[center][h2]The Girl of Stone, and Nothingness[/h2][/center]

Blackness surrounded Kiara’s vision as she slipped into unconsciousness. The sounds of the forest; the chirping birds, the running water, the wind against the leaves, and Sulley, all muffled into silence. It remained like this for some time, until another voice entered her senses. It was layered with others, as if many talked at once, echoing all around her. A [url=http://www.wallpaperhi.com/thumbnails/detail/20120202/skulls%20death%20fantasy%20art%20artwork%201920x1080%20wallpaper_www.wallpaperhi.com_34.jpg]figure[/url] in black drab approached, it’s face unrecognizable. Sockets glowed an eerie white as it looked at her, or rather, pierced her very soul. It’s skin was fairly transparent, as its rib cage could be seen through it. It’s presence gave off nothing, but at the same time, gave off every feeling possible. It was a familiar feeling, yet it was overwhelming, even putting Morrígan's aura to shame. It was almost as if she had known it all of her 30 counting years.

[i]“I awaited the girl of stone for a long time. A girl of stone must have many questions, and I with many answers.”[/i] Its solid, phantom-like body moved in the non-existent wind. A thin line rested on its half-face. Its eyes were emotionless. Kiara found herself staring at the figure, enraptured. Her eyes were wide with wonder and awe as she felt everything and nothing all at once, just by looking at it.

[color=gray]”You’re beautiful…”[/color] she said in a voice that did not sound like her own, it was but a disjointed echo of herself in this vast, empty space. She said that, because she believed it. It was the most lovely thing she had ever seen, an idol… a god… a pillar of terror that she, and the people of her Court, could only dream of living up to. It even put the Queen’s glory to shame. [color=gray]”Are you death?”[/color] she asked the first of the aforementioned ‘many questions’.

[i]“Death is what comes to all beings. No, I am not death. I am Woshåm. Those who pass on, bond to me for eternity in peace-”[/i] It held up it’s right hand before letting it down to raise the spear in the left. [i]“Or to be tormented for eternity with the acts of sins committed in Nåm'hní.”[/i] He lowered it’s ethereal spear.

Kiara’s eyes followed the spear as it gestured with it. The sound it made when it struck the would-be ground sent shivers down her spine. The vibrations were the only sound in this endless void, she could feel them between her teeth and at the roots of her hair. She looked back up to it’s face, but it felt like she was moving in slow motion. [color=gray]”Why am I here?”[/color] she asked in that spirit-like voice that had replaced her own.

[i]“A girl is to learn.”[/i] It stated. As the void begun to gain color.

[i]“A man of scales with tormented tales
A girl of stone, alive, yet alone[/i]

A white background formed as two silhouettes came forward, one much taller than the other.

[i]”Winged darkness draws near
Two kingdoms to commandeer”[/i]

The silhouettes broke apart and reformed into six much larger silhouettes.

[i]”A war to be fought
Ancient magick be taught
For prophecy save
For prophecy sought
Death bell’s call
A crown to fall
A soul to give
To save it all”[/i]

The silhouettes danced around Kiara's vision. No faces showed, no voices were heard, there were only the dark, anonymous figures that moved around. Kiki held her arms around her body, defensively turning this way and that as the shadows darted about. Soon enough, the vision faded into the war itself. It seemed like the final battle. Kiara stopped moving and watched the vision, stepping forward into nothing, she couldn’t get close enough to make a difference...

Many were dead, among them, her father, Sulleykaar, the Seelie family, and the Dark Queen. Swords dropped to the ground, and those once fighting, surrendered. The vision fast forwards to the enslavement of the Seelie and Unseelie, Kiara is up on a pedestal being sold to the highest bidder. Kiki held her hands up to her mouth in shock and grief. [color=gray]”Daddy…. Sulley....”[/color] she cried, and then the vision faded just like the others had.

[i]”I have heard that a girl wishes to halt her training in ancient magick?”[/i] It tilted it’s head. Kiara looked to it again, somehow she had gotten spun around in the opposite direction. Or perhaps it was Woshåm who moved.

[color=gray]”I was scared.”[/color] she admitted for the second time.

[i]”What is a girl afraid of?”[/i] It’s eyes piercing through her.

[color=gray]”That I will be the one to kill them; That I will have no choice.”[/color] Kiara answered truthfully.

The figures of the shadows emerged once again. Cynbel, proud leader of the Unseelie Army. Felix, the human Commander of the Order of the Crimson Wing. Sulleykaar, the betrayer to the Children of Tiamat, teacher and love to Kiara. And finally, the dark queen herself. Part of two of the figures’ bodies parted in smoke as Woshåm stepped through them, regaining their bodies after it passed by. [i]”What people of all races fear more than death, is fear itself - The fear of the unknown. I see it every time, in any man, woman, child or elderly individual, when I greet them. Your kind is known to greet me as an old friend who was long forgotten. Humans fear me, and see me as their enemy. A girl is allowed these feelings, as they are natural to the girl, as they are natural to those who live, especially those who live for combat. But a girl is the Girl of Stone, a special girl. A girl’s fate, and those around her, have been decided and yet, still not decided.”[/i]

[color=gray]”How do I stop it?”[/color] she asked, reaching a skeletal hand out towards where the vision of death and desolation was. 

[i]”A girl does cannot stop it.”[/i] It said smoothly.

[color=gray]”How do I make my fate decided?”[/color]

[i]”A girl knows the answer.”[/i]

Kiara looked at the figure, confused. [color=gray]”I do?”[/color]

[i]”I have shown a girl a possibility of what could be. A girl knows what should be, yes?”[/i] It asked.

She took a moment to think about that. [color=gray]”Uhhm… not that?”[/color] she was trying to figure out this riddle, but, truth be told, she hadn’t gotten very good at riddles yet. [color=gray]”I know that I must continue my training, if that is what you mean.”[/color]

[i]”Training is the right path to what should be. But if a girl is able to accept what could be, and embrace what should be, then a girl can decide her fate.”[/i] 

Kiara nodded solemnly, finally understanding. [color=gray]”Do you have any advice for the Girl of Stone? For what might come… what I cannot see?”[/color]

It remained silent as her vision begun to fade again. [i]”Advice I cannot give. A girl is only given answers to questions. A girl must go for she may not stay longer. The man of scales. He is very fond of the girl. It is a shame though he cannot have what he found. I spoke to the man once. He did not like what I had to say, but accepted it. The man waits for the girl. Go and remember what I have told a girl. The next time we meet, it will not be like this... In due time.”[/i]

The brightness faded into shades of gray, and then black. [color=gray]”No!”[/color] she said quietly, not wanting to leave the comfort of the void. She had only been there for five minutes at most, it wasn’t enough for her. Kiara reached her hands out as her spirit blindly fell back into her body. She gasped at the contact - the rush of feelings once back in her own skin. Everything was too bright, and too loud in comparison to her journey of peace.


Outside in Spirit’s Crossing, the dragon remained silent, meditating and awaiting Kiara, who was held by the tendrils of the glowing tree to awaken from what was an intentional coma of sorts. It had been a peaceful three and a half days since she was forced into it before she awoke with a gasp. Sulleykaar opened a lazy eye before yawning and stretched his arms out to the side. Meditation must’ve ended a while ago. [color=9e0b0f]”Welcome back to the living, Kiara.”[/color] He smirked.

Her pointed ears lowered as she cringed, still getting used to her returned sense. She shushed him, but it came out as little more than a whisper. It was then that she realized she wasn’t on the ground. [color=gray]”Woah!”[/color] she panicked momentarily. [color=gray]”Errm… haa… put me down, please.”[/color] she asked, patting the vines holding her up.

[color=9e0b0f]”Aww...But bondage looks good on you.”[/color] He quipped before roaring into laughter. He snapped his fingers after a moment and then the tendrils slowly lowered her down to the ground. His laughter became a muted chuckle as his smile tightened to a thin line. [color=9e0b0f]” You made it back, so I assume everything went as planned.”[/color]

[color=gray]”Uhh…”[/color] the vibrant imagery of the visions Woshåm had showed her flashed behind her stone-colored eyes. Her mouth was a somber line. [color=gray]”I guess so.”[/color] she said before attempting to stand up. Her legs felt wobbly and there was a sharp cramp in her stomach. [color=gray]”Ugh- gods. I don’t remember being this hungry.”[/color]

The dragon cocked an eyebrow. [color=9e0b0f]”You’ve been out for almost four days. What would you expect.”[/color]

Her eyes moved back and forth rapidly as she studied him. Four days? Well, she guessed that kind of made sense… time worked differently when she traveled to the human realm, why not… wherever it is that she went, as well? [color=gray]”Breakfast, at least.”[/color] she answered with a smirk. 

[color=9e0b0f]”Small breakfast then we begin…”[/color] He smirked as he moved closer to her, his robe slipping off with ease. 

Kiara chewed her bottom lip through a smile and her eyes darkened to pitch black. It was a controlled hunger, perhaps that was thanks to her training. She even retained a part of her bubbly personality, skipping over to him before dancing a circle around Sulleykaar, stopping only to kiss his cheek. Her fingertips danced lightly along the skin of his shoulders and arms like butterfly kisses.

He flinched slightly, chills ran down his arms as her cloud-like touch made contact with his skin. Strangely enough, his skin had a faint scaly look, yet held the same feeling that a human’s skin would. He let out a low growl of pleasure as he leaned into her, his hot breath against her neck as he gently kissed the base of her neck. [color=9e0b0f]”You’re still gonna be my little vo hahdrim, you know that, right?”[/color] his chuckle rumbled off of her body as he lifted her off the ground and brought her onto her back in a single motion.

She smiled up at him through a giggle. [color=gray]”And you’re still an ass.”[/color] she said before reaching her neck up to kiss him. She let her lips linger on his, longer than her usual quick pecks. He tasted like fire, like the way autumn evenings smelled. She might not be able to trust him, but she knew that she could trust Woshåm. [i]He is very fond of the girl… a man waits for the girl.[/i] It had said... and Sulleykaar wasn’t the only one growing fond.

The dragon leaned into her. Passion begun to fill the late afternoon air. It was going to be a long couple of months. It was only fair that she was given a hearty [i]breakfast[/i].