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[b][u]January 2nd 07:16(Krasnoyarsk Time)
Sarantsetseg, Formerly the Republic of Kazakhstan[/u][/b][hr]
Harsh cutting winds blew across the shattered land, dust devils rising from the cracks in the dry soil and joining with the drifts of sand moving from east to west. The sky was black and those few clouds that could be seen from within the sandstorm glowed with a fierce orange as flashes lit above from the chaotic energies loose within the region. It was a sight that once would have been a sign of the end times for the locals, that their gods had descended from up on high to judge man for their sins. At least it would have been a sign years ago, and may have even been interpreted as such by the locals. Those who survived. The apocalypse that many in the west witnessed as the creation of The Scar across the north American continent had in reality left much more of the world devastated and in many places ruined entire countries. That the US had somehow scraped by was no small miracle, but now with many in these regions effectively cut off from the rest of the world by either the chaotic magicks rewriting their homelands or the demons and monsters pouring forth to claim them for themselves, there was truly little concern for what lay beyond.

It was almost as if the clock had turned back for the people who endured this catastrophe just as they had done every other. Life continued regardless of the skies, of the death of the lands, and of who managed to wrest control. That was evident enough from the multitude of tents set up against the base of a mountain overlooking what had once been a verdant valley. Each of them were of heavy canvas, resistant to the tainted winds and protecting the inhabitants as they sheltered from yet another sandstorm. The sounds of conversation gently drifted from between the bound flaps, Kazakh mixed with Russian, Mongolian and a bit of Turkish from a few particularly beleaguered travelers who had recently joined with the nomad group. Cultures and languages mixed fluidly along with the soft laughs of a group entertained by a particularly witty orator. Perhaps the only thing that made this caravan different from all the others that traveled these wastes was not [i]who[/i] it was comprised of, but rather [i]what[/i]. Though battered and roughened by the relentless winds, harsh skies and the occasional scrap with corrupted wildlife… There was not a single horn, claw, tail or patch of fur on any of them.

Humans. Many of them had once been bitter enemies at some point in history, particularly regarding the Russians and the native Kazakh, but here together they shared something. Resentment. It was rare due to the more jovial nature of the mood in times like this, but every so often a comment was made and thoughts turned to how this happened, how they got to this point. Monsters. Demons. The Coven. Resentment festered and a narrowed eye turned to the walls of the tent as if to curse the necessity of it and cursing those beyond. There was also the lingering essence of despair clinging to some, as while most had been able to muster up the hatred of those who changed their world, others seemed still unable to cope with it. They had yet to adjust. Yet to understand. Yet to find either the tolerance of this new world and the new creatures within, or the resentment towards them and those who brought this curse upon them. Their eyes were hollow as their better natures tried to push them towards seeing the monsters that descended upon their world from the rifts in reality as fellow inhabitants of Earth. Certainly there had been tales that many of these creatures had lived here once before, until they had been banished or forced to flee.

To some it was a heartbreaking story, and a good number tried to push that upon their more narrow-minded kin. In better off places it was even pushed as "oppression of terrans" the resentment of monsters, as if they deserved to share the same land that man had claimed and sacrificed so much for over the millennia. So soon they had forgotten the reason that these "terrans" were here to begin with. So soon they had forgotten the truth of the Two-Month War. As so-called journalists took up air-time on television to prattle on about their own experiences during that time, these people here were struggling to survive yet still had the strength to come together and understand what truly mattered. Perhaps that was why [i]she[/i] was there.

---

A dim light filled the interior of one of the larger tents, the warm tones of the yellow flame within the lamp casting on the weathered faces of mostly Russian men and women huddling together and passing the time as best they could. Some played cards, sharing a drink along with the space as they simply played for fun lacking the material possessions to actually wager. Pale hands held a set of cards before emerald eyes, scrutinizing them carefully as the owner tried to decide if it was worth it to keep going or to simply back out. She had done well enough all things considered, a neat stack of wooden chips by her drink not nearly as large as some, but better than a couple by a bit. A strand of red fell across her face and she took the moment to gently push it back into place, running her hand through the long braid laying over her shoulder to ensure all was as it should be. The atmosphere was friendly enough despite the rather competitive game they played, a couple jokes shared in their native language passed around and earning some laughs and gentle ribbing.

"Well Verra? Got anything decent to play?"

"Please do, Anatoly is really giving it to us this time. Someone needs to end this."

"Ha! Come now, you're just mad that the cards have been favorable to me this time, and not you. Don't listen to Boris, you can fold if you want. No one will hold it against you…"

It was rather nice if she was being honest with herself. Despite having almost nothing and being constantly on the move through the wastes of what had once been a lively enough region, those around her still kept up their spirits and pressed onwards. They had no connections to the greater world, had no idea if there even [i]was[/i] a world left beyond the scars in the earth left by passing chaos anomalies. Any minute one of them could rip through their encampment and erase most of them, but still they endured despite it all. She wondered for a moment as to why. For most of them there were at least a dozen reasons to give in, to step out of the dim safety of a canvas shelter and into the searing winds beyond. Anatoly just across from her had once been a nuclear engineer, but when chaos poured forth into real space he had nearly lost his life along with everyone in the facility and most of the town he lived in. Others had the same story, but one by one they had come together and formed a new community.

Perhaps that was the answer she sought, but it would have been all too easy to rely on that. She [i]did[/i] have something like that in the Justice League, even if relations were strained of late. Such was how things were with a lack of serious threats and everyone dispersing to do their own thing. Grim was probably the only one she could actually talk to and that was mostly due to being around the same age as her and with most of the same experiences. Most. It was one singular difference that left a bitter taste in her mouth and had been the reason why she eventually left. No, it wasn't bitter. At least not entirely. It was like biting down into an overcooked burger that had sat out until cold. Ash. That was it. The realization turned her expression bitter as she shrugged and laid her cards down. Two-pair, queens and two's. A series of groans followed her hand played, but it was a distant sound to her even as she scooped up the wooden chips that were her winnings.

A hollow victory that came alongside yet more of the same thoughts she had every day on a quest that would never end. The others sensed the change in mood and made a shift to other activities as Verra took to her own corner of the tent once more to be alone with her self. Just a nightly occurrence that came with trying to find an understanding of this new world, but this time she was joined by someone she didn't know, and quite obviously didn't know how this sort of thing worked.

"Guten tag."

German? The oddity of hearing his accent and greeting put her off balance for just that moment long enough for him to take advantage of the confusion and extend his hand in greeting. He was quite out of place all things considered, like her relatively unmarred by travelling the wastes and a nomadic lifestyle. Surely though with how no one seemed to mind his presence he wasn't new to the group, but she had never seen him before despite him seeming quite familiar somehow.

"Ah, forgive me. It's been some time since I've had the pleasure of conversing with a fellow traveler and your comrades here seem not too chatty with one such as myself. Please, have a seat, this is your home and I'm but a guest."

[color=ed145b]"Well, it's a home of sorts I guess."[/color]

"Any home is better than none, is it not? And a home where you are surrounded by your fellow man is certainly better than what many are unfortunate enough to settle for." The man had a strangely charming smile, the whites of his teeth all at once comforting yet exceptionally concerning at the same time. Then his jovial mood took a sudden turn like the shift of weather in the wastes and this look that was sullen, remorseful and beholden to no small amount of wroth seemed all the more natural to the strange traveler. "But of course, we should not forget those who lost their lives along with their homes, or worse yet to have some demon or monster suat in the ruins of what was stolen from them."

And just like that she felt it, all those feelings she had been suppressing over the years itching to rise once more to the fore as it seemed this man knew all the right thing to say, his eyes focused on hers as she sat across from him. For a moment she felt concern that he was able to speak so smoothly and have this kind of affect on someone like her. There was also no small amount of that survival instinct warning her that she was in fact, in serious danger.

[color=ed145b]"Who are you?"[/color] Her question asked, she became aware that there was a sudden lack of other people in the tent, that the setting had shifted drastically and even her perception of time felt off. Part of her thought to run, to invoke the speed force and take action, but as soon as the thought came to mind… Everything was back to normal with the laughter of the others off to one side and the clink of metal cups together. The man seemed curious as he looked into her eyes, boring into her soul as she felt once more like reality was shifting around her. [color=ed145b]"Wh-what?"[/color]

"Ah, I do apologize if I've made you feel uneasy. Still not quite used to this kind of thing, a few too many years on my own and not among equals."

The way that last comment was said set off alarm bells again, as the way his lips curled into a knowing smirk was enough for her to send a surge of energy through her body and stand to her feet. It felt as a normal motion for her, but everyone around her wouldn't have even been able to perceive such a thing, all while they barely even moved from just how fast her body was moving. Yet…

"Come now, a bit rude to treat a guest like this."

Everything came crashing back into normal speed, the box she had been sitting on tumbling back behind her to rest against the table and all eyes on her as she stared down at the german. Both hands were clenched at her sides, teeth grinding against each other even as she realized just how angry she was feeling in that one instant.

[color=ed145b]"Who are you?!"[/color]

"Ah, now that is the question is it not? I confess that I have many names that I have gone by over the years, all holding some significance to one group or another, and so would be quite rude to try and place one above the others as my primary name… Wouldn't you agree? Oh, don't give me that look. Why else would I have come so far into these blasted lands except to converse? We share something you know, something that only those here around us might understand. Some would say to us, that it's okay. That they understand, but we both know they don't. You've met with a terrible fate, and all the same those remaining who are closest say that it will be okay and that you can push on through it."

Something sinister settled around her and those behind her in the tent, instinct driving her to get away, but the curiosity of just what this man was and how he knew these things keeping her rooted for now. She could feel that while he held some power and was indeed incredibly dangerous, there was a sincerity to his words. Despite whatever he was, he didn't want to fight her. She had dealt with enough creatures that wanted her or others dead to be able to feel the bloodlust from those who intended harm.

"Ah, there it is. You understand, and that's all one can really ask for. Do take care and try to find your footing again, you'll be needing surety in the days to come. We will cross paths again, for things are beginning that will once more change this world."

And like that he was gone, she was sitting in the corner of the tent staring into her cup and everything seemed as if nothing had even happened. The screen of her smart-phone on her wrist showed that not even a minute had passed between when she had ended her part in the card game and that exact moment. Even her breathing and heart rate were steady, despite pounding in panic just moments before… Except it really wasn't moments ago, was it? There wasn't even that bitter, coppery tang of chaos magic in the air to let her know she had been cast upon, and that only made her more concerned. Who was that? Why did that man seem so familiar even though she had never seen him before, and how did he know these things? The answers would not come now, nor would they be forthcoming no matter how long she sat there she felt. No, there was now that unsettling feeling in the pit of her stomach that something was unfolding in the world and that her time of isolation was at an end.

Yet where to? She still had some connections in a way back in Gotham and New York, so those could be decent enough to begin, and there was also the Justice League itself… Yes, that one might just be the best choice as if anyone could find someone in this world it would be Grim. All she would need to do would be to sketch his face and put it into the facial recognition software on the station, and it would be enough to start. First though, she needed to get back to the states...