Stewan Seagull

(This is OOC information, please use (or don´t use) it accordingly. Thanks.)

"...pull that small wooden ledger, ...like this."
With a wet, slippery sound the edge of the cave entrance gave way,
sending Stewan tumbling down into the hidden cave, just as the
concealing rock swung aside, barely long enough to let one person enter.
"Virtues! No!" he muttered under his breath.

"What´s the matter?!" Lana called down
"I slipped!"
"What´s going on?" "Damn it!" several voices joined in.
Allready the first vines started to entangle his arms and legs,
finding their way beneath his clothes slowly, spreading their
vile secretions over his skin.

"Get a rope... quick!" he shouted up, remembering what had happened
to Iljian and slapping at some vines while even more crept up upon him.
Already his sight dimmed, the voices from above mere murmurs.
"I...hurry..." he slurred as his eyes fell shut.

"STEWAN! MELA!" T´lara´s voice broke through the haze a last time,
a last whisper left his lips before the curtain fell "T´lara..mela..."

---

The man rose towards the light that marked the exit of his prison.
Again the weakling had slipped in his vigil and the man waved ironically
at him as they passed each other, one ascending, the other descending.
The light drew closer and now he could hear.
"Come in, pretty one" a female voice said. Not to bad for a start.

A hand took his and led him somewhere. "Sit my sweet!"
He followed, still not in full control of his body.

" So the clever boy has finally tripped!" Groaning inside he tried to focus
on the voice. Great! What had Stewan got him into this time?
Better keep it up for now.

"Do you have more of your precious little crystals?"
Why was his mind so clouded and why where those people shouting?
He forced a smile onto his lips.
Crystals? What was she talking about? No matter, play along.

"Yer nay found th´ last one, eh?"
How he despised this slurring of words. Yuck!
"No my clever boy, but it does not matter."
The woman touched him again, mockingly caressing his cheek with a chuckle.
Without thinking his hand snapped up and caught her wrist.
Enough of this, time to talk business.

He raised his head and looked at her.
"Such a strong boy as well!" she chuckled again.
"I suggest you show me the door now."
She struggled, but he held on.
With another chuckle she muttered a word and her wrist grew thick
and barky, shaking of his grip with ease.

Ah... time for the dirty tricks now. He smiled at the woman as his hand
dove for the hidden pocket that should hold... ah, yes, old habits die hard.
"A tree, eh?" With a hissed word the dagger burst into flame.

The woman tilted her head "Why so angry?"
Her mocking tone started to become an annoyance, and the endless muttering,
shouting and screaming from upstairs didn´t help either.
" I dont like being held," he replied.

"You wanted to hear me, you wanted to see me... and now you can."
"Thats not entirely true. The one who wanted that is sleeping now."
"Oh? And who would that be?"
This had nothing to do with him, he was wasting time with this wench
while he should be out, seeking cover.
"Will yer show me out? Or do I have to find a way myself?"
"When we are done talking, maybe..."
Right. About as believable as flying pigs. Still, he needed time.

"Speak then!" he quipped.
"Who wanted that then? Who is sleeping?" Interest, good! Keep her wondering,
talking. Just a few moments.
"The one that took my place."
"Your place?"
"Yes! MY place."
"Who wants your place?"
"Enough of that. That is none of your business."

"You follow me, you spy on me..." was that hurt on her face? No matter.
"That was not me, that is all you need to know"
"Who was it? Why do they do it?"
"I do not know, nor care"

She turned towards the entrance, where torches and lamp-oil flared
and died under the sheer weight of burnt vines.
"They worry, they care for their pack."
She focused back on him "Will you stop coming here? Will they?"
" It was not me coming here and how can I know what they will do?"
"But you are here... Can you make them?"
"No." How could she believe Stewan could achieve anything?
Hmm, she wanted them to be gone?
"But if you keep me here they will come for him."

He watched as she started to pick some vines from her body.
What was this now? He tensed.
"So you will not make them stop?" she asked.
"I have nothing to do with those people. If you let me go,
I will just walk away."
She nodded and set the vines to the ground where they started
to take hold.
A prison again! He darted away from the corner she tried to trap him in.

"Stop that!" he held the dagger at ready position, she looked at it.
"Your decision, Lady. Will you let me go?"
She had retreated into a corner, her vines shielding her somewhat.
"Go back then, back into the vines. Back into the vines and back to sleep."
Oh he would go back, but not into those vines, not back to sleep.

A cloud of smelly smoke erupted in his place to cover his escape,
just as the words "Kal Vas Flam" filled the cave. She had decided.
Flame singed his armor and skin as he dove into a roll, coming up at her side.
The blade found the spot to settle in, just as an explosion enveloped him...

The man caught his breath, leaning against the rough stonewall, the past minutes a blur.
Away now, just away!

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