Unanswered Questions

[Neku]

The centaur treaded over the ground carefully. She now knew she was an unwelcome guest in this forest and probably in about as much danger as any human that ventured here. Though Neku cared not, she had her piece of mind and she was truly loyal to herself.

She had come to understand a few things since the demise of her tribe. You have to believe in yourself, have faith and be loyal to yourself if you truly wish to find out who you are. To find your purpose. Neku had been through a lot to get where she is now, she had been corrupted by darkness, taken captive by her own kind. Been at deaths door. She was completly battle worn. And now she finds a new challenge, these centaurs in this forest. They were somewhat unwelcoming. Protective over their own land. She didnt blame them if she was honest.

Neku, I know its hard, and i know you feel like you can not trust anybody. Though you must try, you must have faith in yourself or no one will ever belive in you. You have strength inside you that you are unwilling to let out in fear. You must conquer this, or you'll never be complete. The voice of her father ran through her mind as she fell to the floor. She was lost, and she didnt know what to do. She knew it would be next to near impossible to survive very much longer on her own, but she couldnt bring herself to get help, to ask for guidence. "I know not what to do" She spoke softly to herself. She looked up at the stars and prayed with all her might her father was up there. "Father... I need guidence, I deem myself to be lost, and a fate i choose is not to be lost in the darkness..." Neku looked down, her blue eyes glistening and her blonde locks falling over her shoulder.

She thought of Valunce and how he had tried to help her, and the way she reacted. She thought about how she reacted to that young boy in the forest that time. Am I heading down the route of darkness? Will i be like them... like those that gave us our demise? Neku stood up still looking at the stars. I do not want to be plunged into darkness and my heart turned to stone. It is not me, it is not why they made me go... Though why? What is my purpose now? I know not She hung her head in thougt. So many unanswered questions. So little space to search.

[Saul-in-darn Niña]

What's the use in questioning everything? Like a child always wondering, thinking aloud, but they never get anywhere, questions are so very rarely answered, when they are one receives not enough of an answer so you are always so very disappointed. Life is full of disappointments too, one grows quite accustomed to it, in fact it is far easier to expect such hardships, and then you are always prepared, not for every eventuality most certainly, but for the majority if one is lucky. This renegade centaur, a loner separated from its kind, its own flesh and blood by stubbornness had so many questions to pose, and must have known deep down in its heart, even when formulating them, that they were unanswerable, by most.

Yet perhaps given just a little luck one such being could help, or would they in fact hinder, the answers to some questions are oft left best unknown, those desiring to know their fate will forever be wary of it and in so doing fulfil it.

Neku he had learnt was her name, from the whispers in the trees and his own eavesdropping, leaves fell far quicker than her tears, there they were visible deep within her eyes, never falling, a deep sorrow, so eternal that few could truly sympathise with. Saul-in-darn Niña could, he had seen things far greater and more terrible than even this one could imagine, but he kept them locked away, far away into the deepest recesses of his mind. He came now as a light to the perpetual darkness, shining not as the sun but like the moon, radiating faintly and growing brighter, until dazzling. She had seen to much darkness for one of her kind and now she had to be cured of it, unfortunately never would the scars, both mental and physical, heal fully, Saul-in-darn Niña had a power, but only what this centaur willed from him. If she wished to let go her troubles then she could, but never fully, a cure wasn't real and lasting, only a delay, as she had been fated to walk this path, and tread it she must.

Of a sudden the light that had grown to pierce her very eyelids ceased, and became but the wind to be more gentle to her and a whispering soft voice spoke out of the very air itself, as if travelling upon the wind, for indeed it was, Saul-in-darn Niña was a spirit of the air, that was the guise he was for now trapped in, as he strength gradually, oh so gradually increased, it wouldn't be what it had once been, not until he took back what was his, but already the forest revitalised him; or rather merely prevented his death and destruction.

Softly he spoke kind words to the lonely one.

Light comes to you now, too long have you been trapped inside the darkness.

Wind slowly swirled around her, comfortingly.

Your fate is paved by another, but the path you choose yourself.

I can give you guidance only if you allow me too; think of me as your conscience.

I take you into my keeping and what wisdom I have I shall impart to you.

[Neku]

Sometimes one's feelings can be brought into perspective, or blown out of proportion entirely. Though Neku's own were somewhere in between both. In a state of confusion, and uncertaincy. Coming to forks in the road, she had so often chose blindly, and now here at yet another fork, she couldnt even do that. As she truly did not know which way to go. Each choice she had made, had led to something dangerous, dark and unhappy. How she missed it back when she knew what she was doing. Now confusion clouded her judgement. Hatred stopped her trusting, a fear stopped her from moving.

Neku had lost herself, in all the darkness and confusion. Her heart was cold, and full of evil. Though it used to be full of goodness. Now she felt corrupted. Neku sighed, she just didnt know what to do anymore. One thing told her something, something else tells her something entirely different. She could no longer bare it, she wished its end. Though she had work to do, she had been left with a difficult and grevious task, but one could not do such thing alone. She needed the aid of the centaurs of this forest, but was too stubborn to ask now.

As she looked to the stars, the one her father constantly stared at was clear. "Father..." She mumbled. If she ever needed help, he would be there for her. Now, hes not. Sadness, darkness, tumoil and evil is what made up Neku now. Not happyness, goodness and light. Like it used to be. She felt so heavy, but yet she was so light. Something told her once, that she needed to be able to trust others to be able to live. She didnt believe it.

"Ugh.. What is that...?" Neku wondered, sheilding her eyes from the sudden case of shocking light that made her eyelids throb. Though it began to die down and Neku let her hand drop as a strangly conferting wind surrounded her. Light comes to you now, too long you have been trapped inside the darkness Neku heard these words clear as day. Standing up she wondered who it was and how they knew.

Another bit of wind surrounded her, causing her hair to swirl around her face. Your fate is paved by another, but the path you choose yourself. "What?" she spoke aloud. This person reminded her of her tribes elder, always speaking in riddles. I can give you guidance only if you allow me too; think of me as your conscience. Neku frowned and still wondered who it was. "I shall allow, but i would prefer to think of you as whatever you are."

[Saul-in-darn Niña]

First contact was made, bridges built and differences squashed. The centaur's life had been filled with a blackness so pitch forsight had been impossible, now it would be flipped to light, yet whose side was Saul-in-darn Niña really on?
Light or dark?
Good or evil?
Were there really sides, was there a constant war to survive extinction? He had believed once, that a choice between them was simple, one had only to reach, yet now it was unclear, just how he preferred it, clearcut was too simple, his immortal mind needed taxing, too long had he lain at rest, watching the world go by without a care, now he needed to act and change its course to suit his own ends.

Was this lonely centaur simply a pawn in his game? No she had a strong will of her own and could do what she wished with the advice he would divulge, never would he shackle her as she had been before, she was free as free was how she worked best.

How much to divulge to her? The knowledge of his true being would be too terrible, an overload of information was not satisfactory nor efficient.

It would be cruel to say I were your Father, as you hope, sadly I am not, yet mayhap my wisdom surpasseth his, I have lived many an age. One so knowledgeable as your kindred would look down with cheer that I counsel you now.

Leaves fluttered in the breeze formulating quickly into a kindly face, seemingly weathered and decaying, then it drifted apart again, each leaf swaying upon the breeze around the centaur.

I am what I am, nor more no less...merely a spirit...destined to aid those in plight.

The spoken words were soft and slow, not tantalizing but offering a deep rooted comfort and security, such a voice spoke volumes and seemed trustworthy.

Come under my wing young one where the light will vanquish your growing doom and despair. Shelter from the raging storm, within a comfortable abode I have fashioned from earth...follow...follow and I shall teach thee, thou art free to leave whenever you will it.

[Neku]

Neku stood there waiting. Though she was nerved. She wasnt sure what this creature wanted, nor what he was. She was as unsure of herself, as she was of him. This she began to realise. But what difference would it make? She was as tied as he was. Maybe a little more, bound by the restrictions of her kind, her tribe and her own heart. It worried her. Immensly.

Neku began to remember how she once felt, a feeling she thought had long gone. A feeling od sense and of security. Regardless, she would not let her guard down. She knew nothing of this being.

"I did not say that i wished, not hoped for you to be my father" Neku answered, "I was seeking councel from the stars, not that it matters" She began to wonder if this was even worth her time, but for some reason, his, or her, words made Neku stop. Does this thing have a form?

"I see" Neku answered once more, her attention unwavered by the face appearing in the leave. "The spirit of air? Would not that be you?" she asked. She had heard many a tale of the spirit of air, water, and earth. Never had she imagined she would meet one of the three elemental gods, as her tribe called them.

Neku, against her better judgement, decided to go along with the spirit. After all, she couldnt become any worse than what she was. "As you wish" She answered and began to follow the spirit to wherever he would take the young centaur.

[Saul-in-darn Niña]

Confidence was growing, relationships spun like a new born web, tighting quickly, ready to trap those unwary.

The stars are far from this earth, yet aid you they still can.

Silence reigned supreme momentarily, the wind dying though the voice rang out still

Perhaps

She was a shrewd one, was he in fact the fabled spirit of air, he knew not himself, time had gnawed ever at his memory, diminishing it.

Once I was called that

I come in many guises

Wind whipped up once more the leaves formulated into the figure of a gnome and crystalized becoming flesh. Fingers tingling it licked its cracked lips, waving its hand gleefully it beckoned leaping onwards in almighty bounds.

Still the voice echoed into her ear as the gnome hurried along at a fast pace taking unnaturally large strides.

Weariness shall depart from thee once you have chance to rest and recuperate.

Suddenly the gnome stopped abruptly, pointing with a gnarled finger towards their destination. Tongue sticking out the gnome then became once more the leaves which drifted lazily to the ground.

Safe in the cave thou shalt be.

Before them was a rugged landscape, with trees still close together blotting out what little light there was, abruptly without warning a small cave was weathered into a rockface before them, the trees neither thinned nor grew upon it. Simplicity was its strength.

Rest here awhile youngling that has endured such terror, and forget your troubles for a time, completely safe here are you.

[Neku]

Neku was uneasy, this much she knew. But she had indeed accepted the help of this.. spirit. And she wouldnt turn back, maybe he held the answers she so desperatly seeked. Though she doubted it.

She looked up at the stars and frowned. Many a time had she requested help from those above, but it only led her to more darkness. She was losing faith in them. In herself. They have never aided me, not truly

A silence fell over her. No wind made a sound. Only the voice. Maybe it was too good to be true. Maybe she would never find her place in the world.

The world is a vast changing one young Neku, and you must now find your place within it, or perish with those who can not Her mothers voice rang through her head.

Neku saw the cave, and upon it she looked with distrust. She ventured forward and into it anyway and felt home, or something similar, maybe just safety. She lay down on the earth and rested her head on her arms. How can i forget? When they are still so fresh Neku soon fell into an uneasy sleep.