Ire and Ice (Daniel Imura)

[Ire]

The breeze was soft, delicate. It played with the tendrils of my hair and stroked my skin. There was nothing but plains in all directions of my sight. Dantooine. A simple place, yet so easy to lose oneself in.​

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I removed my bow from my back, bending my knees in an eager fashion as I fished an arrow from my quiver. I brought my eyes to the focal point. My vision lined perfectly with the tip of my projectile. I drew back the string until my knuckle reached my earlobe and waited. The white fur of the male Kath Hound stood out amongst the herd. A prime target.​

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My fingers release. The arrow brushes my face as it fires through the air. A single breath passes before the Kath Hound falls suddenly on it's side. Confused by this, the herd begins running frantically in the opposite direction.​

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I smile. My first kill of the day.​

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[member="Daniel Imura"]​

 

[Daniel Imura]

Daniel watched from the trees above as a strange looking woman was on the hunt. Taking down an alpha kath hound with that kind of accuracy was definitely enough to peak his interest. He wouldn't make himself known yet, instead finding it fruitful to just sit there and watch. After all, he was more of an observer, anyway. He liked gathering as much information as he could, so that he could go into a situation later having all the cards. This woman seemed to be a very proficient hunter. But what else could she do? Using the humidity in the air to create a small chunk of ice, he hurled it at a tree some five yards away, and it made a satisfying thunk upon hitting the trunk.

[member="Ire"]

 

[Ire]

The sound of something hitting a tree next to me made me suddenly more alert. I spun around to the spot, lodging another arrow between my fingers. I scanned the area about the tree. I saw nothing there. Slowly, I lowered my bow and crept forward to investigate further.​

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The object that had struck the trunk was gone, but it left behind a moist residue. I trailed my fingers over the small crater in the bark. From the angle in which the impact had been made, it appeared that whatever had hit it had not fallen from the branches. Perhaps it was thrown. If this were the case, than the angle would suggest........​

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I raised my bow once more, turning around and studying the tree that had been behind me before. A man was inside it, staring at me. I stared back. My fingers flexed slightly, ready to loose another arrow should they need to.​

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"State your intentions."​

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[member="Daniel Imura"]​

 

[Daniel Imura]

Daniel watched in interest as the woman jumped at the sound. She walked over to investigate it, and seemed to try to calculate where it landed... Next thin he knew, he was facing the shaft of an arrow pointed at him, and he let loose a broad grin. "Woah! Not bad!" Jumping down the seven or eight feet, he hit the ground with a heavy thump, and casually walked over. "Don't worry, you can put that away. I'm not stupid enough to challenge someone with the accuracy you have." The comment was purely to disarm the situation and make her feel at ease. He didn't mention that he had two pistols at his side, as well as the aid of the force. No, he'd play this out slow. "Name's Daniel. And you?"

[member="Ire"]

 

[Ire]

The man seemed to be impressed with my defensive reflexes. I was ready for him to attack me, tensing as he jumped from his perch and landed before me. I did not lower my weapon as he approached.​

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"What was your purpose for watching me?"​

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[member="Daniel Imura"]​

 

[Daniel Imura]

Daniel let an amused smile play across his lips then, and he held his hands in the air slightly. "I like watching people. It's a hobby of mine. Now will you drop the bow? I promise I'm not gonna hurt ya. Here, how about this?" To demonstrate his good will, he placed his hands on the back of his head. The long jacket he wore may have betrayed the thunder gun on his side, but his slug pistol would remain near-invisible on his back. As he stood there, he studied the hunter for a few seconds. He'd never seen anyone quite like her, and maybe that was a good sign. He was always looking for something new to interest himself with.

[member="Ire"]

 

[Ire]

My gaze drifted to the gun on his belt. If he had not pulled it by now, then he may be telling the truth... I lowered my bow. I still remained cautious, however. I slipped my weapon back into its holder on my back, placing the arrow back with it's brethren in the quiver.​

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"Your 'hobby'. Is this all that you do when you are not working?"​

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[member="Daniel Imura"]​

 

[Daniel Imura]

Smiling as the woman put her weapon away, Daniel lowered his arms to their sides. "Princess, I have many hobbies. However, the brunt of them is me learning more about my environment. I also enjoy fighting. But that's a different story. Tell you what." Holding up his left hand, he watched as the moisture from the air formed into a single, clear rose made from ice. "A name for a rose? I'm Daniel, by the way."

[member="Ire"]

 

[Ire]

Most unexpected, indeed. I had never seen a technique such as the one this Daniel was showing me. My curiosity over took my caution as I looked at the rose in slight wonder.​

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"I am not of noble birth, nor am I a flower. I am called Ire."​

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I dared to take a step closer to him.​

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[member="Daniel Imura"]​

 

[Daniel Imura]

As the woman relayed her name, Daniel raised an amused eyebrow at her choice of words. "Never said you were a noble, or a flower for that matter. You don't see many nobles out hunting, anyways." Handing her the delicate sculpture, he nodded in approval for her to have it. Looking back over at the kath hound, he raised a finger to it. "Nice kill there, by the way. You gonna need help hauling it?"

[member="Ire"]

 

[Ire]

I gently took the ice rose from Daniel's hand. It was cold to the touch, and very smooth.​

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"If you were not referring to me as if I were a noble or a flower, then why did you call me 'Princess' and 'Rose'? And no. I can haul my own game."​

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I said blankly as I looked to where he was pointing. The way people use names so frivolously continues to confuse me.​

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[member="Daniel Imura"]​

 

[Daniel Imura]

Oh, she must have been one of those. Daniel gave a wry smile at that, but never missed a beat. "Well first of all, I didn't call you a rose... that's what the flower is called." He pointed to the ice flower in her palm. "And the other nickname is just that. It was supposed to flatter you and maybe disarm the situation. But my charm seems to have done that already." He smirked again, clearly impressed with himself.

[member="Ire"]

 

[Ire]

I blinked. So Daniel believed he was charming me into not killing him? That was hardly the case. I do not enjoy attacking someone if it can be avoided.​

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Already the rose in my hand was beginning to melt. Becasue I did not wish to be bothered with the dripping and wet hands, I let it drop to the ground. I looked back to my kill and began making my way toward it. Something told me this strange man would follow me whether I said anything or not.​

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[member="Daniel Imura"]​