Marikah stood at the water's edge, the waves lapping at her bare feet. It was fifteen years to the day that her father had died, and where was she? No where, that's where. She had spent the last fifteen years or so healing the unwanted or people who couldn't afford to be healed at the mahor healing centers scattered amongst the villages and towns. She lived from one "patient" to the other, some not even paying her at all.

Maybe I should just go back to my home village, she thought, but that idea was quickly quashed. No one in her home village liked her; being a half-elf, she was ostracized from society. Going to her mother's family was out of the question; they'd throw her out before she could get two words in. What I need are some...what's that word? Oh right, friends. Yes, that's what I need.

However, no one would want to be friends with a half-elf. She was too different from her two worlds. Covering her pointy ears with her hair helped, though most people could sense her aura. I wish I could talk to someone, anyone, she thought.

Little did she know, she was about to get her wish...

Heavy footsteps carried his frame forward as he continued his journey throughout the new and interesting lands that he stumbled upon quite some days ago. It had been an interesting last couple of days, the characters he met and conversed with were far different than the ordinary Joe in his homelands, but it didn’t bother him all that much. However, maybe this time he could find some alone time to himself and relax with the calm lull of the ocean, but perhaps that too may vanish. A slight chuckle passed his parted lips as he shook his head slowly at the odds of him having a peaceful day, knowing out right that it was far from possible, especially for him.

With a loud screeching caw his crow took flight from his shoulder and scanned across the beach before running across a woman, where it had decided to land. With another loud caw it made its way across the sand and over to a shell that had been lodged within the depth of the sand, but protruded enough to see. The crow had tried its best to pull the shell from its resting place but to no avail. Night-fyre soon slowed to a stop near the bird, before dropping to a crouch to get a better look at what the bird was trying to get. A slight smile crossed his lips as his head shook before speaking, “What is it with you? If you want it, I’ll get it for you, but I’m not quite too sure on why you would want something like that.” Wasting little time he grabbed the shell and plucked it from its resting place before offering it to the bird. Night kept his eyes on the bird, which was part of the reason he didn’t notice the woman, yet. The crow cawed again and snatched the shell from his hand and hopped over the woman on the rock, dropping the shell beside her and then giving one final caw to signify it’s presence to her right side.

A shade of red slid across Night’s cheeks as he eyed the bird and then the woman, before giving a quick shake of the head to rid himself of the embarrassing feeling. Great, now his birds were trying to woo women for him. Another chuckle passed his parted lips as he took a now standing position before speaking, “Terribly sorry….The bird has no mind, honestly. I think when it got hit by that rock a couple days back, something must’ve got knocked loose, because it’s been acting weird lately. Normally it doesn’t bother people and I hope that it didn’t disturb you, if it did then I apologize and I will be on my way.”

A crow's call brought Marikah out of her reverie, startling her slightly. Standing on her right side was the bird in question. It was looking up expectantly at her, a small shell at its feet. Marikah picked it up and was about to admire it further when a voice cut in.

“Terribly sorry….The bird has no mind, honestly. I think when it got hit by that rock a couple days back, something must’ve got knocked loose, because it’s been acting weird lately. Normally it doesn’t bother people and I hope that it didn’t disturb you, if it did then I apologize and I will be on my way.”

Standing not far away was a man, a tall, muscular warrior-type. Marikah's pale cheeks reddened slightly in embarrassment; it wasn't often that people spoke to her, especially not someone as well-respected as a warrior. Thirty-five years old and I'm still blushing like a little girl, she thought.

"It's quite all right," she replied with a small smile, as she tried to will the pink away from her usually pale pallor. She desperately wanted to make sure her ears were covered, but was unable to for fear of arousing suspicion. "There's no need to apologize; it was a welcome distraction."

The crow watched the woman study its gift hoping she would find it to her liking. Again the crow gave a loud caw as it turned and looked up at the man hoping he would go further into the conversation than he had. Night-fyre eyed the bird suspiciously, before glancing over to the woman, “Uhh….Well, allow me to introduce myself then…The only name I go by is Night-Fyre and only that. My real name is of no importance to anyone, so I simply go by the name I give.” A faint smile crossed his lips, before fading once again, “Sooo….Is there an exact reason why you’re out here alone? I don’t mean to be nosy, but I’m just simply curious…..”

Again the crow let out another caw as it then made its way across the sand and to the waters edge where it lulled and bathed itself with the water, shaking every once in a while to dry its feathers. Night watched the bird from the corner of his eye, before bringing his ice blue hues back upon her. Just then a light breeze kicked up, causing his hair to sway with the movement of the passing wind. For a few moments he studied her before noticing something strange about her ears; however, he wasn’t about to say anything about them. There was a reason behind that though and that was because he was too blessed with the same ears and also valued their mask from the world around him and he wouldn’t change that for anything.

The crow turned to face the woman, before flapping its wings a few times to take itself up and onto her right thigh where it perched for the meantime. It’s head turned to face the woman, as it studied her shoulder wondering if the woman would allow it to perch there instead. Without thinking twice about it the crow flapped its wings again and took itself up upon her shoulder trying its best not to startle her or hit her in the face. The bird turned on her shoulder, where it too gazed off over the ocean intent with its new view.

A look of distaste washed across his countenance as he eyed the bird rather annoyed, “Do you think the woman wants you there? Do you think she wants you anywhere by her? Maybe you should get down before something worse happens to you than getting hit by a rock.” The crow turned its head to the man and again let out a loud squawk in response to his statement. A simple sigh passed his parted lips as he shook his head in defeat, “Whatever then, I hope she knocks you off from where you stand. Because one of these days you’re going to learn that not everyone’s friendly, just like that guy in the alley.” Again his eyes drifted to the woman, before he began speaking, “I apologize for the birds insolence once again, and it doesn’t mean no harm, its just being friendly, I know. It’s the fact of the matter though…. It shouldn’t be bothering people, especially a pretty young lass like yourself.”

“Uhh….Well, allow me to introduce myself then…The only name I go by is Night-Fyre and only that. My real name is of no importance to anyone, so I simply go by the name I give.”

"Fair enough," Marikah conceded. "My name is Marikah Rain, and...well...that's my real name. I was named after my mother, I think...my father didn't talk about her much."

Marikah sighed softly; thinking about family was painful in general, but today was worse. However, she had to plug on and keep up appearances.

“Sooo….Is there an exact reason why you’re out here alone? I don’t mean to be nosy, but I’m just simply curious…..”

"No harm done; I have to talk about it sooner or later," she said. "It's a significant day for me, one that I like to spend on my own in quiet reflection. However, since the day is almost through, I can get back to my normal routine."

She glanced up as the crow flew from her side and began bathing in the ocean. A slight breeze picked up, ruffling her hair and uncovering her pointy ears. Trying to be discreet, Marikah flattned her hair over her strange appendages, hoping that Night didn't see them. It could have spelled disaster for her.

The crow finished its bath and flew up again, landing on Marikah's thigh. It looked as if it were contemplating something before flying up and landing on her shoulder. Almost as soon as it did, Night began speaking.

“Whatever then, I hope she knocks you off from where you stand. Because one of these days you’re going to learn that not everyone’s friendly, just like that guy in the alley.”

"Well, lucky for him, I am one of the friendly sort," Marikah replied, petting the bird on the chest. She could feel Night's gaze on her, but for what she wasn't sure.

“I apologize for the birds insolence once again, and it doesn’t mean no harm, its just being friendly, I know. It’s the fact of the matter though…. It shouldn’t be bothering people, especially a pretty young lass like yourself.”

"I don't mind, really," Marikah insisted. "I like animals; growing up, they were my companions. He's not bothering me, really."

She could feel her cheeks redden at the 'pretty young lass' remark; her, pretty? No, that wasn't it. She was a disfugured freak who didn't fit in either world she was from.

Night turned to gaze over the ocean, scanning its depths as if in some sort of trance, fixed upon just listening to her and nothing else. He tired of hearing his own voice, but instead he wanted to hear someone else speak for a while. However, there was also something that plagued his mind and that was the fact of seeing her hidden features. It wasn’t quite that, which was bothering, but the fact that perhaps he should expose his in order to show her that she’s not the only alien around these parts. For a moment he stirred upon the thought before speaking in response to her statements, “Marikah Rain…That’s a nice name. It fits the holder as it should.”

He turned to face her now with a small smile upon his face before he continued, “I do have a question for you, Marikah Rain…Are you of full, half, or partial blood? If you’re clueless as to what I’m asking you, then I will show you other than describe it.” A knot seemed to tie itself in the pit of his gut, as his hand slowly lifted to his ear to tuck a few strands of hair behind it. Upon doing so his head turned to the left to allow her a better view of what he uncovered, before withdrawing the hand and allowing his silver hair to fall back into place. He stewed for a moment, allowing her to gather up a response before he continued, “You have seen what I call my embarrassment. I figure you’ll be more comfortable knowing that you are among someone of common grounds, but then again, I may be wrong…” His shoulders shrugged, as he turned his attention back to the bird whom was currently pecking at the woman’s fingers as play, “Well, what do you say that we leave this young woman be now, I think we’ve caused her enough trouble."

“I do have a question for you, Marikah Rain…Are you of full, half, or partial blood? If you’re clueless as to what I’m asking you, then I will show you other than describe it.”

Night seemed apprehensive as he moved a few strands of hair out of the way so that it revealed his ears. Pointy ears, like hers. She touched her own, through her hair before moving it out of the way so that he could get a full view.

"I'm half and half," Marikah replied with a sigh. "My father was human and my mother was elven. I am not sure what kind, because Father never spoke of her much, claiming it was too painful. I was sent to live with him when I was but a baby, so I do not even remember her. Father died several years ago, so I can not ask him about her anymore."

She had no tears in her eyes as she said this. Even though it was a sad and depressing topic, she had shed too many tears over it already. No, she was going to be strong, and carry on like she should, just like her father had told her to. It does not do to dwell in dreams and forget to live.

“Well, what do you say that we leave this young woman be now, I think we’ve caused her enough trouble."

The bird was nipping at her fingers at this point, much like a puppy or a kitten would try to gnaw your hand off in play. It didn't hurt; on the contrary, it was a pleasant feeling.

"Well, if you feel as if you must go, I am not going to be the one who stops you," Marikah said. "Since he is not mine, I can not speak for the bird."

A sigh passed his parted lips, as he rubbed the back of his head nervously, “Well…Yea, you have a point. However, no one speaks for the bird, seeing as he tends to have a mind of his own as you can already see.” Night laughed slightly hoping to lighten the mood a little more than it had, before speaking again, “I suppose I will not leave so soon. The bird seems to have taken a liking to you and I’d hate to deprive him of a new friend.” Again the same smile played across his lips, as his eyes shifted from the woman to the bird and then back to the woman. Perhaps the bird was what the woman needed in order to forget whatever had been ailing her today, but once again he could be wrong. He always seemed to have a high tendency of being wrong on matters involving emotions, feelings, and interactions, but there wasn’t much he could do to change that.

Slowly he turned away from the two to turn his attention back to the ocean where he would lose himself in thought for a while longer before coming back to a forgotten subject, one he had been ignoring. With a dry tender voice he began speaking, “Y’know…Life can be cruel, but sometimes forgiving. Sure, a lot of us have a rough past, but it’s the simple things that we all enjoy, whether it be fighting, talking, writing, singing, or whatever. Life takes only to give and I suppose that’s what my Mother had been trying to tell me the whole time but I was blinded by my hate for those who have wronged me that I never opened my ears up to what others had to say.” For a moment he paused with a heavy sigh before continuing, “My father was gone since I was three. I guess it would be safe to say I never had a role model except for my mother and for a boy that isn’t the best role model.” Night laughed for a moment as he pondered how he would have turned out should he have looked up to his mother instead, “But you know, she was always there for me, so I can’t really say that she hasn’t been there for me and hasn’t taught me anything, because she has.”

Again he turned back to the woman, studying her slightly, “I apologize, if I’ve upset you by talking about this or bringing it up, it’s just that I feel it’s better to talk about it. Perhaps, you may be a stranger, but I’d rather we be more on a friend-like basis, unless of course you don’t want to then I understand.” The crow ceased its actions, as it turned its attention to its master, releasing a soft caw at him. Its head turned back to her hand and then to her hair, where it commenced into a series of pecks at the thin strands of her hair as if they were tiny worms. Night laughed softly, as he shook his head slightly, “It does seem you have a friend there though. I’m not quite sure what I’d do without that bird, I think my life would be rather boring wouldn’t you agree?”

((OOC: I'll try and liven it up more the next post. Sorry about it seeming kind of dull. ))