Welcome to Gaia! ::

Avio listened intently while Gabriel spoke to him. During that, he mad his own sort of judgements about the situation that had happened back some time ago. "So, we've been like this for fourty-two years and all we've accomplished is virtually nothing..." He believed that he understood where Gabriel was coming from now. "I can guess that this won't change until we either reach an agreement with the 'other' side, or we completely destroy them. I can only hope that the elders know what to do in a time like this, otherwise..." he paused for a moment, trying to decide exactly what to think, "Well, I guess then I'll try it as a merc for a while." Avio, again, seemed rather inexperienced in his thoughts, but then again, all he knew was war and that was it. Fighting was his life as he knew it and the world didn't really matter to him much at all.

((That was...smooth))

Avio returned the nod and made his way to the exit prior to Gabriel's leave. He waited just another moment at the door, then left the tree himself. It was better not to leave at the exact same time so as to not cause anticipation.

It could be that he was a bit nervous because his skin began to change its color to try and match the surroundings, but he quickly shoved that feeling aside as he neared the part of the camp that was opposite of the way Gabriel went.

"Alright everyone, listen up!" Avio belted out in his rather baritone voice as soon as he reached about mid-center of the portion, "We are to be ready for an all out war here soon. Prepare youself in both body and mind, and make sure that your equipment is ready in two days time. It may not seem like much for some of you, but make best with what you have starting now. Get some sleep tonight when you deem it necessary, but make damn well sure you get sleep tomorrow. We are to leave early and strike late as we usually do, except this time we will not leave. We will remain there, slaughter all who stand in our way, and conquer what has been, and will be rightfully ours from the very beginning! Now let's get a move on, two days will arrive sooner than some of you'd expect!"

His speach seemed more like the chant to rally troops before a war, but the message was heard by his half of the encampment. Soon, people were busy packing things, training themselves a bit more, meditating on events, and generally prepping what they need to move on the double. Avio himself went to work assisting those that needed it, as well as checking his own inventory. Everything seemed up to snuff, though he knew that he'd have to find a new weapon soon. He would probably do the most damage with a more long-range weapon than his sword, but he wasn't exactly sure what to go with.

((This'll have to be the last post for the night from me. Gotta get up early, like, 7:00 am early. I need as much sleep as possible nowadays >.<))

[[For the sake of role playing, I'm going to speed up time.
O:]]

It had only been a day, and already, the serious tone of war had set in. The entire camp at midnight was quiet, save for those training and sparring. Everyone was gathering supplies needed for the battles ahead. Mothers were telling children to stay, some teenage children were arguing to fight. Every available, battle-worthy man was preparing himself in one way or another, wether it be by packing or fitting in some last-minute fine-tuning of techniques.

It was in the early ours of the morning, just after midnight, that Gabriel walked slowly back into the camp, eyes alight in an almost crimson color. An unearthly smile adorned his red lips, one of pain and malice. People who'd backed away from him before now just possitively ran, and those who stood their ground looked on with fear or disgust. Only seen before a battle with his bloodthirsty smile, Gabriel was not to be trifled with this close to a battle, and especially one as important as this.

Almost gliding, he moved to the front corner of the dark camp, staring out into the dark forest, his crazed smile fading to a set face. 'Finally...It's time those weaklings got what they diserve. The only reason I was never apointed to the Council was because they were afraid I'd drive them to war. Well, it looks like I got what I wanted.' he thought with relish.

Leaping up to a tree branch twenty feet from the ground, he jumped from branch to branch in almost catlike motions, seeming to cause him no effort. Reaching the top, he breached the canopy, standing on a very small branch sticking out of the top of the dead tree. His frame was majestically silhouetted by the moon as his eyes burned red, lusting his bloodshed that would come after only one day.

Slim, pale fingers stroked idly on the soft feather's crowning the small white bird's head, trailing slowly along the spiked crown and down it's neck and back until they fell off the edge of his longest tail feather. The little white being cooed softly from his perch on his master's other hand, ruffling his feather's slightly as the two walked down the main pathway towards the edge of the village, and closer to the forest.

Mercutio would quite willingly have strolled into the opposing wall of trees if he thought it would let him slip out of the villages conflicts and into cold neutrality. But, to be in the village was to fight for it, and to leave the village was to fight against it. There was no middle ground, and this vexed the young albino greatly. More so, even, than the awkward glasses he wore to fix his problems seeing nearby objects (distance was not a problem for him in the least) and the overly large clothes he had to wear to walk in the daylight. These clothes, however, were left in his small home. It was dusk, soon it would be dark and he wouldn't need to worry about the sun scarring his delicate skin.

"You are unusually lucky, Benvolio." he said, staring at the small bird which stared back just as intently, tilting it's head as if to question further. "You are as white as I, but you haven't got to worry about the sun at all because of those feathers of yours." The little avain peeped softly and lifted off Mercutio's palm arm, landing a moment later on his tuft of white hair and clinging to it. Bevolio kept his wings spread, however, as if to guard his master from the sun which was by now nothing but a glimmer on the horizon leaving behind a myriad of soft colors.

"Lucky, but silly sometimes. Come down from there or put down your wings." Benvolio followed Mercutio's orders immediately, clutching his white feathered wings against his body and hopping off the white hair and onto a pale shoulder. "You know, Benvolio, I hear a number of people are moving out in this direction to try and avoid the raids, as if living on the edges of the town will save them from being victimised by the foresters, rather than putting them first in line like it has." The bird seemed to nod in response, and a small smirk slid onto Mercutio's face.

"Do you think we'll run into any of the idiots here? Or do you think more of them are on the opposite end of the village?" The foresters attacked from different directions every time, and the people who had been moving to the outskirts of the village had generally been moving either the direction Mercutio now walked, or in the opposite direction. Both locations had been struck in recent raids, and he supposed that the people were hoping for that fact to keep them safe.

Soon enough a small garden drew into view and Mercutio's smirk grew. "Well, well. It seems we did find someone after all." The someone in question, however, didn't seem to be intent on staying outside long. He-- Mercutio's distance vision was accurate enough to tell him that the person was male-- put something in his pocket, picked something else from a plant and moved to return into his home.

Mercutio didn't bother speeding up or calling out, Benvolio however took flight, well ahead of his master and straight towards the person. The little white bird landed ontop of the person's head and chirruped loudly enough that mercutio could hear the noise as he pulled up towards the other's garden. Finally the pale young man saluted in the other's direction. Benvolio, however, seemed more than happy enough to stay on the other's head.

"Hnn. It seems he's awfully attached to you. Haven't got any sesame in your pockets or anything, have you?"

[[Yeah so...I had a nice response, but my computer decided to be an idiot and freeze as I was finishing...Sorry for the delay. I figured I'd put a bit of excitment in, 'cause I know the next full day will be boring. xP]]

Gabriel snapped out of his momentary daze, shaking his head to clear his clouded mind. He had faded off in anticipation of the oncoming battle, multiple scenarios already playing out in his head. An idea had struck him, though, and he quickly closed his eyes to convey it to the head Council member.

'Lazerous, I'm going on a scouting mission. I'll be back by dawn. I thought we should at least see if they've made any changes since the last time. We neglected that before, remember Izzy?' he conveyed with an evil smirk. Lazerous' voice muttered into his own head a moment later.

'Fine, just don't get into any trouble. And yes, I remember izzy perfectly well, thank you.'

Smirking slightly still, Gabriel's mind responded. 'Understood.' With that, he shut off communication, jumping into the nearest tree to commence his unorthodox travel. It would be an odd sight, seeing him jumping agilly from tree to tree, bounding from tree branch to tree branch only to rebound to the next. He seemed more to glide than anything, like a ghostly spectre flying throught the night.

A few miles away, Gabriel perched on a dead tree branch, surveying the outskirts of the village from a few yards outside. 'Huh, pathetic beings. Still haven't figured out how to hide themselves.' his mind remarked, watching the few lit squares of windows. He saw two beings out, in a small garden accompanied by a bird. He wondered if they were mutant or human, but either way, this was reconosance, not a battle yet.

Continuing his silent half-circle around the village, Gabriel stopped, a certain being catching his interest. A young girl, not yet even eightteen was practicing with a similar weapon to that perched on his back. He cocked his head to the side, arcing an eyebrow. 'Hmm...Interesting style...' he thought slowly, moving a bit closer to observe.

Her movements were smooth enough, but her technique was slightly flawed. Curiosity getting the better of him, Gabriel dropped to the ground, landing without a sound to lean against a tree. "I'd like you to know that you're handling that entirely wrong, love..." came his smooth voice, a smile playing across pale lips.

[[xP
No worries. I've always been fond of the Naginata, though this time, i made mine double. O:
'tis all prettyful...At least in my mind...
;-;]]

"Now now, no need to get angry. I was simply stating my view on your skills with the single-bladed Naginata, and I never doubted that you couldn't care less about them." came his silky voice once again, the smirk still playing across his lips. "And if you want a demonstration, I'd ask for a sparring match in the proper mannor. Although, seeing as you have no visible mannors, I suppose the previous attempt at a lesson was the best you had to offer." he said quaintly.

Hand reaching behind his back as he once again seemed to glide across the ground, he pulled the long, double-edged Naginata from it's perch on his back. Stopping a few yards away, he smiled, leaning it over his shoulder in the same fashion she did. "And I'd be careful who you call 'boy'..." he said calmly, flashing his sharp fangs at her, "You may just be showing your ignorant side, love..." As he spoke, his mind was moving as well. 'Her mind is so open, she's practically telling me her thoughts...'

Mercutio watched as many emotions flitted across the blond's face, very few positive, and was mildly stunned to find his pupils dialated. He's having a...flash back? What on earth could have triggered that? If the albino had been unsure in any way about joining the younger for a meal, that indescion slipped away.

"I'd be...happy to." His face didn't show an ounce of the happiness he mentioned, but that was normal. Benvolio took that as his clue to flit back over onto his master's shoulder, chirruping happily that he would get to stay with the vegetable-man.

"Of course, it might be better to get introductions over with first. You are awfully interested in company, aren't you?" Mercutio paused, as if he was going to let the other answer, but continued before that. "I wonder why you stay on the outskirts if you're so interested in social interaction?" He rose a white eyebrow, but but did not stop his speaking agian. His voice, however, retained a hint of cold sarcasm.

"But, then again, that probably isn't my place. I am Mercutio, and this little creature is Benvolio. And yes, before you even say it, we are named after the ones in the play. Do you have a name as well, or shall I be made to call you the stew-maker?" Or perhaps, he added to himself, the holder of memories better forgotten?