O Brother Where Art Thou? (Open)

[Raging Storm -Smith-]

Where am I?

The man slowly rose to his feet and looked around, ignoring the dirt on his camoflauge fatigues. He stood at the edge of a small clearing overshadowed by tall maple and ash trees. The sun was hung low above the western horizon, only visible through small gaps in the canopy overhead. As Raging Storm stared at it, the something about the sun seemed wrong. It was too big, and somehow less harsh on the eyes than it should be. And it was in the wrong position in the sky.

Where is Two Bears? Is this a result of his magic? Where are my brothers?

Before he had landed in this place, Raging Storm had challenged Two Bears for leadership of the Red Devils, a Cree rebel force that fought to protect First Nations villages from military conscription. Under the direction of Two Bears, the Devils had become a powerful outlaw gang, running a drug trade that poisoned the communities that they were supposed to protect. Raging Storm had become enraged and he challenged Two Bears to single combat for the right to lead the Devils.

Traitor.

Raging Storm had arrived alone and unarmed, only to face Two Bears and a crew of gun-carrying Devils. His last memory had been the glare of the muzzle flashes, and then something pulling him away. He had awoken in this new place with its strange sun.

Perhaps some of my brothers are here as well. I must draw them out.

The man sat with his back against a tree and pulled his only possession, a bone whistle, out of one of the many pockets sewn onto his fatigues. It was a short, recorder-like instrument, and Raging Storm knew that its sound would carry well in the forest. He began to play, waiting for someone to arrive.

[Aymee Martin]

Did I really get lost?
Aymee knew that it was always a possibility. She had never been out on her own before. Never needed to know her way. And now she was new in town, only arrived a few days ago. Everything was so new. So different. She was just glad that this was the first time that she was lost.
Now she would be able find her way back. It would be an accomplishment. For once she would be able to say she did something on her own, without Tomas’s help. Yes, he was her brother, he saved her from imminent death when she was younger, but she was tired of being sheltered. She wanted to be on her own.
You had that in the Village.[/b]
She knew where that treacherous thought came from, that fear that always lurked beneath her skin. She had been separated from Tomas when they ordered creatures into communities. She had been sent right away, while Tomas had time before he had to leave. But even then she knew that she wasn’t on her own. Some of her guards were there too, keeping an eye on her and keeping her safe from those who would use her weaknesses against her.
They all died except you.
Aymee knew that too. The Fallen attacked their Village, they destroyed everyone horrible until there was only her left. Aymee had hidden under the floorboards in one of the houses, ordered there by her guards. She was the only person left alive and she escaped, running to the one place she knew she would be safe, Tomas’s Community.
Now she walked around by herself, despite the fact that she was afraid to be alone. She knew it was stupid of her to want independence after what happened, but she couldn’t help it. Aymee was often told that she was naïve, and she would not argue that.
Aymee found herself surrounded by trees. The kind that tower above a person, dwarfing them with their terrifying height. It was then that the angel decided that being lost by herself wasn’t a good thing. She might have the strength of an angel, but she had no wings to fly away from a bad situation. She could be killed for her blood, or for her nonexistent feathers.
Am I going crazy, or is there music…No, I must be going crazy.[/b]
Still, her destructive curiosity got the better of her. She turned towards the sound, walking in that direction. Only to come across a stranger, one who had a different energy pattern from anything she had ever come across. This man could be dangerous. Instantly, she wished she had wings like all the other angels. But she knew it was too late to flee, he had already seen her.

[Raging Storm -Smith-]

As Raging Storm played the bone whistle he heard the sound of rustling leaves and twigs snapping underfoot. His eyes darted to the source of the sound and he kept playing, staring at the treeline. His right hand moved snapped to the pistol holster at his waist. His fingers found empty leather.

I left it behind when I went to face Two Bears. A stupid decision.

The girl emerged from the trees and Raging Storm set down the bone whistle. She looked human, but she didn't smell like it. Since being subjected to the werewolf curse Raging Storm had found that his senses were heightened in strange new ways. He knew the smell of werebeasts, vampires, and humans, but he had never smelt this scent before.

Whatever she was, she was obviously scared. Eyes like a cornered deer, Raging Storm thought.

"You do not have to fear me," he said. "I carry no weapons. But I do have questions. What is this place, and how far are we from Crow Lake?"

[Aymee Martin]

Run. Run! RUN![/b]
Aymee heard the words shouted in her head. Loud words from the cold fear inside her. She met many creatures and knew this one wasn’t natural. She didn’t know what he could do. He could shift shape. He could drink her angelic blood. He could kill her to get back at Tomas. The fact that he said he had no weapons meant nothing to her. He could still kill her. She was sure of it.
Run, you know he is dangerous. Move! [/b]
But Aymee was frozen to the spot. It has nothing to do with the snow that was falling, but fear. It was the same fear that made her hide while everyone she knew was killed. It was the same fear that she experienced as a kid, lying in the snow in Russia, unable to call for help. She knew that she should run, but couldn’t manage it.
Aymee reached into the pocket of her white trench coat, pulling out a small knife. The handle was shaped like a wing and the blade was made of silver. Her brother had given it to her for protection. She never knew if she would be able to actually use it if the time came, but at least she might look menacing.
Yeah right. You could never look anything other than scared.[/b]
She knew that she looked innocent and angelic with her white-blond hair and her light coloured clothes. Her skirt was not made for fighting, nor was her jacket. She was taught to self defence but didn’t know if she could actually use it. She had never had to fight for her life. That might be changing.
“Just because you don’t have a weapon doesn’t mean you aren’t any danger to me,” she told him, eyeing him wearily. She was thinking of leaving him without any answers, but of course she was too nice to do something like that. “You are in Figaro, I don’t know where that place is, so I can’t tell you if we are close or not. All I know is that you can’t leave this place. Not until we are all dead. Even then you can’t unless they let you,” she told him seriously.
Aymee had no doubt that the Fallen would be here too. She didn’t know why they let her go, but she was sure that they intended to kill every powerful creature. Even some humans. They were evil bloodthirsty creatures that made Vampires look like baby kittens. It was a scary thought, one that Tomas was still trying to believe. All Aymee knew was that she didn’t want to see her brother die, not the same terrible way that she saw her guards die.

[Raging Storm -Smith-]

The werewolf's eyes narrowed as Aymee pulled out the knife.

Silver!

Raging Storm remembered the prison where he sent after being drafted. The military "doctors" there had fashioned an array of silver weapons and surgical tools for their werewolf "patients." Time and time again the blades had torn his flesh until he blacked out from the pain, only to awake in a pool of blood on the floor of his cell.

Never again.

"Figaro... I have not heard of this place. You should put the knife away," he said pocketing the bone whistle and rising to his feet. "I am Raging Storm, and I do not harm innocents. It would not help you anyway." He stood where he was, not approaching the girl to avoid frightening her any more than she already was. "Tell me, who are 'they' who can let me leave? And what will I call you?"

[Aymee Martin]

Lies, all lies.
Aymee watched the man carefully. Even though he didn’t look like he was lying, she didn’t know if she could tell that about someone. She wasn’t allowed in society, for fear of her being hurt. She didn’t interact with liars though she knew that some people could lie easily. She was told about many people in her race’s history who were undetectable liars. She was also told about Leah and her vampire. They were characters in a fairytale that frightened children into keeping their guards up. She didn’t know if that actually happened, but she did know it was always possible.
Angels were known to be easy targets. She knew that she was, even though Tomas wasn’t. She wasn’t going to do as he said and put the knife away. She couldn’t trust him, even though she was used to trusting everyone she met. She was usually surrounded by people who wanted to keep her safe. She didn’t know if the silver would actually hurt this man, but he seemed to react to it.
Good! He is some kind of Were then
”I would rather keep the weapon, if its all the same to you. If it won’t help, then you have nothing to worry about,” she told him, her fingers tightening around the bone handle. “As for your next question, they are the Fallen. Terrible creatures who wish to destroy us all. They aren’t here yet, but no doubt they will be soon. They aren’t the reason we were sent here. Well, they were the reason, but not the ones who sent us. That would be the council of elders, trying to do the right thing.”
Even though she knew he didn’t ask that question, she thought that it was important information. The man didn’t seem bad so she felt that he needed to know what he was dealing with. If the Fallen were to come, then he should be prepared. She couldn’t let anyone die without a fighting chance. It wasn’t in her. But neither was telling a stranger anything about herself. He didn’t need to know that for his safety.
“You don’t need to call me anything. I feel no need to tell you my name. If it helps you, however, you may call me Angel, for that is my race, as I’m sure you know already. “
Damn you. He probably didn’t know. Now he will, and he will use it against you.

[Raging Storm -Smith-]

Raging Storm continued to eye the silver knife. "Suit yourself." He doubted that Angel would attack him. Perhaps the knife makes her feel safe, he thought. "I thank you for telling me these things. I know you are afraid. But why are you so scared?"

I must be ready when these Fallen come. If I can find my brothers, the Red Devils may be able to fight these creatures and restore our honour.

"Elders are here, this is good. A village must always have elders. Where do I find them?" Finally something normal in this place of strange suns and new smells. Perhaps the elders will know of Two Bears and the Devils

Raging Storm did not understand why Angel would not tell him her name. Maybe she is ashamed of her birth-sign. Perhaps her name is Eyes Like Rabbit. The werewolf chuckled to himself at the thought.

So this strange smell is called Angel. "Who are the Angel?" he asked. "I do not know your tribe." He shook his head. "I apologize, I ask many questions. But I must find Two Bears and my brothers."

[Aymee Martin]

Aymee tilted her head to the side as she thought about his question. He didn’t seem to understand the danger. Either he was stupid, or fearless. Of course there was always the other option, that he is more dangerous than the Fallen. Either he has heard of them, or is simply of a deadly race.
Or he is of the same race. He could be one of the Fallen.
As soon as she thought that thought, she squashed it. He wasn’t one of them. His energy was different. His looks were different. Everything about him screamed danger, but of a different kind. Animalistic danger. Besides, the Fallen weren’t afraid of silver knives. The knives didn’t do anything to them. The Fallen seemed to have an Angelic feel, which was why no one questioned them at first. But they were different. They were monsters. If this guy had any idea of what they did to those of the Village, then he would be frightened too.
Tell him, he could help. He could fight. He could die. He’s going to die.
Aymee didn’t notice that her hand gripped the dagger so much that the handle bit into her skin, cutting it a little. She didn’t notice how her eyes turned up to the sky. The barely visible sky. The pictures of what she had seen through the cracks of the floorboards flashed over the sight that would have been seen. “You would be scared too,” she started, her eyes glued to the pictures in her mind. Those of her guards being killed, “If you saw what they did to the people of my Village. Trained warriors who have fought for years. Those with powers you wouldn’t believe.”
“You would be scared too, if you watched the river of blood flow through the cracks in the floor while your enemy didn’t even bleed. Then, you would be frightened again when you came across someone from an unknown race. While you stand their, by yourself, without the guards that died protecting you from another unknown race. The elders are not here. They can not help us. They might be dead themselves. Our leaders, the kings and queens of the races are here, but they can do nothing to fight the others. Nor to help you back home. You are stuck here, stranger, and will die here like the rest of us.” She knew her words were grim, but couldn’t help telling him the truth of the matter. There was no escape. Aymee looked back at the man, feeling foolish for taking her eyes off the possible enemy.
Only death…[/b]
But that wasn’t an acceptable option. Aymee would not take her own life when there was still so much she could give her people. She didn’t know if it would hurt them to tell this man who and what was in this community with him. She knew that she would want to know it if was her. So she decided to tell him. “The angels are a race, somewhat like humans. We generally have wings, and powers. We are not the only race here. There are many; including the Vampires, a blood sucking race; the weres, a shape changing race; and others who have no distinct leader. As far as I know, you’re the only one of your race here. If not, I would be surprised,” she told him.

[Raging Storm -Smith-]

"You are bleeding," Raging Storm said, pointing at Angel's hand. She is no fighter. Why does she carry a weapon that could be taken and used against her? These Angels are a strange people. "Yours is a blessed tribe. I must be a great joy to ride the winds." He looked upwards, trying to imagine what it would like to soar high above the plains, far from trouble and danger.

As the girl told about the slaughter of her village Raging Storm realized that most people would be horrified by the story. He could appreciate the terror of such an event in an abstract sense, but he long grown calloused to such things. He could feel no empathy for the girl.

"Your guards were honourable men, dying to protect you," the werewolf said. "I think that they would understand that it does not matter whether your enemy can be defeated or not. When a man comes to destroy your people, you must fight him. There is no other choice."

Raging Storm's voice turned cold. "But you are a fearmonger. It disgraces their memory. And for all your fear, you were able to survive. How?"

[Gwen Ridgeway (Cas)]

Sorry Abby.. but I noticed that you hadn’t posted in a while and thought I would come and rescue you… not that you needed it.. but still.. I hope you don’t mind that I assumed that Gwen and Aymee were friends, since they are both angels and stuff.. anywho.. yeah

Sweet dreams are made of these…

The cold air seemed to take the fear from Gwen as she looked for her friend. The snow had started to fall and filled in the footprints that the angel was tracking. Gwen was never really good at tracking, but she had been told that Aymee missed a meeting that she scheduled with her brother. That wasn’t like the princess. Gwen knew something was wrong and decided to help the guards with their search efforts.
It didn’t take very long, however, for her to feel the fear that emanated from her friend. She didn’t know why it was always so prominent, but it would draw predators. Gwen called the guards to follow her as she ran towards were the feeling was coming from. As she got closer, the smell of blood almost stopped her short. She knew that vampires were attracted to angel blood, while the weres believed that the smell described weakness. That weakness in an angel was one that would be exploited quickly.
Gwen stopped short, however, as she took in the scene before her. She wasn’t in their line of sight, and wondered if they knew she was there. She could see the blank terror that appeared on the princess’s face. She did this a lot, not on purpose, but because the terror was so recent that it often took over her mind. She probably didn’t understand what he said after that, but Gwen heard it.
’ Yours is a blessed tribe. It must be a great joy to ride the winds.’ It was a marvellous experience flying through the air, though the princess wouldn’t know. For some reason, she didn’t have wings. She couldn’t fly or experience that simple escape plan that had kept the weaker angels alive for hundreds of years. Aymee hated that she was different and was often ridiculed for it, as far as Gwen understood. It was another reason why she had guards. It was a weakness all weres knew of.
The angel looked at the creature standing before Aymee. He wasn’t a vampire, angel or were. His energy felt different, possibly different enough to be a Fallen. That thought sent terror through Gwen. If this was one of the killers, than why wasn’t he hurting anyone? Why was the blood on Aymee’s hand from her own weapon? Why didn’t he have wings out?
Gwen wasn’t going to stand around and find out the answer to the question. She rushed into the clearing and shook Aymee, trying to bring her back to the present. She hated seeing the tears in her friend’s eyes, but she needed to look into those crystal blue eyes to make sure that the princess was with her.
“Princess? Aymee, are you alright? Stop thinking about it. It will be fine. Please Aymee, Tomas is looking for you. It isn’t safe here.” She mumbled, attempting to say something to bring the girl out of her trance. Gwen knew that it wasn’t safe for her either, even with the guards, but she knew that her vampire would be around somewhere. Caine always made sure she was safe. Gwen still didn’t know what he wanted, but he didn’t seem to want her blood, as of yet.
She could hear the guards in the background, talking to the stranger. They were demanding what he wanted, what he was and what he was doing in the community. They obviously were as concerned with their princess’s safety as she was. In the back of her mind, she continued to hear his last question, over and over. ‘ And for all your fear, you were able to survive. How?’.

[Raging Storm -Smith-]

Raging Storm waited silently for an answer from Aymee, but he soon realized that no response would come. Her eyes were wide with fear, watching some distant horror. As he contemplated trying to bring the girl back to reality Raging Storm sensed a new presence - followed quickly by several others - coming his way. Enemies? The girl is afraid of someone, perhaps these creatures. He instinctively began to reach again for his empty gun holster, but stopped himself. The Cree warrior breathed deeply, testing the cold air. At least one of the newcomers carried the scent of the Angel tribe.

"Your friends arrive, Angel." Raging Storm doubted that the girl really heard him. "It is good; you do not fare well alone."

He listened to as Gwen tried to calm Aymee. She is a princess, so that is why she has guards. But how did one such as this come to be a leader? Raging Storm had a hard time picturing the scared girl leading warriors into battle, and neither did she possess the peaceful wisdom of a spiritual leader. The more he learned of the sky riders, the more odd they seemed.

Before Raging Storm could ask a group of warriors burst from the trees and surrounded him, taking frequent nervous glances back at Gwen and Aymee. "So you are the noble guards of the girl," Raging Storm said, smiling and extending his hand. "It is an honour to meet you." His greeting was met with cold stares and a barrage of hostile questions. He dropped both his hand and smile. Very well, these are men who take their duty seriously. This is to be respected. "I am Raging Storm, and I was summoned here by some sort of magic," he told them. "I sought Two Bears and the Red Devils, but it seems that they do not belong to this place."

One the younger guards continued to pester him, asking questions so quickly that he could not answer. Raging Storm stood still and silent as the guard advanced to within and inch of his face. "Step back," Raging Storm commanded, his voice flat.

"You'd better watch yourself." The guard's face showed pure outrage. He gave Raging Storm a light shove. Raging Storm grabbed the guard's outreached arm and pulled him into elbow which smashed into the guard's exposed throat, knocking him to the ground. The move was executed in one swift fluid motion.

"The next one who touches me dies." Raging Storm turned to address Gwen before the other guards could react. "You, where is your chief? I must speak with him and make some sense of this place. And pick up the pup."

[Gwen Ridgeway (Cas)]

Sweet dreams are made of these…

Gwen was busy trying to shake Aymee out of her thoughts and therefore couldn’t stop the fight from breaking out. She knew that the guards could get carried away protecting the princess, evidently this man wasn’t answering the questions that were asked of him. The young one shouldn’t have engaged in a fight, however, since they knew little about this guy and he wasn’t a good enough fighter to actually win against this other creature.
Gwen wasn’t in charge of anything and couldn’t influence either the guards or the man before her. All she could hope to do is wake up Aymee enough to get her away from this place, in case there is a fight. She had to protect her friend at all costs. Calling one of the guards over, she asked him to take Aymee to Tomas’s house. No one would bother her there. Gwen wasn’t sure where this place was, but Aymee had said it was safe before, that’s why she is living there.
The female angel then moved closer to where the guards were surrounding the man. The kid that had fallen was already removed from the area, leaving only 4 men left. She knew that she couldn’t ask one of the men to leave, in case the man decided to fight back and fight free. He could escape, and she didn’t want that, in case he could get useful.
“Wait!” Gwen bravely interjected, attempting to solve both problems. “Lets bring him to Tomas, he will know what to do. If he wont talk to you, then maybe he will talk to him. It is what you want and what he wants, why not give it to him?”
With that, the guards reluctantly agreed, surrounding him and walking him towards the south side of the forest, where the Angel council building was. She knew that Tomas was working there tonight. She had never met the man before, but she also knew that she didn’t want to stay at the council building while they questioned this man. David would be there and she knew that a meeting between the two would be bad.
Caine might not be here this time to save her and she didn’t want to risk the vampire if he were to attack an angel high up on the hierarchy. [/blockquote]

[Raging Storm -Smith-]

"Thank you," Raging Storm said, nodding towards Gwen. "I will
answer whatever your chief asks."

He pulled the fallen guard to his feet and patted his shoulder. "You made a mistake of the young; there is no shame in that." Raging Storm smiled. "You will become a fine warrior, once you have learned to control your anger."

As he was marched out of the forest Raging Storm felt suddenly uneasy. It was always this way when he had to enter the villages of stone. How do people stand to live this way, surrounded by cold brick? There is no warmth, no spirit here. Raging Storm had seen people decorate their stone houses with paintings and sculptures that were considered beautiful, but they were nothing compared to the majesty of his forest home.

Such a strange people. Their chief will be an interesting sight.

[Tomas Keleb Martin]

Cascading moonlight swept blanched snow, the impression dulled by the obscure darkness. Bitter crystal flakes sparkled in the admired light, creating beauty where none was any longer. Once a boreal forest towered over mortal beings, scurrying and foraging for their winter provisions. But now, frozen edifices dominate the concrete world known as Figaro.

Tomas, the Angelic king, situated his weight more comfortably in the oversized arm chair. The inheritance of this grand district were not solely his responsibility. Other leaders dwelled here as well. But, Tomas was responsible for those of his great race. He would not permit more of their deaths. The Fallen were not the solitary adversary to the Angels. Other races continually pursued the Seraphim for their life force as well as for their wings. The majority of the races were identified to the ruler, although there were some, like the man who was transported to Tomas, who were unfamiliar.

With a gesticulation to the seat before the lavish desk, Tomas acknowledged his willingness to cooperate with the unknown race. “Who, may I ask are you?” Tomas started out inquiring, “Why do you dwell in our community? What is your race?” The ruler readjusted once more, his bulky pallid wings created great unease. He was unable to retract the large limbs, for his blood contained no mortal impurities. He was royalty because of that blood, as well as his combat skills and leadership abilities.

[/size][/color]

[Raging Storm -Smith-]

Raging Storm gave a small bow of his head to the king and sat down. He examined the angel before him, trying to assess the chief. Now this is a warrior. He does not seem cruel, but neither does he show weakness. The man was especially impressed by the fact that Tomas didn't hide his wings. No fear. This befits a chief.

"My name is Raging Storm," he answered. "I am here because I was summoned, I do not know by what. As to my race, I am of the Crow Lake Cree." Raging Storm looked over at Aymee. "But the one with scared eyes does not know of Crow Lake, so that may mean nothing to you. I am, or was human. I was bitten by a skin-changer, but did not become exactly as they are. I am not bound by the moon and I do not simply become a beast. It is something half-man and half-wolf. Things were done to me which made me this way. Magic and drugs."

Images flashed before his eyes of sharp metal instruments, blood-stained concrete floors, and the blaze of a massive funeral pyre.

"Is this the home of your tribe," he asked, "or were you summoned here as well? The girl also spoke of an enemy called the Fallen. Who are these men?"

They must die for their crimes.