Under The Hunter's Moon [Marius]

[Lief]

The cloak of the Vhaanir was pulled tight around her shoulders as the girl stepped into the snowstorm; winter was a harsh time for every world, but the mighty fist that was brought down upon the mining world was as oppressive as they came.

Mysa was no stranger to ice and snow. Midvinter was her home, even if she had been born elsewhere. It was the place she became the Snowstrider. The place she became her own being. She had Thrand to thank for that. He had immersed her in the culture of his people, he had given her the gift of the Gods, the gift of Faith, of community. He had made her feel whole.

It was his cloak she wore. His cloak her nose nestled down into the fur of in order to stave off the bite of the ice which lingered in the frigid air.

Vanquo was a world away from Midvinter however; nature made itself known here, but so did the touch of man and machine. The contrast was odd, she could deal with it on most worlds but one which reminded her of her icy abode? It was difficult to wrap her head around. But she wasn't here to make sense of it, not for now at least.

She wandered through the forests, far from the mining facilities, the dull crunch of her boots in the snow the only accompanying sound for miles around. That was until the song of another kind of entity blew through the treetops. The Force was calling to her, the Voice of the Valkyri sent on the breeze by Odiir.

Mysa's hand dipped into her cloak, fingers curling around a tiny wooden figurine. The Vhaanir had seemed so much larger when she was younger, when she would play with it in the forests of Tabaqui and the snow of Midvinter.

Éar guide me the young girl prayed, as she was led into a clearing at the will of the Gods. Nothing had disrupted the snowfall in this particular area, no animal tracks to be found or bootprints.

Yet in the center of it, nestled atop the snow instead of within it, something glistened. A fragment of light that had to have been put there after the storm had hit. But there were no signs. No one had been here. So how had it come to be?

Mysa stared at the crystal. She stared, and she waited for a sign.

[member="Marius"]

 

[Marius]

[member="Mysa Snowstrider"]

Digging through Mandalorian history, with the help of a fellow Mandalorian since Teresmen were quite bad with technology, Marius had found a lead to Vanquo which might have clues of his kin's background. It was his personal goal to gather as much information he could about his Teresman blood. Whether it was a clue to find where surviving Teresmen were or information of the Teresmen's history did not matter to Marius. Vanquo's case was more of the latter category, as the information on the database spoke of Teres during the Mandalorians' presence on Vanquo thousands of years ago. What exactly was he going to find, if he found anything, Marius did not know.

Walking through the middle of a snowstorm was not the best idea but the technologically advanced Mandalorians were capable of creating armor that withstood almost anything. He was thankful for the first time for technology.
Years ago, during a raid the Teresmen had made against a planet engulfed with snow, they had blindly decided to attack through the snowstorm expecting the enemy would be surprised for anyone attacking during a snowstorm. His kin were never more wrong. The natives were born and bred in such conditions, and had sprang a succesful ambush to the raiding party of Teresmen slaughtering the invaders.
The Teresmen were barely able to escape, most of their men killed in the ambush. Marius was severly wounded by a blade that left its scar on his left shoulder, a reminder of what recklesness could do. He touched his armor on the place where the scar would be as if coloring the picture of his memory.

His recalling of nostalgic memories had led him to halting at a dangerous distance from a being that simply stood in the middle of a clearing. The steps the being had made were being quickly devoured by the heavy snowfall. Naturely, Marius grabbed the hilt of his beskad that was sheathed on his back and shook his head at his careless behavior. The Mandalorian approached slowly and quitely as he could, but stealth was an ability he did not posess. Halting once again a dozen feet away from the figure which was covered with clothes of fur, that according to Marius looked thick enough to prevent the cold. If it was a human, the being's height answered to that of a teenager. But the galaxy was not home for just humans such as him.

Marius contemplated on his next action, attempting an attack would be illogical. The being would surely react fast enough to evade, the least.His other options were to go back or attempt diplomacy. Considering his poor skills in Basic he cursed the second option but it looked as the most productive one. His whole focus was on self-preserving himself. The helmet's utilities gave him a great advantage in this weather to monitor his surroundings. Marius finally took the decision to attempt to communicate with the being overdressed with fur.

"Hello." The Mandalorian spoke and his accent could immediately be detected even by uttering one word.

" I come bearing no hostilities."

 

[Lief]

Paaaatieeenceee

A breathless word, whispered on the delicate breeze; it graced her hearing and sent a shiver down her spine. She was not cold. The Vhaanir kept her warm, the Gift of the Dawnbringer which settled atop her shoulders. But the voice of the Gods? That was something to be in awe of.

Mysa inclined her head, her eyes closed as she permitted the Old Gods to flow over her, through her core, to give her strength. To show her the path she sought. She was not to take the crystal yet, it was not her time. But if not that, then what?

The young girl knelt within the snow, which clung to her furs. Her breathing was steady, misting in the air with each exhale.

And then she sensed it, the presence of another. A predator stalking through the trees.

But she did not stand. She did not try to face whoever it was, whatever it was, her trust in the Gods was pure. Was this what she had been led here for?

Show me the way.

A strength resonated through her, the muscles in her legs tightening as the being at her back spoke. Mysa took the incentive, rising to to her feet; her eyes snapped open, immediately fixating back on the crystal which shone greater than before. Which joined in the song of the Gods and called to her.

She felt her heart contract, a certain peace radiated through her core. She did not turn to address the man. Instead she reached down for the thing her heart sought. The crystal emanated warmth, yet when her fingers curled around it she was surprised to find it ice cold. A gasp escaped the child, and in the same moment she turned and stood upright.

Her eyes fell upon the man who bore the armour of the Mandalorians. There was something different about him though, a raw entity beneath the technology and the metal.

"Salutations" the young girl breathed, the words while barely audible were swept along on the breeze to his hearing, "The snow suits you, weary traveler."

[member="Marius"]

 

[Marius]

[member="Mysa Snowstrider"]

The Mandalorian observed the knelt figure and awaited for any signs of battle actions the being could show. Instead the figure was frozen. It did not show any signs of movement and the Teresman decided to take one step further, his hand still gripping the hilt of the beskad sheathed on his back. The moment he made his step, the being stood up and turned around swiftly. Only the youth feminine features that her face had, despite the near-Human characteristics it had, stopped the Teresman from unsheating his beskad. The thick fur she bore contrasted with her pale skin and seemingly colorless eyes. Yet, her facial appearance seemed one with the snow that had fully covered the ground around both of them and gave no signs of stopping anytime soon.

She spoke but Marius' attention was elsewhere - the crystal in her hands. The man felt as if it radiated heat, despite that his helmet's sensor did not read anything of the sort. Even more, he felt a strange feeling engulf him. The same feeling he would get when in combat, the feeling that enchanced his combat capabilities. His kin told him he was blessed with Teres' Fury. (The Force, indeed but he is not aware of it at all)
A rare blessing, according to the Teresman, one bestowed upon a certain Teresman every dozen or so generations. More, he did not know. And now he was baffled. Marius was in no battle currently, furthermore the warmth that seemed to emit from the crystal soothed his existence. It was confusing and dreadful. Had this crystal anything to do with the piece of information about his kin that he was supposed to find ? Perhaps. The information he had found back on Mandalore was a corrupt file which was restored partially due to his fellow Mandalorian's computer skills. Of all the scarce information he had recovered, the word Teres stood alone with gibberish symbols around it. His tech savvy Mandalorian comrade had explained to him that the symbols were words that were not able to be recovered. Marius did not understand very well but a more simplified explanation it meant that Teres was the only word recovered from a sentence.

His complicated thoughts were broken free when he realized the awkward silence that fell between him and the near-human girl.

"As it suits you." Marius took his hand off the hilt of his beskad, a sign he believed would emit peace. He paused, thinking what was the most suitable question he might enquire. "Weather cold. What is your purpose?"

The Teresman knew well his Basic was terrible and it was obvious in his accent and the way he constructed sentences. Marius hoped he had made enough sense in the question he had asked the girl.

 

[Lief]

The being glanced to the crystal in her hand, pulsating its warmth and radiating a light purple hue; instinctively Mysa shied back, though the might of the Gods flowed through her she had never possessed an item of intrigue and knew not how to protect it. This was a gift from Teign himself. Her fingers clasped around the ice cold fragment, the crystalline edges rough though not unpleasant to the touch. Mysa wondered how it was that it could produce both cold and warmth at once.

It was as though a firm Fatherly hand settled upon her shoulder, stopping her in her tracks and providing her with the strength to face her potential foe. She did not fail to see that hand of his clenched around the hilt of a beskad. Where he was armed and armoured, Mysa was free of all such things. No weapon to speak of, no armour, just the furs of her people. Just the Force as her ally, and the Gods at her back. And they would not interfere in this capacity, such was not their way.

Subtlety was their persuasion.

The Umbaran-turned-Valkyri tilted her head to one side, icy gaze filled with wonderment toward the being before her. He seemed lost in his own world, not at all grounded in his surroundings. What was more, he appeared cold. Armour could protect against much, but she doubted he had furs beneath; metal and snow did not mix so well. Instinct took over, and Mysa found herself shrugging out of the Vhaanir skin. It, along with the figurine in its pocket, was her most coveted possession.

"Sit with me" she said, without warning; the cloak was laid upon the snow, which drifted lightly when compared with the rest of the world thanks to the shelter of the trees around them. It was much larger than it had seemed when enveloping her, and as Mysa knelt upon it she drew the ends around herself again. There was space for him to sit, space for him to likewise feel the warmth of the elk-like fur around him. It seemed to always retain heat.

Whether he chose to follow her lead or not, Mysa would remain in such a way upon the ground. The place she had made for him, in truth a high sign of honor, - Vhaanir were a physical representation of the Gods to the Snowstrider - was kept open. She would not retract her offer until the pair parted ways, unless circumstance forced her hand.

"My purpose?" Mysa smiled, and allowed the Force to flow through her. She felt Éar's contemplative gaze upon her, as if the Goddess was curious to hear her response even now. She was Mysa's Guardian, the one who had chosen her so many years ago when first she strayed to Midvinter. "My purpose is to exact the will of the Old Gods. It is not by chance that we are both here this day."

She did not know how she knew it, but Mysa's fate was entwined with this stranger's if only for a little while. There was something different about him when compared with others of his kind. And it wasn't simply a racial or cultural difference, though that did shine through. Then again, Mandalorians could be of any race. She could just sense something else within him. It spoke to her the way the snow which drifted down did, the way the wind whistled as it carried Odiir's will.

"Forget your earthly weapons and open yourself to Enlightenment, my friend." Once more she gestured to the furs before her. How would the Gods test her this day?

[member="Marius"]

 

[Marius]

[member="Mysa Snowstrider"]

Marius watched the pale youth infront of him all covered in the thick fur that to the Teresman seemed outlandish. Outlandish or not, reading his heat readings her body temperature was at the torms. He knew his helmet had a link to the Mandalorian database and as such he would be able, if there was data, to understand what near-human race she exactly was. Unfortunately, his conflict with technology had the upper hand and Marius was unable to remember how to access such information. Despite having no knowledge of the girl infront of him, there was a certain warmth and acceptance radiating from her. Or from the crystal she held. Or from both. His ignorance in this sutation doubled his efforts of caution. And that was normal. Teresmen's fighting style was on the foundation to survive and self-preservance, his kin believed that the key to victory is to avoid defeat/death. Yet, the man could not deny the luster of hospitality coming his way.

Furthermore, the girl's abrupt decision to sit on the ground with her fur on the ground and her offer towards him to sit and share the warmth of her fur did back up the feeling of warmth he felt. The same type of touch Marius felt when Teres' Fury engulfed him in the midst of combat. In this case the feeling, although perceived of the same 'family', was that of safety and security. All this seemed outlandish and confusing to the Teresman but interesting nonetheless. He cautiously walked towards the sitting girl, all his senses being utilized in synchronization and further enchanced with the feeling of Teres' Fury. All was contradictory to Marius. Teres' Fury engulfing him while he was not in battle. Maybe there was more to Teres' Fury that his kin understood and comprehended. He had realized during his time as a slave, after the genocide of the Teresmen, that the galaxy was infinite.

"My purpose is to exact the will of the Old Gods. It is not by chance that we are both here this day."

Marius was already close enough to simply sit on the cloak but her answer to his previous question threw him into yet another dimension of contemplating and attempting to comprehend her words. Instead he remained standing thinking what she had said.
Old Gods? Fate? Her beliefs were not very different from what Teresmen believed. Although Marius noted that she spoke Gods in plural form, whereas Teresmen believed in only one godlike figure - Teres. The Father of All Teresmen and Tereswomen. Moreover, the Mandalorian had come to note that she utilized clothing that was more of nature with Teresmen's understanding of the galaxy - more, as most say, primitive. The similiarities that Marius seemed to grasp from all that was happening lead him to believe that this indeed was a fateful meeting. Was it part of his primary objective - looking for any information about his kin, past or present? Or was it something totally different but still relevant with Marius. There was only one way to find out. Accept her sign of hospitality.

"Forget your earthly weapons and open yourself to Enlightenment, my friend."

What she had next said both reassured him of her radiance of goodwill and confused him even more. She spoke of something beyond a man's reach or so he believed. Something above the plain of existence that her and Marius currently resided in. Something foreign.
He nodded to her offer to sit facing her on the thick fur and sat abruptly, his gaze fixated on the colorless eyes of the girl. Her whole existence 'beamed' in a way beyond comprehension. It was a feeling that his life was interlinked with hers, that she had a purpose to play in his fate. What that role was, he did not know.

Taking the other end of the cloak and putting it over his back made him feel more of a Teresman. Its natural touch, although hindered by the unnatural armor that he wore, reminded him of a long gone past. But now, it was not the time to bring back nostalgic memories long lost. What had happened, had happened. All that important now was the present.

"My thanks." Marius politely spoke but his voice through the helmet sounded rough and robust. Although that was not very different from his natural voice. Then he asked the obvious question with an addition of his poor skills in Basic. "How one enlightens to Enlightment?"


((OOC: Apologize for any possible grammar and spelling mistakes if any. Will proof read in an hours' time of posting. I really like the mystery behind this! It's quite beneficial for my character's development! Thank you!).

((OOC2: P.S If I have overlooked anything of your character's actions in my post, please let me know to make the necessary edits. Thanks!))

 

[Lief]

He was hesitant, both a positive and negative trait; it meant he would not rush headlong into any decision brought before him, it also meant he might be more likely to spur on conflict. Mysa did not like to fight, to this day she could remember killing one of the Vinterbound, ice zombies for want of a simpler term, and it still tested her faith. She disliked the sign of life, however disjointed an existence it was, leaving the being's icy eyes. They had been as frigid as her own, reflecting the snow of Midvinter back at her.

She had been just six years old then, far too small to stand at a battlefield, yet the desire to help had been overwhelming. Mysa hadn't joined the fray directly, instead she had aided in the evacuation process. It seemed not even the innocents would be kept from conflict though; Mysa had been the only one there to provide defense. She had been certain that she was going to die that day. Helm had decided otherwise, filling her with the might of the Gods; she had fallen, she had been certain she had been struck by Velkar's blight, yet when she finally worked up the courage to open her eyes only a Jedi stood over her.

Her focus snapped from the past to the present, and the child tilted her head subtly to the left. She observed him for some time, until he chose to settle across from her on the furs. That brought about a calming smile, one might have even called it maternal had she not been at least half his age. Then again it was hard to tell how old the man was.

As his mind continued to whir, Mysa brought the crystal back out and placed it upon the fur between them. Her eyes drifted between the two, before she gestured to it. "What does this represent to you?" she asked. She would not stop him if he chose to touch it, though she held a rather protective posture over the item all the same. One might question what relevance this had to enlightenment, but Mysa had her own ideas. However unconventional they might have seemed.

After asking this she reached into the inner lining of the furs, to a small pocket, and wrapped her hand around Éar. It was almost humouring that she had named the Vhaanir figurine after the Goddess. Regardless she pulled him free - because unlike the Goddess Éar was very much a he and always had been - before settling him alongside the crystal. This time she said nothing. A gift of the Gods, a representation of the Gods. Both gifts really, both sacred.

[member="Marius"]

 

[Marius]

Marius observed the girl, exploring all her facial features with his eyes. Aiming to memorize her face in case he ever met this near-human again. The Mandalorian was not a specialist in reading people's minds or their faces but he was sure the girl's eyes had a look he had not seen a decade ago. The look of an extreme believer. Marius had seen it numerous times in the eyes of those that more radically preached their faith towards Teres, their look seemed similiar to the girl's when they went to battle. A look implying self-confidence and zealotry. As if they knew the outcome of every battle they fought. Indeed they were fierce warriors, probably the most fierce ones. They were the ones that had zero fear of death. Marius was not one of those. He was a moderate believer, and he feared death. Not the fear that brings dread and disbelief on your face but the one that pushes you on to survive. If Marius was right about the girl's looks, then he had found that she might possibly be dangerous. Despite that, he knew there was no other way of finding out more about this crystal that drew his mind to it.

"What does this represent to you?"

The warrior's gaze on the girl's face halted when the crystal was revealed once again. It seemed to him that the closer he was to the crystal the more warmth it emitted. Staring into it, he felt as if looking into the abyss. What in the six blue hells was that ?
Intrigued, but still cautious Marius put his hand forth close to the crystal but not touching it. The warmth emitted was much more stronger and the soothing feeling it brought to his whole existence was enchanced along with the senses that Teres' Fury usually amplified. The scary part of this anomaly was that his helmet read no heat emerging from the crystal. Suddenly, hundred of questions sprang in Marius' mind and the one only to give answer was the wise-looking girl infront of him.

"Do not know. It's warm yet..." He tapped his helmet implying his heat sensors within. "It shows cold."

Marius realized that his question was answered with a question. He usually did not like that but the current situation wasn't very much usual at all. As the Mandalorian contemplated over what questions to ask out of all the questions that were running wild in his mind, the girl brought out of her furs a figurine of a beast he had never seen in his life. The object seemed masterfully carved and Marius thought that it might have some connection to the crystal atlhough the figurine did not emit anything to Marius' senses. Despite that, it appeared to represent something rather than being an expensive figurine the girl had brought. But there was so much mystery in this sutation that he did not want to remove any possible alternative about anything.

"What is all this?" Marius asked gesturing at the crystal and the figurine but also meaning the whole situation that they were into. He had so many questions piled up that he asked simply the most logical one. Then abruptly Marius remembered what he was once taught by a fellow Mandalorian that it was common for all beings in the galaxy to introduce their names. It was the opposite in Teresmen culture.

"A girl has a name?"

[member="Mysa Snowstrider"]

 

[Lief]

He was definitely intrigued by the crystal, she knew as much from the moment he had entered the glade. It attracted him the way it had called to her, and now there were two souls vying for its acceptance. The crystal chooses the Force User. Not the other way around. Just any old crystal would work... But it would not create a lasting bond. It would not be sufficient. She watched as his mind calculated all the possible answers, and fought to keep down all the questions he wanted to ask.

Mysa simply continued to smile encouragingly, waiting patiently for him to work it out in his head.

And when his response came, she could not help but perk an eyebrow. He had taken the question so literally, perhaps it was a reflection of his culture. She knew that more warrior-based cultures typically took things at face value, heck most of the time they had to, and he did seem the warrior type. Cold, calculating, cautious. Ready for anything.

He seemed further confused by the inclusion of little Éar.

Mysa tilted her head to one side, and pondered how best to proceed. He had it in him, she knew, he was drawn to the crystal on a deeper level than mere visual attraction. Yes it was beautiful, but it also struck a chord somewhere deeper. She skipped his first question in favour of the second for now, truly she had forgotten herself by not already providing him with this information. Mysa did not hold the common belief that names had power. A name was just something to be known by. Who you chose to be had nothing to do with what your parents chose to call you.

"Mysa" she said, "My name is Mysa Snowstrider; The Force has guided you here today, friend, I view it as an extension of the will of my Gods, some would state otherwise. It matters not either way. The fact of the matter is that this is so. You chose to trust me, likely against your better judgement, so here we are. Before you lie too objects, trivial trinkets to most. The crystal is easy on the eyes, and it radiates a warmth that begs to be touched, but inherently it is not special. But it is a gift from the very Gods I serve. It was put here by them, and they guided me toward it so that I might meet with you."

That was how she saw it, after all.

"The figurine... A representation of the Vhaanir. It is said that looking upon one of these creatures is like looking at Éar herself. This carving was made by someone very dear to me, when he introduced me to the Faith. It represents the Gods, but it is so much more than that. And so much less."

Mysa chewed the inside of her lip for a moment.

"How you interpret things can affect your view on the world itself. You may see a simple mineral, or a piece of wood, where I see something awe inspiring." The girl shrugged her shoulders for a moment.

"If you open yourself to other possibilities, however, you will realise that there is always more than meets the eye. Tell me, friend, do you feel anything special about this?" She lifted up the crystal, which pulsated with the Force which enveloped all.

[member="Marius"]

 

[Marius]

Marius observed the girl as she seemed to think of what her next words would be. With his deep focus on analysing the near-human infront of him, he felt the girl's connection with the crystal. No. Even more, he felt her connection to existence, to reality. A feeling beyond any senses that his body employed. And it all felt as if it was Teres' Fury surging through him. Confusing was the least how Marius could describe it. This meeting indeed was fateful for some reason to the Teresman.

As the girl gave him his name, he nodded. Mysa Snowstrider. Marius made sure he would remember this name.
"Marius. A Son Of Teres." He simply replied to the girl's introduction and listened to what she had to say.
The girl continued with an explanation to answer some questions that were circualting in the Mandalorian's mind. She spoke of the Force, of the will of her Gods. The most intriguing part of it was when she spoke about the objects before her. She was right. That explained the feeling of warmth he received despite his sensors reading no heat or whatsoever. His helmet was not glitching after all.

And that is when he connected the dots. The Force, of what he had heard his fellow Mandalorians talking, was some sort of power that existed beyond the realm of ours. Those that seemed to know more amongst the Mandalorians said it flowed through every living being. In some stronger such as the Jedi, they had said. A group of people who utilized the Force and wielded dangerous sabers made of such intense heat they could burn through layers of layers of metal, is what Marius had heard fellow Mandalorians describe them.
And apparently Teres' Fury was his connection to the Force. He had this mysterious 'power'. Teresmen used to tell him that his blessing - Teres' Fury - was rare and that also backed the fact that not everyone possesed this Force in a capability to use it.
Beneath the helmet, the cold and composed warrior's eyes widened at the relevation.

Mysa continued explaining further more, this time about the figurine that was put forth on the fur. The figurine of the Vhaanir as she called it, indeed seemed as a heilroom, something masterfully carved for the purpose of being presented as an important gift. Judging by her words, it was of great importance to the near-human.

"If you open yourself to other possibilities, however, you will realise that there is always more than meets the eye. Tell me, friend, do you feel anything special about this?"

"I have the Force." He simply stated in his own language, most likely not known by Mysa. Marius, then added in broken Basic with a tone of awe. "A man has the Force."

With such relevation, even more questions sprang in his head but he brought back his composure and pondered on what to answer the girl infront of him. Although Marius had his gaze upon her, he was so engulfed in what he had found out that the Mandalorian no longer could correctly analyse the girl's expressions.

"A crystal is warm, yet a crystal is not." Marius described the anomaly as best as he could. "A Force and a meeting of girl and man. What is the goal of such an encounter ? A girl must know more." He had no answers to bring to the table but Mysa seemed to have, maybe she could enlighten him of the purpose that fate had laid before them with this meeting. There had to be more to this destined meeting.

[member="Mysa Snowstrider"]

 

[Lief]

[Apologies, I had to work this evening hence the slow reply]

He gave his name, and Mysa could not help but smile; she had never heard someone address themselves in such a fashion. Son of Teres? She wondered what that meant. Was it literally the name of his Father, or did it have some ulterior meaning?

She watched as his eyes widened with some sort of understanding, and tilted her head to one side.

"Ah, you are beginning to understand are you not?"

No detailed explanation, no straight answer, she wanted him to discover it for himself. It wasn't enough to be told, one had to feel the connection, explore it, and embrace it. You couldn't just tumble yourself through an awakening, that was dangerous.

And then he said it, and Mysa's smile widened. "You have the Force" she reiterated, casting her gaze to the skies and nestling further into her cloak. It was quite the frigid evening.

Show me the way she begged of the Gods, show me the path you have laid out before us...

She inhaled through her nose, and dropped her gaze back to the man. Was this to be a learning curve for the both of them? Did the Gods wish to test her, to see what she would do when given a difficult situation?

Chewing the inside of her lip, Mysa contemplated.

"Would you like to explore it further, Marius? This gift you were given at birth..."

The girl was no Priestess, she was no Master of the Force or even all that adept, but she had been through the motions of her own awakening before, and as she spoke those words to him she felt within herself a strength. Yes, this was the right path.

He had to learn how to control it, lest it reveal itself in some horrific form. She had heard of such happening before, people got injured, or worse killed, from such things. And he was a warrior. That much was obvious.

[member="Marius"]

 

[Marius]

((OOC: No worries, my studies are taking a toll on me as well. :/ ))


Marius nodded when she asked him if he was beginning to understand. The girl's tone and face showed a certain degree of relief or maybe even happiness after the Teresman had his relevation. It seemed as that made it much easier for her. Other than that, Marius did not know at all anything more. He knew that his connection with the Force was strengthened when in combat, it opened to him capabilities beyond the average man. Maybe had to explain this to her. There was no other way to understand more then share with her things about himself.

At one point Mysa looked as if she had disappeared in a different plain. Her mind elsewhere, and through the Force Marius felt as if her connection with the Force strengthened. Was she utilizing it currently ? Conciously or subconciously ? So many questions, so little answers. The girl seemed to return from her outlandish travel and looked as if pondering before she asked:

"Would you like to explore it further, Marius? This gift you were given at birth..."

Nothing intrigued more right now. She had read his mind.

"A man does." Marius nodded confidently and continued. "A girl could teach him, perhaps? A man would be in debt to Mysa Snowstrider."

The Mandalorian abruptly removed his left crushgaunt and unsheathed the vibrodagger from his utility belt that hung around his chestplate. With a quick movement, he thinly sliced the center of his palm. Marius shook his bleeding palm until enoug blood covered his pointing and middle finger. Afterwords, a man put his arm foward his two coated with blood fingers pointing towards her forehead.

"A symbol of blood on a girl's forehead. A symbol to proclaim the debt of a Child of Teres."

[member="Mysa Snowstrider"]

 

[Lief]

She watched his expression carefully, and could see the curiosity he portrayed. If only there had not been a language barrier between them, perhaps he would have been better able to express his thoughts. His wants. It was clear that he understood her, but at the same time perhaps his view was entirely different to her own on what the Force was. How it worked.

Mysa's, after all, was different from even her own Family's.

And she liked to learn about other people's views, even if she did not share them.

His reply, however, made her smile. He wanted to learn, that was good. But right now it was far too cold an environment to ensure his complete attention and focus. It wasn't enough to simply be told, one had to be walked through the Force to fully comprehend it. She didn't want it any more dangerous than it already was.

Before she could rise, and have him follow, however, the man did something unexpected; he unsheathed his dagger and ran it along his palm until the blood flowed freely. That had Mysa frowning, at least for a few moments until she realized what he was doing. While it was very strange, she was not one to knock the customs of another so she gratefully accepted his pledge of a debt.

Ordinarily she might have wiped it away. It was another man's blood, after all. But she felt that would be disrespectful... Instead she allowed the frigid air to dry it out so that it remained in place, her head inclining respectfully. "I thank you for this honour, Marius son of Teres" she whispered, and she meant it.

All at once she rose, and gestured for him to follow suit.

"Let us find somewhere a little more agreeable."

Should he also rise, and step from the cloak, she would return it to its place around her shoulders despite the fact it was considerably damp with the snow and set off through the trees. There was a shack nearby, she could sense it. And it would provide warmth and shelter that even the skin of the Vhaanir could not.

[member="Marius"]

 

[Marius]

She had smiled at his interest to learn. An honest smile, at least that is what it looked as in the eyes of the Mandalorian. She seemed glad to enlighten him about this mystical power called the Force. Marius was truly grateful to Teres for blessing him. Such a gift would possibly help him a lot in his quest to learn about his ancestry and in the meantime - survive.

"I thank you for this honour, Marius son of Teres"

Mysa accepted his fingers drawing a symbol with his blood. The symbol of the clan - a double-edged axe - he belonged to when he was a Teresman. It was one of the few things Marius remembered. His life as a slave for a few years was so rough that a lot of memories he had acquired had been lost somewhere in his head. Perhaps the Force would be able to bring those memories back? The Mandalorian had no idea but it was not wrong to think of the possibilities such a blessing could unlock for him.

Abruptly Mysa rose on her feet and gestured him to follow her to find a much better place rather than this open clearing. Somewhere where at least the piercing frigid wind could be blocked.
Following the girl behind, she seemed as mysterious as before with all her outlandish furs covering her. She proceeded through the thick snow while Marius knew well that her fur, unless having special properties, would be quite damp. In the end, it was on it that both sat on instead of the snow.

"A wet fur is a bad fur, Mysa Snowstrider." Marius pointed out plainly while following her. Unfortunately, he had no solution to her...Actually he had.

As they strolled through the thick snow, the Mandalorian would break a few branches from trees that had fragile and thin branches. Technology would once again prove useful. Their journey brought them to a shack. That would be perfect. As they approached it, Marius would speak:

"A man has the Force only when a man is in battle." His tone composed but inquiring. The helmet would project it as robust as it could but the tone of inquiry could still be caught.

If they made their way further in the shack, Marius would pile up the branches neatly and utilize his flamethrower that was on his right wrist continuously until the branches caught fire. A small but good enough fire for both to keep warm for some times.


[member="Mysa Snowstrider"]

 

[Lief]

Together they walked through the snow, with only a few words spoken which were almost lost to the wind. Mysa did not reply for now, she knew that damp furs would not be good but she worried not. She had become rather resilient to such. As for his statement concerning combat, that really piqued her interest. Was this an absolute requirement, or something he had noticed in his own time? Mysa had never met anyone who could only use the Force in just one given situation.

Her head turned slightly as he tore up the drier pieces of wood; she might have felt a little annoyed at that blatant desecration had she not immediately understood what it was for. The Gods forgave such, and so ought she. Survival was crucial.

Doing her best to avoid shivering, Mysa pressed on until the shack could be seen in the distance. Once it might have been a wonderful cabin, now it had begun to retreat back into the land it was created from - roots of a tree wrapped around its risen base, resilient vines crawled along the rotting wood... How long it had been there was hard to say.

She stomped up the steps, forcing the snow from her boots in the same instance, and allowed the door to drift open. A chill breeze ran through the room, but she snuffed that the moment Marius was inside. It was actually much larger than she had imagined, and there was a great stone fireplace to one side which she wandered toward.

Watching as he placed the sticks into the fireplace and set them alight with some wrist attachment, Mysa raised a brow in thoughtfulness.

"What were you looking for out there, Marius?"

These were harsh conditions, and he seemed a long way from home, which only made her curious of his motives for being caught out in a storm.

Mysa begrudgingly shrugged out of her cloak and settled it down before the fire, before immediately sitting back down upon it. She hated being far from her furs, and besides she herself was cold and the warmth of it and the fire was welcome.

[member="Marius"]

 

[Marius]

The Mandalorian was glad that the cabin had a fireplace, much more convenient and safe to light the branches there rather somewhere on the ground. He looked around with his sensors, his echograph projecting the blueprints of the shack. The sensor showed no life forms, just as they did before they entered. The place was as abandoned as it could get. The Teresman was glad that following Mysa brought them to this place, it would guard them well against the strong wind that was brewing outside.

As the fire caught the branches, the light threw long shadows on the walls of the shack. The crackling noise of the burning dried branches echoed through the empty shack. If Marius had been fifteen years younger, he'd probably be creeped out.
The heat was welcome by both and Mysa didn't think twice before putting sitting infront of the fireplace. Marius double checked his sensors again and they gave the same results. Nothing.

He went towards where Mysa was just about to sit when she asked:

"What were you looking for out there, Marius?"

The Mandalorian froze and stood gazing at the fire. He had always been a lone wolf, even amongst his kin. Marius always projected a seemingly isolated aura, making people evade on speaking with him as more than just the concept of him that they had - a warrior. Most people, he was sure about that, saw him as simply an excellent armor and weapon. Which quite frankly, he did not mind a lot. The Teresman probably owed to that due to his years as a slave after the genocide of his kin. Even though, he was quite the secluded type before that fateful event, it seemed as the experience as a slave amplified that.

Mysa was probably the first to ask him about him as a person rather than a soldier. Deep inside, Marius felt comfort in that. The Mandalorian clutched his helmet and took it off. And he was glad to do so. The smells that entered his nostrils were quite welcome to him, as much as advantage the helmet gave him, he still liked to take it off when he could. Most Mandalorians, he believed, even slept with them on.

"A man by blood is a child of Teres, not Mandalorian." Marius began, his voice still robust as that his natural voice but without the 'noise' of the helmet. "Teresmen, as we are called by most. A man came looking for..." He paused looking for the word. "Clues. Clues of a man's ancestry. Perhaps clues of alive children of Teres."

Marius frowned at the last thought. He wished there was some alive that have escaped slavery. Just like he did. If she asked more, he would answer but now he wanted to ask a question of his own.

"And a girl's story ? Spoke of Old Gods, a girl is to become a priestess?" That was what he thought of her considering the little he knew about her. Marius' eyes focused on Mysa's icy blue eyes. Youthfulness burned within that ice, she was probably a decade younger than him, if her species aged as humans did.


[member="Mysa Snowstrider"]

 

[Lief]

The way he stopped and stared made her feel bad for prying. Her face settled into a state of uneasiness as she dropped her gaze to the floor humbly.

Runa forgive me, truly I meant no harm...

She heard the slight hiss which accompanied the removal of his helmet, and for the first time she was able to look upon him after sneaking a glance upward - the sound having caught her attention. He reminded her of someone, though she could not place her finger on exactly who.

Only now did he begin to speak, his voice was altered slightly thanks to the lack of the helmet; Mysa listened intently, and gave a nod of her head to his revelations. So he was seeking his heritage. She could not blame him. It was easy to live with things when you didn't know, but the moment you found out something... No matter how insignificant... About yourself? Well, it could awaken within you so many more questions than answers.

The same had happened to her when she met Thyrian and Kära. It didn't diminish what she'd had and known prior to that, it simply added to it.

Mysa was lucky, answers had been provided for her. But she could not imagine having no answers at all!

"What do you know of your people? Where are you from? Perhaps we could find them..."

Mysa meant it, too; she would walk the ends of the Galaxy if it meant helping this man in his endeavors. The Gods had brought them together for a reason.

She fell silent when he returned her question, and bit her lip ever so slightly. Her story? She didn't really know what to say. "I'm an Umbaran, but I've been adopted by the Valkyri of Midvinter and view myself as one of them."

It wasn't until she had come into Thrand's Wardship that Mysa had felt alive, wanted, and well... Human. That meant a lot to the young girl who had previously been seen as little more than an experiment in a lab.

"As for the Gods, I'm no Priestess... Just a simple follower of the Faith."

[member="Marius"]