Communing With Nature

[Lily Wolfe]

The quiet was peaceful and exhilerating all at once,the undisturbed scent of nature surrounded her as she moved father and farther away from the voices of the others.
Here, even thoughts of them were left behind.
Settling down in the grass, she crossed her knees and breathed in deeply. Blue eyes closed so that she could shut out everything but the air, the earth, and her power.
It wouldn't be easy to bring up,she knew, but it was possible.
With some effort.
A pile of leaves was situated in front of her,mind concentrating on them, concentrating...focusing,thinking...
The earth was hers to command,and this would be a simple enough thing to do,moving them...
There wasn't so much as a breeze now, so she knew the leaves were at her mercy alone.
If only she could move them...

[Lily Wolfe]

After some time, a tingling sensation found its way through her entire body,seeming to sing through her veins. Power was called up,awakened and humming.
But it wasn't yet strong.
It was enough,for now,a beginning and introduction to what would come after.
Sky hued eyes opened at last, dark lashes fluttering, and fixed upon the pile of leaves.Let them fill her vision until there was nothing else.
The leaves twitched one by one, the loose soil beneath them shifted and kicked up into clouds of dust.
It was a small effect but it was born of pure, young power.
Exhilerated, Lily fixed her mind intently upon the earth and sought to move it further, to push the loose topsoil....

[Lily Wolfe]

At one point, when the sun was high in the sky, Lily's concentration was broken by the unexpected squawk of a nearby bird. This was something she would learn to shut out with time, but as it was she was startled so much that she lost all threads of her control and concentration and felt her power leap out without her bidding.
Or rather, as I mean to say, not focused on any particular thing there was nothing but the smallest of ripples within the earth, affection only the loose topsoil and pebbles.
The slightest of trembles, noticeable to none.
But now her concentration had to be regathered-right after she stretched her muscles.
It hadn't occured to her to wonder how long she had been there, but now she was aware that her muscles had stiffened and locked into one position after prolonged inactivity.
Standing, she stretched languidly and began to roam the grounds absently...

((urgh..-sniffle-))

[Ulysses Swynford]

Ulysses had failed to receive the urgent notice to head up to the town centre and its associated markets so there wasn't much point in breaking the chain of command (nor the respect he had for Josh). If anything, he was merely following protocol: Stand down until new orders arrive. In either case, the last thing Josh ever mentioned to him was to meet him outside the Training Grounds.

Except the only presence he ever felt was the complete loner who sorely needed a trainer to guide her through the steps. He wondered, if only for a brief moment, what was 'Coppertop's' motive for committing to this newly formed team. For starters, she's not there with the rest of the crew and she certainly didn't fit into the group's dymanics. Not that there was enough time to even develop such 'camraderie' but still...one could not help but think.

Ulysses, in all his wisdom and glory, placed two fingers in his mouth and gave a shouting whistle at her. He gave his usual 'cheeky' grins and shouted, "Are you going to walk around like the loner that you are? Or are you going to have the heart at least to invite me on your 'lonesome' walks?"

[Lily Wolfe]

Lily flinched at the sudden shrill shouting whistle and turned to aim a cool glare in Ulysses' direction. Hands rested haughtily on her hips as she stared at him, light glinting upon the copper strands of hair spilling along her shoulders.
This made her pose all the more haughty and casual.
Blue eyes glinted coolly as they regarded him for another moment, before she shifted her shoulders into a languid shrug.

She didn't mind that he was there, disturbing her peace and quiet, as she had quickly become bored once her mind had moved on from its intense concentration.
In fact, despite the fact that she usually preferred to move alone, she welcomed his presence for the time being.
It hadn't been the group setting that had bothered her so much as inactivity.
Lily wanted power, and she knew that sitting around and talking about whatever wouldn't give it to her.
Only action would.

And anyway, Ulysses demeanor actually amused more than irritated her and she was human enough to admit that sometimes roaming solitarily wasn't fun.
With a slight incline of her head and a sassy grin, she responded,
"Well,I suppose if you're that desperate for my company you can join me."

[Ulysses Swynford]

He confidently smirked at her defensive concessions and chirped, "Isn't it obvious? I've 'fallen' head over heels for you. I can't stop thinking about you. And blah blah blah. I love the blah blah blah part because it's oh, so ambiguous."

Ulysses dashed towards her and so continued their walk through the maple and oak trees, which have just started to blossom under the spring sky. There was a certain warmness in the air that added the precursors to the season of summer. But that hadn't alleviated the senses as to the winds that danced across their fair skin and the radiant sunlight that was beating down on their exposed faces and casual outfits.

He had just opened a fresh packet of Men's Pocky and cordially offered a few pieces. Ulysses had already taken a stick into his mouth and the senses came rushing back to him like the tsunami wave that had completely overturned his former life.

Having a thin piece of chocolate wafers crumbling under his eager mouth had subsided the urge to eat the ass out of a dead rhinoceros. It was dead obvious as to how insatiably happy he was at the satisfaction of his oral senses. So it was no surprise when he took in another stick and toyed it between his mouth to savour any moment he can.

As he glanced over towards 'Coppertop's' expressions of muted interest his mind traced itself back to the nature of where they were coming from. Ulysses knew in his heart that there were only three reasons as to why people would choose Light or Dark in their professions. The last always being a thrillseeker's reason.

It was the first two that intrigued him the most.

Ulysses casually added, "So, if you don't mind me asking, which one was it? Power or Revenge?"

[Lily Wolfe]

Lily laughed at his response, the sound quiet but sincerely amused. It was a rarity in her serious, closed nature, but she didn't suppose the truth of that would be appreciated by him, and in any case, she had no intention of pointing it out.
For all he knew that was perfectly normal.
Footsteps automatically matched their pace to his, easily falling into a synchronized rhythm. The sunlight was bright and warm on her skin, comfortable and easy.

Offered the pocky, she plucked a bit from his fingers with the smallest gesture of thanks. Savoring the sweet taste, she allowed him to be the first to speak again.
And didn't even pretend not to know what he meant when he asked his question.
"Power. I respect those who hold it, and I strive to get it for myself. It seemed this was the simplest route. And yourself?"

[Ulysses Swynford]

Ulysses's comical antics slowly disappeared away from his outer shell the moment the question reciprocated back towards him. It was quite easy to give the answers away and end it at that. But what fun would it be when the candid remarks were overtly obvious? His thoughts soon translated itself into a physical form when he held up his leisurely walk between the blossoming oak and maple trees. Ulysses turned to his right and looked deep into her cerulean irises. It wasn't so much as scrutinising but more of the anticipation of how she was going to react. In short, he wanted her to see the answer for herself.

"What do you think I'm going to say? Would you believe me if I had synchronistically concurred with your reason? Can you envision a revengeful person behind this cheeky exterior? Or do you anticipate a political answer that derives itself from the reckless addiction of danger?"

Ulysses deliberately paused and patiently waited for a sign - any sign - as to how she would respond. Hopefully, in kind, he mischeviously mused to himself.

[Lily Wolfe]

"Any of those might fit, I think. Whose to say what behaviour a vengeful person might show the world? Maybe your poor little heart was destroyed by some horrible beasty of a person, or maybe you just got bored with a pathetic existence.
Are you some bored, psychotic thrill seeker? Are you angry at the world? Or are you just looking for your own ends?
You tell me."she responded thoughtfully, intrigued to know the answer.

((-kicks muse- It sucks! -wails-)

[Ulysses Swynford]

[OOC: Open your heart more . And just be yourself when you write. That way your originality shines. I just hope Miss Magenta words can apply to here as well ]

Ulysses teasingly replied, "I never knew you cared that much for my 'poor little heart'."

He theatrically moved his left hand to where his heart was, which had momentarily skipped a beat, and 'romantically' sighed as if he was on cloud nine. Ulysses was being overly melodramatic with his twisted artform of words but how could he not help to the opportunity? After all, her intriguing looks clearly motivated him to swing either way. And, as always, he took the light-hearted approach.

Whatever signs he was somewhat serious to his inquisitive manner had just left his bones.

"Okay, okay, I'll stop." A slight cough escaped through his respiratory ducts as he stopped to recompose himself. Lily was a person who seriously admired someone for their awesome might and power at their own talents and abilities. Although she obviously had some trouble in keeping a verbal contest with the friendly banter of questions.

Ulysses straightened himself and turned his complete attention towards Lily. "Knowledge is power. It's cliched and overused...but it's true and it heavily applies in the line of work that we are about to embark upon. My reason here is pure and simple: It's to discover the truth."

He moved closer to within inches of her unblemished face and added, "I don't think you know what it means to gain this 'power' that you speak of, do you?"

[Lily Wolfe]

" I really do."she told him in a mock sweet, sarcastic tone. It wasn't clear wether or not she really did or wether she didn't, but in all honesty...She didn't not care.
She didn't know him, and she was interested to see what was behind all the bantering and bravado.
A lightning quick smile curved her lips at his gestures, blue eyes laughing for the moment they were shown before being swept below thick lashes. When her gaze fixed upon him a blink later there wasn't laughter, but serious thought.
She knew she wasn't the best at banter and teasing conversation, but she also knew she hadn't really been exposed to much of it before now.
The people she had known hadn't been much for fun and games.
And to that end..she wasn't sure she knew how to play them.
Distracted from her thoughts as he spoke again, she listened with interest.
Though a cliche it was also perfectly true. Knowledge was power- one of which that Lily had yet to attain in any large measure but one she wasn't exactly lacking in either.
"And what truth are you looking for, Uly?"she asked him, too intrigued to bother hiding her curiousity.
But even that was overshadowed by his next words, light eyes locking onto the face mere inches from her own though the words captivated her just as much, if not more.
"You tell me, since you seem to know so much."

((Thanks for the advice.I'll finnish the postie soon.))

[Ulysses Swynford]

Ulysses raised an eyebrow at her surprisingly sudden remarks and inquiries, peppered with a curious undertone virtually non-existant back in the temple. He intuitively knew 'Coppertop' held back on a lot of things, most notably her eager desire for power. But he hadn't expected (of all things) to be her curiousity and inquisition.

There was only one way Ulysses could put her through. Of course, it would reveal a whole lot more about a woman who obviously lacked the leadership traits as overtly presented by Josh moments earlier. Just how much was the real question (and the truth).

He slowly broke their entranced 'moment of togetherness', completely disregarding her questions altogether, and ran towards the poisoned oak tree, which they had just passed moments earlier. It was a pity the right equipment was not in order today. The seriousness of their conversations would've been heightened by it.

However, he (and 'Coppertop') had to make do with what they have. And, as he came back, he was carrying what was a pair of wooden sticks, mottled with sharp splinters and annoying spikes of twigs. Ulysses would've guessed they had been about 70 centimeters each. Just about right for what he was planning to subject her to.

He curteously offered her one of the sticks and sanguinely added, "I'm not going to give it to you that easily. I figured it'd be interesting to see how far you'd go to beat me silly for the truth that you're seeking. You game?"

[Lily Wolfe]

Lily's frustration was skillfully hidden as he ignored and disregarded her questions. She wanted answers, craved the power that came with knowledge, with understanding and training.
But she was also canny enough not to push, knowing that there would be some way to get the information if she was patient and alert enough to find it.

Hands fisted at her hips as he ran away, curious gaze following him up to the oak that they had passed only a moment before. Watching as Uly returned with the sticks, she eyed each of them thoughtfully before giving a slight shrug and taking the offered bit of wood.
"Sure..why not."

[Ulysses Swynford]

[OOC: I hope this is a better post. And I'm awfully sorry for the rather late reply. It won't happen again ]

Ulysses encouragingly smiled at 'Coppertop's' approval in their elfin discourse of 'cat and mouse'. He confidently grasped his four foot wooden pole, which was heavily littered with stubs of twigs, bark and splinters, within his right hand. Any searing senses of sharp, stinging sensations he felt within his right palm was deceptively hidden beneath his clouded-grey irises. Cautiously, he moved five feet away from her; his Steel-Tipped Boots grinding against the weather-beaten dirt path that had led them to a secluded section of the temple compounds.

As he fixed his gaze deep through 'Coppertop's' ambigiously aquamarine eyes, he wondered, if only for a brief moment, whether Lily was going to make an advantageous strike against his semi-lean, muscular frame. The late-spring wind coincidentally picked up its speed and intensity, both of which bore no visual effect to his short brown hair he always sported.

Grinning broadly, he mused, "Let's see what you've got, 'Coppertop'."

[Lily Wolfe]

((That's okay, Uly. I was offline for four days,anway so I didn't know the difference.))


Palm gripped the rough wood of the stick firmly but carefully, easily finding the smoothest hold that she was able- though being that the entire length of wood was covered with splinters, stubby bits of twig, and rough areas and thus no part of it was really comfortable to hold.
But she wouldn't let on to her discomfort no matter what.
Stance was loose and deceptively lazy as she watched Ulysses move back, settling himself at a comfortable distance.

A slow, catty smile curved her lips in anticipation.
She couldn't recall a time when she had indulged in the antics that were about to take place, a time when she had any opportunity to learn from anyone else about the things she wanted to know. But she sensed that she could learn alot from Uly.
The wind brushed at the long strands of auburn hair as it picked up, but rather than be distracted by the dancing tendrils Lilyonly ignored them.
They didn't impede her vision, and that was what would be important.

Taking his words at face value, and as somewhat of a challenge, Lily shifted her hold slightly on the wood before swinging out and forward in a carefully controled arc, muscles tight and coiled as she struck out with careful precision for his midsection.