In the winding streets of Gyll, a city prided on its colossal walls, a pair of figures trudges through the torrential rains. From the high rooftops come waterfalls of rain, which dribble into roaring rivers that lead into flooding drains. The oppressive and blocky architecture sends additional waves of water from on high, drenching those unfortunate to be below in rain colder than ice. The winter rains from the closest High Mountain, Reneir, due to melting snows and fickle magics. Though the rain sloughs off the two figures, not even wetting their cloaks or chilling their noses. The lead figure is imposing, with massive shoulders and gnarled fingers, stretched out from his cloak, clutching an invaluable package. Scars meld and flow in patters and swirls, caused by both blades, arrows, and sorceries. Two crimson orbs covered in black cracks signify his true identity, a Titan. His companion is smaller and lithe, her steps casting not even a whisper of sound of their passing, like a ghost. Long, red hair lays on her collarbone, with teeth and small bones draping from loose hairs, past victories and hunts. Her right hand clutches a stiletto, pressed against the inside of her forearm, concealed from even the most observant adversary. In her left is a travel bag, with a heavy presence only garnered by its mystical nature. The Titan is silent, only mumbling and rumbling answers to his companion's comments, focused only on the dark streets and rooftops around them. Though slightly irritated by her lack of silence, he understood her better than anyone on the plane of Gylos, for he knew she possessed better knowledge and special awareness his brutish eyes couldn't hope to compete with. The heat from his package warmed his hands, and burdened his heart, though it was necessary. Even from behind him, his companion recognized his troubles, and patted his back with her right hand, careful to avoid the deadly stiletto placed there.
"I know how much it must hurt, but it's for its own good. It... she... will have the opportunity for a life we couldn't give her. And while I came off abrasive before, I refuse to let whoever's doorstep we lay her on decide her name. I've come up with several, how about you, big lug?"
A smile rose on his darkened features, and his eyes took a short rest. He rumbled deep in contemplation, before looking over his shoulder at his companion,
"Why must I choose? My people are not prided on our names or intelligence, little owl."
His companion snorted and waved her hand,
"She is ours, not mine. It's a passing gift from both of us, the only thing she'll remember us by. Also, should need arise, to find her."
He nodded and peaked under the blankets that held his package, his blood and future kin. A now sleeping youngling with her first moon cycle barely behind her. She would be strong through his blood, and wise through her mother's. A true warrior.
"Basalt."
His companion giggled and sighed dramatically, now walking beside him, and nudged his side that held the strength of 5 layers of layered steel plates. A feat in itself, though he didn't miss the feathers that now lay on her skin, further silencing her movements.
"Okay... how about... Jay... or Finch!"
His own rumbling laughter joined his companion, infected with her energy, a good reprieve from his darker thoughts from before.
"And you call me bad with names, little owl."
He paused, letting her joy and slight embarrassment linger for a moment longer uninterrupted.
"My mother and her kin once told me legends of a great Explorer and Hunter of our people. Her name was Aerin, prided for both her speed and strength, her mind and tenacity, and her bond to the people of the wilds. It is only an honor to bestow her name upon my future blood, and her future greatness, something I am sure she shall succeed within. My gut tells me so."
His companion paused before smiling, testing the words on her lips under her breath. She smiled at her towering companion, who was easily 4 heads taller than her and likely 10 times her weight. A lug in all ways but heart. She could feel the warmth within his chest within her own.
"Y'know, maybe you're not so bad at names. Aerin... I like it. My daughter's going to grow up into a great warrior and Hunter, the likes of which this world has scarcely seen as of late..."
Now unoccupied by naming Aerin, she felt her heart droop and anger flare within her.
"If that bastard Daniels even thinks about laying a hand on her, I swear to Gai that I will find him and gut him."
Venom leaked into her voice, alongside a thicker body of different feathers, talon tipped hands, and deep golden eyes that released an aura of a true Apex Hunter. He also gritted his teeth and his eyes seethed. A popular duke within Gyll and the surrounding city states, he was the core reason for their recent troubles, and also a cause amongst many for why their daughter Aerin couldn't stay with them. The dark streets and the many doorsteps were scanned and studied, for she was scanning for a suitable doorstep. It was only when her eyes found a welcoming doorstep more like a rural porch with herbs and chairs lay on the front did she get her partners attention. With a, for what the Titan would consider gentle, nudge and a directed glance, her Titan companion altered his course, gradually. Now they stood in the street directly beyond the quaint Inn, evident by the proud words 'Shadowflare Inn' painted on them. With a last glance within his package, he lay it down on the doorstep, laying a medallion within it, with a symbol of his and his companion, a sign for the jobs they were hired to do as both Hunters and Explorers. He also whispered several quiet words into his kin's ear, in a language that floated across the air into Aerin's ear like a river of molasses. Content, for the moment, he stepped backwards, allowing his companion to lay the travel bag down. With a quivering hand, she lay beside the bundled package, reaching her arm within it, caressing her daughter's beautiful canyon brown hair. A tear slid down her face as she whispered words to her daughter Aerin, perhaps the last time she would ever see her in quite a while, until her various problems were sorted out, namely Duke Daniels. Each whispered word had a weight to it that pulled at the air around it until they slid soundly into Aerin's ear. She gently pulled out a feather and lay it within her daughter's hands. With a last caress, she turned away, embracing her Titan companion and silently sniffing and crying within his arms. He comforted her, as his own way to lessen the turmoil of emotions that stormed within his chest. Both slowly trudged down the streets of Gyll on the winter rain, content amongst many emotions that out of all the problems and conspiracies they were entrapped within. For a simple reason. Their daughter Aerin was safe, and retribution would be dealt in hand to their enemies. They only hopped their daughter would remember them in the future. Then and only then would retirement be an option both were content with. Only then.
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Several hours preceding morning within Shadowflare Inn.
Frank awoke in a stupor, slightly exhausted and stressed from the day ahead of him. His employes wouldn't be available for work until noon, due to either additional jobs or personal matters. Not that frank minded much, after all most of his business came from the waning hours of the day, from either curious street passers, or bored guards, or tired couriers finished with jobs around the city. Due to the expansive network of streets and roads that composed Gyll's many districts, couriers were the ones most run thin besides the guards and passing caravans. While clients may be livid for the couriers to deny their requests to take a visit to his Inn, that was the Delivery Guild's problem. With a zombie like visage, Frank Shadowflare, an exotic family granted by his elven father who lived in a city several journeys away. Determined for his own success, Frank the half-elf had set up his own Inn, a childhood dream of his, and had been steadily pulling business from throughout the city state of Gyll. And as he emptied the trash on the side of the road for the carts to get, he noticed a strange package and what he thought was a travel bag lying next to it. Not willing to let another's belongings lay on the open porch for a rogue pickpocket to steal, he lay them on his smallest table at the corner. Content with his contribution, he swept through the Inn, sometimes literally, and tidied up the open rooms for guests. He was only interrupted when he heard a wail coming from his dining hall, so he raced down, cautiously, to the large room littered with prepped tables. The middle-aged man noticed it was coming from the package and bag in the corner. Unsure if it was a magical alarm or another mystical effect, he crept to the bundle. The wailing was also interspersed with pitiful sniffling and crying, a quite obvious sign that the cause was no alarm. Slowly unwrapping the bundle, he was startled when a pair of brilliant golden eyes stared into his heart, each laced with feint black and gold lines around the golden iris. The wailing continued, though his focus was solely on her eyes. He was only shaken from his when one of his bar maidens, Marie, strolled into the door several hours earlier than her regular. Her eyes were squinted and were immediately drawn to Frank and the baby he stood over.
"What in Gai's name is that racket? Get you a new alarm or something?"
Frank gestured to the bundle,
"It's a baby, someone dropped it off this morning, or late last night during the winter rain. I hadn't known the bundle carried a babe until it started to wail."
Marie strolled over to the bundle and peered inside, gasping at the babe's eyes and the peculiarities within them she couldn't quite place. Though the baby was quite young, a carpet of hair was already growing down her head, just several inches beyond her scalp. With a hand, Marie caressed her hair. She also noticed a feather woven into the babe's hair. As she pulled it free, she grimaced at its sharpness, which was odd for a feather. It was incredibly durable and soft, while also possessing a razor edge. Marie tucked the feather back into the babe's hair and turned an inquisitive eye to Frank. The half-elf's pointy ears perked up and Frank turned to look at Marie,
"What should we do with her?"
Marie shrugged,
"I'd keep it rather than give it to one of them cheating orphanages. I could even help you with her, after all my mornings are cleared after... since... never mind. I'll tell you later."
Frank's keen half-elf eyes easily spotted a deep emotion within Marie's eyes, though he couldn't quite place what it was. Perhaps anger? Anguish? Fear? He couldn't know presently but knew that he could worry about the mysterious baby later, after the tide of customers and regulars to his Inn. Marie picked the bundle up and the travel bag,
"Hey, Frank, mind if I borrow a room for the lass until we find a better spot?"
Frank shrugged; he wasn't bothered with the babe currently. Perhaps their reactions differed due to their childhoods being miles apart, but Frank knew they would sort out the baby eventually, perhaps even name her. He just hopped his head bar maiden wasn't too busy tending to the baby for her to do her job, as Frank couldn't be worse at concocting a drink if he tried. And as his earliest regular walked into the Inn, he smiled and waved him to a seat.
"What may I due for you, Duke Daniels?".