The Sewer Awakens

[Kenaz]

Blood red eyes opened slowly, his superb night vision almost lighting up the tunnel as his nose twitched slowly, a small grunt marking the point where he sits up, his whole body with the usual ache of sleeping on grimy stone. It was around midday he guessed, judging by the 'aromatic' quality of the sewers. It took about a year for him to notice that each time of day had its own particular 'odour' to it, a piece of knowledge that he carried with a silent dignity. Leaning backwards until he almost toppled backwards he suddenly leaned fowards, rolling up onto all fours and leaping with a practiced ease over the putrid 'contents' that graced the lowest point of all the sewers. His claw-like nails scrached quietly at he made his quick way through the laberinth-like tunnels of the sewer system of the once proud city.

He stopped by the Place, the hiding place where he kept the magic book. Pondering silently, he wondered if he should read it again... Foolish, as he knew the whole book perfectly and could probably make an exact duplicate from memory... But, still...

Suddenly his inhumanly long nose twitches, picking up a scent of someone... Closing his eyes he mentally sends out a small 'wave' of divinitary energy, trying to find out who or what was in the sewers. He knew he was not alone... Hopefully it was not another attack, he knew he had not ventured up into daylight since the last attack, hence his habit of now sleeping wherever and whenever he felt tired, his previous 'bed' being found and trapped...

[Elladan]

Exactly what Castil Crent was doing in the sewer lines of Dunhearth not even he knew. The last thing he remembered was being bitten by a rather nasty black snake with the most peculiar purple eyes. The venom took him quicky and he fell into a pair of soiled bony hands with a rather hard thud, then faded.

The smell was quite unbearable, and he plugged his nose, nausea taking the best of him. He was a rather tall youthful looking lad from first glance, but his hair was silvered and his visage indented with knowledge. His clothes were humble and patched. He carried handmade tools on a leather belt. All had come from scratch; from the earth, handmade. Such was the way of him and his possesions. Castil Crent was a hermit.

He rubbed his weary face in hopes of waking himself up, but he had no such luck. Oh, is was so dark, and so unbearably raunchy. He extended his arms in hopes of finding a wall, but felt only ebony air. His ears caught the faint trickle to his right, but nothing of the other presence. He dared to take a single step, but recoiled, gracing something soft and alive... breathing. He crouched in fear.

After a while his eyes grew accustomed to the darkness and beside him he made out an oddly heaped mass strewn across the floor. He mustered enough courage to explore, figuring death would only be a relief, and turned the mass over. It was a girl...

[Arwen]

The heap of a girl, when turned over, groaned softly, taking hold of the hand that touched her, lavendar eyes glinting open as she sat up with a start. The tiny bit of light glinted off of the amaranthine pools, but she could not see at the moment. But her eyes were very quick to adjust for her shift, and she clearly made out the form of the hermit, down to the details of his clothing and belt.

What in all the heavens?

"Ugh... What is that--awful...?" She moaned once more, as if to snort the smell of her nostrils, then covered her nose and mouth.

"Who are you?"

[Kenaz]

Still in a low crouch on all fours, his closed his eyes and immerced himself in his own hearing, forcing it to penetrate the murky bleakness of the sewers he called home.

And there it was. A voice. Eyes bursting open suddenly, he recognised it was only one voice. A female voice. A voice that sounded neither angry nor violent, obviously not another lynch mob in these sewers. Skittering quietly along he tracked the source of the voice, stopping a tunnel away to peek his hideous head around a corner, spying two figures. Strange, strange indeed he thought. One decided male but did not look like most of the Cleanies, there was something different about him... And a female, too. Curiosity held in check, his self-preservation desire won and he did not make himself known yet, instead silently waited, eyes only slits to minimize being spotted.

[Elladan]

He jolted back when he heard the groan and felt the hand take his own, adrenaline rising in fear, but calmed in a matter of seconds. He had trained himself to be rid of fear quickly, for fear is deadly in the presence dangerous beasts.

"M'lady?" his voice trembled, echoing off the boundaries of the sewer. It was a soft voice, seemingly unaccoustomed to speech, "M'lady?" he repeated.

[Arwen]

"Mmn? Oh..."

She had pulled her attention away from him a moment after her questions had been asked, and when he answered her with only the word "M'lady" she rather wanted to ask in sarcasm if that was his name.

She lost interest in his name for the moment. She'd ask when she needed to adress him... Which she didn't think would be any time soon. Seeing no exit to the line, she pulled herself up, rubbing her forehead a moment. Where was Koen?

"Where is he? My brother... He did this, but why?" she asked softly, almost to herself, though it was adressed to him as she glanced around, then started carefully along the narrow area of dry pipes in the direction of the unbeknownst presense. She took only a few steps, glanced up, then turned again, back to the hermit, and for a moment, felt that it would be better not to see this filth... then realized that if she could not she would be crawling around looking for her footing. Her hand was still over her mouth and nose, and she continued searching with glinting eyes for an exit.

[Kenaz]

Still in a low crouch, the silent observer still had his beady red eyes peeked around a corner of the tunnel, spying apon his new 'guests'. The did not seem a massive threat, plus he was pretty sure by the way they were acting they could not see too well in the near pitch blackness of the rank labyrinth of sewers he called home. As silent as a normal rat, he slowly made his way around the corner, as if presenting himself silently. He was not sure he would even be seen, but either way suited him pretty well. Moving like a ragged-clothed shadow his nose once again twitched absently as lowered himself into a comfortable squat, his long gruesome looking tail lifted slightly off of the floor behind him to add balance and minimise noise lest it touch the floor.

And there, he waited silently. Waiting for nothing in particular, merely waiting. And observing.

[Elladan]

"Who, what?" he whispered in her excitement, "Your brother?"

He paused gaze at a certain spot, then blushed in the shadows, realizing his idiocy" Forgive me for not answering your primary question. I was frightened and could swear I saw a pair of ruddy orbs floating abroad, but nevermind that. I am Castil Crent and it appears we are located in some sort of sewage system, if it isn't obvious. And you?"

[Arwen]

"Oh? Cala... Just Cala..."

She turned after this, in reply to his mention of "ruddy orbs floating abroad," and squeeled in surprise as she caught sight of the same things and the faint outline of a being squatting in the darkness. Her eyes were good... but not good enough to see what exactly this was. Human, but not.

A hand clasped quickly over her mouth, and she breathed deeply.

"Now would be an excellent time to mention to you, Castil Crent, that not only is there a pair of "ruddy orbs', but a body to go with them," she said, not hiding the words from the presense of the other, though her voice was slightly shaky, keen amaranthine eyes taking in the sight of the being that was somewhat greusome, of what she could see. "Who are you?"

[Kenaz]

A strange, croaky voice answers the question, an inhuman rasping voice that is obviously inexperienced in being actually used. "I am... A resident of this place. You appear to be lost. How did you get here? Do you wish to leave?" the silibant hissing voice speaks, the sound seeming deafening in the otherwise completely silent sewers. There is a trace of eagerness in the inhuman voice, and also a slight undercurrent of fear. People were dangerous, especially if they uncovered him to the general populace. Or turned violent towards him.

Still hiding mostly behind the corner, he does not choose to show himself yet. The fact they could barely see him anyway in the poor lighting did not seem to occur to him. He was used to hiding. Hiding kept him alive. His breathing was no longer muted to hide, being a soft rasp on both the inhaling and exhaling, a sound almost theraputic were the creature it eminated from less hideous to look apon. Shifting the tattered rags that covered his ratlike body, he waited patiently for a reply. "Please... I mean you no harm." he adds, almost as an afterthought.

[Elladan]

Castil remained in an awkward crouching position, ready for any action bestowed upon him in the anxious environment. His hands glided silently to the sharp hunting knife that swung from his leather belt. He steadily worked it out of its covering, letting the knife fall into a comfortable stabbing position. His honey-brown eyes glowed in the present darkness, gathering the small to nonexistant light that slipped from a various hole or crack around the sewers. He continued to aim his glare in the direction he last saw the eyes, and even now the slight shape of a figure was faintly visible.

The creature's raspy voice sent a chill down his spine. From what abyss had this hellish creature emerged? Castil shifted uncomfortably, adrenaline rising as the silence pounded upon his ears. A tentative hand waved away tresses that surpressed his meager vision, eyes forever fixed upon the ominous crimson orbs. Presently he tried to comprehend the hissing words that resounded off the dumb walls, clearing his mind of all the fearful thoughts that arose within his mind.

" I... I don't know how we got here. As for leaving, indeed we do. Where is this place?" his voice ended on a short note, echo failing to resound.

[Arwen]

"Other than in a sewer," Cala added, glancing behind and down at the crouched young hermit, as if a tart, rhetorical question more than an addition to the former question from the man.
"It appears my brother Koen has shoved us in here. It would be nice to leave, though I'm not sure what his purpose was. Do you have any idea what is going on above?"

Now that the shock had worn away, the Anorian seemed to be rather calm about the business, giving way to curiousity in the other being nearby...
"Likewise, we mean no harm to you, if what you say is indeed true. Will you show yourself fully?"
Of course, it wouldn't do much good, considering human eyes, but still.
"Your name?"

[Kenaz]

"My... Name...?" he hisses, his voice becoming softer and with no attempt to hide the suprise that plagued it. No-one had ever asked his name since his curse. No-one had cared. In spite of himself, he found himself grinning, although to most it would seem like he was just bearing his sharp teeth. He felt a strange pang of emotion, something he had not felt in a while... Dismissing it quickly he shuffles out into the open, staying a few meters from them as he spots the glinting of a knife on one of them. "I am... Was... Known as Kenaz. That name no longer fits though. I suppose I shall have to choose... A new one." he says, his nose twitching rapidly after he speaks, as if thinking to himself.

"And I would show myself better... But alas... I have much reason to be cautious." he adds, looking directly at the knife, his red eyes fixated like... Well, like an animal.

[Lazy Elladan]

(Please fully disregard the recent grammatic mess. I was sleepy and medicated last night, apparently lacking any sense of grammer. My goodness. Every time I read it I croak. That's it, must edit. )

[Elladan]

Castil shrank in the shrewdness of the girl, obviously embarassed and vexed. His clarity of mind was cloaked in the darkness of the abyss. He felt lost, dilated pupils groping for light other than those acursed eyes. His sense of hearing, however, had significantly increased, which brought an unfamiliar smile to his grey visage.

"My apologies," he mumbled as he resheathed the small knife, " carry on..." The honey glare now crusted over as his eyes dashed harshly to Cala, and he sat, leaving all power and decision in her hands, being of apparent inferior intelligence to her.

[Arwen]

In animal-like sense of Castil's emotions, she turned once more, glaring down at him with the glinting eyes.
"I'm no happier to be down here without any idea why than you, sir, so if you would please not turn your anger on me? I mean no harm to you or your pride, or anything else for that matter."

Attention turned once more, and she shifted quickly to take a perch on a pipe seen faintly to the side with water that ran in to the system, her bird's wings shaking idly as her hawk form came into view to those who might have been able to see her-- Kenaz, and perhaps Castil might have made out the sudden shift of her shape to something smaller, and he would indeed have noticed the sound of ruffling wings, wouldn't he?

"Regardless, I don't see a reason to change your name because of some silly thing, Kenaz. Unless you already had a name in mind, of course." She gave a cough through her sharp, curved beak which was more of a whistle, talons scraping the wall slightly as she shifted, cool as can be. "But about that way out?"

[Kenaz]

He stands there patiently, his tail gently writhing back and forth as he watches the conversation between the two strangers with interest. When the female shifts though, he gasps softly, his mouth coming agape. "How... What... You can change shape?" he gasps raspily, taking a few unconcious steps towards them both, his eyes wide and almost wild now, his mind racing. Perhaps if she could teach him, he could become human again... He could live among people without fear. As was his dream.

"Yes, yes... The way out. There are several ways out, but you will need light. Yes, for you cannot see too well in this place." he mutters, almost to himself now rather than them. Muttering something softly under his breath, his clawed hands move in arcane patterns until a soft glowing appears between them. Moving his hands up it hovers into the air, very slowly getting brighter and brighter until the area is quite decently lit, the full form of Kenaz coming into view.

Standing about 5 feet in heigh, he would probably be taller were it not for the fact he was very much so hunched over, as if wanting to be on all fours. His face is pointed and decidedly inhuman, being a hidious half-rat half-human face, the eyes blood red and shining with human intelligence. His whole body is covered in a short, wiry-looking layer of dirty hair, obviously a completel stranger to the ability to bathe. Sewers rarely had anything resembling cleanish water, let alone pure water. His clothes are nothing more than multiple laters of rotting, old ill-fitting and ill-made pieces of cloth, covered with a large greyish dirty robe, hiding most of his hunched figure. Nothing on his feet, for they protrude past the robe and end in long talons, and his tail swishes back and forth slowly as he thinks, his shining red eyes moving from 'bird' to the male.

[Elladan]

Honestly, he thought she would have been pleased with his succession, as most females would enjoy tyranny, but Cala was a subtle one. He was sure of that, so to please her he stood up fully, arching his back against a wall or post and folding his arms against his chest, looking more like a body guard than ever. He almost found his gaze toward the beast more pleasing than her icey glint. He did, however, catch a slight moment of her shift, and certainly felt the rush of stagnant sewer air. He glanced in surprise to find her in the form of a hawk, wincing at the slight glint of her sharp beak and talons.

Then... there was a glow, first faint, but ever increasing until finally the full form of Kenaz was before him and he could see nothing else. In that moment natural fear took him at first, and his eyes dialated in response, hand snatching at the knife, but pity blessed his humble hermit soul and he ceased all save his chocolate glance. Then he managed a slight smile.

Finally he saw the sewers, and took to exploring his surroundings.

[Arwen]

Cala shook her bird head violently at the light, lavendar eyes glinting in that which was indeed sufficient to light, but not fully even, considering the source it eminated from. She blinked and yawned, tongue flickering out as she did so, long and thin, almost snakelike.

"Eh... Very nice..." In human form she might have cocked a brow, but as a hawk, she took a moment to preen a few wing feathers before taking to answer the first statement of the rat-human fellow whilst Castil explored his surroundings.

"I can... Cala of Anoria... Hawk Anor, as you can see. We all have our shifts. Have you not heard of our race?" They were indeed a hidden race, though this did not seem to strike the young-seeming lass as she curiously inspected Kenaz with one amaranthine eye, head turned sidewise so that she might keep the other on Castil, curious.

[Kenaz]

A soft hiss escapes his voice, a sound marking a visible flinch into almost a cower as he sees the male's reaction to his form, an action marked by many years of forced instinct. The male showed restraint though, and even managed a somewhat forced smile. Strangely, this seemed to please Kenaz, his glinting red eyes widening slightly as he seems to be pleased, returning to as upright a stance as he got with his twisted and mutated form.

"No... My apologies. I do not learn much of the outside world in this place. I take it your ability to shift is passed down by birthright and not Arcane means?"

He talks, his voice slightly sad, but still with a small flicker of hope in it as he directs to the female shape-shifter. It was true, he did not know of any people that could naturally change thier form without the use of complex and powerful spells. Powerful spells such as curses, a small twinge flickering the side of his long pointed mouth as a memory briefly assaults him.

"But I forget myself... You requested a way out. I know several. Please follow me?"