Desert Danger

[Nyx Nequam]

The desert heat was something she was not accustomed too, her armour gleamed brightly in the merciless afternoon sunlight, attracting the heat and causing her further discomfort. She shook her feathered white blonde fringe from over her eyes and continued forwards her heavy booted shoes sinking further into the sand with each and every step she took. Why was she out here? Nyx was on her way to the religious city, she had been unable to convince anyone in Dogo to take her. In her stubborn state of mind, she decided that it couldn't be that hard of a journey, but now she was beginning to doubt that she would make it. The Claymore fell to her knees in exhaustion, she looked up at the sky, squinting in the light her cruel beauty highlighted by the desert sun.

"Just a little farther," she breathed, her voice hoarse since her throat was so dry. Nyx felt at her side for the near empty brown leathered canteen that had been bouncing up and down on her hip as she trudged through the sand. She pulled it free from its bonds and unscrewed the cap. The water within was no longer cold, it had been heated to a warm and unsatisfactory temperature. It didn't refresh the Claymore as much as she had wanted. And that fact...angered her.

Cursing under her breath continuously she pulled herself to her feet, muttering to herself as she continued forward. How did she know she was going in the right direction?! She mentally slapped her Man in Black, it was on his order that she was out here in the heat. His secret order, she didn't even know what he looked like, or what his real name was. He had never been unmasked to her, so she was clueless but still had to take his word about everything.

Nyx did not trust him, not at all, not since she had seen what had happened to Zea. A Claymore murdered by her own assigned Man in Black. Who's to say they weren't all like that? She didn't like him, she didn't trust him and she hated having to do as he told her. 'Go to Rabona and await further instruction...' was as informative as he got. Nyx was on a need to know basis and he had gotten into the habit of telling her only a snippet of information at a time. Why? It was his way of keeping track of her, if he gave her all the information at once she didn't need him around. This way, she had to depend on him, at least to some extent. This way, she couldn't just get down to business.

Once she got to Rabona, she would have to sneak her way in. 'Her sort' was not welcome there, even if the Claymore and the Schiavona had saved the town from certain destruction from the Yoma before, that didn't mean they were welcome in the town. Oh no.

Her train of thought was disturbed, Nyx stopped dead in her tracks, it seemed that she was no longer alone with her thoughts on this journey. No, there was another present, her right hand fell to the hilt of the claymore at her side and she listened to the air. Someone or something was watching her...stalking her, hunting her.

[Reeve deGrey]

Reeve had been trailing the Claymore woman for some time, his yoka and presence completely masked, pushed down so he couldn’t even be identified. If one was concentrated and very calm they might have been able to pick him out but judging by the disheveled condition of the woman that loomed ahead of him, she was in no condition to sense him though he could tell that she was high in power.

His large sword swung carelessly behind his neck, he rested his head and hands upon it as he walked, his eyes straying ahead every now and then though the wind brought him everything he needed to know without looking with his eyes.

A more compassionate person may have tried to help her, guide her in the correct direction or even offer her water but Reeve was dead inside, or at least his feelings were dormant. Besides she was a Claymore, their “rival” group by definition though there were occasions when they had worked together. Her direction told him that she was headed for likely the same job as he and his woman had said nothing about cooperating with the Claymore so she was likely to be a rival in this case so why help the enemy though friend or foe he probably would not have helped.

Glancing up quickly, a swirl of air brought him the image of the woman standing dead in her tracks. Crinkling his eyes he watched her for a moment. There was no way she could have sensed him and then within seconds he felt it as well, the looming feeling that something was watching them or at least one of them. They were not alone and this presence was powerful, enough to be an awakened being that was for sure.

((Chezabelle said she would rp as an awakened one we could battle if you would like…))

[Nyx Nequam]

[[ Ooo yes, that sounds good xD ]]

Nyx kept her position, out in the open. Then again it was the desert the only places to hide were the distant sand dunes. Or...in the sky. She closed her eyes, her left hand went to her forehead and she brushed a hand through her hair as she tilted her head back towards the sky. The air seemed to still around her, it became stagnant and unmoving. The sand on the ground stayed put, it didn't shift under her feet. For a moment, the world became dark, or at least a area 7ft in diameter around Nyx became dull, as if sucked of life. The ground went dark, the sky too and the scavenger bird that had been circling Nyx in the air became stalled in mid air.

It was an Awakened Being that was following her, her eyes flickered open, staring blankly up to the heavens. At that same moment, she pulled her sword from its prison in a swift, unseen, fluid diagonal swipe. The tip of the sword tore through the sand below, throwing a wave of it up into the air and masking her from view for the moment. When the dust had settled, she was nowhere to be seen.

Instead, she was hiding in the shadow of a man. A man she had seen from the air with her Totus animadverto [All Seeing] skill. He wasn't her opponet, for now at least. Nyx withdrew herself from his shadow, appearing by his side as if she was gradually being unmasked, before she stood there in all her apathy.

"You sense it too? It's a powerful one Schiavona," she began, her voice cold and without urgency. It was as if she didn't believe her own words, she didn't usually admit to foreseeing a powerful opponent, she had a bit of an ego at most times but the desert seemed to have worn her down. When she had taken in the birds eye view of the bird that had been following her, Nyx hadn't managed to spot the Awakened Being, all she had spotted was this man. But just because she didn't see the monster, didn't mean it wasn't there.

[Reeve deGrey]

Reeve stood in the same nonchalant position he had been standing in. She was definitely powerful, but as long as she used the air for her skills, she would not be able to surprise him so when she appeared out his shadow he simply continued staring out across the desert trying to find the position of the awakened being they both seemed to sense.

Her voice broke the silence momentarily as she asked him a question, "You sense it too? It's a powerful one Schiavona." Reeve made a quick laughing sound though it was not an amused laugh but more of a scoff than anything. "Aye." was all that he replied. It was all that he ever said really even to those who assumed that they were close to him.

Shifting his position a bit, he sunk the tip of his large sword into the sand a bit and leaned against it, his eyes impassive as it watched the sand swirl about them, making no attempt to make conversation.

[Elder Chezabelle]

((Enter Awakened YAY!!! Below pic for reference))

The day was nearing its end though the sun still continued to beat down upon it. The awakened that lay buried beneath the sand had for the most part remained completely dormant the day, her powers in check so that no one would be able to feel them. The night was her time to hunt, the best time really. Those who began their travels in the desert often times found themselves having to spend the night there, its vast size just too large to cross in only one day unless they had some godly powers.

While normally she would have waited till complete darkness fell, the Awakened Being had been disturbed much earlier than usual by the strong presence of one....no...two above. One was keeping their powers as low as she was while the other seemed to be struggling in her desert but still powerful none the less. Their powers radiated from them, so tempting, so delicious. What she wouldn't give for a taste of either of them...

Fighting the urge momentarily, it was a losing battle and her eyes gleamed a blood thirsty red as she stirred, her face peaceful and angelic, the dark locks of hair hanging about her face. Her torso shaped perfectly, the mounds on her chest caressed and secured by a band of crimson silk. Trailing down to her waist her visage drastically change, the humanoid forming changing to one that resembled a scorpion. Two giant claws began the creature followed by four spindly legs on each side. Raising from the very back of her was a long tail tipped with a cruel barb and as she emerged to the surface a dark liquid dripped from it.

Similar to the move of the Claymore, her actions sent the sand scattering everywhere, obscuring even her hulking form from view from the two. As the sand settled, a pair of crimson eyes stared through the settling dust, the lust of the soon to come kill apparent. "My, my." she hissed, her voice a low rasping sound. Dark and cruel enough to kill on its own. "What tasty morsels have fallen on my steps. I can't wait to taste your flesh. Oh and your guts will just be simply delicious I'm sure..." she said trailing off, her pincers snapping idly.