CRACK-KABBOOOM!
Tiral left behind some smouldering goo as he once again died by the hands of Myrra. Their conversation over (momentarily), Myrra turned and tilted her head, watching Aeryn carry Za'rel into a nearby forest. Then she heard a low grumble behind her. Curses, please let it be Tiral.

It was, of course, Mercury, strong and dumb as mountain :)

OOC: Well, here's my final post here for about a week. Something tells me you like that expression.

Mercury had been more prepared than he had let on. Though he might currently be somewhat lacking in intellect he still could remember his thoughts, or at least the shapes of his thoughts. He allows himself to be guided by memories, not understanding the compelling reasons why he had to do these things but knowing that there were reasons.

So, prompted by some barely understood memory, he holds the trace-gem in one claw and offers it to Myrra. He feels the primal disdain for giving any of his hoard away to another creature, even temporarily but he reminds himself, there were reasons. He was dimly aware that this would help him.

Deeper in his being memories of something far more complex than just thoughts slowly flicker into life. These deep memories are like the first few rivulets of water wearing tiny grooves to begin to refill what was once a raging torrent. And what could become one again.

[edited]

the wizard knew that she would remain unconscious for some time, while the potion did its work. He wasn't sure HOW long, due to his suspicions that she wasn't fully human, but he knew that it might just be long enough for him to go deal with the one responsible for all of this...

He silently cursed at himself for trusting a dragon, even a benign-seeming one like Mercury. It wasn't that the wyrm was evil, not the way he and Rage were, but the beast never seemed to think about the consequences of his actions.

If Mercury hadn't decided to go after the Spring, none of this would have happened. Za'rel would be safe. And if he hadn't decided to show off, Aeryn wouldn't be burdened by this overwhelming physical strength. It might be a wondrous gift to a warrior...but it just made his life more difficult, forcing him to exercise more caution than usual in whatever he did.

The half-drow's emerald eyes glowed with anger, then stopped as he looked down at Za'rel. She seemed a bit more peaceful, unconscious, and he smiled wryly as he realized that she was usually looking at him with scorn or anger when she was awake.

His smile abruptly turned into a frown, he had just saved the life of someone who sneered at him, hated him, and had knocked him unconscious just to help Mercury with his plan. Aeryn still vowed revenge on Mercury, but he wasn't so angry at the unconscious girl anymore.

He lifted her head slightly, gently, resting it in his lap, pillowed by his soft robes, and tilted his head to one side, looking at her curiously.

She seemed like a strange mirror version of the people he had been raised among, with her pale skin and dark hair. Absently, he pushed an errant strand of her hair out of her face, wondering at its softness, then grinning as an idea struck him, looking from side to side, making sure he wasn't being observed.

((Aeryn has an idea...uh-oh:p))

((Too late.))

"Ack. Ugh." Za'rel sputtered, coughing blood all over Aeryn's robes. She opened one eye and was completely stunned by what she saw. At first, it had be malfunctioning nerve endings, making her feel she was on a soft pillowlike structure. Surely she was having delusions, as obviously she had to be smashed agaisnt some granite wall near the spring, with some large, stupid drow-turned-ogre acting stupid. However, not Za'rel's luck. Oh no.

"What the hell am I doing in your lap." She managed to cough, glaring at him. "You are allowed to act friendly, but do please try and be more subtle."
she tried to sit, but could not. "Must have taken too much of a beating." she thought, "Well, It's not my fault these fools wanted to do this."

Looking back up at the shocked drow mage for a second, she repeated, "I asked a question."

((bah, there goes his chance to run a scan on her and find out what she is...))
((LMAO))


Aeryn raised one eyebrow, "You made a statement...you didn't ask a question." he replied, deftly evading the question for the moment, "And why should I bother being friendly? You've done your best to make your disgust of me clear this far, even though I just saved your life."

He frowned back at her, offended by her constant arrogance, and just as curious about the answer to her question as she was....

((Darn. I used a period. blast it. Oh well, she's a statementlike person.))

"As I recall, the word "Why" poses a question." she continued looking at him, "I recall you making your disgust clear first, that is why I hate you so." and then added, "But it is a good hatred. I hate the others more, as they are incapable of good, honest, hatred. Now please remove me from your lap." Za'rel whispered, attempting to move, but being unable to do so.

((Did it ever occur to you to ask? Her history is the secret part, what haugitily superior race would deny their superiority?))

((good point, but Aeryn wouldn't do that until he was: 1. curious, and 2. without a chance to try magic))

"No, I implied that you were inferior...because I underestimated you, and for that I am somewhat sorry." he said it grudgingly, but he meant it, "I still hate you every bit as much as you hate me, you are here because the healing potion I fed you is doing its work, does that answer your question? I knew you weren't human, so I've been waiting for you to wake up...by the way, what exactly are you?" he spoke quickly, so that he couldn't change his mind about asking.

He didn't remove her from his lap...looking down at her, it was plain that she was still seriously injured, and he wasn't about to oblige someone who spat blood on him.

Za'rel coughed, and grinned. "I think I am beginning to like you, mage. You admit your mistakes, and that is the first step to true power. As for your little potion, I could have handled dying, but thank you."

Aeryn continued to pose his questions.

"You are persistant. It is a long story." Za'rel said, Aeryn obviously looking curious, "Allright. Fine." she said, "After our banishment from so called civilization, our mystics decided that to conquer our oppressors, we must trancend normal mortality and become superior beings. Due to the inherant weakness of inferior "cultures" who allow the sick and weak to survive and pass on their spawn, Our scholars decided that only the strongest of our clans should have that privledge. Long years of magical enhancement, interbreeding specie, and constant war made our people strong. We are superior beings. However, the dream was never realised. We have been all but wiped out by malicious powers that lack honor and good honest warlike qualities. This is our legacy." Za'rel finished, proudly.

"Hmm...I think I'm beginning to like you too, Za'rel, and I don't regret saving you." Aeryn smiled, one dark-skinned finger tracing her jawline, gently stroking her cheek as he continued, "Other than the part about being honorable, you just described the entire history of the drow race!" he winked, "Does that make me half-superior, lady warrior?"

"Possibly." Za'rel said, wincing at the pain in her chest. "I think It would be a good time to set up a camp... around this place." Looking up at the treetops, Za'rel continues, "We have been adventuring long, we have hit a dead end, we are separated, and dusk is falling." the reaver finished, coughing again, but without blood. "Your potion is impressive." she continues, right hand attempting to untie her armor's straps. "If you would mind helping me get this thing off, It weighs more than you think." She says, painfully, trying to shift it's weight off of her, the tightly affixed armor refuses to budge, however.