[Forest] Meditation

[Valunce]

Hands clasped before him lids closed to block out the sunlight shimmering through the trees, Valunce breathed deep, blowing slowly in, then out to calm his spirit. He had felt anguished the past few days, angry at his tribe for acting so brashly, for with the humans brawling within the forest itself the centaurs felt a pressing urge to act and drive the invaders from their lands. Centaurs had, and would always be, very territorial, humans should understand such a trait for they were even worse than the centaurs who simply drove out competitors rather than slaughtering them outright as humans had in the past. But nonetheless the inferior species that had the advantage only through their numbers was pressing their borders, decreasing the land they had to hunt and gather from. The humans didn't need the land, if only for a battleground, the centaurs used carefully, tending the land and understanding what the land needed in order to continue thriving. Where humans cut down trees by the thousands centaurs could be seen with directly conflicting views caring for them and allowing the forests to spread and grow both outwards and upwards, arms up to the sky.

The centaurs' council was still in talks, always they were talking and rarely actioning, usually Valunce would push for action, this time he wasn't, for the action their chief yearned for would prove agressive and violent, bloody if things went wrong. Valunce had suggested parlaying with the humans, talking to them, voicing their concerns, but the centaurs were too restless for that now, they saw the humans fighting amongst themselves and saw now as the time to strike a devastating blow. True centaurs weren't a naturally agressive race, but their grouchiness and ill-contempt for humans had only been fuelled by the constant ingfringements into their lands.

Defend our own; what centaurs were taught from birth. Now they were going to keep the promise made unto themselves. Elder Patriach was still battling with his strong voice to stop the rash actions, but slowly he was losing his argument, and even Valunce had to admit that the humans seemed to care not a jot for their concerns, but how could they when not told? His thoughts battled ferociously, the balances swivelling constantly, he was completely undecided; should he try talking to the humans? Or simply join his brothers and stand shoulder to shoulder with his own kin? For once.

Mulling over the ideas in his mind the young centaur stood tall in a clearing, trying to focus his thoughts and think clearly to reach a well thought out decision. Valunce's sharp eyes flew open, his meditation forgotten as the sound of a twig snapped off to his right, eyes wide he had his bow strung and aimed within seconds, his eyes focused upon the point from which the sound had come,
"get out here," Valunce growled; he was clearly on edge and disliked his reverie being broken; for he had been close to making his choice. He was far from the centaurs' home clearing, far from aid by his kin, standing alone his eyes narrowed trying to pierce the shadows to see who, or what defiantly stood their ground, for now...

[Gabriella De Conti]

Gabriella creeped through the forest, her wand raised prepared for any attack that could come out at her. It was her day to patrol the territories for anyone or anything that could be of use. She smirked slightly at herself, the Rogue's, now mostly permanent base, had made her soft. She was growing used to the food and beds and already she was tired and frustrated at being out in the cold damp forest.

She glanced around, taking in her surroundings and immediately she knew she had not been paying enough attention. She had found herself far too close to the centaur's homes than was to her liking. They were wise creatures but she doubted they were friendly to the witches and wizards who were steadily taking over their land. She slowed her pace and lowered her wand, knowing that right now the most important thing was keeping quiet.

She glanced back at the path she had come in on, it would do no good to return from which she came; she would have to avoid their main meeting places as best she good.

Her eyes peered, she worked away around the wood, quiet as can be. If you she saw something, she saw something; if not...it would make no change to the Rogue's situation anyways.

A twig snapped, her breath got caught in her throat, realizing that it had been her who made the noise. She cursed under her breath hearing the voice call out to her from the clearing.

Gabriella shoved her wand in her pocket and walked into the clearing. "Gabriella DeConti is my name and I mean no disturbance or harm to you or any of your compatriots. I am merely wandering through the forest in search of information." She said with a slight bow of her head hoping the centaur didn't think she was mocking him and that he would recognize her honesty.

[Valunce]

Arrow nocked and bow pulled taut Valunce had his hand drawn back near his ear keeping the arrow still fixed upon the spot. Narrowed eyes watched cautiously as a igure emerged from the shadows, they held their hands out, showing they meant no threat, the tension wasn't aleviated. With a shrewd gaze the centaur watched as the witch moved out towards him, looking out for the formalities; the inclination of her head to show respect, even if they believed it not due it was simple common curtesy between centaurs. Anyone who knew anything about their race would know how they wished to be treated; with the respect a race so old deserved.

Muscles in the young centaur's arm tensed with the strain of holding his bow, he relaxed slightly, keeping the arrow nocked between his fingers but not pointed directly towards the threat. If she knew anything she'd know he could draw and fire his bow as quickly as she could draw her wand, at least he wanted her to think that. Fear of the unknown was his ally, humans didn't understand centaurs, they lashed out blindly believing centaurs reacted and were just like humans; how very wrong they were.

He doubted this witch would make such a mistake, he could see the pain in her eyes, and his scowl softened to a grim set look of determination, he wouldn't appear weak before her, from the strength of her gaze and the her stance she would admire a humans strength, so expect more from a centaur perhaps.

Bowing low Valunce even let his gaze leave the human, showing her feared her not. "My tribe know me as Valunce," stating it simply his keen gaze alighted upon her, "do you seek the information for knowledge or power? Your race is oft greedy, power hungry according to the stars."

Staying silent a moment he paced slightly, his hooves crackling the leaves beneath, "you claim you mean us no harm, but your fellows encroach upon our lands daily, they show no respect and we care nothing of your war, to us you are all the same." Valunce knew he spoke cruelly, but his patience with the humans was being sapped steadily, he saw no growth no willingness to learn; he'd warned people not to venture into the forest, but those had been the foals, those students learning at the school, they had heeded his words, perhaps he'd been preeching to the wrong audience?

"Forgive me, I don't doubt whichever faction you belong to judges itself superior to the others, but none has shown respect to our kind, and we grow wearisome. Once we had inexhaustible patience, now we're restless and angry, believing our troubles greater than they truly are." Shaking his head Valunce tried to work out the puzzle; yet he was clouded with confusion.

[Gabriella De Conti]

Gabriella lowered her hands noting that the centaur had lowered his bow, though hardly making it less dangerous, was a sign of peace. She stopped moving and stood up looking the centaur in the eye; to do so was to treat him as an equal.

"Valunce, a strong and mighty name." She said surely, avoiding the temptation to glance around and make sure she was not being followed as she often did. To do so would be a grave mistake. "I have fought alongside a centaur in the past." She said, knowing it would be unwise to mention Neku's name. "Never have I seen a mightier warrior and I am sure the same can be said of you and all your kin.

"I seek information for both knowledge and power; the two are often closely linked." She said smiling. "Knowledge is power.

"You speak the truth wise Valunce. My kind care too much for power and material things and it will doubtlessly cause our downfall. But such is our curse and I'm afraid I would be lying if I didn't wish myself and my compatriots to win this war."

There it was, already he had unknowingly preached against her comrades. She knew it would eventually come up in the conversation; centaurs were territorial beings and cared deeply for their land. "Indeed you might raise your bow against me once more," she said knowing it would be useless to attempt to deceive Valunce. "For I am a Rogue and it is us who have set up our camp on your lands. I would urge us to move if we could, but there is no place for us and I will not betray my colleagues or hinder our movements in any way." She resisted the temptation to grab her wand in preemptive motion. Instead, she loosened her legs and prepared to dive out of the way of a swift arrow.

"Indeed, the troubles of wizards will doubtless spread to the centaurs; it is the problem of this world and my kind. Soon it may be that your troubles are worse than you expect."