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<br><b>TAG:</b> Open | <b>WORDS:</b> ~700 | <b>OTHER:</b> n/a</center><br>
<span style="float:left;font-size:60px;line-height:33px;padding-top:4px; padding-right:2px;">L</span>ately, there had been so few nights that Nathaniel was able to creep from the darkened dwellings of his study and merge out into the cultures of the outdoors. The sunset was so enchanting, though the way the time passed when in a deep concentrating vibe, he often missed the hour it was nearing it's end. He worked tirelessly day in and day out, testing many new herbs for medicinal purposes. His research, as anyone would say, was very boring and tedious. Even to him, he was well aware of how cumbersome it truly was, though he was able to push through the brunt of the dull moments with a continuous and optimistic outlook. He too, hoped that he could help decipher the earth-shattering discovery that would sweep the winds of the world faster than mother nature herself.
<br><br>
To find a cause was to find purpose, and Nathaniel and now found it. Though as the doubt flooded his mind from time to time, his persistence and generosity triumphed over all fears -- and his work, he hoped, would never be in vein.
<br><br>
Although the disease was relatively new and unseen force, Nathaniel felt as though he was well on his way to overcoming some sort of medicinal breakthrough. Though he was still quite uncertain as to how the disease was even spreading. Spores did not seem appropriate, and bacterial infections generally didn't impose such a threatening force. He did know, however, that the disease was highly unconventional, and the symptoms held the strangest outcomes, instances and held rather strange traits pertaining to one's individuality. They seemed to target those with certain personalities, and though he found it strange, it hardly sounded like a virus. It was more of a plague -- one that god himself seemed to send to wipe out the heathens of the earth. As eccentric as god himself was, Nathaniel could not find the answer to what he was so desperately searching for.
<br><br>
With a flick of his fingers, ash dropped from the brown cigar and danced off into the dark winds. With a soft expression, he looked off into the distance at the sun that set itself over the horizon, hearing the soft waves hitting the shore in the distance. Seagulls, calling into the night, were more difficult to see than hear. Shifting his glance to the ground, he took in a deep sigh of pine and ocean before letting the sudden bout of tiredness hit him hard. It was time to relax, and the sudden craving for a decent drink was all but too pleasurable.
<br><br>
Tonight would be a great night to hit the bar.
<br><br>
Thankfully, there was one not too far from him. Perhaps a mile or two down the road. Without bothering to tidy himself up, he removed his white coat and threw it carelessly on the back of a velvet upholstered chair, showing off the black button up and pair of rather dark trousers, fit for any professional man. Topped off with cuff-links and a pair of rather uncomfortable dress shoes, Nathaniel sighed and instead, slid his feet into his tan penny loafers and laughed at how absurd he must have truthfully looked. It wasn't something to get picky about -- he was only going for a drink or two in what he could imagine an almost empty bar. It was Monday night, after all.
<br><br>
After a hop and trot down the road with his black-spotted horse, Nathaniel tied him up at the stable next door and quickly walked into the bar. The darkness of the night was somewhat frightening, and at his age, he feared either being mugged or eaten by something much greater than himself. Again, he chuckled at his brief moment of insecurity as he came upon the large wooden doors of the tavern. One glance around, he could tell there were far more people than he expected, though didn't mind the company. To him, there were more people to befriend and enjoy his evening with. Already, he could taste the brewskies with a daft scent of the dirty air.
<br><br>
With a large and rather childish grin, Nathaniel slid into a bar stool, careful not to fall over -- there was something wrong with the leg of the chair -- and leaned his weight on top of the table with his elbows. "Oh, the usual, Georgie." He smirked as the bartender gave him a friendly glare before pouring ale into Nathaniel's favorite stein. How he couldn't wait to put his lip to the rim.
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<div style="width: 400; background-image:url(http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac269/happyyface/nicki-minaj-pink-friday-11-1.png); background-position:center; background-repeat:no-repeat; height: 200; -moz-border-radius: 15 0 15 0px; border 1x 000000 solid;"></div>
<div style="text-align:center; font-family:georgia; font-style:italic; font-size:31px; color:f778a1; text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px #000000; text-transform:lowercase; line-height:50%;">i wish that i could have this moment for life</div>
<div style="text-align:center; font-family:georgia; font-size:12px; color:adacac; text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px #000000; text-transform:uppercase; letter-spacing:3px; line-height:190%;">'cause in this moment i just feel so alive,!</div>

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<br>Imogen sat at a table, waiting for the owner of the establishment to give her the okay. She watched people mill about the room. There were many people here, mostly other Ethereal's. There was a Banshee by the window, two Humans hiding themselves away in the corner. She heard the door open, but paid little attention to the next entering patron. </br>


<br>Hey, Imogen; go on! came a call from behind the bar. </br>

<br>Imogen was well known in these lands. She traveled often, but was always welcome back as a performer. She picked up the glass in front of her, and finished off the drink. She stood up, stretching a bit, and smoothing out her skirts. One was beige and long. The other was rose and ruffled; swept up to reveal the beige skirt under it and tucked into her brother leather bodice. Emerging from the top of the bodice was a simple, shockingly white shirt. She wore it off her shoulders, creating a scandal in some places she'd been. The sleeve were long and hung below her elbows. A black belt around her waist kept her outfit together. Her shoes were uncomfortable and annoying, but she had to wear them inside. </br>

<br>Imogen mounted the stage. She'd have no back up today, no music to accompany her today. That was just fine, some songs worked better without music anyways.</br>

<br>It was on a fine Summer's morning;</br>
When the birds sweetly turned on each bough.
<br>I heard a fair maiden sing most charming,
as she set a milking her cow.</br>
Her voice it was enchanting, melodious;
<br>it left me quite unable to go.</br>
My heart it is soothed in solace:
<br>My cailín deas crúite na mbó.</br>

<br>She took up the song, singing it beautifully. It told a story of a noble, falling in love with a young milkmaid. It was one of her favorite to sing. The song lasted a few good minutes. Some of the patrons turned to listen, other simply listened; and other ignored her. </br>

<br>When the song ended, she gave a tiny bow and stooped to gather up the coins some people had thrown on the stage. As she stood, she noticed a many sitting at the bar. He was older, by far, much older then her. More importantly, he was kin. Imogen stepped down from the stage, pocketing her change. She'd sing more later. No one seemed heartbroken about it. </br>

<br>She moved toward the bar, and the empty stool next to the Dryad man. She pulled out the stool, and took a seat at the bar.<br>

<br>Mind juss gettin' me a wa'ah, Keep? she asked the man behind the bar.</br>

<br>He gave her a nod as an answer, and she placed one her newly earned coins on the bar. She looked over at the man, and gave him a broad smile.</br>

<br>Hardly no'iced yew sittin' there bafore. Think Ah watched juss abou' half these people walk in. Missed yew though. Ah'm Imogen; Imogen Kanzan. Pleasure. Did'ju enjoy the show much?</br>

<br>The bartender set a glass of water down in front of the woman, she quickly picked it up and put the cool glass to her lips. She drank down some water, and returned attention to the man.</br>

<br>Sawry for bein' so bold. Ah don' meet many Dryads on the road; even through here. Last Dryad Ah saw was mah own reflection, she laughed.</br>
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<div style="text-align:center; font-family:georgia; font-style:italic; font-size:20px; color:f778a1; text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px #000000; text-transform:lowercase;">status</div>
<div style="text-align:center; font-family:georgia; font-size:10px; color:adacac; text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px #000000; text-transform:uppercase;">complete</div><p>

<div style="text-align:center; font-family:georgia; font-style:italic; font-size:20px; color:f778a1; text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px #000000; text-transform:lowercase;">tagged</div>
<div style="text-align:center; font-family:georgia; font-size:10px; color:adacac; text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px #000000; text-transform:uppercase;"></div><p>

<div style="text-align:center; font-family:georgia; font-style:italic; font-size:20px; color:f778a1; text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px #000000; text-transform:lowercase;">outfit</div>
<div style="text-align:center; font-family:georgia; font-size:10px; color:adacac; text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px #000000; text-transform:uppercase;">see text</div><p>

<div style="text-align:center; font-family:georgia; font-style:italic; font-size:20px; color:f778a1; text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px #000000; text-transform:lowercase;">words</div>
<div style="text-align:center; font-family:georgia; font-size:10px; color:adacac; text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px #000000; text-transform:uppercase;">565</div><p>

<div style="text-align:center; font-family:georgia; font-style:italic; font-size:20px; color:f778a1; text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px #000000; text-transform:lowercase;">notes</div>
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<div style="text-align:center; font-family:arial; font-style:italic; font-size:10; color:8b8b8a; line-height:130%;">THIS TEMPLATE WAS MADE BY WILMETTA OF CAUTION.</div>
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[dohtml]<center><div style="width:460; background-color: e0e0e0; border-bottom:4px solid #8c5e53; border-right:4px solid #8c5e53;"><table width="100%" cellspacing="5" cellpadding="1"><tr><td width="440" class='0' valign="top"><img src=http://i747.photobucket.com/albums/xx113/NickyDee09/NiennaBanner05.png border=0"><center><div style="font-family:arial narrow; text-align:left; letter-spacing:-3px; font-size:35.8px; padding-top:-1px; color:transparent; line-height:50%; text-shadow: 0px 0px 2px #8c5e53; text-transform:lowercase;"><b><i>Nothing Seems to Fill this Place…</b></i></DIV>
<div style="width:450px; text-align:justify; color: #3d270c; font-family:courier new; font-size:9px; line-height:90%; text-transform:uppercase;">There's a fire starting in my heart, reaching a fever pitch and it's bring me out the dark. Finally I can see you crystal clear, go ahead and sell me out and I'll lay your ship bare. See how I'll leave, with every piece of you, don't underestimate the things that I will do. There's a fire starting in my heart, reaching a fever pitch and it's bring me out the dark.
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<b>S</b>EVERAL MILES AWAY… IN THE WOODS…<br><br>

She ran. Lungs burning. Pulse racing. Heart pounding. She ran and she ran and she ran. She ran until her legs were about to give out. She ran away from her pain. In the forest that neighbored the town of Lunaria, was a wolf. Not just any normal wolf. An enormous, ten-foot long wolf. A dire-wolf. And not just any dire-wolf. A skinwalker. And not just any skinwalker. Her name was Nienna. And she was the Huntress.<br><br>

For over fifty years Nienna had held the title. And for fifty years she had upheld her family’s honor, carrying out the service that only the Huntress was bred and raised to do; to kill. The Huntress was an assassin, mercenary, and bounty hunter that was hired by those that had the coin to purchase her services. Even the royalty of all nations would hire her to hunt down those they considered too dangerous for their armies and soldiers to hunt down. That was the purpose of the Huntress. To hunt down and kill evil. And it was a very lonely life.<br><br>

Due to this, Nienna had few friends, and even fewer lovers. She kept to herself, not just because it was safer… but because she was a loner at heart. Nienna wasn’t very social. She had been raised in the wilds of Viridis, with her tribe, which were far more primitive in comparison to the rest of the nation. It made her feel out of place when out and about. So Nienna kept to herself for the most part, and the few friends she had she treasured. Friends… like Maitland. Whom Nienna also secretly had feelings for… and who was also now sick with the Illness. It was enough to break her heart in two. <br><br>

After their meeting, and after he confessed that he was indeed sick with the disease, Nienna had found herself feeling beside herself with grief. Grief in knowing that a man she had come to respect, care about, was possibly going to die, and grief in of how he had had pushed her away, despite her show of tender affection. It had been too much for her to handle. So she had left. And come here. To fine peace. To find answers. To find… sanity.<br><br>

Nienna charged through the woods, pushing past brush and shrubs, leaping over rocks the size of children, then coming to a stop, the wolfess tilting her nose back, and sniffing the air. Scents abounded. Rabbit. Squirrels. Even deer and forest bison. But for once Nienna didn’t rise to the challenge of a hunt. She wanted something else. Something she could drown her sorrows in, something that would burn the misery away into a comfortable numbness. She needed alcohol. Time to go back to the bar.<br><br>

Nienna would often stay in bars when she traveled. Most bars had rooms for rent for weary travelers that could not afford an inn. Nienna could afford inns just fine. She just didn’t like them. Too many eyes. Too many threats. So she often would stay in bars, bars that she knew were safe. Like now. Leaving the woods, Nienna trotted into the town, and onto the street, getting quite a few shrieks and stares. Most people didn’t know what to make of a wolf that was as longer then and as heavy as Clydesdale. Some screamed. Some ran. Most stared. In the end however they all made sure to keep their distance. Just what Nienna wanted.<br><br>

Trotting her way down the cobblestone street, Nienna eventually reached the door of the bar she was staying at. It was a small place. She knew the owner, and after a little bit of coin, he agreed to always keep a room available for her to use. She had left that morning, having used the back alley to change. Now she couldn’t do that. The streets were too busy with people. She couldn’t change in the back alley. Her clothing was in her room. She would have to go into the bar, and change back in her room. Not an easy feet for a creature as large as she was.<br><br>

With a frustrated growl, Nienna approached the double doors of the bar, and with a push of her large head, opened the doors and pushed her way into the bar. Silence fell. Not every day a wolf steps into a bar. Especially a wolf that was longer then a horse. Nienna looked around at the various bar patrons, letting her burning hot gaze be felt by all. They knew who she was, of course. Her True Form was legendary. All knew of the skinwalker Huntress that could turn into a giant wolf. It’s just not every day that the same giant wolf walked into a bar and glared at you. Nienna gave everyone a gruff snort. Then, without another glance at the trembling bar patrons, Nienna forced her way past the doors, barely able to fit past them, and glided her way past the bar, black fur grazing those that were seated there, Nienna not making a sound, walking past all to the rooms that lay beyond the bar, her dark fur, with it’s odd black-blue lines gleaming under the lights. When she reached the door of her room, Nienna looked back at the bar, her eyes landing on the bartender, Nienna giving him a glance, arching a brow, almost as if it ask him a question. A little help here?, her eyes seemed to say. <br><br>

The bartender nodded, her face tight and his eyes somber. He didn’t like her scaring the costumers. But Nienna had paid good coin, and so would say nothing. Instead he left the bar, reached past her massive body, the top of his head eye-level with hers, and reached past her to open the door to her room. And with a nod of thanks from her gigantic wolf head, Nienna walked into the room, barely able to squeeze in, and promptly changed back to her elfish form as soon as the door closed behind her.<br><br>
<br><br>

FIVE MINUTES LATER...<br><br>

Now wearing in her elven maiden skin and walking on two legs instead of four, Nienna stepped out of her room. She had changed into a simple dress, and thigh-high boots, her daggers, Nuc and Sul, strapped to her back as they always were. She was no longer a wolf, but still retained the air of power and savagery about her. Tattoos lining her body and features, and with amber eyes still gleaming, Nienna gave everyone a minute to stare, to see the warning in her eyes, before then giving everyone a simple nod, and walked her way to the bar, coming to stand next to two beings, one male, tall and handsome, the other female, pretty and strange-looking, Nienna saying nothing to them, her eyes going to the bartender. “Ale.” she murmured softly. And then she sat down, placing her hands on the table, her eyes going to her fingers, her face grim, her mind a tumbling storm. <br><br>

Maitland. Why did you push me away?<br><br>

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<div style="padding-top:-100px; width:450px; color:#000000; font-family:courier new; text-transform:uppercase; font-size:9px; "><b>TAG</b>: Nathaniel & Company <b>WORDS</b>: 1,135 <b>OUTFIT</b>: <a href="http://www.polyvore.com/nienna_set/set?id=31735157">LINK</a> <b>LYRICS</b>: "<i>Rolling in the Deep</i>" by Adele <b>NOTES</b>: PM me if I have to edit!</div><br>
<div style="padding-top:-100px; width:450px; color:#000000; font-family:courier new; text-transform:uppercase; font-size:7.6px; ">made by <a href="http://z10.invisionfree.com/A_THOUSAND_FIREFLIES/index.php?showuser=188"><FONT COLOR=#8c5e53>sweetest downfall</font></a> of atf!</div></td></table></div></center>[/dohtml]