From being an Abandoned who had rarely left the Hollowed Grounds, to embracing the call of adventure, to dying and being reborn first as an Ascended and then as an Ancient, Maea has gone through quite the amount of changes in her life. One thing remains common, though, in her attempts to find out just where she belongs; she’s always had a craving for knowledge which has brought her to so many places and to meet so many people here in Caido. We can’t wait to see what else is in store for her!
Congratulations, Maea!
Credits
Court of the Fallen was created in October of 2018 by Odd, Honey, and Crooked.
Skinning and hosting by the epically talented Kaons, and functionality fanciness by the coding magic of Neowulf. If you ever see either of them around, make sure to show them some love!
We've been shown how not to live by gracious kings of old
Safrin had laid out the tasks, and Noah was eager to complete them. Leaving a note on the notice board before he headed home for the night, Noah headed out onto the tundra in the late morning of the following day. He intended to meet his partner, whomever they decided to be, when the sun was at its peak in the sky. Safrin had instructed him to use his spear during the daylight, and with Halo's longest hours being now, it was easy for him to accomplish. Also, with war looming on the horizon, Noah wanted to be able to help strengthen himself and those around him. To train with skills of combat, weaponry, shifts, or magic, was of the utmost importance at this time.
09-21-2022, 06:21 PM (This post was last modified: 09-21-2022, 06:21 PM by Cordelia.)
Cordelia
Perhaps it had been selfish of her to snatch down the notice as soon as Noah had posted it, waiting until he was out of sight to do so, of course. Cordelia was a bit of a selfish person these days. She had gotten him back to an extent. The title of warden passed from their shoulders on to someone else. Cordelia would never say it out loud, but she was grateful for it. If only because it meant they had a moment to breathe. As much as one could with a war right around the corner.
Her paws are silent as she trots across the snow, ears flicking back and forth, amber eyes scanning for signs of her lover as she comes to the meeting spot that was mentioned in the post. She's careful to keep her portion of the bond closed off, unwilling to give herself away though she knows he's likely to spot her easily, but the Shrike tries to appear like any other fox.
We've been shown how not to live by gracious kings of old
If Noah hadn't posted the notice in the Citadel, he may have written the fox off as a coincidental spotting. However, he couldn't help but suspect his dear lady had followed him. Turning his attention to the oncoming creature, Noah watched for a moment, letting the cogs in his mind whirl and click until he decided what to do.
Within an instant, faster than the blink of an eye, Noah used his magic to close the distance between him and the fox. He swung the blunt end of his spear, intending to toss the animal a fair distance by coming up from underneath it. If it were a normal fox, it might run away and then Noah could start a small hunt while he waited for an opponent...and if it was Cordelia, then he knew he was in for it with this move.
Of course it was Cordelia. He moved swiftly, catching her by surprise with a swoop under her belly that had her feet leaving the ground, a yip catching in her throat. It took nothing for her to shift, flailing for only a moment before she was coming down on top of him, knife drawn and the blade kissing his throat moments later as her legs came around his waist. Her free hand fisted his hair, drawing his head back to bare his throat to the steel of her blade, a growl sounding in his ear. "That wasn't very nice, ástin mín." The old language rolling off her tongue in a purr even as she readied herself for the attack that was surely coming from him.
Anticipation and heat already thrumming low in her belly as she waited with baited breath, muscles coiled, and heart hammering against his back as she clung to him.
'Cause darling, it was good // Never looking down And right there where we stood // Was holy ground
We've been shown how not to live by gracious kings of old
The shift happened and a satisfied smile broke across Noah's features. Excited for the chance to spar with the woman he kept at his side, Noah kept the bond open between them. Cordelia was quick to attack and the demigod knew she would. Her knife came for his throat and he lifted his spear to block her from getting her target. Grunting, Noah grabbed the forearm of her jacket with one hand and twisted his body. He intended to pull them down together and use her as a landing pad -- there was enough force and brutality to the tactic that Cordelia wouldn't feel like he was holding back on her, but enough restraint in the moment to keep from breaking her ribs beneath his weight.
It was silly to remain in close contact with the demigod. Especially when she knew his strength was far greater than her own. Compromised as she was, the Shrike doesn't go easily. She twists in his grip with a his, baring her teeth as he grasps her arm, yanking her from his back as if she was nothing more than a feral kitten. Her own back collides with the snow as he presses over her, effectively pinning her to the ground and forcing the air from her lungs.
Not to be bested, Cordelia wedges her knee between them, going for the soft part of his belly with the intention of rolling him over her so she might pin him instead.
'Cause darling, it was good // Never looking down And right there where we stood // Was holy ground
We've been shown how not to live by gracious kings of old
Cordelia and Noah were both hunters through and through -- and they knew that sometimes a fight was a fight to the death. The woman was as hard as the ice and stone that made up the Fangs and Noah loved that about her. Her ferocity kept her from holding anything back, and even as her knee jabbed into his belly. His smile faltered for a moment as his breath emptied from his lungs. Before she was able to pin him, however, the hunter used his teleporting magic to give them some space.
He ended up not five feet away, but it was enough to give him a second to catch his breath and come back at her. He tried to close the gap between them quickly and use the blunt end of his spear to shove her away from him by jabbing it at her sternum.
Her attack lands soundly. Her knee finding his belly and forcing the air from his lungs, but before she even has a chance to pin him, intending to press her dagger to his throat again, the demigod is teleporting out from beneath her. Frustration mounts along with the growing heat sparking along the bond, honeyed gaze narrowing at him as she gets her feet beneath her, hand planting between her legs to hold herself steady for a moment.
She straightens just in time for him to rush her with the end of his spear, jamming it into her sternum, causing her to stumble. Gritting her teeth, the Shrike reaches for the spear, gripping it with all of her strength and attempting to wrench it from his grip.
'Cause darling, it was good // Never looking down And right there where we stood // Was holy ground
We've been shown how not to live by gracious kings of old
Noah can feel the growing frustration and heat across the attuned bond, and he was thankful for it. He knew that the woman got flustered when he used his teleportation magic against her -- and, in total truth, it amused him. He smirked and almost laughed when she pulled at his spear, but the coming bruise on his ribs kept him more quiet. In the long run, that was probably good for his health.
Taking advantage of her own weight and momentum, Noah kept his grip on the spear tight and kept moving forward when she pulled at him. He intended to totally overwhelm her and knock her off her feet by dominating her space and continuing to advance forward. Once he felt he was close enough he tucked his shoulder and rammed at her, pulling his spear back towards him as his trunk twisted to amplify the thud his body would make against hers.
Flustered was definitely a word for what she was. It was all encompassing. Her frustration with his teleportation. With the fact that she isn't touching him in the way that she really wants to. The Shrike doesn't allow it to distract her.
Not when h]e doesn't stop moving. Never stops. Pushing forward and blowing over her like an avalanche, the Shrike's feet skid across the snow as she attempted to dig her toes in, wanting like hell to hold her ground. Noah was too strong. He always would dominate in this area and she knew it was hopeless. Seeing what he was trying to accomplish, Cordelia released the spear and instead darted to the side, avoiding his shoulder by a breath.
She tried to jut out her own leg, attempting to trip him and send him sprawling into the snow with his own forward momentum as he barreled ahead into the space she used to be.
'Cause darling, it was good // Never looking down And right there where we stood // Was holy ground
Where Noah was strong Delia would always be quick. She skirted to the side and Noah grunted. Rather than letting himself get trapped up in her legs, Noah tapped back into the magic that lingered beneath the surface and popped several feet away.
He turned back to her, a smile broadening over his face. He tapped the end of his spear on the ground and started to close the gap between them. He could feel everything within her pulsing over the bond, and he rolled his neck some. "That should be good, darling. Let's head home," where we can practice other skills was the underlying message. Twirling his spear, the hunter reached out a gloved hand for her own to intertwine.
FIN.
Sun is up, hold on to what is yours Take up your spade and break ground
