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[gypsy_merrique]

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It had been a while since Merrique was really able to sleep for more than a couple hours at a time--three if she was really lucky. She tried to keep her happy facade going in Gen's absence but it was getting harder and harder, the act wearing thin; she also suspected she was fooling absolutely nobody. So days dragged into weeks, and the very night after having been felled by the giant scorpion she made a decision.

It was a decision that she figured would eventually bring change to her life, for the good or for the bad. But it was probably necessary for change to happen and after all, her decision was one for Umbra. Wasn't it?

Merri dedicated her sleepless nights to the shadows. Learning about them, understanding them. Walking them. Really seeing them. It seemed like the nights flew by, and her fascination with this newfound ability grew. The nights were such a beautiful time in their quietude; one with the inky velveteen darkness of Malas-past-midnight, Merri slid silently past houses of sleeping inhabitants, past revelers, and even making her way by those damnable scorpions.

In her strange way of thinking, Merrique decided it should be Zeth to whom she revealed her secret. Despite their hateful beginning, the pair had grown into fast friends--a friendship that even withstood a foolish moment of weakness. For whatever reason that wasn't really even fully understood by Merri, she wanted him to know first. It was his ability to melt into the shadows that impressed her in the first place, as well as the very thing that enabled him to ambush her in Luna and drag her into the dark city.

So it was hurt that Merri felt when Zeth seemed unimpressed with her 'secret' upon her revealing it to him. She tried to hide it, but it stung! She resolved to try not to let that bother her. The self-satisfied grin on his face indicated to her that something had him wildly distracted. Perhaps he really didn't appreciate that she saw such enormity in her news.

A few nights passed since the hurt of Zeth's disinterest, and the Umbran community found itself called to meet. Umbra was called to march out to the west toward the disquiet in Sanctus. It seemed as if she was watching and hearing herself from afar as she stood before her dark brethren and offered to go ahead as the first set of eyes, when it was apparent there were not enough shadow walkers available for the job. On some level she noticed conversations stopping, eyes turning in her direction--the general surprise the others must have felt as the words left her lips. When the Matriarch Ceinwyn nodded and told her to go forth, Merrique left without so much as another word nor a glance back.

In perfect silence she walked the road toward the caves of the west, right past the brigand elves and likewise the cranky orcs. Relief flooded over her when she saw Walter up ahead. If something went terribly wrong during her first true foray of helping the mother Umbra, there was at least some help at hand. She'd met Walter several times before, he was always pleasant and she knew of his reputation as a man not afraid of battle. In the caves, she hovered near him, never being more than an arm's length from his side though he never seemed to know she was there.

When the lightbringers galloped by, their mounts' hooves thundering, Merri's heart beat so fast she thought for sure it would give her position away. With one hand, she steadied herself against the cave's wall, and the other she used to brush her fingers against Walter's arm. He looked around, his expression neutral. He spurred his mount and away he went toward Umbra.

It took the entire walk back to Umbra to calm her pulse.
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. . . But the dark is very trustworthy.
It's always as dark as you thought it was.
And you don't have to work at staying there.
All you have to do is survive it.
And I've been doing that forever.
from the novel "Dark Debts" by Karen Hall

[Walter]

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Out of boredom, he slaughtered elfs in the brigand camp outside of Umbra, watching at waiting for the army of Sanctus to march. He casually looks over his shoulder and there she is Merrique, watching him, bodies of Brigands everywhere. Walter was sure she was horrified by the sight. She told him of her objective and he marched into the cave ahead of her. He never saw her, he felt her but didn't know it. There they come, the army of Sanctus followed by Talon himself and the Commander Marcus. Knowing he had no backup he quickly rode out of the caves, even Walter wasn't foolish enough to try those odds.

The battle raged on, Walter returning a personal favor was out for specific targets, King Talon and Marcus. He had a special bottle of poison for the two of them. Unfortunately he could never get them separated long enough and Walter was constantly chased away by a larger group of four even five or stronger at times.

The battle was a rough defeat for Walter lose for him weighing heavy on his mind, he traveled back to Umbra with the Umbra Army as they talked of their next chance at revenge. The Matriarchs were itching for their next chance at Sanctus.

He noticed Merrique abit shook up over the whole ordeal, he remembered his first battle and knew it takes time for all of it to set in. He offered to walk with her back to the Den, offering her whatever uplifting words he could.

After a few drinks, it was another night in Umbra for Walter, he knew his stay won't be long, for he will be needed back in Magincia and again in Minoc soon. But for now that was the last thing on his mind.
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[20:28] Inkari: walter=chuck norris

"What do you mean I can't sell castle deeds I create on Ebay?" - GM Darwin circa 1999