Arc 1: The Golden Sands
Chapter 1
As the blazing sun rose, warming up the cool, dry sands, Arya rose awake just as the sun did. Now Arya, not being the usual kind of animal for this environment, found herself practically cooking under a thick layer of silver fur meant for the northern winters of Ireland. But she couldn't turn back now, Ireland wasn't her home anymore, she knows what happened back then, but always threw that to the back of her head, and in the front was always the cheerful smile she would give to strangers. She only needed to worry about the present, and that was staying alive. However, she desired a goal, something to want to stay alive for, but there just wasn't any motivation for that, just to stay alive, that's all any other being cared about, even against that being's will, an instinct to stay alive. But she never had that feeling, she was tired of Immortality, living forever with no purpose, just exhausting even for her being 15 years old. She remembered the time she had a family, more of her own kind that she would have enjoyed an eternity with but that isn't the case, Arya may be a fox, but not just any fox, she's different, as her body is much like a human's, with a long coat of silver fur running along her body. With soft, fluffy, pink coloured "hair" on her head that runs from the space between her fox-like ears, to the edge of her forehead, drooping to the base of her snout. Her eyes are a light purple, and her nose always shines a bright pink, occaisionally glowing at times. Not only does she look humanlike, but is also capable of speech, talking in a thick, somewhat feminine Irish accent. Arya had always felt that her family tree hid something, why it's all gone, a reason? “I'd best get movin, thinking too much is gonna waste sunlight...” Arya thought to herself snapping out of old memories and remembering what her motivation is now, to keep searching.
Through hours of walkin in scourcing, dry sand, and having to hold her mouth open just to get enough energy to make water, Arya was about to give in to the hot sun. But, at this last moment, she saw over the horizon something she'd only dreamt of seeing for days, “A Village!” she thought to herself, gaining much more motivation to check out this town, hoping she wouldn't be attacked again. She walked up to the small town, which seemed to just be a very old town, away from modern civilisation, it was composed of several dozen houses made with the strong and beautiful architecture of the Middle-East, and a sandy piller in the middle, possibly a shrine of some sort.“As-salam alaykom” A Stranger greeted Arya, speaking with an Arabic greeting. But she didnt know how to greet back in that language and followed with her own. “Hey there, my name is Arya!” She happily greeted in english, using body language to help the man understand what might sound like alien dialogue to him. The man paused before speaking again. “Greetings Arya, I am Abd Al-Hamid” he replied to her, and Arya was shocked to hear this man was able to speak english, she hadn't heard anyone speak her own language in nearly a year. “Nice to meet ya, may I just call ya Abd? I'm surprised ya don't find me unusual here, so thanks!” Arya reponded to him, and he looked at her and chuckled. “That is because someone like you is living with us, we're used to the presence of her, but I would never think to find another..” Abd spoke, and Arya was hit with such shock and excitement that she had to use all her mental strength to stop herself from giggling. “Oh... r-really? May I meet her?” Arya asked. “Well, I dont know... You should introduce yourself to the rest of this place first, you might get to live here if our Sheik will allow it.” he replied back, and Arya waved farewell as she walked further into the town, not used to people being so nice, some of the townsfolk exclaimed at the fact another fox-like person had come, and that it meant something, she heard various arabic exclaims, some she regonized, but none she understood.
As she walked, something caught her eye, another fox like her, but her fur was brown, and she seemed to be a bit shy, walking with her head down, Arya saw her light blue nose, and light brown hijab, and walked up to her. “Heya lass, I'm Arya, nice to meet ya!” she greeted cheerfully in her Irish accent, something the other fox, nor anyone else in this desert town had ever heard.. The Arabic vixen turned her head up to the sound of Arya's voice and exclaimed in surprise, out of nowhere, she had just saw another fox just like her, hunan-shaped, and just there suddenly.. “Eee! Uh.. hello Arya.” she replied, Arya stood in full shock that another vixen like her existed, and outside her family tree too. But despite this, she smiles at the other fox, “So, what's yer name lass?” Arya asks, so the other vixen looks up at her and prepares to speak “Adira. My name is Adira Azar.” she replies “And why aren't you dressed? That's very inmodest..” Adira notes at Arya's lack of clothes, but Arya never cared for human attire, she felt that a soft, thick layer of fur was enough to wear, she didn't care if people noticed that she was a hermaphrodite, since social issues never bothered her, being mostly lonely. “Well, if I'd cared about modesty, I would've at least put on some pants!” Arya says, giggling softly, and Adira blushing shyly at how surprisingly carefree Arya is. “So... you don't care that people might laugh at you, or that you could be jeered at, or worse..” Adira attempts to speak, but Arya interrupts her from finishing with a cheerful statement. “I Amn”t about that kinda stuff, I never really met many people personally, so it's alright for me!”. “Well... if you say so! Adira replies with a smile, beginning to pick up Arya's optimism, And the two conversed for quite a while, Adira inviting her to come visir her home, and Arya agreed. “Hey do ya know a place where I could get a drink?” Arya asked, and Adira Replies with “Well, we have a decent supply of water, and there's a few drinks at the tavern. Of course, I don't drink alchohol.” “That's alright lass, just get somethin else, it's hard for me to get wasted!” Arya replies, and the two vixens walk towards the tavern, which wasn't that far of a distance, as the town was quite humble and small. At the tavern, built around the time of british colonization, Arya and Adira had a relaxing evening, simply drinking water.
Chapter 2
“So.. it was mighty fine hanging out with ya Adira, I think I'll like it here!” Arya says, giggling in excitement as Adira responds. “That'd be great! But You'd need a palce to stay.” “Well, maybe I could stay at yer place Adira! How does that sound?” Arya asks, and a few thuds are heard, but Adira responds with “Well, I don't know if my father would adopt you.. we'd have to convince him, my parents are a bit strict...” Arya gazed at her curiously, wondering what she meant by that. “Well, what do ya mean by that? Arya replies, Adira leaning in closer to whisper, “Between you and me.. I'm not allowed to well.. be taught much.. But, almost every night, I sneak out to the great library, and I've been reading for years!” Which surprises Arya, Adira having to sneak herself an education, but now, Arya thought of running away with Adira, or just staying. But suddenly, loud, crackling noises are heard as screams echo from outside, and people begin to panic all around Arya and Adira. “What in bloody hell is that sound..?” Arya asks Adira, and her response is cut off by townsfolk screaming in Arabian. “I' don't know, but who would invade us?” Adira asks. “I dunno, but let's get out of this bloody place!” Arya shouts, and the stone wall of the tavern is blasted down in an violent burst of flames, and the two vixens run out the front door. When they looked outwards at the invaders, they saw tan men in black cloth, with mixtures of red and gold. They didn't seem like the usual eastern thug, but far worse. These guerrillas Seemed to have glaring red eyes, and emotionless expressions, being more merciless than the most war-hardended mercenary. Arya and Adira ran through the village shacks, trying to avoid conflict,when one of the invaders aims at them, but someone jumps in front of Arya, and he is hit by sharp bullets, but a strange red aura accompanied these rounds. Arya and Adira run off, but Arya looks back and is horrified to see that the man who sacrificed his life was Abd Al-Hamid, whom welcomed Arya to the town. As Arya looks back, a cultist fires an rocket at her from the rooftop of the Babylonian styled hosues, but Adira trapped it in a ball of sand, absorbing the blast. “Damn Adira, yer pretty good!” Arya notes, and the two continue to run as more rounds fly at them, and Arya catches an idea.
“Hey Adira, can ya hold on to me really tight?” she asks, “Yes, but why would you need me to?” Adira replies “Then do it now!” she exclaims, and Adira holds onto her as hard as she can, so Arya jumps about 5 meters into the air, and onto a rooftop, “Hold tight!” she yells, and Adira feels a strong tug of gravity as Arya seems to blitz from the village near instantly, and a massive whoosh flies through her vision, as if she had just jumped to hyperspace, as this happened the image of the village vanished from her eyes, and whooshed into the vision of a dune a few hundred meters off from the village. “ARYA!” Adira screams as they land into a dune. “Well, phew... it worked!” Arya exclaims, using her ability to quickly move at a fast speed. “By Allah.. what was that?” Adira asks, originally beliving only she had special abilities. “I don't really know the details of it, but i just call it a blitz!” Arya responds, smiling. Adira sits down in the sand, and looks at the village with sadness “They're burning the library, all the knowledge.. It's gone.”. Arya's expression shows great empathy, and she looks yp at Adira, “Hey lass, I've seen libraries even bigger than yer's. This world is huge, and.. I would't mind if ya walked it with me!” she says, assuring Adira will be alright, even in a situation like this. The two walked out a bit, Arya searching for a spot that's relativly cooler than the rest, and she walks up to Adira.
“We've stopped, wha-” and before she can finish, Arya comforts her in a soft, and warm embrace. Adira blushes at being hugged, but cozilly hugs Arya back. “The sands are awful cold at night, it's best to stay warm” Arya whispers to her smiling in their embrace, and gently laying down on the sands, slowly drifting off to sleep keeping herself warm and comforting Adira all the while.
Chapter 3
As the sun rose once again, Arya wakes from her relaxing slumber in the sands with Adira, but a deep though
wandered her mind, “How do I keep her safe?” she thought to herself, being hardly able to provide needs for herself, but at least they're both “Kitsune”. “Hey Adira, wake up!” Arya exclaiams as she shakes Adira awake
“uuuuh.. Oh, morning Arya!” Adira grumbles as she rises from her slumber. “So Adira, where are we off to? We've the whole world to wander!” Arya asks excitedly, despite it being the break of dawn. “Well. I've heard of an amazing city, Istanbul! It used to be called Constinstanople, and I heard it's huge!” Adira answers excitedly, picking up Arya's spunkiness. “Alrighty! That's the spirit lass, lets go!” Arya replies, getting pumped up to travel, and as they begin to walk excitedly, Adira stops. “Wait.... I don't know where Constinantople is..” Adira states, chuckling nervously. “Well, let's try to find it then! We're in the desert after all, let's keep travelling around until we find it!” Arya replies, keeping her elation, and the two continue to travel northwest.
As they wandered out of Yemen, the mourning heat of the Sahara pounded on them, Adira not minding as much as Arya, who had to use her powers to keep a hidden layer of cool water under her thick fur.
As the day went on, they eventually grew tired of wandering around, and Adira hatched an idea.
“Arya, I think we should rest now, to save some energy!” Adira suggested, “Well, we don't really have any shelter. We'd be sittin' dead in the heat!” Arya replied. “Wait, I have an idea!” Adira exclaimed, and she places her hand in the sand, and up rose a wall of rock, and with it a slab that stretched to another wall, forming a tilted roof. Arya's expression showed genuine shock at first, but then she wondered.
Could Adira be the same race as her? She had powers too, but Adira seemed to focus on the ground, Arya using just water. Even though there was little water where she was, she had to resort to making her own. “This will be fine shade from that bloody sun!” She exclaimed, impressed with Adira.
“T-thanks Arya, I've been blessed with my powers, and I'll probably need them more now!” Adira replied, and Arya decided to show her a trick. “Well, I've powers too lass, I'll show ya!” She said, holding her arm out. Arya's arm began to warm, and seem to quickly turn into water, that boiled, but then... Her arm started to light up with a bursting and crackling pink energy. “W-woah, what is that?” She asked.. “Its just water! But Really heated up, and now it's rather just a soup of energy!” Arya replied, trying to explain her ability to transform water into plasma.
Chapter 4
For many days onward, the two pushed north, stumbling upon innocent travelers being ambushed by armed men, who looked to have been further north. The travelers shouted in Arabic, which Adira knew, and she defiantly heard a cry for help . “Arya, look over there!” Adira exclaimed, pointing to the ambush 10 meters away, the men already aiming toward them. As they fired, Adira appeared to shift into sand, taking Arya with her. The two vanished, only for Arya to appear beside one of the thugs, sending a powerful kick to his face. Adira manipulated the metal in their firearms to poke out, stabbing a few. As a few ran, one grabbed Adira by the neck, and tried to stab her. However, she kicked him in the groin from behind, and Arya simply messed with them, until they became scared of her plasma. As they finished up this work, the last thug ran off into the distance, either to find a better life, or return for vengeance.
Arya couldn't' understand a single word in Arabic, all of the words seemed to use the same sounds, and the accent has hard to decipher compared to her native Irish tongue. However, Adira spoke Arabic perfectly, and used it to talk with the people they saved.
“so em? What did they tell ya?” Arya asked, “Well, that man told me that we could get to Istanbul easy! We'd just have to board the ferry in Saisab, which is around the border of Syria!” Adira answered.
“Well, let's be on our way then!” she exclaimed, and the two walked off to Saisab.
When the two came across Saisab, it was rather “empty” as if most of the people had fled the town a long time ago. However, there seemed to be a few people staying behind. Adira went up and asked for directions to the port, where they could take the ferry. But.. The man told the two that (roughly translated from Arabic) “The ferry cannot be used. With the waging war, it would be dangerous..
You will have to walk the long way, but take caution!” And Adira and Arya sat down, wondering that could do, as they rested here, preparing for the long journey ahead..
Topic: A rough draft of Arya Ventura's Grand Tale! (Super WIP) (Read 1594 times)