Taltos

[Neve Luna]

The sudden wave of guilt traveled over Neve as she began to think of her late love, and subconsciously, her hand touched the gem in the center of her forehead. "I like that you're different, intriguing, and kind, but I'm not innocent in any fashiom - I'm a handful of danger and death follows me to every corner." Her words sounded as if she had said them over and over again, but she was sure it to be true.

Silently, she lowered her hand and turned her gaze into Devyn's dark eyes, allowing her own eyes to flicker back and forth between both of his. "I will welcome you to follow me, journey with me, and even fight my battle, but I am warning you that it won't be easy nor safe." The crystal moon above them shined bright and all the stars twinkled, but the shadows it created were darker than normal and Dy'tre interrupted her to tell her so.

"I would suggest a masking spell; if you're ready to rest, please tell me so I can perform it before things get too alive out here." His voice was soft as if he was trying to be gentle inside her head - almost like sympathy.

"Go ahead, Dy'tre," she said softly before looking to the night sky for Allian. "I would suggest you call Allain to your side, Dy'tre is going to mask us so we can rest."

[Devyn Astratos]

He noticed Neve touching the gem in her head, but wondered to himself whether he should ask about it or not.

Allain, I know you're listening. I need you to come back.

Yes, yes, I know. On my way.

It didn't take the falcon long before she reappeared and landed nearby, perhaps implying that she was never far from the conversation. Devyn wouldn't ask though.

"No one's innocent." He said, returning to the physical conversation. "Everyone is tainted by the world somehow...It's just a matter of the degree. I like that you don't pretend." Devyn self-consciously smiled when he noticed her looking in his eyes. He realized that meant he'd been looking into hers from before. Eventually, he decided to ask.

"The jewel in your forehead...It is beautiful, but what is it?"

[Neve Luna]

Neve's eyes softened and she looked to the small patch of flowers between them as she played various memories in her head. "Compassion can only go so far into a person's soul before it consumes the person it embraces..." Her eyes were saddened but a gentle smile stayed on her face. "When it's taken away from you, all you have left is the despair of being alone, of losing what gave you that compassion, or left with anger so deep it burns with a thirst you can't seem to quench." The red appeared on her pale face again but it was accompanied by tears in her eyes.

"The gem was the stone atop a staff my former lover owned; underneath it -" The elegance of her hands as she removed the head band seemed almost unnatural, but they were shaking. As she lowered it to her lap she turned her face so he could see the burn on her forehead. "I went too far off the trail he created so that we would be safe - and this is what happened." Her eyes closed as her fingers ran over the burn of a clock gear - the symbol of the Prison.

[Devyn Astratos]

"If I had to choose between compassion and anger...Truthfully, anger is easier to maintain, but compassion is much less of a strain on your soul." Devyn's bright white hand tentatively reached out and very gingerly touched the scar left by the burn. Her skin was unnaturally soft, thus making the blemished skin near the burn feel much different by comparison. The thought didn't even cross his mind that she might have a problem with him touching her. The burn was a symbol of pain, and seeing evidence like that, of pain being inflicted on another person always stirred up emotion inside Devyn.

He did remember that the mark of the gear was the Prison's symbol, and that only saddened him more. "I'm sorry this happened to you." His voice was almost a whisper. "But never lose your compassion." Devyn's gentle fingers touched her hand when they touched the burn. "Despair isn't as attractive." He joked, a slight smile caressing his lips as he said it.

[Neve Luna]

The world seemed to slow down when Devyn touched her scar; the rage inside her vanished and surprise took it's place, but she didn't stop him nor did she react to his touch. Whenever her scar was exposed, the first reaction she always showed was fear, regret, shame, and even anger, but with him in front of her - something inside her was different.

"I'm not sorry - it's the smallest price I could pay for what happened to my lover after this happened to me..." The sadness returned once again and she looked away, feeling the soft graze of his fingers slide off her skin as she did so. "I'm sorry despair isn't attractive, but that's all I feel sometime, along with regret and guilt for his death." The tone in her voice was softened as she felt Dy'tre enter her thoughts again.

As she lifted the head band back to her head, she could here his strong voice, and it instantly made her come back to her composure. "The circle is complete, Neve. You may rest for however long you want. I will hunt." After his confirmation of his tak, Neve was alone again.

Clearing her throat, she looked up at him and smiled. "You are free to wait to eat, or you can rest, either way, you're safe."