Outsiders -- Rahal / Errol

[Ephemerality]

Living deep in the Jeskaran forests never made for an easy life. Unlike the comforts and luxuries afforded a couple hours away in the capital city of Jokadi, the lifestyle here was a constant game of kill-or-be-killed. It was already hard enough as it was with the constant threat of the innumerable predators with a taste for Majikadai flesh, whether they were beast or more humanoid in nature. Factoring in the additional disadvantage of sticking out like a sore thumb in the darkness of the forest made life even harder.. and even harder still when you were on the lowest possible tier of tribal society – not even truly recognized as a member and scarcely ever acknowledged.

Yet Rahal was all too accustomed to such things by now. He'd lived this way for almost twenty whole years, and didn't foresee it ever changing. He'd adapted to the pitiful lot in life he'd been given. He had to. Still, it didn't serve to make him any less bitter, especially on days like this. The albino was fuming after finding out that the ration's from the last big kill had all been divided up before he'd even been told of the hunting party's return. Not even the slightest bit of meat had been left for him to take home, and of course, no one else seemed to care about his exclusion.

Even hours afterwards as Rah had tracked through the woods on a search for his own kill, the annoyance didn't fade. Quiet as an angry mouse, the barefooted Majikadai crept through the underbrush, searching for any signs of animal life while simultaneously keeping his guard up. Frustrating was beginning to set in at the sheer amount of time it was taking to even any promising lead. He was far from the tribe now – much further than he'd intended when he had set out on the trip.

He had just about given up and turned back when he finally spotted something. A fresh set of tracks. It didn't take long for the skilled hunter to follow them and find what had made them – a medium-sized deer, grazing in a partial clearing. Rah grinned as he watched the deer from the shadows, pulling out his bow and setting up an arrow. As he took aim, though, the creature stepped behind some foliage, ruining the perfect shot.

"Come on," He just barely muttered under his breath as he waited for the animal to move again, the excitement at finally finding a prospective kill making him drop his guard more than he normally would have liked, "Move already.."

[clementine]

Errol moved slowly through the forest. The silver trees were eerie in the moonlight, but he'd grown used to them in the weeks he'd been camping out. Camping had never been something Errol had loved, but it was a necessity for his line of work. You had to get down and dirty if you were to study nature. That still didn't make him miss his bed or his mother's home cooking. One could only survive on beans and processed rations for so long. He'd caught some small game here and there, but having to skin the game was more tedious and gruesome than he usually anticipated.

Growling under his breath, Errol scratched the back of his head. He was in search of beast said to be extinct. There had been sightings recently and he'd been sent out to track the thing or at least prove it didn't really exist. Given the surrounding area it had been spotted in, there was enough cover and animal life that a large creature would be able to survive quite easily. The twelfth hour was quickly approaching though and Errol needed find a place to make camp. It was a little too late to get any more work done.

Needing to find a good spot to break camp, Errol shoved through a thick patch of leaves, only to cry out in alarm as a doe suddenly bolted past him. The creature leapt over Errol and the daemon staggered backwards, ending up on his ass.

[Ephemerality]

The doe started to move again, ever so slowly. Once again, Rahal readied himself to loose his arrow. Just a bit further, and he would have a clean shot. Finally, he loosed the arrow.. only to miss as the deer suddenly startled and leaped. A quiet flow of curses streamed from his mouth as he pulled out another arrow and bounded after it, determined to at least try to get another shot in as it bounded away.

It took only seconds for the agile boy to make it across the clearing where the doe had bolted and aim, though the effort was fruitless. He could see only a flash of light brown here and there as it weaved through the thick underbrush.. in addition to the slightest of movements nearby. His gaze fell and landed on Errol, the unexpectedness at seeing someone else out here taking him completely off guard. But it only took a second or two for him to recover, that bow and arrow coming automatically train on the daemon.

"Rather far from the city, aren't you?" Rah asked coldly. It was easy to tell the other wasn't another of his kind, though it wasn't readily apparent what he was. Whatever the case, the Majikadai didn't want to take any chances. "I can only think of one thing someone like you would be after out here," He stated, pinkish eyes narrowing.

[clementine]

Errol gasped sharply and held up his hand in supplication when the most gorgeous creature stepped through the foliage. Of course, Errol had his eye on that bow as well, knowing that the youth could shoot. Hadn't a previous arrow whizzed over his head only moment before? Errol gulped loudly, somehow managed to scoot back a bit further from the white boy.

"I--uh, can't say that I know what you're talking about," Errol replied, very slowly standing up. He raked his eyes over the boy, immediately pinning him as one of the elusive majikadai. There was something strange about him though. His pink eyes and white coloring were an instant give away that the boy was outside of the normal. Errol immediately wanted to study him. How many others were albino like this boy. Was this the white creature he'd been told to find? Sadly the boy didn't look too particularly scary or blood thirsty.

"If you'll kindly point your arrow elsewhere, I can be on my way." Already Errol was edging away from the boy, shoulder his pack more firmly against his back. It wouldn't do to be shot after all.

[Ephemerality]

Rah's eyes narrowed when the other threw his hands up and answered him. It was only natural that the Majikadai was suspicious. Other than his own kind and the Jshiko, most avoided the forests like the plague. Who could blame them? The only time Rahal ever even saw outsiders were when they were out on the prowl, hunting for prey of their own. Being a few hours from the city made their appearances few and far between, but that only made Errol's appearance here even more suspicious for him.

"Sure you don't," He muttered, scowl deepening, "You really expect me to believe that? Daemons, vampyres.. The only time they ever leave their comfy little city is when they want a meal."

With an annoyed grunt, he took a couple backwards steps before leaning against a tree, finally lowering the bow, but only just enough so that he could still raise it and defend himself if he needed. But really, it didn't seem the albino boy, despite his talk, was all that concerned about Errol attacking him.. which was, surprisingly, a Godsend for the daemon. Most from his tribe were deathly afraid of his kind, more of the shoot-first-ask-later persuasion. But the albino boy was confident in his skills, if not downright cocky, and ultimately didn't see the other as a threat as much as an annoyance.

"If you're not here for a meal," He went on, sarcastically, "You must have a really poor taste in vacations."

[clementine]

Errol laughed outright at the boy's response. "Is that so? I can't say many leave the city at all to venture into the wilds for food. I think Jeskaran society is a little more advanced than that." He flashed a half teasing smile, a dimple poking his left cheek handsomely. "You don't seem that worried though. Aren't you afraid I'll try and eat you?" It would be so easy, Errol absently realized. There was so much water here. One tendril of the liquid and he could have it shooting through the boy in a heartbeat. Of course he wouldn't do such a thing, but it was a thought and the boy's aloofness worried him.

"I think it might be time to go back to your tribe, little one. The moons are already very high." Errol fidgeted, lingering where he stood as he waited to see what the youth would do.

[Ephemerality]

Rahal wasn't expecting the smartassed response, and he bristled visibly. His scowl deepened even further, and his hand tightened on his bow.

"Hmph, more advanced.. Say that to those of us that have been attacked by your kind," He snapped, "I'm sure they would love to have a nice, long talk about that."

More and more, the Majikadai boy was growing annoyed with this man. It would've made more sense for him to just lower his bow and stop wasting his time on him, but he felt compelled to stand his ground. It had always been his reaction to the teasing and bullying, whether it was this man's half-innocent prodding or the more serious grief he got back at the tribe.

"'Little one'?" He grumped, finally lowering his bow entirely. It seemed the boy didn't consider the daemon a threat. Just a growing nuisance, "I should say the same to you, city-dweller. I'm amazed you even made it out this far without being eaten.."

[clementine]

"I'm not talking about the rouge daemons and vamps out here. You know, the ones who're a little more than crazy. And please, give me a bit more credit. Don't a look formidable?" Errol smiled again and managed to hold back another laugh. The kid was cute, really cute. Errol wasn't sure if he was more fascinated by the youth's strange albinism or his beauty. It was strange, but Errol was enchanted. And since it was clear the boy wasn't leaving, Errol was going to press his luck as he pushed from the tree he was leaning against to move closer to the boy.

"I have a feeling I probably won't be seeing you again, so I'll ask my question now. Are there more white folk like you? People have reported sitings of a strange, white creature roving the forests. I honestly don't think it's you as you're not growling and yelling like an idiot. Have you seen any such things in this place before?" Errol was genuinely curious and his voice had dropped the teasing tone it had held a moment ago.

[Ephemerality]

"Rogue or not, you're all the same to us," Rahal dismissed the other's statement with a shrug of the shoulder, "But you're right. You don't look tough."

He narrowed his eyes when the other moved closer. Yet he didn't allow the other the satisfaction of seeing his guard go up. He forced himself to keep still even as the other approached, if only to seem utterly unaffected and indifferent of him. Yet, the unaffectedness only lasted until the other asked if there were others like him -- white. His look was surprised at first, before slowly fading into mild annoyance.

"No. I'm the only one," He answered quietly as he finally put his arrow back in his quiver and returned the bow to its place on his back, "And I've never seen such a creature. But if it can stand out so much like that and it still lives, you shouldn't go seeking it out." He crossed his arms over his chest, shaking his head as he continued in a softer tone. "It probably just wants to be left alone, anyway."

[clementine]

Errol looked at the boy curiously, watching his expressive face change from one emotion to another. "If it's a new species of creature, I must find out. It could be an albino bear for all I know. But either way, it's important," he replied, realizing the that boy was sensitive about his albinism. This only made Errol even more curious. How was someone so different treated by a tribe with strict and rigorous social rules? Errol had only studied the life of the majikadai very briefly, but from what he'd read, they were a superstitious race.

"I'm sorry if I upset you," Errol added, "I think your coloring is quite beautiful, and so is your face." Testing his luck, Errol leaned in and playfully beeped the boy's nose just as he put his weapons away. "Well, I guess I'll be seeing you. You'll be okay by yourself, right?" He knew majikadai hunted in groups and wasn't sure how well loners did on their own.

[Ephemerality]

"Why do you need to know? It's not your forest. What's in it shouldn't be of any concern to you," He commented off-handedly, only half in scorn while the other half seemed almost curious. Why would someone from the city even care about what was beyond the city limits, much less actually coming out to the woods to see it with their own eyes. The fact that Errol seemed to intent on discovering this supposed white animal just seemed strange to the boy.

The apology earned only a slight scoff and shrug until the other pushed on, giving him those compliments. His eyes widened slightly, seeming too surprised to even gripe about the booped nose. It had been the first time that anyone had ever complimented him outside of the bearer that had raised him. When he finally realized though that his cheeks were beginning to feel hot, though, he quickly pouted and went back to suspicion.

"Sure. Whatever," He huffed, suddenly pushing himself up from the tree while giving the daemon a sideways glance, "Like I'm the one that needs to be watched after in this forest.." He scoffed again before starting off in the direction he'd came, apparently also not wanting to give the other the satisfaction of deciding when to end the conversation.

[clementine]

Errol smiled and bit his lower lip. It only took five seconds whether to decide to go with the bearer and it was an easy decision. "Yup, you're cute," he said once he'd slogged through the bushes to fall into step with the majikadai. There was no way he was going to be able to resist that lovely blush and the way the boy pouted. If he wasn't careful he would end up eating the youth up. How anyone could shun such a creature was beyond him. The only of the tribes must be full of idiots, he decided, for the boy wouldn't have had that reaction to the praise if it had been otherwise. Yet another thing Errol wanted to discover.

"I'm Errol, by the way, and no, I'm not following you. I'm just walking the same direction." Errol shifted his pack more firmly against his back and peered at the boy. "You gonna tell me your name? It's kind of a rule that you have to if you've been talking to a person for more than five seconds."

((and bed for me. night!))

[Ephemerality]

"Not interested in your compliments," Rahal answered as he walked, turning his head when he realized that the other was following after him. He was about to say something to that effect when Errol preempted him with introductions and explanations, causing the boy's mouth to shut once again. For a long moment, the boy stayed quiet, as if he was trying to purposefully go on ignoring the other. But after another bit of silence, he finally relented.

"Rahal," He stated simply, falling quiet once again. Though this time, only a few seconds later, the slight sound of rustling had him complaining again, "Do you have to walk so loudly? With all that rustling around, I'm amazed something hadn't eaten you already.."

[clementine]

For a moment, Errol thought he was going to be ignored, but when the boy finally gave his name, he smiled. "Rahal," he repeated, "that's a nice name. And don't worry, I'll keep those compliments coming." The silence between them a second time felt more companionable to Errol and he would have laughed at Rahal for complaining about him being too loud, except, it hadn't been Errol making all that noise.

Errol froze, reaching out to catch Rahal's arm to stop the boy as well. "Uh, Rahal, that...wasn't me making all that noise." As if to back up his statement, a sudden rustling to their immediate left came. It was louder this time, accompanied by a loud growl. Errol thought he saw a flicker of white, but he was too scared to investigate further. Instead he was nudging at Rahal, wanting to hurry and run from whatever had decided to stalk them.

[Ephemerality]

The compliments comment earned a simple roll of the eyes, as well as another light dusting of pink across the boy's pallid cheeks. It just wasn't in his nature to accept compliments, considering he never received them. So of course it was only natural for him to assume the other was just being cruel and teasing him.

All the annoyed and flustered thought were making his senses dull. Normally, his exquisitely fine-tuned hearing would've been able to determine that the noises weren't coming from the daemon. With the distraction, though, he didn't realize until the other stopped him. His eyes widened as he turned his head in the direction of the growling, stomach tightening in knots.

The immediate response was to flee to the branches above. It was truly amazing how quickly a Majikadai could make it up a tree, doubly so when they were being stalked or pursued. But he stopped himself. Errol wouldn't make it, and despite all he wanted to insist to the contrary, he couldn't just leave the other on the ground to be maimed.

"Run," He finally whispered, a hand going to grab a knife - truly a last resort for him - from its sheath on his hip. Suddenly, he pushed the other in front of him. If the daemon took off, the albino boy would be close behind, putting himself between the beast and the more defenseless man.