By the waterfall... [RP]
 

[[Anyone can join in! :3]]

Sei walked through the forest far from the training grounds, hoping to find a quiet place to rest and take a break from the rigorous training that he had been doing all morning. His polearm, still gleaming in the sunlight, swung by his side as he moved through the trees.

He soon found a clearing that housed a pristine lake. A waterfall of a fairly large size flowed into it with a crashing roar that echoed through the forest. He couldn't hear any sounds of the camp, which made him quite happy.

Content with his choice, he used his polearm to grab a fruit from a nearby tree and sat down under its shade to enjoy the afternoon.

Chamaros words still rang in Rain's head as she went further into the forest. No, she had not expected war to be flowers and sunshine, but... She had also not expected they would never even know why they were suddenly given a choice, a choice they could not avoid. It was one of the things that frustrated Rain the most. And then people like some of her Captains and Cronislee. They killed with pleasure, enjoyed it.

Of course, her claws were stained with blood of divine, too, but she did it to protect her friends and wished that she would see all her friends one day. But Rain had feeling this choice might had made a much bigger impact on all their lives than they wanted to think about.

Suddenly, Rain's ears twitched. Someone was in front of her, nearby. Of course, she had not so much heard them as felt their presence, and would have noticed sooner, if not so lost in her angered thoughts, but it didn't matter. Pondering for a moment, she "blurred" out a little and moved forwards, then half jumped, half floated up in a tree at the edge of clearing to observe the situation. Unless the other being was magical, they should not be able to feel her ghostly presence.

Sei continued to eat his treasure, completely oblivious to the observer from the other side. The fruit was so juicy and sweet and he counted himself lucky to have found one so readily.

He got up to wash his hands in the pond and caught a glimpse of himself; he was wearing clothes from the other side. Though he hated to do so, it was a practical move because they got less dirty during battles and it might provoke less battles with the corrupt forces.

He grabbed his polearm and prepared to take a quick snooze before he returned to the camp, but felt uneasy all of the sudden. Though this was a peaceful place, this was no time to nap unprotected.

Instead, he stared out into the distance, admiring the beautiful afternoon.

Nightmare, who's real name seemed to be completely unknown, sat under one of the many trees in the forest. One hand was free while the other gripped her staff firmly in case someone were to try and attack her. The war was something fun to her. She enjoyed being able to fight the divine. They annoyed her, as she thought of them to be the perfect little angels, though that wasn't exactly true.

Having decided to take a break from battling, she gazed up at the sky. The sun peaked through the trees and onto her white skin, speckles of red dots and splatters from the blood of those she had beaten in battled on her clothes. At the same time that she enjoyed a good fight, it was almost sad to her to have to fight this much. Her eyes closed, allowing her head to be cleared of the images she had seen already that day.

It wasn't long, though, before a long sigh escaped her mouth as she stood. She couldn't slack off all day, but at the same time it sounded like a good idea. She began to walk off, spinning her staff in her hand as she took each step. Her eyes were on lookout for the divine, keeping her guard up, since she believed there would be someone always willing to attack at any given moment.

This man... He seemed somehow peaceful. Like he had left the thoughts of battles and death behind him when he entered this clearing. Rain had to admit the scenery was indeed beautiful, but she was more curious about who was this man. He wore dark clothes and she his weapon was a replica of her Captain's weapon, but she had never seen him around the camp. Then again, it would be impossible to know, even if by face, all of her fellow Corrupts.

Then she saw him tense up a little as he took his weapon and she prepared for a jump. But the man didn't turn around and seemed to calm down. Rain pondered for a moment more, but then leaped out of the tree, taking a visible form in middle-air and landing few meters away from the man. Her claws were sheathed and she smiled. "Greetings," she spoke. "What are you doing so far from the camp, if I may ask? I haven't really seen you around there, too."

Her words were cautious, just like she was, but she tried to not sound hostile. Then, again, her black, long fur tipped ears twitched, and she partly turned her head to the side, giving part of her attention to the another wandering stranger.

From out of nowhere this... creature appeared. From her demeanor, she seemed to be cautious yet not overly hostile. He assumed that she was of the corrupt forces, and tried his hardest to appear as if he was too.

Responding to her question, he replied, "I... I'm just here to relax a bit from the battles. There're so many people at that camp, it's not a wonder that you've never seen me before." He made sure to place his polearm in a non-threatening position.

"What are you doing here, then? Same as I?" He waited for this creature to respond to his question, hoping that a battle was not imminent.

[[Hello, Nightmare! Welcome! :3]]

He was hesitant, Rain felt it, and it made her a little more edgy. She wasn't sure if many... furred ones were on divine side, so, if he was one of them, there was possibility he found her to be some sort of freaky creature. Then again, she kind of was exactly that, but it was besides the point.

"You could say that," she answered, tilting her head to the side and inspecting him. Rain was tempted to use a bit of her magic to read his full aura or maybe a little of thoughts, but she would refrain for a bit more, till the other person came out in the clearing - magic using took up too much of her attention. "It is quite beautiful here, isn't it," Rain commented, but her eyes never really wandered away from the man.

He could see her scanning for something... surely someone else was here. Reinforcements, maybe? He really didn't want to be a prisoner; Fenrir would not be pleased at that news. He tried to seem relaxed, but he was really tense with that line of thinking going through his mind.

Trying to be civil, he replied to the creature, "Yes, it is. It is one of the most beautiful places on the planet; I could stare out here all day." He looked into the water, taking his eyes off her for only a minute, testing her real intentions. "This water is both of the brightest blue and the clearest diamond, is it not?"

He had grown even more tense, Rain felt and shifted a little, feeling awkward. If they were of different camps, she should either leave or attack him. Since she wasn't too happy with the second option, it was obvious she had to leave.

"Ugh, all this is starting to get on my nerves," she though, frowning slightly and following his line of gaze that ended in the water. Her ears shifted backwards, as she tried to find the other presence nearby. "The same could be said about many places that have not yet seen battle, though," she commented, the line between her brows growing deeper.

"Well, since we're here, wanna share one of the fruits with me? I heard they're better when you share them with another person..." He pierced one of the overhanging fruits, tossed it into the air, and split it with ease. He held one half out to her, hoping she'd take the, though it might be only temporary, truce.

A smile appeared on her half face-half muzzle at the man's words. It seemed that he didn't want to fight just as much as she didn't and that was a good sign, even if she did tense a little when he swished his weapon. Not that it could really harm her.

But when he held out the fruit, she came closer and took it only after short hesitation and it was mostly because she hadn't used human for quite a long time. Theoretically, though, she knew that she could consume it and turn it into energy without actually digesting it. So, Rain looked at the fruit half for a moment thoughtfully, watching how the juice dripped down her hand and then took a bite.

"Thank you," Rain said with a smile. "May I ask what is your name?" she asked, as if encouraged with his offered truce. She took another bite and chewed slowly, trying to imagine what it would taste like.

Jinx peaked in around from behind a tree, watching the two enemies decide on a temporary truce or not. "I'm glad some try," She mumbled. "Better to try than kill each other."

"Oh, right, well... my name is Sei, what about yours?" he replied, peering into her eyes. He took another bite of the fruit, savoring the flavor of it as he chewed. He wondered if he should have given his real name to the enemy, but he figured they'd probably learn it in battle anyways. Waiting for a response, he took took in some of that cool, forest air.

It was a long way from the nearest town or any kind of civilization when Shenandoah entered a soothing clearing. She frowned in a somewhat pensive manner, surprised by the people already there. Softly, her padded feet trod the ground as she approached. "Hello," she murmured, surveying them with green eyes as she felt a soft breeze tug at the green antlers mounted on her head.

"I don't have a real name anymore," she answered, very honestly. Due to various reasons, her name (that she did remember), belonged to the past and only to the past. "But I go by Rain," she added a moment later,looking at the waterfall with thoughtful expression, even if her black, glass like eyes remaining just as emotionless as before.

A moment later, though, she pulled out of the serene mood and tensed. Rain now stared at the forest, where two new presences had appeared. A moment later, a being that was part human, part wolf, and to top it off had deer antlers walked out of the forest, but the other remained hiding. Her eyes narrowed but she tried to act calm and took another bite of the fruit after replied to the forest-spirit-like being's greeting.

She observed the two, seeing that they were a part of the war that had been ravaging the lands. Shenandoah, herself, had fallen on the side of the Divine for no other reason than to protect the woodlands she lived in. However, so long as none tried to disrupt her home, she would not harm those that entered her forest. When the quote-unquote 'enemy' returned her greeting, she nodded serenely. "It is quite a long way from the borders of this forest to the edge of the pool... What brings all of you here?"

Jinx waved from behind the tree. "Hello my fluffy antlered ally." She went back into hiding, watching Sei and Rain talk.

Just as he was getting comfortable with one being, another part-wolf-part-deer walked out from the woods and began to question them. He replied that he had happened to walk to this pond by accident, but that he would remember this place as one of the nicest chances he ever took.

"Who're you, may I ask?" He looked up at her, smiling curiously as someone popped out, said hello, and hid herself again.

Man, this secluded spot is anything but..., he thought to himself.

If honestly, Rain was starting to feel outnumbered. The nearby two, maybe even three, beings seemed to belong to the opposite camp and how much of the peaceful attitude was fake and how much real, she could not tell without using magic that could alarm them all. She reminded her self that if needed, she would manage to leave fast enough, though.

With that thought, Rain answered to the stranger's question peacefully. "I wanted to enjoy some peace and quiet, so my wanderings led me here." Not completely true, or more like only part of truth, but that was enough. "I hope I didn't bother any of you in any way. I should probably take my leave soon anyway," Rain added, shrugging casually as she finished the fruit half.

"There is no trouble... as long as there is no harm," Shenandoah informed the seemingly antsy hominoid she-cat. "I am Shenandoah." At this, she laid a hand upon her breast and bowed slightly, keeping her head facing the woman as to not make her think she was charging her or some such. "A spirit of this wood with no ill intentions other than to guard my home from destruction."

He sensed that Rain was getting a bit nervous, but he tried his best to put off a good aura to calm her down. He shifted a bit, trying to get a more comfortable position against the tree. All of the sudden, a fruit fell and hit him on the head. "Ow...!" he said as he rubbed his head to relieve the slight pain. "I'm beginning to think that sitting under a tree isn't the best idea," he commented to no one in particular while he laughed quietly.

"What brings you here, Shenandoah?"

"The water," spoke Shen with a nod to the rippling pool and the toppling water from above. She stepped over to the tiny stream cascading down to join the large river far below. "It makes a plesant noise... and many deer have found it to be safe haven against predators. I enjoy watching them as well." Kneeling and wrapping the bushy tail protruding from her hindquarters around her paws, she dipped one dark hand into the clear liquid, feeling the chill as the water saturated her glove.

"I wish no harm to the forest, Shenandoah," Rain answered honestly. Woods were her own favorite place to be and she wanted them always remain as such. At least she did not have to fear this being very much at the moment.

But while she had to stifle a chuckle when the fruit hit Sei, it didn't change the fact it was getting dangerous for her to remain here, plus, she had to return to the camp and see if Chamaros had let other leaders know of her rebellious talk. If there was any trouble ahead of her, she wanted to face it as soon as possible. It would be even worse if they found out that she left two, maybe even three divines alive, though, but... This was no battle field (not that it would matter for any of the Captains of General her self).

"Now I really must take my leave, so I bid you... all a good evening," she added and then stepped back, few moments later merging with the tree line and there using her powers to become invisible and leave the scene quickly and easily.

(I really gotta go, you see. x3 But it was fun rping with ya. <3 good night)

Shenandoah watched her leave with amusement before returning her attention to the human. "Are you well enough? That fruit did fall quite rapidly."

While foraging for food, Espy's acute hearing caught the sounds of human voices. Curious as ever, she crept silently towards the source, which seemed to be a waterfall. As she neared a large clearing, she saw people on the banks of a huge lake. Not wanting to be immediately seen, Espy ascended a tree and perched on an overlooking branch.

Hearing the noise from both a newcomer as well as the whisper of the tree the newcomer had just accended, Shenandoah looked away from the human and towards the side of the clearing that was now occupied. Listening intently, Shenandoah allowed this individual to choose his or her own moment to appear and prove their kindness, cruelty, or neutrality... which ever it may be.

Dammit. I've been seen, Espy thought in annoyance as she returned Shen's stare. She stepped off the branch and landed lightly on the ground in fox form, peering curiously from side to side.

Shenandoah peered at the fox that dropped from the tree, curious as to what her intent was... for it was female, she could sense. "If you wish to drink, feel free." Her words were calm, soothing, and unthreatening. She did not show her teeth as she spoke, knowing it was a threat to those that were not human... or at least, not completely human. The forest spirit at that point chose to step to one side, impending the ability to get to the other in the clearing, but not to the point that the way to the water was impossible to get to.

The fox glided to the edge of the water, weaving between ankles and legs and landing on the bank, seeming reluctant to get her feet wet. Folding her wings, she lapped at the cool crisp water.

After a few moments, she turned her red piercing gaze on the antlered being.

Who are you? she thought directly into the being's mind.

"Just a guardian of this forest... a spirit..." Shen turned her gaze skyward and sighed. "And it is my time to leave now. Do not harm the other here... I would rather not have blood spilled in my forest."

You have no reason to worry.

The hoarse voice fell silent as the fox surveyed the others crowded around the lake, none of whom had seemed to notice the vixen. Backing away from the water's edge, she curled up into a tight ball and continued her observations.

Sei woke up with a start; for some reason, he had fallen asleep despite the echoing roar of the waterfall. All of the beings that he had met yesterday had vanished, and he felt lucky that he had survived the night intact. Not wanting to push his luck any further, he immediately got right up and dusted himself off.

He was starving, and his stomach growled for one more fruit, and with one deft swing, he pierced another fruit. Wow... I could live off of these things..., he thought. He sliced it in half and wrapped the second half up to have as a snack later. Taking a bite of the juicy fruit, he stepped back into the forest.

If Rain had something from a cat's personality, it was curiosity. It was not always present, but there were times when it surfaced and did not leave her along until she quenched it with the information. That had made her a good student in her own time, though, and still helped with her magic studies, so the ghost female didn't mind it most of the time.

But this time, her curiosity made her question how near that certain clearing and waterfall was the divine camp, if so many of them had been gathering there. It wasn't impossibly far from her own either, so could it be possible both camps were situated so near each other? Maybe the divine one nearby the clearing was a small one... After all, there were quite secure information the biggest camp of her enemy were nearly week travel's away.

She wasn't sure what she would actually do with the information, if she indeed found the camp, but still she had returned to the woods and now the ghost was moving - jumping from one tree to another without a sound - towards the waterfall again. And then she sensed a presence again, one that she already knew.

"Ahhh, Sei, we meet again. Seems like you have really taken liking for this place," she spoke from a branch few trees away from the man on the right.

Out of nowhere, Rain appeared again. "Why hello, Rain, I didn't know if I'd ever see you again," he replied as he smiled. "I do quite like this forest; it's peaceful and full of life... like if I stayed here, war would never be a reality..." He sighed a bit and twirled his polearm aimlessly.

"What brings you back here, though, Rain? I assumed that you had found a more quiet place to spend your time?" He was aware that she might be following him, hoping to find one of the Divine camps, but he was easily able to change course and go out of his way to pass the camp. He was not going to be the reason the Divine lost the battle.

"Nor did I, but I suppose we can never know what Fate will write in his book," Rain said, crouching in more comfortable position on the branch. "And that is a nice feel to have, Sei. I think I can connect to it," she nodded, but added as an afterthought: "but I don't think either armies would love deserters."

"I..." the female was about to answer his question when another shifting of feet made her slip. With a loud gasp, she came tumbling down, but in last moment, managed to shift so that she landed semi-softly on all four. For a moment, Rain stayed like that, eyes wide in her face, but then slumped, bowing head and started laughing loudly. "I can't believe it happened," she gasped out between laughter.

Shenandoah returned to the clearing, not expecting it to be once more occupied. She blinked, surveyed the two before her, and raised an eyebrow at the tumble the feline homonoid took. "I see you have returned to this place," she said in a neutral tone, closing her bright green eyes slowly before opening them once more in a show of absolute serenity.

He watched Rain slip and rushed to help her in vain - by the time he attempted to catch her, she was already righting herself and laughing a bit. He could see that she was not hostile to him, at least not in this specific circumstance. He honestly hoped that they would never have to meet in battle... to choose between the loyalty of arms and the friendship of the forest would be too difficult to make in a split second.

He joined her laughter at the situation as Shen appeared nearby. After yesterday, he had learned not to be surprised at sudden pop ups from the brush, as this forest seemed to be a great place for such activity. "Why hello, Shen. How're you this fine morning?" he replied, smiling as best he could as he bowed respectfully.

Shen nodded to him. "Well enough... some of the fools from the armies decided logging might be a profitable venture... They will not be doing as such again. I frightened them well enough." She settled back on her haunches. "How are you doing on this fair day?"

Rain stood up and dusted her off, trying to stifle last giggles. She was probably looking a little weird, or more than just a little, laughing about this, but the fact she - a ghost - had tripped and fallen somehow amused her to no end. Rain rarely used the more physical form she could take and therefor, such things happened rarely.

She tensed up a little again when the forest spirit appeared, but made her self look just as relaxed before. Rain didn't like that it seemed Shenandoah were closely watching both of them. She didn't like to be watched, even in case like this. Not to mention, the ghost could not forget that Shenandoah was of opposing forces.

"Greeting! I am quite fine, thank you for asking," she answered, trying to not sound stiff. But if honestly, Rain was not very good at hiding her emotions. She crossed her arms, but then realizing it was self-protecting gesture and they might take it as if she was afraid of them, let her arm,s fall to her sides once more. Her tail swished quickly behind her back few times.

Shen's eyes returned to Rain and noticed her nervousness. "You might as well calm down. I do not kill unless provoked beyond measure... and it seems as though you are not the type to do anything detrimental in this place in any case." Her tail curled around her paws, her arms resting languidly upon her furred calves. The green fabric that was more for pretty than camouflage fell between her legs and pooled slightly on the ground, the green matching the grass in this locale.