ETHERKRYPT (ON HIATUS)

Rabiid Destiny 2 Rp Blog Read rules below before interacting. (Will follow from @arabiidhound)

[etherkrypte]

Howdy!

Welcome to the Ether Krypt! A place where I accept asks and do rp with my Destiny OCs and interact with other people's OCs! Please read the RULES before interacting, Thank you and enjoy your stay!

╧╤╧╤╧╤╧╤╧╤╧╤╧╤╧╤╧╤╧╤╧╤╧╤╧╤╧╤╧╤╧╤╧╤╧╤╧╤╧╤╧╤╧ BIO ✧ Name: Rabiid (Maddie) ✧ Age: 18 y/o ✧ Pronouns: He/They ✧ Style of Roleplay: Semi-Literate/Literate ✧ Status: Open (But will be slow, kinda busy) ╧╤╧╤╧╤╧╤╧╤╧╤╧╤╧╤╧╤╧╤╧╤╧╤╧╤╧╤╧╤╧╤╧╤╧╤╧╤╧╤╧╤╧

CHARACTERS ✧ Aldurgoth the Deserter (Aldur)- Aldur is a Titan Hive Knight Guardian who used to be a part of the Lucent Hive. He currently travels between different settlements and places on earth on a mission of rediscovering himself and the world that he's been lied to about. ✧ Aavis- Aavis or Aavicia is Aldur's hive ghost and loyal (only) best friend. She was very accepting of Aldur's decision to leave the hive, even participating in the escape plan that allowed the two to finally be free from the hive's clutches. She too wants to explore the galaxy and learn more about it, though more specifically Aldur.

╧╤╧╤╧╤╧╤╧╤╧╤╧╤╧╤╧╤╧╤╧╤╧╤╧╤╧╤╧╤╧╤╧╤╧╤╧╤╧╤╧╤╧

[ghostlyredreaper]

Meet and Greet

(@etherkrypte)

The turning of Fall to Winter had become a usual and normal sight, how the leaves would turn and dance in colours of the sunset as they portrayed their beauty to eyes witness for a final dance of life, before they fall to earth and wait to bloom once more. The eternal dance of life and death was never shown as beautiful and elegant, and yet when Nature performed and showed this Dance, only beauty was left in it's wake. And only here, on a small deserted part of an old abandoned and broken City, could one see Nature's true beauty and strength.

Vines and trees breaking through left behind stone and ruin, taking back what had once been stolen from it years ago, ignoring the horrible image left in it's wake of destruction and apocalypse, not caring for the decay of History.

"It is Beautiful!" Phoenix exclaimed in aw. The little Ghost flying around mindlessly as it took in all it's eye could see, shaking his shell in happiness and swaying from side to side. Their Guardian smiled in response and continued to follow their little excited companion. It was indeed beautiful, and the male could not help but be swayed by Nature once more, his body and mind easing at the sight of their suroundings.

His steps where near soundless, light armor and years of training to keep surviving had made even the simplest of steps into a whisper. And yet the leaves softly cracked under his boots as He made his way towards ruines of Buildings to seek a comfortable spot he could rest his tired body at. Days of constant Battle and Missions had slowly eaten away his strength reserves, the internal fear of Death keeping him from settling down to rest and feed himself. He had scouted the Area before, deeming it safely enough to take at least a night of good rest and so returned after a more harder fight against some Fallen. The Guardian couldn't risk breaking down in the middle of a fight, not when enemies lurked at every corner these days. Even the smallest of missteps could lead to his death, and he certainly did not want to risk his Ghost to be put in harms way.

Suddenly his body tensed, steps cutting short as he stopped in his track and let his eyes wander. The setting of the sun let shadows fall in it wake and made clear vision harder, yet as his softly glowing eyes scanned the suroundings he could not help but feel on edge. Had something just moved on one of the many Walls? Or could it have been just a trick of his mind from the constant fear of being hunted? Before he could check and Assure himself, that indeed it was only a trick of mind and nature, his ghost called out his name, declaring to have found the perfect resting spot for the two of them.

Letting his tired body hit the wall behind him a heavy breath left his lips, before the Male quickly got to make a small fire, not caring that it could run risk of someone seeing the smoke, before making the small niche Phoenix had found more comfortable and finally settling down, weapon savely at his side in case he needed it but even if someone where to come, could he really care enough to fight? He doubted that possibility, for once he was way to lazy to do so and only enjoyed watching the see of stars softly glow in the night sky, listening to his Ghost talk about the humourous encounter with a confused Hive Trall they had not even hours ago. And yet he could not help but feel eyes on him.

[etherkrypte]

As the pair walked through the ruined cityscape, they were both quiet, No words were exchanged between the two until they'd eventually reached what looked like the remains of a monument. The broken statue of a slim humanoid figure, holding something in their arms.

Aldur had seen many of them through their journey. Most of them were either in terrible condition or in pieces below its altar. He always wondered what each one meant, not really knowing the context or history behind them. Aavis only knew so much and was still learning herself, however she knew more than Aldur most of the time.

“What does it say…?” Aldur rumbles softly as he leans over Aavis.

The hive ghost had hovered closer to the ground and was inspecting a stone carving amongst the rubble.

“I’m.. Not quite sure. It’s far too damaged to interpret, even with my translator.” She replies, looking back up at the statue, then to Aldur. “How bout we guess!”

Aldur hummed to himself, looking at the human shaped statue closely.

“An archivist who built secrets into the walls of their home, this settlement, it was first and last creation.” Aldur suggested in a low voice.

“Oooo~ what kind of secrets?” Aavis pondered, turning to Aldur.

The hive shrugs, which amuses Aavis as she adds.

“Then it's a mystery! I like it.” She says before buzzing off across the small square. “Let’s try looking this way!” Aavis says in a loud whisper.

Aldur was huff, looking around for a moment, before following after.

They continued to walk deeper into the ruins until something caught Aldur’s eye. The giant Hive stopped in his tracks as his claws dug deeper into the wall he’d been dragging them across.

Aavis would also come to a stop, and turn to Aldur.

“What’s wrong? Are you o-” Before she could finish, Aldur would bring a digit to his maw and point ahead of him.

The ghost slowly turns. There was a small smoke stack slowly rising from a nearby building. Probably only a block or two away from where they currently are. They both stared at it for a long second, until Aavis would hover back closer to Aldur and turn to him.

“Should we go see what it is?” Aavis asked.

Their question made Aldur glare at the smoke stack cautiously.

“I do not know, it seems unwise…” Aldur grumbled, leaning a bit more onto the building.

“True but, what if it’s someone who can help? Someone with resources- o- or directions?” Aavis asked, looking up to Aldur hopefully. “We should at least investigate, it's been days since you’ve gotten any rest in your system, it could be a safe place to stay for the night.” Aavis continued, her tone growing more worried and desperate.

Aldur looked to her for a long moment, then back at the smoke stack.

He deeply exhales from the bright enstrils on his neck, before slowly pulling himself away from the wall and pushing forward. Now, he was being more diligent. For a creature his stature, his footsteps were relatively quiet. Especially against the cold stone. Aavis stayed close beside him, not letting him take the lead, while she scanned the area from behind, as well as other spots Aldur couldn't quite see in his periphery.

Aldur would approach the building from the side, not entering it, as he only wanted to peer inside. He walks around it, trying to find an open window or crack, while Aavis scans the building for life forms.

[ghostlyredreaper]

As the night finally settled and even the moon rised in full sight, the fire softly crackled as it ate away at what wood it could reach and spent warmth into the area. The niche was not really small, but not big too, maybe enough that three people if not four could managed to rest inside of it.

The Hunter had scanned the what must have been some sort of room once, as he had looked for wood and came to find that half of the room had been shut off by broken debris and could either be accessed from the wide open front or the small door, or what was left of it, at the far back.

And yet while he sat near the fire to warm himself and drink some cold coke from the City, he could not help but feel uneasy, as if something was near.

"You think the Thrall hit his head?" Phoenix questioned, his soft red shell opening as they scanned another old portrait. Azrael hummed at the question and thought back to hours before. "It seemed confused," His voice was soft and yet held a little edge of roughness to it. "It wasn't old, so I guess it had left his Hive for the first time."

His Ghost spun around to face him, tilting his shell as if to raise an eyebrow. "So a baby?" The smile that crept on his lips felt childish. "A cute confused baby. At least before it was apparently Scolded by a Knight."

The fire flickered angrily and with a sigh, the Awoken sat forwards to extend what little Solar energy left in him to sprout the flames once more. It was only so long until the fire would flicker out and the warmth would leave. His skin crawled in unhappiness at the warm feeling the fire created.

"I really don't understand Hive Rules," Phoenix hushed as they flew back to their Guardian to settle on the small still hanging shelve above his head. "It's Hierarchy little light." The Ghost let out a sneer. "Stop calling me that!" It replied annoyed, yet made a small amused noise afterwards.

Using what little Light the Fire spent, Azrael pulled out his knive and half finished wooden figure, before continuing to cut away the clean wood and form whatever his fingers craved to make.

It was quite, before Phoenix spoke once more, their voice soft and almost sad. "I can't help but feel guilty..." His hand paused as his eyes closed, his fingers tingled with light left behind from deeds done. "What's done is done... It was necessary to ki-" His voice failed. "I wish to never see the fear of onces ghost again. No matter what Guardian it has chosen." He declared sharply ending whatever conversation his ghost had wished to bring up.

As he opened his eyes once more he could not help but stare at the angrily flickering fire before him. It was as if it cursed him out for what he had done, golden eyes reflected the dance of light before switching back to the figure in had and continue cutting. Shall the fire curse him out, he hoped to burn in it and give warmth to the soul he had taken from earth.

[etherkrypte]

Finally, Aldur would find a shattered window that looked directly into the room. It was about waist-height to him, so he had to crouch down quite a bit to even see what was inside. Upon hearing voices, he sank even lower to the ground, now practically kneeling in front of the window while gently pressing himself against the wall.

He would peer in carefully, doing his best to not draw attention. It was a guardian. Of course it was… Like things would ever go Aldur’s way. He squinted at them, studying them closely. Aldur didn’t pay much attention to the conversation until he recognized what exactly they were talking about.

Their words. Confused Aldur. He wasn’t sure what to make of it. He was able to understand most of it, but he couldn't tell if they were being serious- or if they knew he was there, and they were trying to draw him in closer. If that was the trick, then it was working- because he was listening very closely now, and he was growing very paranoid.

Meanwhile, Aavis had found a window on the upper floor, and was exploring it diligently. It looked like an abandoned cooking area. Covered in dust, moss, and rust with furniture practically rotting into the walls. As they are scanning around with their low flash light, they notice a framed photo on the wall and begin to slowly hover towards it.

The frame looked horribly worn down, however the photo inside looked intact for the most part. It was hard to see exactly what it depicted however, even with her flashlight directly on the photo, they looked like blurred silhouettes for the most part.

Aavis tried getting closer, but getting within a few extra inches of it seemed to disturb the atmosphere around it as it abruptly fell from where it hung and crashed to the ground. Glass shattered everywhere as the floorboard trembled and creaked from the impact.

The crash was loud enough for Aldur to hear, as his head snapped up to the second floor window, wide eyed.

Aavis stared at the photo in shock for a few moments, before she shook herself from it and frantically began looking around. Panic almost immediately set in with Aldur absent from her side, and rather than dart out the window she came in from, she quickly drops lower to the ground and squeezes into a small partially while her shell shifts anxiously.

[ghostlyredreaper]

After the more than unhealthy conversation had ended, both Guardian and Ghost just rested in silence, both in their own space of mind.

Azraels hairs still stood at the base of his neck, the feeling from before wouldn't vanish and it drove him a bit mad. He hated being watched, his survival senses always kicked in when he was and he grew anxious.

But this was all thrown out the window when they heard a clear and loud shatter of glass.

"What-?" Phoenix lifted himself up, his eye looking at the ceiling before he meet the golden eyes of the Hunter. Both nodding, everything was left to the side and Azrael grabbed the knive he had used to cut the wood figure before using his skilled parkour to get up and towards the opening at the front.

Ghost close by his side, he went into a crouch and used the given momentum to throw himself up and jump to the second floor above them, getting ahold of the broken windows before sliding inside, glass cracking away at his armor and under his boots.

Weapon drawn and knive under it, golden eyes scanned the dark room. A kitchen from what it looked like, but he couldn't make out much more. "Azrael look here!"

Phoenix would examine the fallen, and now broken, photo hanging out of the frame, the side broken and glass shattered around it. "It must have fallen down." He hummed, trying to get a better look but only came to conclusion that it was a Photo of a Family, those who had probably lived here prior to what had taken place here.

The reassuring words of his Ghost did not easy his screaming mind at all. There was someone here, fallen picture or not, and they had no where to go.

He was proven right.

Azrael had fallen into a crouch to look at the photo himself, only to see a soft glowing eye not far from it, hiding and shaking. His eyes widen at the sight and with a soft nod, Phoenix shone a soft flash of light at the spot.

"A Hive Ghost!" They exclaimed loudly in shock, shell ruffling with the motion.

its afraid- panicking' Was the first thing that the Hunter manages to form in his mind, and without an inch hesitation lowered both weapons, holding out a flat hand. "Come out... You're shaking." His voice softly echoed, body know going to kneel on the dirty floor. He didn't think, and only noticed Phoenix panicked calls moments later. And the Question made his body fill with Adrenaline.

"Where is its Guardian?!"

[etherkrypte]

As the hunter lowered themself closer to the ground, Aavis felt her core sink. This was her worse nightmare. She’d never been this close to a guardian before, because of how careful Aldur was with taking care of them. She stared with her one bright magenta eye, still trembling, even as the hunter began to lower his weapons- making themself appear less menacing. This only confused the hive ghost, as they looked between the hunter’s helm and palms. She didn’t know what to do, or how to respond. Were they trying to be passive? How could she get out of this without being crushed, or worse maybe even taken and experimented on? She’d heard stories from other hive ghosts, how some had seen other’s taken- mostly taken to who knows where. She didn’t want that- no one wanted that. Aavis especially didn’t want that, because that meant leaving Aldur behind.

          Almost on cue with the guardian’s ghost’s remark, there was a crash as nearly the entire structure shook. Parts of the walls and infrastructure of the building cracked as pieces crumbled to the ground. Aldur’s claws wrapped around the window sill of a broken second-floor window, digging into the brittle concrete before he pulled the rest of himself inside. The floor shook again, however, still remained solid not giving out below the two guardians. Aldur stood across the room from Azrael, slowly getting up from the crouched feral-like position he’d landed in. His three bright amber eyes glared the hunter down, overshadowed by the hood adorned over his crown.  The hive would continue to stare down the hunter and his ghost as he rose to a more hunched standing position- the room wasn’t spacious enough to allow the hive to stand to his full height, which only added to the number of disadvantages that were currently forcing him to take a more defensive position, rather than attacking head on.

          A deep almost guttural rattling noise would be exhaled from the hive knight’s maw, a very obvious warning as he eyed his ghost cornered in the cupboard.

[ghostlyredreaper]

As the building shook and debris started to fall, Phoenix let out a surprised noise, something coming close to a squeak, and darted to hide under Azraels hunched over body, only narrowly avoiding being hit by a small but big enough cement block of the ceiling that would have crushed his poor self if it had hit.

Like on cue of his ghosts words, he had finally noticed the second person appear in a more brute entrance, and Azrael could not help but think of a Titan thundercrashing into the building. Taken by surprise, the Hunter lost his shaky balance and within a second held himself up by the hand he had held out to the, obvious, frightened Ghost. The other wrapping halfway under him in a manner to protect his own hiding under him.

What little parts of Walls and Ceiling feel down on the Guardian, was quickly protected by not only the heavy armor but a small, yet soft, layer of ice.

Azraels head snapped like a startled dog to the side and watch with widened eyes as the massive Hive forced it's way inside the small floor apartment, noticing instantly that it was still a little hunched over, not able to stand at it's full height thanks to the buildings constructive Hight.

Having all his attention now solely focused on the Knight before him, his whole body tensed with instinct. Grabbing and holding a firm hold onto his Handgun, the Male knew that if they where to fight now, he would have to be quick and use a bigger gun. He was almost entirely sure the little bullets of his Hand canon would be laughed at, and yet holding it secured him a little. Instantly mourning that he probably had to give up his little area and make a dart for it.

His eyes scanned the surroundings, he had no real choice but to either throw himself against the, from the outside, barricaded door and risk having his back turned or having to dash forward towards the angry Hive Guardian and try to pass him and escape thanks to the massive window hole the Hive just made. Honestly he would love to ignore the latter of the two, there was no worse outcome from this but rush in and make himself an even easier target for the big guy.

"We-We don't mean harm!" Phoenix softly cried out, their shell and little pink eye watching the Hive Guardian, as he peeked up from it's position under his Guardians body and protective arm. Phoenix knew the effect, of crushing one of his own people, made his Hunter feel and loved the idea that this was not to result in conflict.

He noticed quickly that the Hive looked damaged or at least tired but still angry enough to rip them to shreds from one wrong move. The stories they heard from Guardians barely surviving a Guardian Hive attack made his shell quiver in fear. They didn't want to end up dead! They couldn't leave their Guardian behind just like this, but sure as heck would he not go down without protecting his other half!

Maybe they could talk it out? A stupid childish thought. How was he even sure the Hive understood them? Phoenix felt Azrael tense and his hand take a protective shield position to cover him. Looking up he saw the Male only slightly tilting his head down, thinking probably the same thing, or not and was just extremely worried over him. Phoenix understood, given how fearless they sometimes threw themselves into battle to save Heal the Hunter or scan something.

But there had to be a way to avoid a fight, Azrael was tired and had barely eaten when they had settled down here at the start of night. Of course he would full on scold said Guardian later on, under the condition they made it out alive. "We heard a crash and found this Ghost- you... Your Ghost," Phoenix started to Sutter out in hopes to explain and avoid having the Knight bounch on them. "We just- wanted to help!"

[etherkrypte]

The Hive knight’s eyes narrowed at the guardian and their ghost, another low guttural groan leaving the large figure as they snort through the vents on their neck. Aldur was extremely distrustful towards any and all humanoids, even including his own kind, who honestly he distrusted the most. The hunter was positioned in a very neutral stance, he was unsure whether they were preparing to strike at him or stand down.

That didn’t really matter to the Hive though, as the only thing he really cared about was his ghost and the guardian’s proximity to them. Aavis’s eye flashed between the two guardians, now worried for both herself and Aldur. She contemplated zipping out of the cupboard to return to Aldur, but she was scared darting past the hunter would trigger an offensive response, getting her crushed. She swayed closer towards the opening out of the cupboard but shrank away whenever the hunter moved so much as a finger. She was trapped. But seeing Aldur in the room with her did calm her circuits as she sat back, waiting and hoping for a moment she could escape.

          As the hunter’s ghost spoke up, the hive helm snapped to them. He studied the little entity closely, comparing them to their guardian. They shared the same light, a close pair, much like Aavis and himself- this didn’t change his feelings towards them though. Any and all Guardians were difficult to trust in Aldur’s eyes, especially with how many lives he’s lived through and seen what they’d done. Little to no remorse is shown every time he saw a hive’s ghost crushed by their hands. Their bare hands. He knew the guardians were frightened and hostile towards his race, there was much the hive did that was very unsavory. However, with the recent gift of light given to them, some things had changed… But most refuse to see that.

That being said, in this tense staring contest, Aldur listened closely to the ghost’s words. He squints at the pair crouched infront of the cupboard, before speaking firmly in a deep, direct, and coarse voice.

“Get. Back.”

He commanded, flexing his claws a little as several deep cautious clicks are heard deep from within his chest.

[ghostlyredreaper]

Silence wasn't one of the many things the male really disliked, depending on the person around him, he sometimes used this silence to really see how their companion was feeling, something he learned really quickly. But this time it was different, this silence was almost Killing him. So tense he swore, he could feel it cutting the air around them.

He let his Ghost talk, trusting that the small robot would not do anything stupid, then again he was as frightened as a cat ready to hiss and run away, so he forced himself to nearly not move a muscle.

That was until the other talked. Actually talked in their language.

It took Azrael by surprise and it sure showed, body tensing but rising a little in hight as if he was caught off guard. Most Hive he came in contact with either screamed so loud he had to honestly cover his ears and come close to compare those screams to wax hitting a writing board, or were a series of klicks and growls. But those were real words he understood, sure they were only two and the threat, the warning in the tone of voice was like poison towards him, but spoke nonetheless.

And he understood. Head turning towards the still cowering Ghost in the cupboard near him before he looked back to the Hive, watching his every move with hawk eyes.

As slow as he could but fast enough to not annoy the other with how long he took. Azrael got up and put the Hand canon back into the holster around his leg, still holding his Ghost close to the chest as he moved back and to the side. Now that he was out if grabbing reach of the Ghost, his own slowly looked towards the door, which they moved closer to. The strength needed to destroy and open it with whatever was behind, didn't came close with the amount of running towards it they would need to have. So possibility one was suddenly very much, out the window.

The Male had questions on his tongue but did not voice any. How did the Hive speak their language? How come a Hive was even out here in the EDZ in the first place and not- somewhere more Hive based?

Then again, eying him up and down did have Azrael make a small face under his helmet. That Knight looked nothing like other Guardian Hive he run into contact with, no he looked almost... Civil and on the run. And he couldn't help but try to imagine how he must have looked like before changing outfits.

Had he the same gray and green armor- or hard flesh as the rest? Maybe, judging by the colours, he wore actual fine plates of metal around his body in a pride that would have others shiver. Was he above the natural Rank of a Knight by becoming a Guardian or did he bowed his head against other Hive ranks?

He took a breath in, 'if you want to appear less like a threat, show them the face you wear.' The Voice of his Father rumbled in his mind. Clear as day from all those decates ago, when days and nights were filled with laugher and songs, stories of old and tradition given down to younglings.

Phoenix jumped in surprise as they watched the hand before them move up, the helmet klicked before soft some came hissing out and the Guardian let the helm be removed from his face, the Ghost knew what he wanted to do but feared for the sudden nakedness the Hunter put himself in.

His position from his chest changed to hover over his shoulder like a little bird would do with it's owner and side eyed every move and expression the Guardian made, and suddenly he felt proud. He felt proud everytime their Guardian showed himself, showed he did not fear and spoke to face with beauty. Awoken genes sure where something.

Azrael blinked once, then twice. Adjusting his eyes to the surounding light, which was compared to the visuals in the helmet, more lighter and soft than dull and dark. Suddenly feeling the tips of his hair tickle his hear as they fell to the side. Most often compared to standard Awoken beauty, Azrael felt the need to dug and down out his own look, he was by far really beautiful but still held that high standing look most of his People tend to have.

For one the softly flow of skin particals on his face, or the markings around his eyes often being compared to eyeshadow. While his armor was mostly black with hints of red, a tone held dark to vanish in the night, he himself was the opposite. Light lilac skin, darker tones lips and markings, bright glowing golden eyes and side shaved fire red hair.

And finally now, he himself spoke, free from the soft statit raido like voice from the helmet, his own was soft with slight roughness on the edges. "Who are you?"

[etherkrypte]

Aldur's eyes watched the hunter’s every move closely, ensuring that the guardian wasn’t leaving anything behind or setting up the hive, like luring him into a trap. However, the moment they’d moved away from the small broken cupboard, their attention shifted to the hive ghost inside. The pair stared at each other for a moment, before Aavis began to slowly drift up and out from their dank hiding place. She looks to the side, in the direction of the hunter and their ghost, then quickly darts to Aldur. Hovering up and closer to their head, where they would float idly for a moment, before looking back in the direction of the guardian and ghost across from them.           Aldur’s eyes focused on the hunter once more as they began removing their helm, and only then would the threatening tension in his gaze shift a little. His glare almost softened as he viewed the other’s more expressive visage. No guardian had ever removed their armor in front of him before, at least not like this. They looked just as wary as he was, tense and locked onto his frame.

Upon hearing the guardian’s question, he was reluctant to answer. He’d got what he came for, and there obviously wasn’t anything here that could help him- not as they would help him. Unless…

Before Aldur could leave or make a decision on how to respond, Aavis’s shaky, but affable voice would break the silence.

“We… We’re travelers. J- just passing through…” She responds to the hunter, looking down for a moment at the photo she’d unintentionally broken, then back up to the pair. “We thought…” The ghost pauses and looks at Aldur. “We thought we were the only ones…”

[ghostlyredreaper]

Watching the Ghost rejoin their Guardian let a pang of guilt grow in the Hunters chest, the thought that those he crushed where forever separated made him feel uneasy about himself, the thought that he hurt one of their own. He knew the Hive weren't really their friends, he lived and fought them for survival and revenge for years now, but ever since the Traveler had made its choice, Azrael could not help but question suddenly all his choices. Was he right to hurt and hunt them? Was taking their Life's for his own really the only option?

A soft peck on his cheek had him turn and face his own little Ghost, who watched him in return, reassuring him with that forgiving look of theirs. He smiled softly and rubbed a finger over their shell before turning back to the two of them.

The Ghost was speaking, still afraid of them or the situation, but it slowly cleared to Azrael that the two meant no harm and the only hostile reason the Knight had was protection of his other half. What kind of stories did they hear and what horrible images did they see? He suddenly wondered, where they as horrible and gruesome as those he heard and saw?

Phoenix watched them all, suddenly feeling calmer than before as they felt the tension drift off a bit. If there was one thing the little Ghost was good at, was talking for his Guardian, even if he mostly never needed to, at least not anymore, but old habits die hard they supposed. "We hought so as well..." He muttered softly, watching the two Guardians as they spoke. Who knew if they did not suddenly attack each other? "Not many pass or stay long in the Dead zone. Well... Aside from fat turtles and Eliskni."

A sudden snort of amusemnt came from the Hunter, his face turned and hidden behind the hand that came to cover his mouth. It felt horrible out of place to laugh at that horrible comparison his Ghost did, but if anything broke during his time as a Guardian, was very much his Humour. "Cabal- Phoenix, cabal." Azrael managed to correct, already feeling like besides him, the other two did not get the small joke.

However, he was quick to catch himself. They were still in a hostile situation, there was little if not no trust and he was still ready to be jumped at. But even so, if he learned anything during those years was that even the most unsual of Enemies could turn to he best of allies. He just had to see where this might lead him, follow the flow, as his friend might have said.

But still, what was he to say? Reassure the Knight he meant no harm? He did not think the Knight would trust his words so easily, of the tense position was anything to go by. Offer their names? Even so who knew if they ever crossed paths again or if the Knight deemed that interesting enough. Suddenly he felt awkward, how much he hated social contacts that weren't familiar to him. But still, Azrael trusted his Ghost to carry this better than he would.

[etherkrypte]

The two would only express confusion at first on the last comment, Aldur’s head tilted to the side a little, almost like that of a puzzled canine as three low clicks emanate from the hive’s throat. Aavis seemed to understand the reference a little more than Aldur, as her shell perked up a bit more as the hunter laughed. Aavis seemed much easier to put at ease, unlike Aldur, who was still being quite cautious. “A-ha- I see,” Aavis replies. “We aren’t planning on staying for long, j- just until We.. or, my companion can get some rest,” Aavis stated carefully as she hovered up and down a little. “We’re trying to make our way through- but there’s not a lot of places to rest easily…” Aavis would look to her side at Aldur, who although was still standing in a rather menacing and defensive stance, looked in poor condition. Physically and spiritually. It was obvious he was exhausted, at least to Aavis it was, she wasn’t sure if the other two could pick up on that.           “It’s… been a long journey.” She began to speak again, slowly turning to the hunter and their ghost. “Is… is it just, you two?” She asks warily, looking the pair over. Aldur wasn’t sure how to feel about communicating with the pair, hence why he was currently keeping quiet in all this. He wanted to leave, but… was he really rationalizing the idea of possibly staying with the guardian and their ghost? Nothing good could come out of that, right?? If not because they were, well, a guardian, but the fact that the cabal and elksni would in fact shoot them on sight- which could potentially put both him and Aavis in danger as well. Then again, it was dark, and with a storm possibly rolling in, would they even bother? That is if they could find them. Aldur looks up from the ground at the hunter and ghost again, scanning their forms. He couldn’t tell who they were associated with, Vanguard or perhaps something unorthodox. Aldur still felt unease being near them, but not as threatened by them as he was before.

[ghostlyredreaper]

He does look tired, Azrael hummed at the thought, only now really taking in the state the Knight was currently in. It was a wonder he managed to get up here and was ready to fight when he looked like he could pass out once he would sit down.

"Yeah it's only us," Phoenix spoke, nodding their shell in confirmation. "We don't really travel with many people." Understanding the emotion the other Ghost was clear in their words. Phoenix nearly felt as if he asked to stay, thou it might have been just his imagination thinking that way.

Now as the little Ghost started to think, it was Azrael who spoke up this time, taking probably not only himself by surprise. "Take the niche to rest, should be water and food left for you to take."

Why did he say that? Just why on earth would he offer up his shelter for someone who probably had no problem shooting him in his sleep? The Hunter slapped himself in his mind, Then again, once the offer left him, Azrael felt nothing but honesty. If this is all he could offer at redemption for what he did to that kind, he would not hesitate. After all, his Father had done just the same had he not?

Nodding behind the Knight, he felt the wind shift and pick up in tension, he could already smell the change of Weather. "A storm is coming, the Dead zone is famous for those. Going out is a basic chaos death wish." He could already see the darkening clouds coming.

Phoenix could only look at their Guardian in disbelief. He wasn't opposed to the idea, those two seemed friendly, apart from the scary Knight, but he heavily disliked the interpretation his Guardian laid in those words. He wasn't planning on moving again was he? Without an inch of sleep? But then again, the Hunter was stubborn, would arguing really bring anything other than a headache?

[etherkrypte]

The two went quiet for a moment, Aavis seemingly expressing surprise while Aldur appeared confused. The hive ghost looked between the hunter and their ghost, before turning to Aldur with the same bright spark in their eyes. All Aldur could do was stare back, still puzzled. 

Nothing about this made any sense to Aldur, why would a guardian ever offer shelter to a hive knight of all people? It was suspicious to him, then again everything was. Instead of responding directly to the hunter’s offer, however, he simply looked between his ghost and the pair across. “...Niche…?” Was the only thing he muttered, he understood parts of the term- but the word seems foriegn to him.           Aavis didn’t look as confused, however, far from it as she twirled back to face the pair. “R- really? A- are you sure??” Aavis asked with genuine relief in her voice, she’d been trying desperately for days to find a safe place for Aldur to rest, the idea that they could actually stay someplace dry with light and resources for at least a short rest, was all Aavis would’ve wanted for Aldur.

“We wouldn’t want t- to be a burden, there’s- not a lot of safe places around, o- obviously.” She comments, subtly expressing her concern with space seeing as there aren’t a lot of places to hide around here, and- well, Aldur did stick out like a sore thumb at times.

[ghostlyredreaper]

Meet and Greet

(@etherkrypte)

The turning of Fall to Winter had become a usual and normal sight, how the leaves would turn and dance in colours of the sunset as they portrayed their beauty to eyes witness for a final dance of life, before they fall to earth and wait to bloom once more. The eternal dance of life and death was never shown as beautiful and elegant, and yet when Nature performed and showed this Dance, only beauty was left in it's wake. And only here, on a small deserted part of an old abandoned and broken City, could one see Nature's true beauty and strength.

Vines and trees breaking through left behind stone and ruin, taking back what had once been stolen from it years ago, ignoring the horrible image left in it's wake of destruction and apocalypse, not caring for the decay of History.

"It is Beautiful!" Phoenix exclaimed in aw. The little Ghost flying around mindlessly as it took in all it's eye could see, shaking his shell in happiness and swaying from side to side. Their Guardian smiled in response and continued to follow their little excited companion. It was indeed beautiful, and the male could not help but be swayed by Nature once more, his body and mind easing at the sight of their suroundings.

His steps where near soundless, light armor and years of training to keep surviving had made even the simplest of steps into a whisper. And yet the leaves softly cracked under his boots as He made his way towards ruines of Buildings to seek a comfortable spot he could rest his tired body at. Days of constant Battle and Missions had slowly eaten away his strength reserves, the internal fear of Death keeping him from settling down to rest and feed himself. He had scouted the Area before, deeming it safely enough to take at least a night of good rest and so returned after a more harder fight against some Fallen. The Guardian couldn't risk breaking down in the middle of a fight, not when enemies lurked at every corner these days. Even the smallest of missteps could lead to his death, and he certainly did not want to risk his Ghost to be put in harms way.

Suddenly his body tensed, steps cutting short as he stopped in his track and let his eyes wander. The setting of the sun let shadows fall in it wake and made clear vision harder, yet as his softly glowing eyes scanned the suroundings he could not help but feel on edge. Had something just moved on one of the many Walls? Or could it have been just a trick of his mind from the constant fear of being hunted? Before he could check and Assure himself, that indeed it was only a trick of mind and nature, his ghost called out his name, declaring to have found the perfect resting spot for the two of them.

Letting his tired body hit the wall behind him a heavy breath left his lips, before the Male quickly got to make a small fire, not caring that it could run risk of someone seeing the smoke, before making the small niche Phoenix had found more comfortable and finally settling down, weapon savely at his side in case he needed it but even if someone where to come, could he really care enough to fight? He doubted that possibility, for once he was way to lazy to do so and only enjoyed watching the see of stars softly glow in the night sky, listening to his Ghost talk about the humourous encounter with a confused Hive Trall they had not even hours ago. And yet he could not help but feel eyes on him.

[etherkrypte]

As the pair walked through the ruined cityscape, they were both quiet, No words were exchanged between the two until they'd eventually reached what looked like the remains of a monument. The broken statue of a slim humanoid figure, holding something in their arms.

Aldur had seen many of them through their journey. Most of them were either in terrible condition or in pieces below its altar. He always wondered what each one meant, not really knowing the context or history behind them. Aavis only knew so much and was still learning herself, however she knew more than Aldur most of the time.

“What does it say…?” Aldur rumbles softly as he leans over Aavis.

The hive ghost had hovered closer to the ground and was inspecting a stone carving amongst the rubble.

“I’m.. Not quite sure. It’s far too damaged to interpret, even with my translator.” She replies, looking back up at the statue, then to Aldur. “How bout we guess!”

Aldur hummed to himself, looking at the human shaped statue closely.

“An archivist who built secrets into the walls of their home, this settlement, it was first and last creation.” Aldur suggested in a low voice.

“Oooo~ what kind of secrets?” Aavis pondered, turning to Aldur.

The hive shrugs, which amuses Aavis as she adds.

“Then it's a mystery! I like it.” She says before buzzing off across the small square. “Let’s try looking this way!” Aavis says in a loud whisper.

Aldur was huff, looking around for a moment, before following after.

They continued to walk deeper into the ruins until something caught Aldur’s eye. The giant Hive stopped in his tracks as his claws dug deeper into the wall he’d been dragging them across.

Aavis would also come to a stop, and turn to Aldur.

“What’s wrong? Are you o-” Before she could finish, Aldur would bring a digit to his maw and point ahead of him.

The ghost slowly turns. There was a small smoke stack slowly rising from a nearby building. Probably only a block or two away from where they currently are. They both stared at it for a long second, until Aavis would hover back closer to Aldur and turn to him.

“Should we go see what it is?” Aavis asked.

Their question made Aldur glare at the smoke stack cautiously.

“I do not know, it seems unwise…” Aldur grumbled, leaning a bit more onto the building.

“True but, what if it’s someone who can help? Someone with resources- o- or directions?” Aavis asked, looking up to Aldur hopefully. “We should at least investigate, it's been days since you’ve gotten any rest in your system, it could be a safe place to stay for the night.” Aavis continued, her tone growing more worried and desperate.

Aldur looked to her for a long moment, then back at the smoke stack.

He deeply exhales from the bright enstrils on his neck, before slowly pulling himself away from the wall and pushing forward. Now, he was being more diligent. For a creature his stature, his footsteps were relatively quiet. Especially against the cold stone. Aavis stayed close beside him, not letting him take the lead, while she scanned the area from behind, as well as other spots Aldur couldn't quite see in his periphery.

Aldur would approach the building from the side, not entering it, as he only wanted to peer inside. He walks around it, trying to find an open window or crack, while Aavis scans the building for life forms.

[ghostlyredreaper]

As the night finally settled and even the moon rised in full sight, the fire softly crackled as it ate away at what wood it could reach and spent warmth into the area. The niche was not really small, but not big too, maybe enough that three people if not four could managed to rest inside of it.

The Hunter had scanned the what must have been some sort of room once, as he had looked for wood and came to find that half of the room had been shut off by broken debris and could either be accessed from the wide open front or the small door, or what was left of it, at the far back.

And yet while he sat near the fire to warm himself and drink some cold coke from the City, he could not help but feel uneasy, as if something was near.

"You think the Thrall hit his head?" Phoenix questioned, his soft red shell opening as they scanned another old portrait. Azrael hummed at the question and thought back to hours before. "It seemed confused," His voice was soft and yet held a little edge of roughness to it. "It wasn't old, so I guess it had left his Hive for the first time."

His Ghost spun around to face him, tilting his shell as if to raise an eyebrow. "So a baby?" The smile that crept on his lips felt childish. "A cute confused baby. At least before it was apparently Scolded by a Knight."

The fire flickered angrily and with a sigh, the Awoken sat forwards to extend what little Solar energy left in him to sprout the flames once more. It was only so long until the fire would flicker out and the warmth would leave. His skin crawled in unhappiness at the warm feeling the fire created.

"I really don't understand Hive Rules," Phoenix hushed as they flew back to their Guardian to settle on the small still hanging shelve above his head. "It's Hierarchy little light." The Ghost let out a sneer. "Stop calling me that!" It replied annoyed, yet made a small amused noise afterwards.

Using what little Light the Fire spent, Azrael pulled out his knive and half finished wooden figure, before continuing to cut away the clean wood and form whatever his fingers craved to make.

It was quite, before Phoenix spoke once more, their voice soft and almost sad. "I can't help but feel guilty..." His hand paused as his eyes closed, his fingers tingled with light left behind from deeds done. "What's done is done... It was necessary to ki-" His voice failed. "I wish to never see the fear of onces ghost again. No matter what Guardian it has chosen." He declared sharply ending whatever conversation his ghost had wished to bring up.

As he opened his eyes once more he could not help but stare at the angrily flickering fire before him. It was as if it cursed him out for what he had done, golden eyes reflected the dance of light before switching back to the figure in had and continue cutting. Shall the fire curse him out, he hoped to burn in it and give warmth to the soul he had taken from earth.

[etherkrypte]

Finally, Aldur would find a shattered window that looked directly into the room. It was about waist-height to him, so he had to crouch down quite a bit to even see what was inside. Upon hearing voices, he sank even lower to the ground, now practically kneeling in front of the window while gently pressing himself against the wall.

He would peer in carefully, doing his best to not draw attention. It was a guardian. Of course it was… Like things would ever go Aldur’s way. He squinted at them, studying them closely. Aldur didn’t pay much attention to the conversation until he recognized what exactly they were talking about.

Their words. Confused Aldur. He wasn’t sure what to make of it. He was able to understand most of it, but he couldn't tell if they were being serious- or if they knew he was there, and they were trying to draw him in closer. If that was the trick, then it was working- because he was listening very closely now, and he was growing very paranoid.

Meanwhile, Aavis had found a window on the upper floor, and was exploring it diligently. It looked like an abandoned cooking area. Covered in dust, moss, and rust with furniture practically rotting into the walls. As they are scanning around with their low flash light, they notice a framed photo on the wall and begin to slowly hover towards it.

The frame looked horribly worn down, however the photo inside looked intact for the most part. It was hard to see exactly what it depicted however, even with her flashlight directly on the photo, they looked like blurred silhouettes for the most part.

Aavis tried getting closer, but getting within a few extra inches of it seemed to disturb the atmosphere around it as it abruptly fell from where it hung and crashed to the ground. Glass shattered everywhere as the floorboard trembled and creaked from the impact.

The crash was loud enough for Aldur to hear, as his head snapped up to the second floor window, wide eyed.

Aavis stared at the photo in shock for a few moments, before she shook herself from it and frantically began looking around. Panic almost immediately set in with Aldur absent from her side, and rather than dart out the window she came in from, she quickly drops lower to the ground and squeezes into a small partially while her shell shifts anxiously.

[ghostlyredreaper]

After the more than unhealthy conversation had ended, both Guardian and Ghost just rested in silence, both in their own space of mind.

Azraels hairs still stood at the base of his neck, the feeling from before wouldn't vanish and it drove him a bit mad. He hated being watched, his survival senses always kicked in when he was and he grew anxious.

But this was all thrown out the window when they heard a clear and loud shatter of glass.

"What-?" Phoenix lifted himself up, his eye looking at the ceiling before he meet the golden eyes of the Hunter. Both nodding, everything was left to the side and Azrael grabbed the knive he had used to cut the wood figure before using his skilled parkour to get up and towards the opening at the front.

Ghost close by his side, he went into a crouch and used the given momentum to throw himself up and jump to the second floor above them, getting ahold of the broken windows before sliding inside, glass cracking away at his armor and under his boots.

Weapon drawn and knive under it, golden eyes scanned the dark room. A kitchen from what it looked like, but he couldn't make out much more. "Azrael look here!"

Phoenix would examine the fallen, and now broken, photo hanging out of the frame, the side broken and glass shattered around it. "It must have fallen down." He hummed, trying to get a better look but only came to conclusion that it was a Photo of a Family, those who had probably lived here prior to what had taken place here.

The reassuring words of his Ghost did not easy his screaming mind at all. There was someone here, fallen picture or not, and they had no where to go.

He was proven right.

Azrael had fallen into a crouch to look at the photo himself, only to see a soft glowing eye not far from it, hiding and shaking. His eyes widen at the sight and with a soft nod, Phoenix shone a soft flash of light at the spot.

"A Hive Ghost!" They exclaimed loudly in shock, shell ruffling with the motion.

its afraid- panicking' Was the first thing that the Hunter manages to form in his mind, and without an inch hesitation lowered both weapons, holding out a flat hand. "Come out... You're shaking." His voice softly echoed, body know going to kneel on the dirty floor. He didn't think, and only noticed Phoenix panicked calls moments later. And the Question made his body fill with Adrenaline.

"Where is its Guardian?!"

[etherkrypte]

As the hunter lowered themself closer to the ground, Aavis felt her core sink. This was her worse nightmare. She’d never been this close to a guardian before, because of how careful Aldur was with taking care of them. She stared with her one bright magenta eye, still trembling, even as the hunter began to lower his weapons- making themself appear less menacing. This only confused the hive ghost, as they looked between the hunter’s helm and palms. She didn’t know what to do, or how to respond. Were they trying to be passive? How could she get out of this without being crushed, or worse maybe even taken and experimented on? She’d heard stories from other hive ghosts, how some had seen other’s taken- mostly taken to who knows where. She didn’t want that- no one wanted that. Aavis especially didn’t want that, because that meant leaving Aldur behind.

          Almost on cue with the guardian’s ghost’s remark, there was a crash as nearly the entire structure shook. Parts of the walls and infrastructure of the building cracked as pieces crumbled to the ground. Aldur’s claws wrapped around the window sill of a broken second-floor window, digging into the brittle concrete before he pulled the rest of himself inside. The floor shook again, however, still remained solid not giving out below the two guardians. Aldur stood across the room from Azrael, slowly getting up from the crouched feral-like position he’d landed in. His three bright amber eyes glared the hunter down, overshadowed by the hood adorned over his crown.  The hive would continue to stare down the hunter and his ghost as he rose to a more hunched standing position- the room wasn’t spacious enough to allow the hive to stand to his full height, which only added to the number of disadvantages that were currently forcing him to take a more defensive position, rather than attacking head on.

          A deep almost guttural rattling noise would be exhaled from the hive knight’s maw, a very obvious warning as he eyed his ghost cornered in the cupboard.

[ghostlyredreaper]

As the building shook and debris started to fall, Phoenix let out a surprised noise, something coming close to a squeak, and darted to hide under Azraels hunched over body, only narrowly avoiding being hit by a small but big enough cement block of the ceiling that would have crushed his poor self if it had hit.

Like on cue of his ghosts words, he had finally noticed the second person appear in a more brute entrance, and Azrael could not help but think of a Titan thundercrashing into the building. Taken by surprise, the Hunter lost his shaky balance and within a second held himself up by the hand he had held out to the, obvious, frightened Ghost. The other wrapping halfway under him in a manner to protect his own hiding under him.

What little parts of Walls and Ceiling feel down on the Guardian, was quickly protected by not only the heavy armor but a small, yet soft, layer of ice.

Azraels head snapped like a startled dog to the side and watch with widened eyes as the massive Hive forced it's way inside the small floor apartment, noticing instantly that it was still a little hunched over, not able to stand at it's full height thanks to the buildings constructive Hight.

Having all his attention now solely focused on the Knight before him, his whole body tensed with instinct. Grabbing and holding a firm hold onto his Handgun, the Male knew that if they where to fight now, he would have to be quick and use a bigger gun. He was almost entirely sure the little bullets of his Hand canon would be laughed at, and yet holding it secured him a little. Instantly mourning that he probably had to give up his little area and make a dart for it.

His eyes scanned the surroundings, he had no real choice but to either throw himself against the, from the outside, barricaded door and risk having his back turned or having to dash forward towards the angry Hive Guardian and try to pass him and escape thanks to the massive window hole the Hive just made. Honestly he would love to ignore the latter of the two, there was no worse outcome from this but rush in and make himself an even easier target for the big guy.

"We-We don't mean harm!" Phoenix softly cried out, their shell and little pink eye watching the Hive Guardian, as he peeked up from it's position under his Guardians body and protective arm. Phoenix knew the effect, of crushing one of his own people, made his Hunter feel and loved the idea that this was not to result in conflict.

He noticed quickly that the Hive looked damaged or at least tired but still angry enough to rip them to shreds from one wrong move. The stories they heard from Guardians barely surviving a Guardian Hive attack made his shell quiver in fear. They didn't want to end up dead! They couldn't leave their Guardian behind just like this, but sure as heck would he not go down without protecting his other half!

Maybe they could talk it out? A stupid childish thought. How was he even sure the Hive understood them? Phoenix felt Azrael tense and his hand take a protective shield position to cover him. Looking up he saw the Male only slightly tilting his head down, thinking probably the same thing, or not and was just extremely worried over him. Phoenix understood, given how fearless they sometimes threw themselves into battle to save Heal the Hunter or scan something.

But there had to be a way to avoid a fight, Azrael was tired and had barely eaten when they had settled down here at the start of night. Of course he would full on scold said Guardian later on, under the condition they made it out alive. "We heard a crash and found this Ghost- you... Your Ghost," Phoenix started to Sutter out in hopes to explain and avoid having the Knight bounch on them. "We just- wanted to help!"

[etherkrypte]

The Hive knight’s eyes narrowed at the guardian and their ghost, another low guttural groan leaving the large figure as they snort through the vents on their neck. Aldur was extremely distrustful towards any and all humanoids, even including his own kind, who honestly he distrusted the most. The hunter was positioned in a very neutral stance, he was unsure whether they were preparing to strike at him or stand down.

That didn’t really matter to the Hive though, as the only thing he really cared about was his ghost and the guardian’s proximity to them. Aavis’s eye flashed between the two guardians, now worried for both herself and Aldur. She contemplated zipping out of the cupboard to return to Aldur, but she was scared darting past the hunter would trigger an offensive response, getting her crushed. She swayed closer towards the opening out of the cupboard but shrank away whenever the hunter moved so much as a finger. She was trapped. But seeing Aldur in the room with her did calm her circuits as she sat back, waiting and hoping for a moment she could escape.

          As the hunter’s ghost spoke up, the hive helm snapped to them. He studied the little entity closely, comparing them to their guardian. They shared the same light, a close pair, much like Aavis and himself- this didn’t change his feelings towards them though. Any and all Guardians were difficult to trust in Aldur’s eyes, especially with how many lives he’s lived through and seen what they’d done. Little to no remorse is shown every time he saw a hive’s ghost crushed by their hands. Their bare hands. He knew the guardians were frightened and hostile towards his race, there was much the hive did that was very unsavory. However, with the recent gift of light given to them, some things had changed… But most refuse to see that.

That being said, in this tense staring contest, Aldur listened closely to the ghost’s words. He squints at the pair crouched infront of the cupboard, before speaking firmly in a deep, direct, and coarse voice.

“Get. Back.”

He commanded, flexing his claws a little as several deep cautious clicks are heard deep from within his chest.

[ghostlyredreaper]

Silence wasn't one of the many things the male really disliked, depending on the person around him, he sometimes used this silence to really see how their companion was feeling, something he learned really quickly. But this time it was different, this silence was almost Killing him. So tense he swore, he could feel it cutting the air around them.

He let his Ghost talk, trusting that the small robot would not do anything stupid, then again he was as frightened as a cat ready to hiss and run away, so he forced himself to nearly not move a muscle.

That was until the other talked. Actually talked in their language.

It took Azrael by surprise and it sure showed, body tensing but rising a little in hight as if he was caught off guard. Most Hive he came in contact with either screamed so loud he had to honestly cover his ears and come close to compare those screams to wax hitting a writing board, or were a series of klicks and growls. But those were real words he understood, sure they were only two and the threat, the warning in the tone of voice was like poison towards him, but spoke nonetheless.

And he understood. Head turning towards the still cowering Ghost in the cupboard near him before he looked back to the Hive, watching his every move with hawk eyes.

As slow as he could but fast enough to not annoy the other with how long he took. Azrael got up and put the Hand canon back into the holster around his leg, still holding his Ghost close to the chest as he moved back and to the side. Now that he was out if grabbing reach of the Ghost, his own slowly looked towards the door, which they moved closer to. The strength needed to destroy and open it with whatever was behind, didn't came close with the amount of running towards it they would need to have. So possibility one was suddenly very much, out the window.

The Male had questions on his tongue but did not voice any. How did the Hive speak their language? How come a Hive was even out here in the EDZ in the first place and not- somewhere more Hive based?

Then again, eying him up and down did have Azrael make a small face under his helmet. That Knight looked nothing like other Guardian Hive he run into contact with, no he looked almost... Civil and on the run. And he couldn't help but try to imagine how he must have looked like before changing outfits.

Had he the same gray and green armor- or hard flesh as the rest? Maybe, judging by the colours, he wore actual fine plates of metal around his body in a pride that would have others shiver. Was he above the natural Rank of a Knight by becoming a Guardian or did he bowed his head against other Hive ranks?

He took a breath in, 'if you want to appear less like a threat, show them the face you wear.' The Voice of his Father rumbled in his mind. Clear as day from all those decates ago, when days and nights were filled with laugher and songs, stories of old and tradition given down to younglings.

Phoenix jumped in surprise as they watched the hand before them move up, the helmet klicked before soft some came hissing out and the Guardian let the helm be removed from his face, the Ghost knew what he wanted to do but feared for the sudden nakedness the Hunter put himself in.

His position from his chest changed to hover over his shoulder like a little bird would do with it's owner and side eyed every move and expression the Guardian made, and suddenly he felt proud. He felt proud everytime their Guardian showed himself, showed he did not fear and spoke to face with beauty. Awoken genes sure where something.

Azrael blinked once, then twice. Adjusting his eyes to the surounding light, which was compared to the visuals in the helmet, more lighter and soft than dull and dark. Suddenly feeling the tips of his hair tickle his hear as they fell to the side. Most often compared to standard Awoken beauty, Azrael felt the need to dug and down out his own look, he was by far really beautiful but still held that high standing look most of his People tend to have.

For one the softly flow of skin particals on his face, or the markings around his eyes often being compared to eyeshadow. While his armor was mostly black with hints of red, a tone held dark to vanish in the night, he himself was the opposite. Light lilac skin, darker tones lips and markings, bright glowing golden eyes and side shaved fire red hair.

And finally now, he himself spoke, free from the soft statit raido like voice from the helmet, his own was soft with slight roughness on the edges. "Who are you?"

[etherkrypte]

Aldur's eyes watched the hunter’s every move closely, ensuring that the guardian wasn’t leaving anything behind or setting up the hive, like luring him into a trap. However, the moment they’d moved away from the small broken cupboard, their attention shifted to the hive ghost inside. The pair stared at each other for a moment, before Aavis began to slowly drift up and out from their dank hiding place. She looks to the side, in the direction of the hunter and their ghost, then quickly darts to Aldur. Hovering up and closer to their head, where they would float idly for a moment, before looking back in the direction of the guardian and ghost across from them.           Aldur’s eyes focused on the hunter once more as they began removing their helm, and only then would the threatening tension in his gaze shift a little. His glare almost softened as he viewed the other’s more expressive visage. No guardian had ever removed their armor in front of him before, at least not like this. They looked just as wary as he was, tense and locked onto his frame.

Upon hearing the guardian’s question, he was reluctant to answer. He’d got what he came for, and there obviously wasn’t anything here that could help him- not as they would help him. Unless…

Before Aldur could leave or make a decision on how to respond, Aavis’s shaky, but affable voice would break the silence.

“We… We’re travelers. J- just passing through…” She responds to the hunter, looking down for a moment at the photo she’d unintentionally broken, then back up to the pair. “We thought…” The ghost pauses and looks at Aldur. “We thought we were the only ones…”

[ghostlyredreaper]

Watching the Ghost rejoin their Guardian let a pang of guilt grow in the Hunters chest, the thought that those he crushed where forever separated made him feel uneasy about himself, the thought that he hurt one of their own. He knew the Hive weren't really their friends, he lived and fought them for survival and revenge for years now, but ever since the Traveler had made its choice, Azrael could not help but question suddenly all his choices. Was he right to hurt and hunt them? Was taking their Life's for his own really the only option?

A soft peck on his cheek had him turn and face his own little Ghost, who watched him in return, reassuring him with that forgiving look of theirs. He smiled softly and rubbed a finger over their shell before turning back to the two of them.

The Ghost was speaking, still afraid of them or the situation, but it slowly cleared to Azrael that the two meant no harm and the only hostile reason the Knight had was protection of his other half. What kind of stories did they hear and what horrible images did they see? He suddenly wondered, where they as horrible and gruesome as those he heard and saw?

Phoenix watched them all, suddenly feeling calmer than before as they felt the tension drift off a bit. If there was one thing the little Ghost was good at, was talking for his Guardian, even if he mostly never needed to, at least not anymore, but old habits die hard they supposed. "We hought so as well..." He muttered softly, watching the two Guardians as they spoke. Who knew if they did not suddenly attack each other? "Not many pass or stay long in the Dead zone. Well... Aside from fat turtles and Eliskni."

A sudden snort of amusemnt came from the Hunter, his face turned and hidden behind the hand that came to cover his mouth. It felt horrible out of place to laugh at that horrible comparison his Ghost did, but if anything broke during his time as a Guardian, was very much his Humour. "Cabal- Phoenix, cabal." Azrael managed to correct, already feeling like besides him, the other two did not get the small joke.

However, he was quick to catch himself. They were still in a hostile situation, there was little if not no trust and he was still ready to be jumped at. But even so, if he learned anything during those years was that even the most unsual of Enemies could turn to he best of allies. He just had to see where this might lead him, follow the flow, as his friend might have said.

But still, what was he to say? Reassure the Knight he meant no harm? He did not think the Knight would trust his words so easily, of the tense position was anything to go by. Offer their names? Even so who knew if they ever crossed paths again or if the Knight deemed that interesting enough. Suddenly he felt awkward, how much he hated social contacts that weren't familiar to him. But still, Azrael trusted his Ghost to carry this better than he would.

[etherkrypte]

The two would only express confusion at first on the last comment, Aldur’s head tilted to the side a little, almost like that of a puzzled canine as three low clicks emanate from the hive’s throat. Aavis seemed to understand the reference a little more than Aldur, as her shell perked up a bit more as the hunter laughed. Aavis seemed much easier to put at ease, unlike Aldur, who was still being quite cautious. “A-ha- I see,” Aavis replies. “We aren’t planning on staying for long, j- just until We.. or, my companion can get some rest,” Aavis stated carefully as she hovered up and down a little. “We’re trying to make our way through- but there’s not a lot of places to rest easily…” Aavis would look to her side at Aldur, who although was still standing in a rather menacing and defensive stance, looked in poor condition. Physically and spiritually. It was obvious he was exhausted, at least to Aavis it was, she wasn’t sure if the other two could pick up on that.           “It’s… been a long journey.” She began to speak again, slowly turning to the hunter and their ghost. “Is… is it just, you two?” She asks warily, looking the pair over. Aldur wasn’t sure how to feel about communicating with the pair, hence why he was currently keeping quiet in all this. He wanted to leave, but… was he really rationalizing the idea of possibly staying with the guardian and their ghost? Nothing good could come out of that, right?? If not because they were, well, a guardian, but the fact that the cabal and elksni would in fact shoot them on sight- which could potentially put both him and Aavis in danger as well. Then again, it was dark, and with a storm possibly rolling in, would they even bother? That is if they could find them. Aldur looks up from the ground at the hunter and ghost again, scanning their forms. He couldn’t tell who they were associated with, Vanguard or perhaps something unorthodox. Aldur still felt unease being near them, but not as threatened by them as he was before.

[ghostlyredreaper]

Meet and Greet

(@etherkrypte)

The turning of Fall to Winter had become a usual and normal sight, how the leaves would turn and dance in colours of the sunset as they portrayed their beauty to eyes witness for a final dance of life, before they fall to earth and wait to bloom once more. The eternal dance of life and death was never shown as beautiful and elegant, and yet when Nature performed and showed this Dance, only beauty was left in it's wake. And only here, on a small deserted part of an old abandoned and broken City, could one see Nature's true beauty and strength.

Vines and trees breaking through left behind stone and ruin, taking back what had once been stolen from it years ago, ignoring the horrible image left in it's wake of destruction and apocalypse, not caring for the decay of History.

"It is Beautiful!" Phoenix exclaimed in aw. The little Ghost flying around mindlessly as it took in all it's eye could see, shaking his shell in happiness and swaying from side to side. Their Guardian smiled in response and continued to follow their little excited companion. It was indeed beautiful, and the male could not help but be swayed by Nature once more, his body and mind easing at the sight of their suroundings.

His steps where near soundless, light armor and years of training to keep surviving had made even the simplest of steps into a whisper. And yet the leaves softly cracked under his boots as He made his way towards ruines of Buildings to seek a comfortable spot he could rest his tired body at. Days of constant Battle and Missions had slowly eaten away his strength reserves, the internal fear of Death keeping him from settling down to rest and feed himself. He had scouted the Area before, deeming it safely enough to take at least a night of good rest and so returned after a more harder fight against some Fallen. The Guardian couldn't risk breaking down in the middle of a fight, not when enemies lurked at every corner these days. Even the smallest of missteps could lead to his death, and he certainly did not want to risk his Ghost to be put in harms way.

Suddenly his body tensed, steps cutting short as he stopped in his track and let his eyes wander. The setting of the sun let shadows fall in it wake and made clear vision harder, yet as his softly glowing eyes scanned the suroundings he could not help but feel on edge. Had something just moved on one of the many Walls? Or could it have been just a trick of his mind from the constant fear of being hunted? Before he could check and Assure himself, that indeed it was only a trick of mind and nature, his ghost called out his name, declaring to have found the perfect resting spot for the two of them.

Letting his tired body hit the wall behind him a heavy breath left his lips, before the Male quickly got to make a small fire, not caring that it could run risk of someone seeing the smoke, before making the small niche Phoenix had found more comfortable and finally settling down, weapon savely at his side in case he needed it but even if someone where to come, could he really care enough to fight? He doubted that possibility, for once he was way to lazy to do so and only enjoyed watching the see of stars softly glow in the night sky, listening to his Ghost talk about the humourous encounter with a confused Hive Trall they had not even hours ago. And yet he could not help but feel eyes on him.

[etherkrypte]

As the pair walked through the ruined cityscape, they were both quiet, No words were exchanged between the two until they'd eventually reached what looked like the remains of a monument. The broken statue of a slim humanoid figure, holding something in their arms.

Aldur had seen many of them through their journey. Most of them were either in terrible condition or in pieces below its altar. He always wondered what each one meant, not really knowing the context or history behind them. Aavis only knew so much and was still learning herself, however she knew more than Aldur most of the time.

“What does it say…?” Aldur rumbles softly as he leans over Aavis.

The hive ghost had hovered closer to the ground and was inspecting a stone carving amongst the rubble.

“I’m.. Not quite sure. It’s far too damaged to interpret, even with my translator.” She replies, looking back up at the statue, then to Aldur. “How bout we guess!”

Aldur hummed to himself, looking at the human shaped statue closely.

“An archivist who built secrets into the walls of their home, this settlement, it was first and last creation.” Aldur suggested in a low voice.

“Oooo~ what kind of secrets?” Aavis pondered, turning to Aldur.

The hive shrugs, which amuses Aavis as she adds.

“Then it's a mystery! I like it.” She says before buzzing off across the small square. “Let’s try looking this way!” Aavis says in a loud whisper.

Aldur was huff, looking around for a moment, before following after.

They continued to walk deeper into the ruins until something caught Aldur’s eye. The giant Hive stopped in his tracks as his claws dug deeper into the wall he’d been dragging them across.

Aavis would also come to a stop, and turn to Aldur.

“What’s wrong? Are you o-” Before she could finish, Aldur would bring a digit to his maw and point ahead of him.

The ghost slowly turns. There was a small smoke stack slowly rising from a nearby building. Probably only a block or two away from where they currently are. They both stared at it for a long second, until Aavis would hover back closer to Aldur and turn to him.

“Should we go see what it is?” Aavis asked.

Their question made Aldur glare at the smoke stack cautiously.

“I do not know, it seems unwise…” Aldur grumbled, leaning a bit more onto the building.

“True but, what if it’s someone who can help? Someone with resources- o- or directions?” Aavis asked, looking up to Aldur hopefully. “We should at least investigate, it's been days since you’ve gotten any rest in your system, it could be a safe place to stay for the night.” Aavis continued, her tone growing more worried and desperate.

Aldur looked to her for a long moment, then back at the smoke stack.

He deeply exhales from the bright enstrils on his neck, before slowly pulling himself away from the wall and pushing forward. Now, he was being more diligent. For a creature his stature, his footsteps were relatively quiet. Especially against the cold stone. Aavis stayed close beside him, not letting him take the lead, while she scanned the area from behind, as well as other spots Aldur couldn't quite see in his periphery.

Aldur would approach the building from the side, not entering it, as he only wanted to peer inside. He walks around it, trying to find an open window or crack, while Aavis scans the building for life forms.

[ghostlyredreaper]

As the night finally settled and even the moon rised in full sight, the fire softly crackled as it ate away at what wood it could reach and spent warmth into the area. The niche was not really small, but not big too, maybe enough that three people if not four could managed to rest inside of it.

The Hunter had scanned the what must have been some sort of room once, as he had looked for wood and came to find that half of the room had been shut off by broken debris and could either be accessed from the wide open front or the small door, or what was left of it, at the far back.

And yet while he sat near the fire to warm himself and drink some cold coke from the City, he could not help but feel uneasy, as if something was near.

"You think the Thrall hit his head?" Phoenix questioned, his soft red shell opening as they scanned another old portrait. Azrael hummed at the question and thought back to hours before. "It seemed confused," His voice was soft and yet held a little edge of roughness to it. "It wasn't old, so I guess it had left his Hive for the first time."

His Ghost spun around to face him, tilting his shell as if to raise an eyebrow. "So a baby?" The smile that crept on his lips felt childish. "A cute confused baby. At least before it was apparently Scolded by a Knight."

The fire flickered angrily and with a sigh, the Awoken sat forwards to extend what little Solar energy left in him to sprout the flames once more. It was only so long until the fire would flicker out and the warmth would leave. His skin crawled in unhappiness at the warm feeling the fire created.

"I really don't understand Hive Rules," Phoenix hushed as they flew back to their Guardian to settle on the small still hanging shelve above his head. "It's Hierarchy little light." The Ghost let out a sneer. "Stop calling me that!" It replied annoyed, yet made a small amused noise afterwards.

Using what little Light the Fire spent, Azrael pulled out his knive and half finished wooden figure, before continuing to cut away the clean wood and form whatever his fingers craved to make.

It was quite, before Phoenix spoke once more, their voice soft and almost sad. "I can't help but feel guilty..." His hand paused as his eyes closed, his fingers tingled with light left behind from deeds done. "What's done is done... It was necessary to ki-" His voice failed. "I wish to never see the fear of onces ghost again. No matter what Guardian it has chosen." He declared sharply ending whatever conversation his ghost had wished to bring up.

As he opened his eyes once more he could not help but stare at the angrily flickering fire before him. It was as if it cursed him out for what he had done, golden eyes reflected the dance of light before switching back to the figure in had and continue cutting. Shall the fire curse him out, he hoped to burn in it and give warmth to the soul he had taken from earth.

[etherkrypte]

Finally, Aldur would find a shattered window that looked directly into the room. It was about waist-height to him, so he had to crouch down quite a bit to even see what was inside. Upon hearing voices, he sank even lower to the ground, now practically kneeling in front of the window while gently pressing himself against the wall.

He would peer in carefully, doing his best to not draw attention. It was a guardian. Of course it was… Like things would ever go Aldur’s way. He squinted at them, studying them closely. Aldur didn’t pay much attention to the conversation until he recognized what exactly they were talking about.

Their words. Confused Aldur. He wasn’t sure what to make of it. He was able to understand most of it, but he couldn't tell if they were being serious- or if they knew he was there, and they were trying to draw him in closer. If that was the trick, then it was working- because he was listening very closely now, and he was growing very paranoid.

Meanwhile, Aavis had found a window on the upper floor, and was exploring it diligently. It looked like an abandoned cooking area. Covered in dust, moss, and rust with furniture practically rotting into the walls. As they are scanning around with their low flash light, they notice a framed photo on the wall and begin to slowly hover towards it.

The frame looked horribly worn down, however the photo inside looked intact for the most part. It was hard to see exactly what it depicted however, even with her flashlight directly on the photo, they looked like blurred silhouettes for the most part.

Aavis tried getting closer, but getting within a few extra inches of it seemed to disturb the atmosphere around it as it abruptly fell from where it hung and crashed to the ground. Glass shattered everywhere as the floorboard trembled and creaked from the impact.

The crash was loud enough for Aldur to hear, as his head snapped up to the second floor window, wide eyed.

Aavis stared at the photo in shock for a few moments, before she shook herself from it and frantically began looking around. Panic almost immediately set in with Aldur absent from her side, and rather than dart out the window she came in from, she quickly drops lower to the ground and squeezes into a small partially while her shell shifts anxiously.

[ghostlyredreaper]

After the more than unhealthy conversation had ended, both Guardian and Ghost just rested in silence, both in their own space of mind.

Azraels hairs still stood at the base of his neck, the feeling from before wouldn't vanish and it drove him a bit mad. He hated being watched, his survival senses always kicked in when he was and he grew anxious.

But this was all thrown out the window when they heard a clear and loud shatter of glass.

"What-?" Phoenix lifted himself up, his eye looking at the ceiling before he meet the golden eyes of the Hunter. Both nodding, everything was left to the side and Azrael grabbed the knive he had used to cut the wood figure before using his skilled parkour to get up and towards the opening at the front.

Ghost close by his side, he went into a crouch and used the given momentum to throw himself up and jump to the second floor above them, getting ahold of the broken windows before sliding inside, glass cracking away at his armor and under his boots.

Weapon drawn and knive under it, golden eyes scanned the dark room. A kitchen from what it looked like, but he couldn't make out much more. "Azrael look here!"

Phoenix would examine the fallen, and now broken, photo hanging out of the frame, the side broken and glass shattered around it. "It must have fallen down." He hummed, trying to get a better look but only came to conclusion that it was a Photo of a Family, those who had probably lived here prior to what had taken place here.

The reassuring words of his Ghost did not easy his screaming mind at all. There was someone here, fallen picture or not, and they had no where to go.

He was proven right.

Azrael had fallen into a crouch to look at the photo himself, only to see a soft glowing eye not far from it, hiding and shaking. His eyes widen at the sight and with a soft nod, Phoenix shone a soft flash of light at the spot.

"A Hive Ghost!" They exclaimed loudly in shock, shell ruffling with the motion.

its afraid- panicking' Was the first thing that the Hunter manages to form in his mind, and without an inch hesitation lowered both weapons, holding out a flat hand. "Come out... You're shaking." His voice softly echoed, body know going to kneel on the dirty floor. He didn't think, and only noticed Phoenix panicked calls moments later. And the Question made his body fill with Adrenaline.

"Where is its Guardian?!"

[etherkrypte]

As the hunter lowered themself closer to the ground, Aavis felt her core sink. This was her worse nightmare. She’d never been this close to a guardian before, because of how careful Aldur was with taking care of them. She stared with her one bright magenta eye, still trembling, even as the hunter began to lower his weapons- making themself appear less menacing. This only confused the hive ghost, as they looked between the hunter’s helm and palms. She didn’t know what to do, or how to respond. Were they trying to be passive? How could she get out of this without being crushed, or worse maybe even taken and experimented on? She’d heard stories from other hive ghosts, how some had seen other’s taken- mostly taken to who knows where. She didn’t want that- no one wanted that. Aavis especially didn’t want that, because that meant leaving Aldur behind.

          Almost on cue with the guardian’s ghost’s remark, there was a crash as nearly the entire structure shook. Parts of the walls and infrastructure of the building cracked as pieces crumbled to the ground. Aldur’s claws wrapped around the window sill of a broken second-floor window, digging into the brittle concrete before he pulled the rest of himself inside. The floor shook again, however, still remained solid not giving out below the two guardians. Aldur stood across the room from Azrael, slowly getting up from the crouched feral-like position he’d landed in. His three bright amber eyes glared the hunter down, overshadowed by the hood adorned over his crown.  The hive would continue to stare down the hunter and his ghost as he rose to a more hunched standing position- the room wasn’t spacious enough to allow the hive to stand to his full height, which only added to the number of disadvantages that were currently forcing him to take a more defensive position, rather than attacking head on.

          A deep almost guttural rattling noise would be exhaled from the hive knight’s maw, a very obvious warning as he eyed his ghost cornered in the cupboard.

[ghostlyredreaper]

As the building shook and debris started to fall, Phoenix let out a surprised noise, something coming close to a squeak, and darted to hide under Azraels hunched over body, only narrowly avoiding being hit by a small but big enough cement block of the ceiling that would have crushed his poor self if it had hit.

Like on cue of his ghosts words, he had finally noticed the second person appear in a more brute entrance, and Azrael could not help but think of a Titan thundercrashing into the building. Taken by surprise, the Hunter lost his shaky balance and within a second held himself up by the hand he had held out to the, obvious, frightened Ghost. The other wrapping halfway under him in a manner to protect his own hiding under him.

What little parts of Walls and Ceiling feel down on the Guardian, was quickly protected by not only the heavy armor but a small, yet soft, layer of ice.

Azraels head snapped like a startled dog to the side and watch with widened eyes as the massive Hive forced it's way inside the small floor apartment, noticing instantly that it was still a little hunched over, not able to stand at it's full height thanks to the buildings constructive Hight.

Having all his attention now solely focused on the Knight before him, his whole body tensed with instinct. Grabbing and holding a firm hold onto his Handgun, the Male knew that if they where to fight now, he would have to be quick and use a bigger gun. He was almost entirely sure the little bullets of his Hand canon would be laughed at, and yet holding it secured him a little. Instantly mourning that he probably had to give up his little area and make a dart for it.

His eyes scanned the surroundings, he had no real choice but to either throw himself against the, from the outside, barricaded door and risk having his back turned or having to dash forward towards the angry Hive Guardian and try to pass him and escape thanks to the massive window hole the Hive just made. Honestly he would love to ignore the latter of the two, there was no worse outcome from this but rush in and make himself an even easier target for the big guy.

"We-We don't mean harm!" Phoenix softly cried out, their shell and little pink eye watching the Hive Guardian, as he peeked up from it's position under his Guardians body and protective arm. Phoenix knew the effect, of crushing one of his own people, made his Hunter feel and loved the idea that this was not to result in conflict.

He noticed quickly that the Hive looked damaged or at least tired but still angry enough to rip them to shreds from one wrong move. The stories they heard from Guardians barely surviving a Guardian Hive attack made his shell quiver in fear. They didn't want to end up dead! They couldn't leave their Guardian behind just like this, but sure as heck would he not go down without protecting his other half!

Maybe they could talk it out? A stupid childish thought. How was he even sure the Hive understood them? Phoenix felt Azrael tense and his hand take a protective shield position to cover him. Looking up he saw the Male only slightly tilting his head down, thinking probably the same thing, or not and was just extremely worried over him. Phoenix understood, given how fearless they sometimes threw themselves into battle to save Heal the Hunter or scan something.

But there had to be a way to avoid a fight, Azrael was tired and had barely eaten when they had settled down here at the start of night. Of course he would full on scold said Guardian later on, under the condition they made it out alive. "We heard a crash and found this Ghost- you... Your Ghost," Phoenix started to Sutter out in hopes to explain and avoid having the Knight bounch on them. "We just- wanted to help!"

[etherkrypte]

The Hive knight’s eyes narrowed at the guardian and their ghost, another low guttural groan leaving the large figure as they snort through the vents on their neck. Aldur was extremely distrustful towards any and all humanoids, even including his own kind, who honestly he distrusted the most. The hunter was positioned in a very neutral stance, he was unsure whether they were preparing to strike at him or stand down.

That didn’t really matter to the Hive though, as the only thing he really cared about was his ghost and the guardian’s proximity to them. Aavis’s eye flashed between the two guardians, now worried for both herself and Aldur. She contemplated zipping out of the cupboard to return to Aldur, but she was scared darting past the hunter would trigger an offensive response, getting her crushed. She swayed closer towards the opening out of the cupboard but shrank away whenever the hunter moved so much as a finger. She was trapped. But seeing Aldur in the room with her did calm her circuits as she sat back, waiting and hoping for a moment she could escape.

          As the hunter’s ghost spoke up, the hive helm snapped to them. He studied the little entity closely, comparing them to their guardian. They shared the same light, a close pair, much like Aavis and himself- this didn’t change his feelings towards them though. Any and all Guardians were difficult to trust in Aldur’s eyes, especially with how many lives he’s lived through and seen what they’d done. Little to no remorse is shown every time he saw a hive’s ghost crushed by their hands. Their bare hands. He knew the guardians were frightened and hostile towards his race, there was much the hive did that was very unsavory. However, with the recent gift of light given to them, some things had changed… But most refuse to see that.

That being said, in this tense staring contest, Aldur listened closely to the ghost’s words. He squints at the pair crouched infront of the cupboard, before speaking firmly in a deep, direct, and coarse voice.

“Get. Back.”

He commanded, flexing his claws a little as several deep cautious clicks are heard deep from within his chest.

[ghostlyredreaper]

Silence wasn't one of the many things the male really disliked, depending on the person around him, he sometimes used this silence to really see how their companion was feeling, something he learned really quickly. But this time it was different, this silence was almost Killing him. So tense he swore, he could feel it cutting the air around them.

He let his Ghost talk, trusting that the small robot would not do anything stupid, then again he was as frightened as a cat ready to hiss and run away, so he forced himself to nearly not move a muscle.

That was until the other talked. Actually talked in their language.

It took Azrael by surprise and it sure showed, body tensing but rising a little in hight as if he was caught off guard. Most Hive he came in contact with either screamed so loud he had to honestly cover his ears and come close to compare those screams to wax hitting a writing board, or were a series of klicks and growls. But those were real words he understood, sure they were only two and the threat, the warning in the tone of voice was like poison towards him, but spoke nonetheless.

And he understood. Head turning towards the still cowering Ghost in the cupboard near him before he looked back to the Hive, watching his every move with hawk eyes.

As slow as he could but fast enough to not annoy the other with how long he took. Azrael got up and put the Hand canon back into the holster around his leg, still holding his Ghost close to the chest as he moved back and to the side. Now that he was out if grabbing reach of the Ghost, his own slowly looked towards the door, which they moved closer to. The strength needed to destroy and open it with whatever was behind, didn't came close with the amount of running towards it they would need to have. So possibility one was suddenly very much, out the window.

The Male had questions on his tongue but did not voice any. How did the Hive speak their language? How come a Hive was even out here in the EDZ in the first place and not- somewhere more Hive based?

Then again, eying him up and down did have Azrael make a small face under his helmet. That Knight looked nothing like other Guardian Hive he run into contact with, no he looked almost... Civil and on the run. And he couldn't help but try to imagine how he must have looked like before changing outfits.

Had he the same gray and green armor- or hard flesh as the rest? Maybe, judging by the colours, he wore actual fine plates of metal around his body in a pride that would have others shiver. Was he above the natural Rank of a Knight by becoming a Guardian or did he bowed his head against other Hive ranks?

He took a breath in, 'if you want to appear less like a threat, show them the face you wear.' The Voice of his Father rumbled in his mind. Clear as day from all those decates ago, when days and nights were filled with laugher and songs, stories of old and tradition given down to younglings.

Phoenix jumped in surprise as they watched the hand before them move up, the helmet klicked before soft some came hissing out and the Guardian let the helm be removed from his face, the Ghost knew what he wanted to do but feared for the sudden nakedness the Hunter put himself in.

His position from his chest changed to hover over his shoulder like a little bird would do with it's owner and side eyed every move and expression the Guardian made, and suddenly he felt proud. He felt proud everytime their Guardian showed himself, showed he did not fear and spoke to face with beauty. Awoken genes sure where something.

Azrael blinked once, then twice. Adjusting his eyes to the surounding light, which was compared to the visuals in the helmet, more lighter and soft than dull and dark. Suddenly feeling the tips of his hair tickle his hear as they fell to the side. Most often compared to standard Awoken beauty, Azrael felt the need to dug and down out his own look, he was by far really beautiful but still held that high standing look most of his People tend to have.

For one the softly flow of skin particals on his face, or the markings around his eyes often being compared to eyeshadow. While his armor was mostly black with hints of red, a tone held dark to vanish in the night, he himself was the opposite. Light lilac skin, darker tones lips and markings, bright glowing golden eyes and side shaved fire red hair.

And finally now, he himself spoke, free from the soft statit raido like voice from the helmet, his own was soft with slight roughness on the edges. "Who are you?"

[etherkrypte]

Aldur's eyes watched the hunter’s every move closely, ensuring that the guardian wasn’t leaving anything behind or setting up the hive, like luring him into a trap. However, the moment they’d moved away from the small broken cupboard, their attention shifted to the hive ghost inside. The pair stared at each other for a moment, before Aavis began to slowly drift up and out from their dank hiding place. She looks to the side, in the direction of the hunter and their ghost, then quickly darts to Aldur. Hovering up and closer to their head, where they would float idly for a moment, before looking back in the direction of the guardian and ghost across from them.           Aldur’s eyes focused on the hunter once more as they began removing their helm, and only then would the threatening tension in his gaze shift a little. His glare almost softened as he viewed the other’s more expressive visage. No guardian had ever removed their armor in front of him before, at least not like this. They looked just as wary as he was, tense and locked onto his frame.

Upon hearing the guardian’s question, he was reluctant to answer. He’d got what he came for, and there obviously wasn’t anything here that could help him- not as they would help him. Unless…

Before Aldur could leave or make a decision on how to respond, Aavis’s shaky, but affable voice would break the silence.

“We… We’re travelers. J- just passing through…” She responds to the hunter, looking down for a moment at the photo she’d unintentionally broken, then back up to the pair. “We thought…” The ghost pauses and looks at Aldur. “We thought we were the only ones…”

[ghostlyredreaper]

Meet and Greet

(@etherkrypte)

The turning of Fall to Winter had become a usual and normal sight, how the leaves would turn and dance in colours of the sunset as they portrayed their beauty to eyes witness for a final dance of life, before they fall to earth and wait to bloom once more. The eternal dance of life and death was never shown as beautiful and elegant, and yet when Nature performed and showed this Dance, only beauty was left in it's wake. And only here, on a small deserted part of an old abandoned and broken City, could one see Nature's true beauty and strength.

Vines and trees breaking through left behind stone and ruin, taking back what had once been stolen from it years ago, ignoring the horrible image left in it's wake of destruction and apocalypse, not caring for the decay of History.

"It is Beautiful!" Phoenix exclaimed in aw. The little Ghost flying around mindlessly as it took in all it's eye could see, shaking his shell in happiness and swaying from side to side. Their Guardian smiled in response and continued to follow their little excited companion. It was indeed beautiful, and the male could not help but be swayed by Nature once more, his body and mind easing at the sight of their suroundings.

His steps where near soundless, light armor and years of training to keep surviving had made even the simplest of steps into a whisper. And yet the leaves softly cracked under his boots as He made his way towards ruines of Buildings to seek a comfortable spot he could rest his tired body at. Days of constant Battle and Missions had slowly eaten away his strength reserves, the internal fear of Death keeping him from settling down to rest and feed himself. He had scouted the Area before, deeming it safely enough to take at least a night of good rest and so returned after a more harder fight against some Fallen. The Guardian couldn't risk breaking down in the middle of a fight, not when enemies lurked at every corner these days. Even the smallest of missteps could lead to his death, and he certainly did not want to risk his Ghost to be put in harms way.

Suddenly his body tensed, steps cutting short as he stopped in his track and let his eyes wander. The setting of the sun let shadows fall in it wake and made clear vision harder, yet as his softly glowing eyes scanned the suroundings he could not help but feel on edge. Had something just moved on one of the many Walls? Or could it have been just a trick of his mind from the constant fear of being hunted? Before he could check and Assure himself, that indeed it was only a trick of mind and nature, his ghost called out his name, declaring to have found the perfect resting spot for the two of them.

Letting his tired body hit the wall behind him a heavy breath left his lips, before the Male quickly got to make a small fire, not caring that it could run risk of someone seeing the smoke, before making the small niche Phoenix had found more comfortable and finally settling down, weapon savely at his side in case he needed it but even if someone where to come, could he really care enough to fight? He doubted that possibility, for once he was way to lazy to do so and only enjoyed watching the see of stars softly glow in the night sky, listening to his Ghost talk about the humourous encounter with a confused Hive Trall they had not even hours ago. And yet he could not help but feel eyes on him.

[etherkrypte]

As the pair walked through the ruined cityscape, they were both quiet, No words were exchanged between the two until they'd eventually reached what looked like the remains of a monument. The broken statue of a slim humanoid figure, holding something in their arms.

Aldur had seen many of them through their journey. Most of them were either in terrible condition or in pieces below its altar. He always wondered what each one meant, not really knowing the context or history behind them. Aavis only knew so much and was still learning herself, however she knew more than Aldur most of the time.

“What does it say…?” Aldur rumbles softly as he leans over Aavis.

The hive ghost had hovered closer to the ground and was inspecting a stone carving amongst the rubble.

“I’m.. Not quite sure. It’s far too damaged to interpret, even with my translator.” She replies, looking back up at the statue, then to Aldur. “How bout we guess!”

Aldur hummed to himself, looking at the human shaped statue closely.

“An archivist who built secrets into the walls of their home, this settlement, it was first and last creation.” Aldur suggested in a low voice.

“Oooo~ what kind of secrets?” Aavis pondered, turning to Aldur.

The hive shrugs, which amuses Aavis as she adds.

“Then it's a mystery! I like it.” She says before buzzing off across the small square. “Let’s try looking this way!” Aavis says in a loud whisper.

Aldur was huff, looking around for a moment, before following after.

They continued to walk deeper into the ruins until something caught Aldur’s eye. The giant Hive stopped in his tracks as his claws dug deeper into the wall he’d been dragging them across.

Aavis would also come to a stop, and turn to Aldur.

“What’s wrong? Are you o-” Before she could finish, Aldur would bring a digit to his maw and point ahead of him.

The ghost slowly turns. There was a small smoke stack slowly rising from a nearby building. Probably only a block or two away from where they currently are. They both stared at it for a long second, until Aavis would hover back closer to Aldur and turn to him.

“Should we go see what it is?” Aavis asked.

Their question made Aldur glare at the smoke stack cautiously.

“I do not know, it seems unwise…” Aldur grumbled, leaning a bit more onto the building.

“True but, what if it’s someone who can help? Someone with resources- o- or directions?” Aavis asked, looking up to Aldur hopefully. “We should at least investigate, it's been days since you’ve gotten any rest in your system, it could be a safe place to stay for the night.” Aavis continued, her tone growing more worried and desperate.

Aldur looked to her for a long moment, then back at the smoke stack.

He deeply exhales from the bright enstrils on his neck, before slowly pulling himself away from the wall and pushing forward. Now, he was being more diligent. For a creature his stature, his footsteps were relatively quiet. Especially against the cold stone. Aavis stayed close beside him, not letting him take the lead, while she scanned the area from behind, as well as other spots Aldur couldn't quite see in his periphery.

Aldur would approach the building from the side, not entering it, as he only wanted to peer inside. He walks around it, trying to find an open window or crack, while Aavis scans the building for life forms.

[ghostlyredreaper]

As the night finally settled and even the moon rised in full sight, the fire softly crackled as it ate away at what wood it could reach and spent warmth into the area. The niche was not really small, but not big too, maybe enough that three people if not four could managed to rest inside of it.

The Hunter had scanned the what must have been some sort of room once, as he had looked for wood and came to find that half of the room had been shut off by broken debris and could either be accessed from the wide open front or the small door, or what was left of it, at the far back.

And yet while he sat near the fire to warm himself and drink some cold coke from the City, he could not help but feel uneasy, as if something was near.

"You think the Thrall hit his head?" Phoenix questioned, his soft red shell opening as they scanned another old portrait. Azrael hummed at the question and thought back to hours before. "It seemed confused," His voice was soft and yet held a little edge of roughness to it. "It wasn't old, so I guess it had left his Hive for the first time."

His Ghost spun around to face him, tilting his shell as if to raise an eyebrow. "So a baby?" The smile that crept on his lips felt childish. "A cute confused baby. At least before it was apparently Scolded by a Knight."

The fire flickered angrily and with a sigh, the Awoken sat forwards to extend what little Solar energy left in him to sprout the flames once more. It was only so long until the fire would flicker out and the warmth would leave. His skin crawled in unhappiness at the warm feeling the fire created.

"I really don't understand Hive Rules," Phoenix hushed as they flew back to their Guardian to settle on the small still hanging shelve above his head. "It's Hierarchy little light." The Ghost let out a sneer. "Stop calling me that!" It replied annoyed, yet made a small amused noise afterwards.

Using what little Light the Fire spent, Azrael pulled out his knive and half finished wooden figure, before continuing to cut away the clean wood and form whatever his fingers craved to make.

It was quite, before Phoenix spoke once more, their voice soft and almost sad. "I can't help but feel guilty..." His hand paused as his eyes closed, his fingers tingled with light left behind from deeds done. "What's done is done... It was necessary to ki-" His voice failed. "I wish to never see the fear of onces ghost again. No matter what Guardian it has chosen." He declared sharply ending whatever conversation his ghost had wished to bring up.

As he opened his eyes once more he could not help but stare at the angrily flickering fire before him. It was as if it cursed him out for what he had done, golden eyes reflected the dance of light before switching back to the figure in had and continue cutting. Shall the fire curse him out, he hoped to burn in it and give warmth to the soul he had taken from earth.

[etherkrypte]

Finally, Aldur would find a shattered window that looked directly into the room. It was about waist-height to him, so he had to crouch down quite a bit to even see what was inside. Upon hearing voices, he sank even lower to the ground, now practically kneeling in front of the window while gently pressing himself against the wall.

He would peer in carefully, doing his best to not draw attention. It was a guardian. Of course it was… Like things would ever go Aldur’s way. He squinted at them, studying them closely. Aldur didn’t pay much attention to the conversation until he recognized what exactly they were talking about.

Their words. Confused Aldur. He wasn’t sure what to make of it. He was able to understand most of it, but he couldn't tell if they were being serious- or if they knew he was there, and they were trying to draw him in closer. If that was the trick, then it was working- because he was listening very closely now, and he was growing very paranoid.

Meanwhile, Aavis had found a window on the upper floor, and was exploring it diligently. It looked like an abandoned cooking area. Covered in dust, moss, and rust with furniture practically rotting into the walls. As they are scanning around with their low flash light, they notice a framed photo on the wall and begin to slowly hover towards it.

The frame looked horribly worn down, however the photo inside looked intact for the most part. It was hard to see exactly what it depicted however, even with her flashlight directly on the photo, they looked like blurred silhouettes for the most part.

Aavis tried getting closer, but getting within a few extra inches of it seemed to disturb the atmosphere around it as it abruptly fell from where it hung and crashed to the ground. Glass shattered everywhere as the floorboard trembled and creaked from the impact.

The crash was loud enough for Aldur to hear, as his head snapped up to the second floor window, wide eyed.

Aavis stared at the photo in shock for a few moments, before she shook herself from it and frantically began looking around. Panic almost immediately set in with Aldur absent from her side, and rather than dart out the window she came in from, she quickly drops lower to the ground and squeezes into a small partially while her shell shifts anxiously.

[ghostlyredreaper]

After the more than unhealthy conversation had ended, both Guardian and Ghost just rested in silence, both in their own space of mind.

Azraels hairs still stood at the base of his neck, the feeling from before wouldn't vanish and it drove him a bit mad. He hated being watched, his survival senses always kicked in when he was and he grew anxious.

But this was all thrown out the window when they heard a clear and loud shatter of glass.

"What-?" Phoenix lifted himself up, his eye looking at the ceiling before he meet the golden eyes of the Hunter. Both nodding, everything was left to the side and Azrael grabbed the knive he had used to cut the wood figure before using his skilled parkour to get up and towards the opening at the front.

Ghost close by his side, he went into a crouch and used the given momentum to throw himself up and jump to the second floor above them, getting ahold of the broken windows before sliding inside, glass cracking away at his armor and under his boots.

Weapon drawn and knive under it, golden eyes scanned the dark room. A kitchen from what it looked like, but he couldn't make out much more. "Azrael look here!"

Phoenix would examine the fallen, and now broken, photo hanging out of the frame, the side broken and glass shattered around it. "It must have fallen down." He hummed, trying to get a better look but only came to conclusion that it was a Photo of a Family, those who had probably lived here prior to what had taken place here.

The reassuring words of his Ghost did not easy his screaming mind at all. There was someone here, fallen picture or not, and they had no where to go.

He was proven right.

Azrael had fallen into a crouch to look at the photo himself, only to see a soft glowing eye not far from it, hiding and shaking. His eyes widen at the sight and with a soft nod, Phoenix shone a soft flash of light at the spot.

"A Hive Ghost!" They exclaimed loudly in shock, shell ruffling with the motion.

its afraid- panicking' Was the first thing that the Hunter manages to form in his mind, and without an inch hesitation lowered both weapons, holding out a flat hand. "Come out... You're shaking." His voice softly echoed, body know going to kneel on the dirty floor. He didn't think, and only noticed Phoenix panicked calls moments later. And the Question made his body fill with Adrenaline.

"Where is its Guardian?!"

[etherkrypte]

As the hunter lowered themself closer to the ground, Aavis felt her core sink. This was her worse nightmare. She’d never been this close to a guardian before, because of how careful Aldur was with taking care of them. She stared with her one bright magenta eye, still trembling, even as the hunter began to lower his weapons- making themself appear less menacing. This only confused the hive ghost, as they looked between the hunter’s helm and palms. She didn’t know what to do, or how to respond. Were they trying to be passive? How could she get out of this without being crushed, or worse maybe even taken and experimented on? She’d heard stories from other hive ghosts, how some had seen other’s taken- mostly taken to who knows where. She didn’t want that- no one wanted that. Aavis especially didn’t want that, because that meant leaving Aldur behind.

          Almost on cue with the guardian’s ghost’s remark, there was a crash as nearly the entire structure shook. Parts of the walls and infrastructure of the building cracked as pieces crumbled to the ground. Aldur’s claws wrapped around the window sill of a broken second-floor window, digging into the brittle concrete before he pulled the rest of himself inside. The floor shook again, however, still remained solid not giving out below the two guardians. Aldur stood across the room from Azrael, slowly getting up from the crouched feral-like position he’d landed in. His three bright amber eyes glared the hunter down, overshadowed by the hood adorned over his crown.  The hive would continue to stare down the hunter and his ghost as he rose to a more hunched standing position- the room wasn’t spacious enough to allow the hive to stand to his full height, which only added to the number of disadvantages that were currently forcing him to take a more defensive position, rather than attacking head on.

          A deep almost guttural rattling noise would be exhaled from the hive knight’s maw, a very obvious warning as he eyed his ghost cornered in the cupboard.

[ghostlyredreaper]

As the building shook and debris started to fall, Phoenix let out a surprised noise, something coming close to a squeak, and darted to hide under Azraels hunched over body, only narrowly avoiding being hit by a small but big enough cement block of the ceiling that would have crushed his poor self if it had hit.

Like on cue of his ghosts words, he had finally noticed the second person appear in a more brute entrance, and Azrael could not help but think of a Titan thundercrashing into the building. Taken by surprise, the Hunter lost his shaky balance and within a second held himself up by the hand he had held out to the, obvious, frightened Ghost. The other wrapping halfway under him in a manner to protect his own hiding under him.

What little parts of Walls and Ceiling feel down on the Guardian, was quickly protected by not only the heavy armor but a small, yet soft, layer of ice.

Azraels head snapped like a startled dog to the side and watch with widened eyes as the massive Hive forced it's way inside the small floor apartment, noticing instantly that it was still a little hunched over, not able to stand at it's full height thanks to the buildings constructive Hight.

Having all his attention now solely focused on the Knight before him, his whole body tensed with instinct. Grabbing and holding a firm hold onto his Handgun, the Male knew that if they where to fight now, he would have to be quick and use a bigger gun. He was almost entirely sure the little bullets of his Hand canon would be laughed at, and yet holding it secured him a little. Instantly mourning that he probably had to give up his little area and make a dart for it.

His eyes scanned the surroundings, he had no real choice but to either throw himself against the, from the outside, barricaded door and risk having his back turned or having to dash forward towards the angry Hive Guardian and try to pass him and escape thanks to the massive window hole the Hive just made. Honestly he would love to ignore the latter of the two, there was no worse outcome from this but rush in and make himself an even easier target for the big guy.

"We-We don't mean harm!" Phoenix softly cried out, their shell and little pink eye watching the Hive Guardian, as he peeked up from it's position under his Guardians body and protective arm. Phoenix knew the effect, of crushing one of his own people, made his Hunter feel and loved the idea that this was not to result in conflict.

He noticed quickly that the Hive looked damaged or at least tired but still angry enough to rip them to shreds from one wrong move. The stories they heard from Guardians barely surviving a Guardian Hive attack made his shell quiver in fear. They didn't want to end up dead! They couldn't leave their Guardian behind just like this, but sure as heck would he not go down without protecting his other half!

Maybe they could talk it out? A stupid childish thought. How was he even sure the Hive understood them? Phoenix felt Azrael tense and his hand take a protective shield position to cover him. Looking up he saw the Male only slightly tilting his head down, thinking probably the same thing, or not and was just extremely worried over him. Phoenix understood, given how fearless they sometimes threw themselves into battle to save Heal the Hunter or scan something.

But there had to be a way to avoid a fight, Azrael was tired and had barely eaten when they had settled down here at the start of night. Of course he would full on scold said Guardian later on, under the condition they made it out alive. "We heard a crash and found this Ghost- you... Your Ghost," Phoenix started to Sutter out in hopes to explain and avoid having the Knight bounch on them. "We just- wanted to help!"

[etherkrypte]

The Hive knight’s eyes narrowed at the guardian and their ghost, another low guttural groan leaving the large figure as they snort through the vents on their neck. Aldur was extremely distrustful towards any and all humanoids, even including his own kind, who honestly he distrusted the most. The hunter was positioned in a very neutral stance, he was unsure whether they were preparing to strike at him or stand down.

That didn’t really matter to the Hive though, as the only thing he really cared about was his ghost and the guardian’s proximity to them. Aavis’s eye flashed between the two guardians, now worried for both herself and Aldur. She contemplated zipping out of the cupboard to return to Aldur, but she was scared darting past the hunter would trigger an offensive response, getting her crushed. She swayed closer towards the opening out of the cupboard but shrank away whenever the hunter moved so much as a finger. She was trapped. But seeing Aldur in the room with her did calm her circuits as she sat back, waiting and hoping for a moment she could escape.

          As the hunter’s ghost spoke up, the hive helm snapped to them. He studied the little entity closely, comparing them to their guardian. They shared the same light, a close pair, much like Aavis and himself- this didn’t change his feelings towards them though. Any and all Guardians were difficult to trust in Aldur’s eyes, especially with how many lives he’s lived through and seen what they’d done. Little to no remorse is shown every time he saw a hive’s ghost crushed by their hands. Their bare hands. He knew the guardians were frightened and hostile towards his race, there was much the hive did that was very unsavory. However, with the recent gift of light given to them, some things had changed… But most refuse to see that.

That being said, in this tense staring contest, Aldur listened closely to the ghost’s words. He squints at the pair crouched infront of the cupboard, before speaking firmly in a deep, direct, and coarse voice.

“Get. Back.”

He commanded, flexing his claws a little as several deep cautious clicks are heard deep from within his chest.

[ghostlyredreaper]

Meet and Greet

(@etherkrypte)

The turning of Fall to Winter had become a usual and normal sight, how the leaves would turn and dance in colours of the sunset as they portrayed their beauty to eyes witness for a final dance of life, before they fall to earth and wait to bloom once more. The eternal dance of life and death was never shown as beautiful and elegant, and yet when Nature performed and showed this Dance, only beauty was left in it's wake. And only here, on a small deserted part of an old abandoned and broken City, could one see Nature's true beauty and strength.

Vines and trees breaking through left behind stone and ruin, taking back what had once been stolen from it years ago, ignoring the horrible image left in it's wake of destruction and apocalypse, not caring for the decay of History.

"It is Beautiful!" Phoenix exclaimed in aw. The little Ghost flying around mindlessly as it took in all it's eye could see, shaking his shell in happiness and swaying from side to side. Their Guardian smiled in response and continued to follow their little excited companion. It was indeed beautiful, and the male could not help but be swayed by Nature once more, his body and mind easing at the sight of their suroundings.

His steps where near soundless, light armor and years of training to keep surviving had made even the simplest of steps into a whisper. And yet the leaves softly cracked under his boots as He made his way towards ruines of Buildings to seek a comfortable spot he could rest his tired body at. Days of constant Battle and Missions had slowly eaten away his strength reserves, the internal fear of Death keeping him from settling down to rest and feed himself. He had scouted the Area before, deeming it safely enough to take at least a night of good rest and so returned after a more harder fight against some Fallen. The Guardian couldn't risk breaking down in the middle of a fight, not when enemies lurked at every corner these days. Even the smallest of missteps could lead to his death, and he certainly did not want to risk his Ghost to be put in harms way.

Suddenly his body tensed, steps cutting short as he stopped in his track and let his eyes wander. The setting of the sun let shadows fall in it wake and made clear vision harder, yet as his softly glowing eyes scanned the suroundings he could not help but feel on edge. Had something just moved on one of the many Walls? Or could it have been just a trick of his mind from the constant fear of being hunted? Before he could check and Assure himself, that indeed it was only a trick of mind and nature, his ghost called out his name, declaring to have found the perfect resting spot for the two of them.

Letting his tired body hit the wall behind him a heavy breath left his lips, before the Male quickly got to make a small fire, not caring that it could run risk of someone seeing the smoke, before making the small niche Phoenix had found more comfortable and finally settling down, weapon savely at his side in case he needed it but even if someone where to come, could he really care enough to fight? He doubted that possibility, for once he was way to lazy to do so and only enjoyed watching the see of stars softly glow in the night sky, listening to his Ghost talk about the humourous encounter with a confused Hive Trall they had not even hours ago. And yet he could not help but feel eyes on him.

[etherkrypte]

As the pair walked through the ruined cityscape, they were both quiet, No words were exchanged between the two until they'd eventually reached what looked like the remains of a monument. The broken statue of a slim humanoid figure, holding something in their arms.

Aldur had seen many of them through their journey. Most of them were either in terrible condition or in pieces below its altar. He always wondered what each one meant, not really knowing the context or history behind them. Aavis only knew so much and was still learning herself, however she knew more than Aldur most of the time.

“What does it say…?” Aldur rumbles softly as he leans over Aavis.

The hive ghost had hovered closer to the ground and was inspecting a stone carving amongst the rubble.

“I’m.. Not quite sure. It’s far too damaged to interpret, even with my translator.” She replies, looking back up at the statue, then to Aldur. “How bout we guess!”

Aldur hummed to himself, looking at the human shaped statue closely.

“An archivist who built secrets into the walls of their home, this settlement, it was first and last creation.” Aldur suggested in a low voice.

“Oooo~ what kind of secrets?” Aavis pondered, turning to Aldur.

The hive shrugs, which amuses Aavis as she adds.

“Then it's a mystery! I like it.” She says before buzzing off across the small square. “Let’s try looking this way!” Aavis says in a loud whisper.

Aldur was huff, looking around for a moment, before following after.

They continued to walk deeper into the ruins until something caught Aldur’s eye. The giant Hive stopped in his tracks as his claws dug deeper into the wall he’d been dragging them across.

Aavis would also come to a stop, and turn to Aldur.

“What’s wrong? Are you o-” Before she could finish, Aldur would bring a digit to his maw and point ahead of him.

The ghost slowly turns. There was a small smoke stack slowly rising from a nearby building. Probably only a block or two away from where they currently are. They both stared at it for a long second, until Aavis would hover back closer to Aldur and turn to him.

“Should we go see what it is?” Aavis asked.

Their question made Aldur glare at the smoke stack cautiously.

“I do not know, it seems unwise…” Aldur grumbled, leaning a bit more onto the building.

“True but, what if it’s someone who can help? Someone with resources- o- or directions?” Aavis asked, looking up to Aldur hopefully. “We should at least investigate, it's been days since you’ve gotten any rest in your system, it could be a safe place to stay for the night.” Aavis continued, her tone growing more worried and desperate.

Aldur looked to her for a long moment, then back at the smoke stack.

He deeply exhales from the bright enstrils on his neck, before slowly pulling himself away from the wall and pushing forward. Now, he was being more diligent. For a creature his stature, his footsteps were relatively quiet. Especially against the cold stone. Aavis stayed close beside him, not letting him take the lead, while she scanned the area from behind, as well as other spots Aldur couldn't quite see in his periphery.

Aldur would approach the building from the side, not entering it, as he only wanted to peer inside. He walks around it, trying to find an open window or crack, while Aavis scans the building for life forms.

[ghostlyredreaper]

As the night finally settled and even the moon rised in full sight, the fire softly crackled as it ate away at what wood it could reach and spent warmth into the area. The niche was not really small, but not big too, maybe enough that three people if not four could managed to rest inside of it.

The Hunter had scanned the what must have been some sort of room once, as he had looked for wood and came to find that half of the room had been shut off by broken debris and could either be accessed from the wide open front or the small door, or what was left of it, at the far back.

And yet while he sat near the fire to warm himself and drink some cold coke from the City, he could not help but feel uneasy, as if something was near.

"You think the Thrall hit his head?" Phoenix questioned, his soft red shell opening as they scanned another old portrait. Azrael hummed at the question and thought back to hours before. "It seemed confused," His voice was soft and yet held a little edge of roughness to it. "It wasn't old, so I guess it had left his Hive for the first time."

His Ghost spun around to face him, tilting his shell as if to raise an eyebrow. "So a baby?" The smile that crept on his lips felt childish. "A cute confused baby. At least before it was apparently Scolded by a Knight."

The fire flickered angrily and with a sigh, the Awoken sat forwards to extend what little Solar energy left in him to sprout the flames once more. It was only so long until the fire would flicker out and the warmth would leave. His skin crawled in unhappiness at the warm feeling the fire created.

"I really don't understand Hive Rules," Phoenix hushed as they flew back to their Guardian to settle on the small still hanging shelve above his head. "It's Hierarchy little light." The Ghost let out a sneer. "Stop calling me that!" It replied annoyed, yet made a small amused noise afterwards.

Using what little Light the Fire spent, Azrael pulled out his knive and half finished wooden figure, before continuing to cut away the clean wood and form whatever his fingers craved to make.

It was quite, before Phoenix spoke once more, their voice soft and almost sad. "I can't help but feel guilty..." His hand paused as his eyes closed, his fingers tingled with light left behind from deeds done. "What's done is done... It was necessary to ki-" His voice failed. "I wish to never see the fear of onces ghost again. No matter what Guardian it has chosen." He declared sharply ending whatever conversation his ghost had wished to bring up.

As he opened his eyes once more he could not help but stare at the angrily flickering fire before him. It was as if it cursed him out for what he had done, golden eyes reflected the dance of light before switching back to the figure in had and continue cutting. Shall the fire curse him out, he hoped to burn in it and give warmth to the soul he had taken from earth.

[etherkrypte]

Finally, Aldur would find a shattered window that looked directly into the room. It was about waist-height to him, so he had to crouch down quite a bit to even see what was inside. Upon hearing voices, he sank even lower to the ground, now practically kneeling in front of the window while gently pressing himself against the wall.

He would peer in carefully, doing his best to not draw attention. It was a guardian. Of course it was… Like things would ever go Aldur’s way. He squinted at them, studying them closely. Aldur didn’t pay much attention to the conversation until he recognized what exactly they were talking about.

Their words. Confused Aldur. He wasn’t sure what to make of it. He was able to understand most of it, but he couldn't tell if they were being serious- or if they knew he was there, and they were trying to draw him in closer. If that was the trick, then it was working- because he was listening very closely now, and he was growing very paranoid.

Meanwhile, Aavis had found a window on the upper floor, and was exploring it diligently. It looked like an abandoned cooking area. Covered in dust, moss, and rust with furniture practically rotting into the walls. As they are scanning around with their low flash light, they notice a framed photo on the wall and begin to slowly hover towards it.

The frame looked horribly worn down, however the photo inside looked intact for the most part. It was hard to see exactly what it depicted however, even with her flashlight directly on the photo, they looked like blurred silhouettes for the most part.

Aavis tried getting closer, but getting within a few extra inches of it seemed to disturb the atmosphere around it as it abruptly fell from where it hung and crashed to the ground. Glass shattered everywhere as the floorboard trembled and creaked from the impact.

The crash was loud enough for Aldur to hear, as his head snapped up to the second floor window, wide eyed.

Aavis stared at the photo in shock for a few moments, before she shook herself from it and frantically began looking around. Panic almost immediately set in with Aldur absent from her side, and rather than dart out the window she came in from, she quickly drops lower to the ground and squeezes into a small partially while her shell shifts anxiously.

[ghostlyredreaper]

After the more than unhealthy conversation had ended, both Guardian and Ghost just rested in silence, both in their own space of mind.

Azraels hairs still stood at the base of his neck, the feeling from before wouldn't vanish and it drove him a bit mad. He hated being watched, his survival senses always kicked in when he was and he grew anxious.

But this was all thrown out the window when they heard a clear and loud shatter of glass.

"What-?" Phoenix lifted himself up, his eye looking at the ceiling before he meet the golden eyes of the Hunter. Both nodding, everything was left to the side and Azrael grabbed the knive he had used to cut the wood figure before using his skilled parkour to get up and towards the opening at the front.

Ghost close by his side, he went into a crouch and used the given momentum to throw himself up and jump to the second floor above them, getting ahold of the broken windows before sliding inside, glass cracking away at his armor and under his boots.

Weapon drawn and knive under it, golden eyes scanned the dark room. A kitchen from what it looked like, but he couldn't make out much more. "Azrael look here!"

Phoenix would examine the fallen, and now broken, photo hanging out of the frame, the side broken and glass shattered around it. "It must have fallen down." He hummed, trying to get a better look but only came to conclusion that it was a Photo of a Family, those who had probably lived here prior to what had taken place here.

The reassuring words of his Ghost did not easy his screaming mind at all. There was someone here, fallen picture or not, and they had no where to go.

He was proven right.

Azrael had fallen into a crouch to look at the photo himself, only to see a soft glowing eye not far from it, hiding and shaking. His eyes widen at the sight and with a soft nod, Phoenix shone a soft flash of light at the spot.

"A Hive Ghost!" They exclaimed loudly in shock, shell ruffling with the motion.

its afraid- panicking' Was the first thing that the Hunter manages to form in his mind, and without an inch hesitation lowered both weapons, holding out a flat hand. "Come out... You're shaking." His voice softly echoed, body know going to kneel on the dirty floor. He didn't think, and only noticed Phoenix panicked calls moments later. And the Question made his body fill with Adrenaline.

"Where is its Guardian?!"

[etherkrypte]

As the hunter lowered themself closer to the ground, Aavis felt her core sink. This was her worse nightmare. She’d never been this close to a guardian before, because of how careful Aldur was with taking care of them. She stared with her one bright magenta eye, still trembling, even as the hunter began to lower his weapons- making themself appear less menacing. This only confused the hive ghost, as they looked between the hunter’s helm and palms. She didn’t know what to do, or how to respond. Were they trying to be passive? How could she get out of this without being crushed, or worse maybe even taken and experimented on? She’d heard stories from other hive ghosts, how some had seen other’s taken- mostly taken to who knows where. She didn’t want that- no one wanted that. Aavis especially didn’t want that, because that meant leaving Aldur behind.

          Almost on cue with the guardian’s ghost’s remark, there was a crash as nearly the entire structure shook. Parts of the walls and infrastructure of the building cracked as pieces crumbled to the ground. Aldur’s claws wrapped around the window sill of a broken second-floor window, digging into the brittle concrete before he pulled the rest of himself inside. The floor shook again, however, still remained solid not giving out below the two guardians. Aldur stood across the room from Azrael, slowly getting up from the crouched feral-like position he’d landed in. His three bright amber eyes glared the hunter down, overshadowed by the hood adorned over his crown.  The hive would continue to stare down the hunter and his ghost as he rose to a more hunched standing position- the room wasn’t spacious enough to allow the hive to stand to his full height, which only added to the number of disadvantages that were currently forcing him to take a more defensive position, rather than attacking head on.

          A deep almost guttural rattling noise would be exhaled from the hive knight’s maw, a very obvious warning as he eyed his ghost cornered in the cupboard.

[ghostlyredreaper]

Meet and Greet

(@etherkrypte)

The turning of Fall to Winter had become a usual and normal sight, how the leaves would turn and dance in colours of the sunset as they portrayed their beauty to eyes witness for a final dance of life, before they fall to earth and wait to bloom once more. The eternal dance of life and death was never shown as beautiful and elegant, and yet when Nature performed and showed this Dance, only beauty was left in it's wake. And only here, on a small deserted part of an old abandoned and broken City, could one see Nature's true beauty and strength.

Vines and trees breaking through left behind stone and ruin, taking back what had once been stolen from it years ago, ignoring the horrible image left in it's wake of destruction and apocalypse, not caring for the decay of History.

"It is Beautiful!" Phoenix exclaimed in aw. The little Ghost flying around mindlessly as it took in all it's eye could see, shaking his shell in happiness and swaying from side to side. Their Guardian smiled in response and continued to follow their little excited companion. It was indeed beautiful, and the male could not help but be swayed by Nature once more, his body and mind easing at the sight of their suroundings.

His steps where near soundless, light armor and years of training to keep surviving had made even the simplest of steps into a whisper. And yet the leaves softly cracked under his boots as He made his way towards ruines of Buildings to seek a comfortable spot he could rest his tired body at. Days of constant Battle and Missions had slowly eaten away his strength reserves, the internal fear of Death keeping him from settling down to rest and feed himself. He had scouted the Area before, deeming it safely enough to take at least a night of good rest and so returned after a more harder fight against some Fallen. The Guardian couldn't risk breaking down in the middle of a fight, not when enemies lurked at every corner these days. Even the smallest of missteps could lead to his death, and he certainly did not want to risk his Ghost to be put in harms way.

Suddenly his body tensed, steps cutting short as he stopped in his track and let his eyes wander. The setting of the sun let shadows fall in it wake and made clear vision harder, yet as his softly glowing eyes scanned the suroundings he could not help but feel on edge. Had something just moved on one of the many Walls? Or could it have been just a trick of his mind from the constant fear of being hunted? Before he could check and Assure himself, that indeed it was only a trick of mind and nature, his ghost called out his name, declaring to have found the perfect resting spot for the two of them.

Letting his tired body hit the wall behind him a heavy breath left his lips, before the Male quickly got to make a small fire, not caring that it could run risk of someone seeing the smoke, before making the small niche Phoenix had found more comfortable and finally settling down, weapon savely at his side in case he needed it but even if someone where to come, could he really care enough to fight? He doubted that possibility, for once he was way to lazy to do so and only enjoyed watching the see of stars softly glow in the night sky, listening to his Ghost talk about the humourous encounter with a confused Hive Trall they had not even hours ago. And yet he could not help but feel eyes on him.

[etherkrypte]

As the pair walked through the ruined cityscape, they were both quiet, No words were exchanged between the two until they'd eventually reached what looked like the remains of a monument. The broken statue of a slim humanoid figure, holding something in their arms.

Aldur had seen many of them through their journey. Most of them were either in terrible condition or in pieces below its altar. He always wondered what each one meant, not really knowing the context or history behind them. Aavis only knew so much and was still learning herself, however she knew more than Aldur most of the time.

“What does it say…?” Aldur rumbles softly as he leans over Aavis.

The hive ghost had hovered closer to the ground and was inspecting a stone carving amongst the rubble.

“I’m.. Not quite sure. It’s far too damaged to interpret, even with my translator.” She replies, looking back up at the statue, then to Aldur. “How bout we guess!”

Aldur hummed to himself, looking at the human shaped statue closely.

“An archivist who built secrets into the walls of their home, this settlement, it was first and last creation.” Aldur suggested in a low voice.

“Oooo~ what kind of secrets?” Aavis pondered, turning to Aldur.

The hive shrugs, which amuses Aavis as she adds.

“Then it's a mystery! I like it.” She says before buzzing off across the small square. “Let’s try looking this way!” Aavis says in a loud whisper.

Aldur was huff, looking around for a moment, before following after.

They continued to walk deeper into the ruins until something caught Aldur’s eye. The giant Hive stopped in his tracks as his claws dug deeper into the wall he’d been dragging them across.

Aavis would also come to a stop, and turn to Aldur.

“What’s wrong? Are you o-” Before she could finish, Aldur would bring a digit to his maw and point ahead of him.

The ghost slowly turns. There was a small smoke stack slowly rising from a nearby building. Probably only a block or two away from where they currently are. They both stared at it for a long second, until Aavis would hover back closer to Aldur and turn to him.

“Should we go see what it is?” Aavis asked.

Their question made Aldur glare at the smoke stack cautiously.

“I do not know, it seems unwise…” Aldur grumbled, leaning a bit more onto the building.

“True but, what if it’s someone who can help? Someone with resources- o- or directions?” Aavis asked, looking up to Aldur hopefully. “We should at least investigate, it's been days since you’ve gotten any rest in your system, it could be a safe place to stay for the night.” Aavis continued, her tone growing more worried and desperate.

Aldur looked to her for a long moment, then back at the smoke stack.

He deeply exhales from the bright enstrils on his neck, before slowly pulling himself away from the wall and pushing forward. Now, he was being more diligent. For a creature his stature, his footsteps were relatively quiet. Especially against the cold stone. Aavis stayed close beside him, not letting him take the lead, while she scanned the area from behind, as well as other spots Aldur couldn't quite see in his periphery.

Aldur would approach the building from the side, not entering it, as he only wanted to peer inside. He walks around it, trying to find an open window or crack, while Aavis scans the building for life forms.

[ghostlyredreaper]

As the night finally settled and even the moon rised in full sight, the fire softly crackled as it ate away at what wood it could reach and spent warmth into the area. The niche was not really small, but not big too, maybe enough that three people if not four could managed to rest inside of it.

The Hunter had scanned the what must have been some sort of room once, as he had looked for wood and came to find that half of the room had been shut off by broken debris and could either be accessed from the wide open front or the small door, or what was left of it, at the far back.

And yet while he sat near the fire to warm himself and drink some cold coke from the City, he could not help but feel uneasy, as if something was near.

"You think the Thrall hit his head?" Phoenix questioned, his soft red shell opening as they scanned another old portrait. Azrael hummed at the question and thought back to hours before. "It seemed confused," His voice was soft and yet held a little edge of roughness to it. "It wasn't old, so I guess it had left his Hive for the first time."

His Ghost spun around to face him, tilting his shell as if to raise an eyebrow. "So a baby?" The smile that crept on his lips felt childish. "A cute confused baby. At least before it was apparently Scolded by a Knight."

The fire flickered angrily and with a sigh, the Awoken sat forwards to extend what little Solar energy left in him to sprout the flames once more. It was only so long until the fire would flicker out and the warmth would leave. His skin crawled in unhappiness at the warm feeling the fire created.

"I really don't understand Hive Rules," Phoenix hushed as they flew back to their Guardian to settle on the small still hanging shelve above his head. "It's Hierarchy little light." The Ghost let out a sneer. "Stop calling me that!" It replied annoyed, yet made a small amused noise afterwards.

Using what little Light the Fire spent, Azrael pulled out his knive and half finished wooden figure, before continuing to cut away the clean wood and form whatever his fingers craved to make.

It was quite, before Phoenix spoke once more, their voice soft and almost sad. "I can't help but feel guilty..." His hand paused as his eyes closed, his fingers tingled with light left behind from deeds done. "What's done is done... It was necessary to ki-" His voice failed. "I wish to never see the fear of onces ghost again. No matter what Guardian it has chosen." He declared sharply ending whatever conversation his ghost had wished to bring up.

As he opened his eyes once more he could not help but stare at the angrily flickering fire before him. It was as if it cursed him out for what he had done, golden eyes reflected the dance of light before switching back to the figure in had and continue cutting. Shall the fire curse him out, he hoped to burn in it and give warmth to the soul he had taken from earth.

[etherkrypte]

Finally, Aldur would find a shattered window that looked directly into the room. It was about waist-height to him, so he had to crouch down quite a bit to even see what was inside. Upon hearing voices, he sank even lower to the ground, now practically kneeling in front of the window while gently pressing himself against the wall.

He would peer in carefully, doing his best to not draw attention. It was a guardian. Of course it was… Like things would ever go Aldur’s way. He squinted at them, studying them closely. Aldur didn’t pay much attention to the conversation until he recognized what exactly they were talking about.

Their words. Confused Aldur. He wasn’t sure what to make of it. He was able to understand most of it, but he couldn't tell if they were being serious- or if they knew he was there, and they were trying to draw him in closer. If that was the trick, then it was working- because he was listening very closely now, and he was growing very paranoid.

Meanwhile, Aavis had found a window on the upper floor, and was exploring it diligently. It looked like an abandoned cooking area. Covered in dust, moss, and rust with furniture practically rotting into the walls. As they are scanning around with their low flash light, they notice a framed photo on the wall and begin to slowly hover towards it.

The frame looked horribly worn down, however the photo inside looked intact for the most part. It was hard to see exactly what it depicted however, even with her flashlight directly on the photo, they looked like blurred silhouettes for the most part.

Aavis tried getting closer, but getting within a few extra inches of it seemed to disturb the atmosphere around it as it abruptly fell from where it hung and crashed to the ground. Glass shattered everywhere as the floorboard trembled and creaked from the impact.

The crash was loud enough for Aldur to hear, as his head snapped up to the second floor window, wide eyed.

Aavis stared at the photo in shock for a few moments, before she shook herself from it and frantically began looking around. Panic almost immediately set in with Aldur absent from her side, and rather than dart out the window she came in from, she quickly drops lower to the ground and squeezes into a small partially open cupboard, while her shell shifts anxiously.

[ghostlyredreaper]

Meet and Greet

(@etherkrypte)

The turning of Fall to Winter had become a usual and normal sight, how the leaves would turn and dance in colours of the sunset as they portrayed their beauty to eyes witness for a final dance of life, before they fall to earth and wait to bloom once more. The eternal dance of life and death was never shown as beautiful and elegant, and yet when Nature performed and showed this Dance, only beauty was left in it's wake. And only here, on a small deserted part of an old abandoned and broken City, could one see Nature's true beauty and strength.

Vines and trees breaking through left behind stone and ruin, taking back what had once been stolen from it years ago, ignoring the horrible image left in it's wake of destruction and apocalypse, not caring for the decay of History.

"It is Beautiful!" Phoenix exclaimed in aw. The little Ghost flying around mindlessly as it took in all it's eye could see, shaking his shell in happiness and swaying from side to side. Their Guardian smiled in response and continued to follow their little excited companion. It was indeed beautiful, and the male could not help but be swayed by Nature once more, his body and mind easing at the sight of their suroundings.

His steps where near soundless, light armor and years of training to keep surviving had made even the simplest of steps into a whisper. And yet the leaves softly cracked under his boots as He made his way towards ruines of Buildings to seek a comfortable spot he could rest his tired body at. Days of constant Battle and Missions had slowly eaten away his strength reserves, the internal fear of Death keeping him from settling down to rest and feed himself. He had scouted the Area before, deeming it safely enough to take at least a night of good rest and so returned after a more harder fight against some Fallen. The Guardian couldn't risk breaking down in the middle of a fight, not when enemies lurked at every corner these days. Even the smallest of missteps could lead to his death, and he certainly did not want to risk his Ghost to be put in harms way.

Suddenly his body tensed, steps cutting short as he stopped in his track and let his eyes wander. The setting of the sun let shadows fall in it wake and made clear vision harder, yet as his softly glowing eyes scanned the suroundings he could not help but feel on edge. Had something just moved on one of the many Walls? Or could it have been just a trick of his mind from the constant fear of being hunted? Before he could check and Assure himself, that indeed it was only a trick of mind and nature, his ghost called out his name, declaring to have found the perfect resting spot for the two of them.

Letting his tired body hit the wall behind him a heavy breath left his lips, before the Male quickly got to make a small fire, not caring that it could run risk of someone seeing the smoke, before making the small niche Phoenix had found more comfortable and finally settling down, weapon savely at his side in case he needed it but even if someone where to come, could he really care enough to fight? He doubted that possibility, for once he was way to lazy to do so and only enjoyed watching the see of stars softly glow in the night sky, listening to his Ghost talk about the humourous encounter with a confused Hive Trall they had not even hours ago. And yet he could not help but feel eyes on him.

[etherkrypte]

As the pair walked through the ruined cityscape, they were both quiet, No words were exchanged between the two until they'd eventually reached what looked like the remains of a monument. The broken statue of a slim humanoid figure, holding something in their arms.

Aldur had seen many of them through their journey. Most of them were either in terrible condition or in pieces below its altar. He always wondered what each one meant, not really knowing the context or history behind them. Aavis only knew so much and was still learning herself, however she knew more than Aldur most of the time.

“What does it say…?” Aldur rumbles softly as he leans over Aavis.

The hive ghost had hovered closer to the ground and was inspecting a stone carving amongst the rubble.

“I’m.. Not quite sure. It’s far too damaged to interpret, even with my translator.” She replies, looking back up at the statue, then to Aldur. “How bout we guess!”

Aldur hummed to himself, looking at the human shaped statue closely.

“An archivist who built secrets into the walls of their home, this settlement, it was first and last creation.” Aldur suggested in a low voice.

“Oooo~ what kind of secrets?” Aavis pondered, turning to Aldur.

The hive shrugs, which amuses Aavis as she adds.

“Then it's a mystery! I like it.” She says before buzzing off across the small square. “Let’s try looking this way!” Aavis says in a loud whisper.

Aldur was huff, looking around for a moment, before following after.

They continued to walk deeper into the ruins until something caught Aldur’s eye. The giant Hive stopped in his tracks as his claws dug deeper into the wall he’d been dragging them across.

Aavis would also come to a stop, and turn to Aldur.

“What’s wrong? Are you o-” Before she could finish, Aldur would bring a digit to his maw and point ahead of him.

The ghost slowly turns. There was a small smoke stack slowly rising from a nearby building. Probably only a block or two away from where they currently are. They both stared at it for a long second, until Aavis would hover back closer to Aldur and turn to him.

“Should we go see what it is?” Aavis asked.

Their question made Aldur glare at the smoke stack cautiously.

“I do not know, it seems unwise…” Aldur grumbled, leaning a bit more onto the building.

“True but, what if it’s someone who can help? Someone with resources- o- or directions?” Aavis asked, looking up to Aldur hopefully. “We should at least investigate, it's been days since you’ve gotten any rest in your system, it could be a safe place to stay for the night.” Aavis continued, her tone growing more worried and desperate.

Aldur looked to her for a long moment, then back at the smoke stack.

He deeply exhales from the bright enstrils on his neck, before slowly pulling himself away from the wall and pushing forward. Now, he was being more diligent. For a creature his stature, his footsteps were relatively quiet. Especially against the cold stone. Aavis stayed close beside him, not letting him take the lead, while she scanned the area from behind, as well as other spots Aldur couldn't quite see in his periphery.

Aldur would approach the building from the side, not entering it, as he only wanted to peer inside. He walks around it, trying to find an open window or crack, while Aavis scans the building for life forms.

[etherkrypte]

Meet and Greet

( @azraelthereaper starter)

Things were getting colder as the seasons began to shift. The days were growing shorter while nights grew longer. Some trees began to change, their leaves turning warm and colorful, Leaves of red, yellow, and orange would fall from their swaying branches- while other trees remained the same lush dark green. 

It was... New. And beautiful. It was unlike anything Aldur had ever seen. A stark contrast to the ruined buildings of earth's extinct civilization, and the death that still lie in its wake.  It was almost peaceful, but moments like this were quite short for Aldur, as he was always on the move. One hiding spot to another, until he could find a safe space where he can lie low, and rest.  As of now, Aldur had been trekking through EDZ for quite some time. It'd been a few days since he'd been able to take a proper rest. Most water was not safe to drink, and food was scarce. The lack of necessary resources made sleep even harder to come by, if not nearly impossible. 

          By the time Aldur had found an abandoned path leading to another ruined part of the city, he was exhausted. Heavily deprived of any proper care, and a very easy target should anyone cross paths with him, which at this point he could only hope wouldn't happen.

 "Just a little further, we're almost there!" Aavis would chirp enthusiastically as they drifted alongside Aldur, moving at a bit faster pace than the hive knight. "Maybe once we get there we can look around for any vendors with some supplies, or even look around some of those old warehouses." 

Aldur only grumbled incoherently, very visibly showing his exhaustion as he looked to his companion.

 "Or- rest. Rest would also be good, and some sustenance." Aavis would quickly follow up as she hovers back closer to Aldur. "You definitely deserve it." She tries to reassure him, but he only grunts in response as he looks ahead at the faint light coming from the ruins as the sun begins to set on the horizon. 

          They would arrive soon, not too long after that very short conversation. The two would arrive at the small ruined settlement. At this time it began to lightly drizzle with the last bit of sunlight slowly sinking down into the horizon. 

They would enter the settlement from within another building, pulling up his scarf and hood, Aldur keeps himself subtle as he sticks close to the side of buildings with a hunched figure, making him look a bit smaller. Most of it was to keep a low profile, but staying close to the wall did provide some support for him should his legs give out. 

“Stay close,” Aldur says to Aavis as she drifts above Aldur, a bit obvious, especially with her shell- however, it couldn't be helped now, could it?

[destinyresources]

General Guardian Asks

An easy way for others to get to know your Guardians, or just to send an ask for something they’re curious about! These can be useful for both canons and OCs.

💮 - What did it feel like when you were first resurrected?

🔆 - When did your Ghost resurrect you? How long have you been around?

❤️ - Do you have a good relationship with your Ghost?

✉️ - What’s your Ghost’s name?

💍 - Do you fit in with the rest of your class, or do you stand out from the stereotypes? Or do you not align with any class?

🐍 - What do you think of Hunters?

🦁 - What do you think of Titans?

🦅 - What do you think of Warlocks?

🕐 - Do you know who you were in your past life? If you don’t would you seek out that information?

🌙 - What’s your stance on Light and Darkness? Is one better than the other?

⚖️ - Hypothetical situation: if you were to become one of the Vanguard leaders, how would you adjust?

🔥 - What type of Light do you prefer to use?

🐺 - Do you prefer to work alone? Or as part of a fireteam?

🌎 - Would you stand with the city until the end?

♠️ - Tell us about one of your most important relationships!

[etherkrypte]

【 ALDURGOTH the DESERTER 】 (OPEN RP/ASKs)

╬╬═══════════════════════════╬╬

》AGE: N/A 》GENDER: Genderfluid 》RACE: Lightbearer Hive 》PRONOUNS: He/They

》HOME PLANET: Savathûn’s Throne World 》CURRENT LOCATION: Tends to reside either in a small warehouse within The Last City or a hidden chamber within The Tower (may change depending on rps though) 》AFFILIATION: Ex-Lucent Hive (No longer affiliated) 》RANK: Seasoned Hive Knight (Solar Titan Class) 》GHOST: Aavicia (Aavis)

╬╬═══════════════════════════╬╬

Please read rules and character bio on blog before interacting. Thank you!! :)