The Neomas Family

It Begins!

He walks along the side of the trail, staying hidden among the shadowy shelter of the trees and bushes. His eyes focused on the shady parts of the trail while his ears listened for any noise that would signal unwanted predators. 

All the while, his mind swayed to other thoughts. 

"Why are we waiting?!" Ziggar said impatiently. "He's right there; an easy kill." He pointed the dagger towards the direction of their target.

Artimus Neomas. A general of the Nuia's Elven army. He was one of the two men who lead the Elven army into the Firran's lands- their lands- and began taking their people as slaves.

Clutching his father's sword, the sword he received as a gift for his 'coming of age' ceremony, he answered. "We have to make sure he doesn't have any escape routes to take." Greeting his guards, he enters his estate, one of the guards closing the gates behind him as he enters.

Both of them dropped from the tree they stalked him from and begin to move amongst the shadows and along the side of the metal fence. With the fence standing at least two times their height and the open distance from the fence to the house, Raziar knew they would have the best chance only at night.

"Raziar," Ziggar whispered as he waved for him to stand beside him so he could see from his view.

Underneath the stone at the foot of the fence was a whole dug in from some kind of animal.

"Well, that gives us an easy way in," Raziar complemented him on his find. However, part of him questioned this strike of good luck."But we still need a quick escape route." He added, trying to put off his skepticism.

"Well, if you would've let me kill him earlier, we wouldn't have to worry about that." Ziggar retorted with impatience and annoyance at his cautioning words.

"I told you before, didn't I?"

"Don't give that crap. What's the real reason?"

Raziar stared at him, their gaze locked, before giving a heavy sigh.

"I want him to know what it's like to be attacked in your own home." He finally answered.

He remembered the sound of stampeding horses charging as they raised the alarm. The warriors readying their weapons to meet the oncoming enemy. His father and him fighting along side each other. His father being cut down as they retreated.

He wanted him to catch even a glimpse of his pain before dying by his hand, and his father's sword. However, now he thinks he might have caused more pain for Neomas then her Father.

Realizing how far he'd gone down the trail, he began retracing his steps and rejoined the two elves at their house. He looked at Neomas, letting his mind put away those distracting thoughts, before showing himself.

"The path is clear up ahead," he said as he began to seemingly materialize before them.

Neomas jumped when she saw him appear, causing Sylvari too laugh. "Dear Nui, Raz..." She panted, holding her chest as if to keep her heart from jumping out. "Can you not?"

He chuckles. "Well, I could've just left you behind but then I didn't want my swords to burst into flames on my person either." He replied with a smirk. "So I thought I'd come and get you two so we could hurry this up."

"What? Are you that anxious to be done with us?" Neomas said, pouting with her arms crossed.

He crossed his arms as if to mimic her. "I'm just wanting to hurry and get back to my own plans." He taunted her.

"Like I said," She smirked, her eyes glinting of mischief. "You'll come to love us."

"I guess we'll see, no?"

"Alright kids," Sylvari called, walking in between them. "Shall we be off?" She smiled back as she turned, pulling out an old tomb, and began reciting the chant from one of its pages.

"What is she calling?" Raziar asked as he followed Neomas to her side.

"Our ride, silly." Neomas giggled.

"We're not using our mounts?"

"No, the pack will make them too slow."

Before he could ask any other questions, he watched as a brilliant green portal opened before them and, with the sound of something he never heard but the stench of burning coal, appeared the ride she spoke of.

"What is that?" Razir asked, eyeing the humming vehicle cautiously.

"It's called a Farm Wagon!" Neomas answered brightly. "Took a lot to get this, so we make sure to use it as often as possible to get the most worth out of it."

"Also, it's much faster then any other mount; especially when carrying a package." Sylvari adds.

Raziar examines the metalic beast from a distance, crouching as if trying to not be spotted by it.

"Since, I'm guessing, you won't be riding with us, where's your mount?" Neomas asked with a humorous note.

Glancing over his shoulder and seeing her smiling, he smirks and, standing up, turned to the open space beside him, and closed his eyes. Remembering the words past down to his people for generation, he began to chant low. It was one of the few spells he knew but a spell his people used to call on the help of their companion. Feeling the magic flow through him, tingling his skin and making his fur stand on end, he opened his eyes as mist began to form before him.

It feels like so long since he had called on his companion. He remembered sending him away so he didn't share the same fate as him.

A shadowy figure begins to appear through the mist. As it clears and the magic begins to recede within him, a massive Snow Lion stood before him.

"Hello, old friend." Raziar spoke, reaching out his hand and petting the snow lion's mane. It leans its head into his hand, a slight purr rumbling against his hand.

"So pretty!" He turned to see Neomas and Sylvari standing next to each other, staring in awe. 

The Snow Lion walked in-front of Raziar, lowing its head, and gave a low growl at both of them. As they giggled, either not threatened by him or not willing to show it, he gives the Snow Lion a soft pat on his mane.

"Relax Aerakay," He tells the Snow Lion as he begins to scratch his mane.  "They're not your enemy." Giving them a sly smirk, he adds, "At least not ones you need to worry about."

Sylvari slowly began walking towards Aerakay, her hand extended low and out in front of him. As she crosses the half way point between them, Raziar feels the hairs of the Snow Lion's mane stand on end as he takes a step back, giving a low hiss.

"Not very friendly, is he?" She smiled, her voice sounding more questionable then insulted. 

With a smile, Raziar swings up onto Aerakay's back. "He's not very friendly anymore." He answered before giving his companion a nudge to move ahead and down the already scouted path.