[A] Lost {Intro/Open}

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[Character of the Month]

Character of the Month
Prince Caspian

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Played by Cara

"Cara has managed to...create a character that is both mythical and life-like. Impulsive, moody, and yet kind and good-hearted, Caspian is just beginning to show the makings of a true leader."
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[Auralei da Cava]

Lost
Auralei's Introduction

Auralei looked like a girl who had spent the last day and a half lost in the woods.  She had.  Her hair, which had been braided in a hopeless attempt to keep it clean, was streaked with mud and leaves and the loose tresses clung to her cheeks and neck.  The tips of her fingers were stained green from picking edible shrubs and plants.  Her shift was nearly unrecognizable; printed with grimy blotches of dirt.  Despite it all, the curse of her bright eyes and rosy cheeks kept her expression placid and content.  All she knew of her location was that it was somewhere on Lord Drinian’s property.

The exhaustion wearing on her body increased the stiffness in her left leg and she hobbled quite difficulty beside her horse.  Auralei knew wandering would probably lead to her demise, regardless; she couldn’t just sit down and wait to starve.  She needed to keep active, in the effort to convince herself that she had a plan.

When the sun started to fade, however, so did Auralei’s hope.  She began to pray to whatever deity would listen:  If you get me out of here, I will never go looking for ancient ruins alone again.  If you help me survive, I swear on all that is righteous to be a better person.

As darkness descended, Auralei nudged a pile of softened bracken beside a tree as a make-shift mattress.  She tied her horse’s reins to a nearby branch and pulled out a handful of burdock root and beechnut from her saddle bag.  She had been lucky enough to recognize them as edible, and she mentally thanked her aunt for teaching her botany.  Auralei plucked a few stay burs from the burdock and crunched on the stock; making a face.  She then peeled back the shells of the beechnuts and popped them in her mouth.  An empty stomach doesn’t complain.

She tried to feed the horse, but the mare refused, grunting through her velvet nose in protest as Auralei tried to force the food upon her.

“Sorry,”  She whispered to the animal.

Almost as suddenly as Auralei had settled on the bracken, something spooked her horse.  The mare whinnied and began to jerk her head away from the feeble branch Auralei had secured the reins too.  The branch broke and the horse took off.

“Hey! Wait!” Auralei pushed herself to her feet and started to chase.

After an hour of searching in earnest, Auralei spotted the horse and ecstatically bolted towards her [the horse].  Her leg cramped at the sudden speed, then gave out, she twisted awkwardly to the ground.  Auralei landed on her back in a shallow puddle of mud.  It lightly spattered on her face like a dusting of freckles and when she tried to wipe the spots away, she gave herself a streak of brown across her forehead.

Just great.

She heard the distant footsteps of her horse cantering away and almost burst into tears.  Auralei remained where she was, shivering when the cool mud seeped through her clothing and chilled her back.  She kept her eyes fixed on the stars peeking down at her from the sky.  A cluster of fireflies drifted past her vision and she watched them somberly.  After an eternity, she let her eyes close and did something Auralei rarely did -- if ever, she gave up.

[OOC Note/Background: Melissa and I decided that Auralei and Drinian are sort of ex-cousin-in-laws.  Her aunt was married to his uncle before he died.  ] 

[Lord Killian De La Braose]

   Killian knew that he was supposed to be the daring one between himself and his brother, but that didn't stop him from thinking the woods as they fell into nighttime to be creepy, spooky even. On one hand, he was by now well-acquainted with Narnians and though they didn't yet trust him or Sephen, he knew that they wouldn't hurt him; on the other... well, a paranoid Telmarine would shoot at anything. Which was why he was mounted on Fleetfoot's back, keeping a watch out for anything that moved, his hand resting on the hilt of the sword at his waist. Sephen had played the Trade card on Miraz again in order to make another trip to the Narnian camp to supply the resistance, while Killian had gone on with a Telmarine army supply caravan. However, there was a shortage of manpower that had left Killian at the encampment for several days longer than intended; the caravan had gone ahead earlier that day, with Killian lagging hours behind having been kept back by other matters. So, here he was, tired and sore and wanting to be home by now... but instead he was wandering through the woods. At night.

   Fantastic.

   The sound of branches breaking put both horse and rider on alert, Killian reining Fleetfoot in while he drew his sword hearing rapid hooves coming in their direction; whether it was a friend or foe, he didn't want to wait to find out until they showed themselves. As it turned out, it was a saddled horse, but with no rider.

   A scared horse without a rider... so not helping Killian's already slightly-paranoid frame of mind.

   Sheathing his sword and dismounting, he managed to grab the escaped horse's reins, soothing the frightened animal and tying its reins to Fleetfoot's saddle. The horse wasn't breathing hard, nor was she very warm, so her rider couldn't be too far; still on his guard, Killian drew his easier-to-wield dagger, not wanting to risk having to swing a full-length sword around in the vicinity of a pair of horses lest they shy and run for it, let alone his own beloved steed. Moving quietly and quickly in the direction the horse had come, Killian kept his eyes sharp in the still-darkening gloom for what should resemble a human.

   "Hey!" He yelled, "Is anyone out there??"

   If it wasn't for a splash of white against the blue darkness, Killian might have missed the rider in question altogether; he ventured a bit closer, sheathing his dagger to find that it was not a Telmarine nor a Narnian, but a girl looking very miserable and lost, her clothing splashed with mud and in tatters. He tied the horses to a sturdy tree bough, kneeling beside the girl and sitting her up.

   "Hey," He said, shaking her slightly "Are you okay? Miss?"

   Well this was great. He had an unconscious girl and her horse to take care of on top of himself, in the middle of the woods, as it was getting dark out. Sure, why not. Sighing, he hefted the tired girl up into his arms, wrapping his cloak about her dirty and torn clothing and (somehow) managing to untie and mount Fleetfoot, guiding the horse with one hand and his other arm keeping her thin frame from falling off the saddle. This was going to be a long night....


((hope that was okay! I wasn't sure if Auralei was unconscious or not, so I tried to play it neutral like she could be awake or not, just unresponsive))

[Auralei da Cava]

Auralei heard a not-so-distant voice calling out.  Her mind registered the sound, but not quite the meaning that somebody else was near.  Her eyelids fluttered, as if they understood, but she squeezed them shut.  She convinced herself that she was delusional and would not be bait for false hope.  The woods made strange noises in the night, or so she’d heard.  It was not until she felt arms lifting and then gently shaking her, as well as the voice, did she realize that yes, there was somebody there.

Auralei’s eyes shot open and searched for the source.  She regarded him, slightly confused on how he had gotten there.  He had blue eyes, she noticed. 

“My horse, you found her.”  She said dumbly, glancing over his shoulder towards the troublesome mare, “Thank you.”

Then, with a whoosh of movement he had picked her up and Auralei was spinning; stuck in a whirlwind that didn’t exist.  The vertigo passed as quickly as it had come, and once she was settled on her horse’s back (she had never learned her name) the stability of mare's body grounded her.

She was mute for a moment, thinking slowly, as if she was wadding through deep water.  “Oh, yes, I’m alright,” she managed to say after she’d registered his long-asked question.

“I got lost,” her mind started to clear, “I went looking for Narnian Ruins.  I’ve been in here . . .” she swept an arm towards the trees, ". . .  since almost two days ago, I believe.”

Her arms weaved around her horse’s neck and she leaned forward tiredly.  If she’d been any less exhausted she would have been embarrassed of her situation and condition.  She could only imagine the state of her clothing and hair.  Auralei's stomach growled and she removed an arm to clutch at it.  Food soon, she thought in its direction. 

“Wait,” she said suddenly, almost throwing herself off balance and to the forest floor, “Where are we going?  Who are you?”

Her gaze turned slightly skeptical.  Why had he been roaming around in the woods at this time of night?  Sure he had probably saved her life, but that didn’t make him a good person. 

[It was fine (: Auralei was just trying to sleep, not unconscious.]

[Lord Killian De La Braose]

   Killian really couldn't help himself; he turned around in his saddle to face the girl, an incredulous expression on his face. Looking for Narnian ruins? Alone? And at this hour of the night? Either the girl was crazy, or just flat-out lying; perhaps to throw him off. Which, it had, for a moment, if only in the sense that he found it hard to believe that a young girl would think it was a good idea to wander around alone in the dark. And for two days?? Killian could barely stand to travel for one day, much less two or more.

   "All due respect, milady... the woods aren't a place for anyone to be traveling alone, much less a young lady such as yourself." He replied, "I'm Killian De La Braose. I'm one of the Telmarine lords... kinda." Killian chuckled, "Technically that title goes to my brother, but it comes with the name. I'm actually just heading back from the Telmarine camp."

   Under his saddle, Fleetfoot snorted impatiently at having to stand around, much less while it was getting dark; for a moment, his attention turned to the horse, patting his neck soothingly. This was not a place he wanted to stay long, superstitious or not; the woods at night were just creepy.

   "I was heading towards home, near the Owl Wood. Opposite to where you were going. I wouldn't advise looking for any ruins, at least not without proper supplies and perhaps an escort. You're welcome to come back with me."

((bah. sorry it's so short Killian isn't talking that much.))

[Auralei da Cava]

Auralei tucked a strand of muddy hair safely behind her ear and rubbed her horse’s neck.  The animal was warm and the heat comforted Auralei; made her feel safe.  Her eyes were restless as Killian spoke; they flicked from the ground to the treetops, absorbing what they saw with curiosity.  An owl perched quietly on a branch, its eyes as round and bright as the moon.  He had a mask of dark feathers on his face, just around the eyes.  The sight of it brought up uneasiness in Auralei; not necessarily fear, but more of a superstitious feeling.  The owl let out a string of quiet hoots before its wings spread.  Its head whipped around, and she could imagine, if it were possible, his eyes narrowing with precision on some poor, doomed field mouse.  With a mighty flap the owl launched himself up and away, streaking though the night after its prey. 

So absorbed was she, in witnessing the owl, that she almost didn’t register that Killian was speaking; least of all to her.  “I was not alone.  I had my horse,”  She gave him a brazen smile.  Auralei pushed herself straight-backed and twisted to face Killian as well as she could.  She would act the part of a mannered lady, despite her current appearance and location.  “Pleased to meet you, kinda-Lord Braose.”  She dipped her head; the closest thing to a curtsey she could accomplish while straddling a horse.  “I’m Lady Auralei da Cava, from Terebinthia.”

Maybe he would know Lord Drinian.  She figured he would; maybe not personally, but still . . .  She rubbed her palms on her thighs, trying to rid them of some apparent grime.  “The Telmarine camp?  Would Lord Drinian be there?”  She kept her voice light, “We’re on his land, no?”

Auralei took a moment to scoff, “I’m good at looking for ruins.  You just haven’t caught me in a good example,” she glanced away bashfully, as if not willing to brag of her skill.  But a small, joking smile remained fixed on her lips.  “Being truthful, I’ll admit I only know archaeology through books, and little tips from my father.  And I did have tools; two of them, right here,” she pointed first at one eye and then the other, “observation is the best strategy.” 

And then, in an afterthought added, “Sure, I’ll accompany you.  I have no where else to go right now.”  Energy seemed to have returned to her body, but deep down Auralei knew that it was just exhaustion pumping adrenaline through her blood that kept her from falling off her horse and into sleep.  She felt hollow with fatigue.  She wanted to close her eyes, but they seemed like they were peeled open.  Hunger had long stopped sending pains through her abdomen and resided to a dull ache.  “How much farther?”