didn't understand.
"If you don't give me information, I will seek him out myself," she spat. "And, if he asks who sent me, I'll tell him exactly where to go. Would you like to lose more friends, Commander?" Her eyes narrowed into slits, her eyebrows were turned in a frown, her lips were a thin line. The commander glared back.
"He is impossible to defeat," the gnome said. "Magic nor weapons can break him. He stands eight feet tall. If you still wish to try your pretty little hands, then go. There is a hill several miles northeast of here that he likes to cook his... prey... on, or so we guess from the smoke. Wait until evening, following the smoke, and you'll find him."
"Thank you," Kimiko said, as if they had been having an entirely sweet conversation. There was no adversity in her voice, it was poisoned honey again. "Farewell, Commander." She ducked out of the tavern, straightening out her back outside so that it cracked a few times. "I don't need the smoke. The smell of burnt flesh lingers." She smiled, pulling out a folding fan, and made her way toward the gate.
The demon wasn't hard to follow after Kimiko got far enough from the village that she could transform into her half-breed form. She removed the obi and slung it over her shoulder, standing still as she allowed her body to settle into its natural form. Her hair grew down to her waist and changed in color; it went from fox-red at the roots to a black ring toward the bottom and was tipped in white. Her eyes were golden and cat-like and her frame was larger and stronger. Her fancy kimono was gone, traded for a leather bodice and loose green trousers. A belt held them up and attached was a sheath, containing her trusty Isamu-kun. Her folding fan had disappeared and her complexion had become very fair.
Her nose also became more sensitive... The nasty aroma of burnt flesh, stale blood, and smoke stained the air for her sensitive nose. She wrinkled it in disgust as she drew closer.
She finally came to foot of the hill, breaking through the trees. It was steep and high, almost intimidating. Kimiko circled around it, sniffing experimentally, and finally found what she was looking for. There was a cave indented in its northern side. The stench was undoubtedly coming from there.
"Ugh," Kimiko groaned. It was just repulsive. How could the demon stand to live there? She began climbing the hill with great reluctance; she couldn't stand the scent much longer. She hurried up, but the smell only grew stronger. She covered her nose with one hand and used the other to balance herself as she ascended. Just as she drew near to the mouth, which was much larger up close than it had been at the bottom of the hill, a flash of black bolted out. She turned quickly, following the blur to where it landed. At the foot of the hill? How had he leapt so far?
"I'm sorry, does that smell foul to you?" the demon said. He was definitely eight feet tall and appeared mostly human. His neck was abnormally long, as was his sharp nose, and he had incredibly small teeth. His arms were oddly long, too. "I wouldn't know. I don't have a sense of smell." He flashed his tiny teeth.
"I'd be grateful, if I were you," Kimiko muttered, her voice muffled by the hand over her mouth and nose. "It won't be long until you have no senses at all. Unless, of course, you can see without your head being attached to your body."
"So you came seeking a fight? Did the gnomes send you?"
Kimiko grinned, uncovering her mouth and beginning to descend down the hill. "The gnomes don't 'send' me anywhere. I do everything of my own accord."
"Good. I would almost feel bad if I killed you because you were on some heroic mission to save all of Sallic." His eyes were filled with mock. "I'm Oryk. What's your name? Not that it matters... You're a half-breed, aren't you?"
Kimiko made a very animalistic growl then, coming from the depths of her chest and rolling past her fangs with a fierce sound that said the battle had commenced without the need of words. She crouched and leapt within the same second, her strong legs boosting her off the side.
A second later, Kimiko and Oryk were fighting. Kimiko was wild, unpredictable. That had always been her strength in martial arts; her style was fluid, constantly changing. But Oryk had no problem warding off her attacks. He stayed purely on the defensive, seeming content to let Kimiko wear herself out and become more furious every time he thwarted a swift kick or an elbow. The amused smirk he wore only angered her more as they danced into the trees.
Finally, Oryk made an offensive move. A kick that Kimiko didn't see coming sent her flying into a tree. Winded though she was, she was back on her feet in a breath, ready to block his next attack... or so she thought. He was gone.
No, he was behind her, and she only realized this a second too late. She heard the wind created by fast motion and turned to receive a knee in her ribs, tossing her onto the ground. She rolled onto her feet and was kicked on her left cheek, slamming her onto her side on the ground. Blood dripped from her lip where one of her fangs had broke the skin.