A Mhaighdean Bhan Uasal

[Nera Augustus]

Living on a boat had perks. It meant constant isolation when it was truly necessary. It also had it's cons...one being that provisions were necessary as was certain types of upkeep. But what did she care? She was the descendant of the great north. She could humor herself with a little danger once in a while.

Slowly, the girl sipped the warm tea as the boat rocked with the steady roll of the ocean. She had hidden her home between the cliffs of two beaches. It was perfect really, but challenging when it came time to hunt down food, water, or other supplies. Her blue hues opened, and narrowed a bit. For she remembered it...and how she had loved it. The destruction of the world around her...the breaking down of everything the world had once been.

"Sweet freedom..." She whispered, her breathe blowing the steam away from the liquid in her cup.


"Is sometimes too much to handle..." She mused to herself quietly, giggling quietly.

The boat swayed quietly, and the inside creaked at it's vibrations. The place a a mess of furniture, papers, trash, clothing, and opened boxes of previsions. There was also blood. A slow cooing could be heard from the hilt of a large farming scythe. On top of it sat a small falcon, his feathers ruffling as he seemed to find something most troubling. Nera turned towards the bird and smiled playfully.


"Oh Robespierre, in these troubled times there is no room for you to be so elegant. It's selfish..." That smile returned to the cup and blew again at the tea. Nera herself sat on her king sized bed that took up most of the cabin. The sheets were this way and that...the pillows half torn with feathers exploding all over the place. She was clad in just a night gown as the frown returned to her features.

She seemed to agree with the bird on whatever it was that was 'unelegant' and stood- moving her way to the latter to step up onto the deck of the ship. The falcon flew after her, the pair taking a seat on the bow of the ship while gazing at the cloudy sky.


"Still..." she muttered, her eyes turning to look from whence she had just emerged.

"It has been two months"

Down, back below the deck,- on the floor of the cabin, pooled a massive gathering of dried blood. At it's center was a decapitated corpse with a knife still lodges in it's back, although it was more lodged between bones now. The rotting flesh had seemingly not been touched since it's murder. Nera held up a bundle of cloth and slowly began to unwrap it.

"Isn't that right, Brother?" The words soothed out like the whispering of a snake towards the gleaming skull in her hands.


[[ooc; bored so i thought i'd take her out. Feel free to discover the ship or be near the beach and have her discover you. Anything creative is a go]]

[Marcus Prasad]

You know, even in a post apocalyptic world one can always find the time to sit back and enjoy the quiet moments if they knew how to look for them carefully enough. At this moment in time, one man's junk and debris strewn beach was another man's hideaway. Laying atop of the roof of a twisted car wreck with his hands behind his head, Marcus took a deep breath and sighed as he soaked up the sun's warmth like some great basking lizard. He had opted to travel on foot today, leaving his Harley Davidson Softail Custom, affectionatly refered to as 'Lady', at home. It had been too long since he had a good chance to stretch his legs.

Using a rusted piece of steel sticking up in the air as a coat rack for his Leather bomber jacket and his navy blue flatcap, Marcus laid there, eyes closed as distorted images from the past few weeks played in his minds eye like a slideshow. His plan for the day? Pretty much nothing but enjoying the solitude, the warmth, and the sounds of the tide washing up the shore.

"What do you want Senji?"

The man didn't even open his eyes, but let a smirk spread over his mouth as the sounds of disbelieving sputtering, muttering and shock could be heard from street level as it slowly grew louder the closer it came down the beach.
Senji was something of a pupil of his. Marcus had taken the silver haired little asian boy and his roomate Rina under his wing. Teaching them the art of Parkour among other things.

"Well. I found you....."
The boy muttered, sounding somewhat out of breath.
Marcus didn't even bother opening his eyes, though a twitch pulled the corner of his mouth up for a moment.
"And that means......what exactly?"
If Marcus sounded slightly irritated, it was because he REALLY just wanted a day off from the world and the boy was clearly ruining that.
A slap could be heard as Senji clapped his palm to his forehead.
"You forgot didn't you? You told me I had three days to search the city for you rememeber?"

THAT got Marcus up on his elbows as he turned to give Senji an incredulous glance, eyebrow cocked.
"And why the hell would I get you to do a thing like that?"
Which in turn resulted in Senji nearly mirroring Marcus' look of shock.
"You........said I needed more disipline. Said I was getting soft....."

Marcus relaxed, but snorted.
"Sounds like something I'd say. Welp, congrats then. How long did it take you?"
The boy gae his short silver hair a good scratching as he counted up the hours.'
"Uuuuummmm. I think a day and a half or so? I think....I just got lucky though. I was passing by on my way back to home when I saw your jacket flapping in the breeze."
Marcus chuckled at that.
"Senji my boy, life sometimes is all about probability and lady luck giving you a wink and a kiss once and awhile. Now why dont you find yourself a spot and relax for awhile. I think you definatly earned it."

The boy seemed both visably pleased and grateful. The truth was he looked up to Marcus. Something that the older man wasen't quite used to. Stretching himself out, Senji picked out a spot behind a log and leaned himself up against it, also putting his hands behind his head and letting out a satisfied sigh.

[Nera Augustus]

"Well well well, what do we have here...civilization does still exist." Nera could see specks moving along the beach from where she stood. Smirking, she dove quickly into the water and began to swim. It had been far too long since she had talked to any one person- and this would prove to probably be a good chance to catch up on worldly happenings. She'd of course need to hide her personality...it wouldn't do to be her usual normal self- and she was getting a bit rusty at killing. No..no..her intent was information and that was all. Killing would probably warrant unwanted attention. Under the water she felt the pull of the tide and the water moving around her. Yes..not matter what humanity did to this world- it's base functions could never be changed. It was a funny though at least.

Over head, her falcon flew on ahead of her...diving quickly on a perch next to the two boys. Max turned his head this way and that, observing them curiously and ruffling his feathers. His foot still bore the ribbon Nera had tied there many years ago, and it was faded with age. Max called to them and made himself known. He was no bird to hide.

Nera on the other hand surfaced just beyond the waves grew big, and from her point behind one of the tide pool rocks, watched Max play around. Her blue hues narrowed and her lips turned up in a smirk. Perfect....

Max would finally still himself as he sensed his masters presence. Nera wasn't trying to hide too much anyway. With a quick flutter of his wings he was behind the two and seemingly hiding from the approaching girl.

Nera had pulled herself from the water and had started to sprint towards to bird. Her feet were being cut by the sharp rocks, and she secretly loved the blissful sting. The water had caused her night gown to go see through- revealing an old and worn swim suit underneath. Nera skidded to a halt and faked trying to hide last minute from the sight of the humans. Her character was a simple one....the girl who had just been lucky enough to survive a war.

Slowly she peeked her curious head around the side of the rock.

"You...you dont have guns?"

[Marcus Prasad]

'Well....this is nice!'
Thought Senji as he began to hear Marcus' soft snoring drifting lazily through the air. Nice. Peaceful. No crazy raven haired roommate to worry about for awhile. He actualy found himself wondering where Rina had run off to when suddenly a shadow passed over his closes eyes. Sensing movement beside him, Senji sat up, supporting himself with one hand while shading his eyes with the other.

What he saw made his jaw drop. Calling to Marcus only illicited a snort and a grumble, so Senji took it upon himself to awaken his newfound friend and parkour teacher with a small pebble. His intent was to ding the car near Marcus' ear.

So of course the errant stone smacked the poor man right on the cheekbone, just below his left eye. The man awoke with a sharp bellow of pain as he sat straight up, rubbing his wound vigorously with a hand.
"What the fuck was tha- OH! Hey a Falcon!"
In the blink of an eye, fiery anger gave way to an almost child like curiosity as the man Swung his legs around and slid neatly off the wreck he was laying on.

Senji felt Marcus approaching, thanking whatever deities there were in the heavens that the man had a short attention span, his eyes unable to tear themselves away as he watched the bird of prey buff itself up and preen.
"What do you think it wants?"
The young boy asked. His answer was a simple shrug as Marcus' keen eyes locked in on the strange faded fabric tied to it's leg.
"I dunno. Mabey Timmy fell down the well again?"

"That's Lassie Mar-"

"I know that! My point is, see that thing on it's leg? Birds of Prey aren't exactly known for accesorizing. Which means somebody put it on 'em. Which means-"

"Which means somebody..........owns him?"

"Ding, ding, ding! That's two for two boyo. Which means somebody must be looking for him. Notice how comfortable he is around us? You'd never see a Falcon get that close to a human being in the wild."

"Marcus? Where the hell did you learn all that?"

"Discovery channel my boy. Used to watch it for the dinosaurs and sharks specials when I was about knee high to my pappy. Couldn't tell you the species though, I'm not exactly a Bird man."

Senji fought down the urge to snicker. It was like watching a wind up toy go off. Everytime Marcus had found something that perked his interest, he always showed a level of energy about it that frankly, even someone as Hyperactive as Senji found hard to match.

Though it always was fun trying.

Marcus tilted his head quizzicaly to the side as he observed the birds strange song and dance. For a moment, a thought passed his mind, lingering only for a half a second.
'It's.....it's almost like it's distracting us....'
He was about to say something to Senji when suddenly the bird became perfectly still, only to hop and bob, putting them between it and the beach. Marcus turned to face it, Crossing his arms.
"Aye? And what are you so skiddish about?"

It almost looked like the falcon was about to answer when he suddenly felt a tug on his shirt.
"Ummm, Marcus?"
The tone made the man whip around, pivoting on the balls of his feet, eyes sharp and ready for anything. Well, anything Minus a half naked wet female.
"She looks like she needs help!"
Senji exclaimed and was about to act on his urge to run down the beach and meet with her when Marcus suddenly clamped a frightningly strong, but gentle hand onto the scruff of Senji's neck.
"Oi, Settle down young padawan. Go get my Jacket and hat and let me handle this."
"She looks kind of cute. Kind of really cute."
Marcus' eyes went wide. That was the LAST either he or that girl needed right now was Senji thinking with his other brain.
"Ok, now you're definatly letting me handle this. Now off with ya!"

Senji Grumbled, but complied. Leaving Marcus to shake his head as he slowly began to make his way closer to the girl. He knew he made the right choice when he noticed the girls clothes. Poor Senji would have had a nose bleed eruption if he had ran towards her. That and mabey a kick to the pillbox.

"You...you dont have guns?"

The first thing that Struck Marcus still was how lyrical her voice was. It took him a moment to place the accent as scottish.
Stopping to spread his hands out, palms facing outwards, Marcus put on a warm smile that he hoped would reassure the girl.
"Nope. I'm completely unarmed. So is my friend over there. And I'm guessing the way you're running is that yonder Bird of prey over there belongs to you?"

[Nera Augustus]

Nera's acting was flawless. Of course, it wasn't hard when you'd lived on a boat so long you kinda forgot how to interact in the first place. She nodded quietly towards the man who seemed rather kind to her. Good. It was going as planned- at least she hoped. She'd have to be extra careful, this was going to well. She nodded about the bird but her eyes kept flickering nervously to where the boy had gone. She shrunk away from him.


"I...I ...I tried to eat him....I dont think he liked it."

Nera's face fell sadly and she shrunk away.

"You- you can have him." She turned and began to run, her eyes trailing after the boy fearfully one last time before fully turning. However, her foot caught some seaweed and she hit the ground with a smack.

"Ow...shit"

[Marcus Prasad]

As the girl spoke, Marcus' mind was hard at work trying to peice together a senario of what she had been doing before stumbling into him and Senji. What he got just struck him as off because so far all he got was a half naked girl running up and down the beach trying to catch and eat a creature that could easily gouge her eyes out and tear off her face with it's beak and talons.
Though that would explain the ribbon. Suddenly the senario within his mind changed and Marcus began to wonder if she somehow managed to tie the poor bugger up first? Even that was far fetched though. She had no visable wounds on her, at least not fresh ones which meant there was no way she could have tied the thing down herself without getting messed up bad.

Marcus wasen't suspisious so much as confused. In fact he was beggining to come to the conclusion that the girl might be alittle dented in the brain pan. In fact he had to bite his tongue when she made the comment about the birds reluctance to becomming dinner. Best not to antagonize.

'Besides. Senji's right, she is pretty adorable.'

"You- you can have him."

D'yawwww

Senji returning with his Jacket and hat must have spooked her though, cause there she went, off like a rocket. Senji tried to call out to her, tell her to stop. Marcus just crossed his arms. No point looking like a rapist by running after her, that would only panic her and make her-

"Ow...shit"

-trip and hurt herself........Oi vey.

Senji almost dropped what he was carrying to run and help the poor girl up, only to be waved off by Marcus as he slowly plodded his way towards the downed maiden. Stopping at a respectable distance, Marcus crossed his feet and bent his knees, lowering himself down in one fluid motion. He spoke, his voice warm and gentle.
"Don't worry. We aren't going to hurt you. I'm just going to help you up and I'll have my friend Senji here put my nice warm leather jacket over your shoulders. You must be freezing cold after all."

The man wouldn't move until he had permission to touch her. If he did, he would gently scoop her up in his arms and lift her to her feet before nodding to Senji, who would carefully slip the bomber jacket over her shoulders.
"That's Marcus over there."
Senji would explain.
"He might look all big and fierce, but he's really just a big ol' teddy bear."

"Says you little man."
Marcus would mutter under his breath, lips pulled back into a grin.
Senji would laugh before taking a step back, giving the girl some space.
"So, whats your name?"

[Nera Augustus]

The man was large to her...and the other was not so small. In the back of her mind she was toying with ways their body would contort under-...she really had to get herself fully in character. As if it was a veil, she masked the darker part of her and decided to let it sleep for a while. Her mind however didn't really function well and she just ended up staring and nodding to the man who then placed his arms around her and helped her up while the other placed leather on her. She looked at it curiously, but still suspiciously.

Meanwhile the bird flew over and landed on a rock sending a rather angry squawk in Nera's direction. She in turn stuck her tongue back out at it.

"Coward, you didn't even fight me. You remember the deal, it's you or me and remember who's at the top of the food chain, snob"

Max was perfectly in tune with Nera, and she knew it. The bird knew she was acting and that the other side, the true side, would have to sleep for a while if she wanted survival. The bird just flapped it's wings and landed on her shoulder and with a short snap of its head, it clicked Nera on the forehead. She pressed her hand there immediately and grumbled to herself.

"Dont patronize me you dumb chicken"

But, Max had won the fake argument and so Nera sighed in defeat and looked at the men around her. She realized she must seem crazy, and at least that was good to throw them off the trail of her other self. She was going to have to be very cautious from now on. Very cautious indeed. After all, only the strongest may survive.


"he started it. At least...I think it's a he."

she looked at the jacket and clung to it slightly, pulling it closer and shrugging her arms inside so the jacket covered her upper body completely. She made a habit of not looking up and pouting at the ground, although her eyes kept flickering back up. She was playing the girl who hadn't seen other life in months

"My name..."

She paused a moment, unsure of whether to answer or not.

"It's been so long, I almost forgot it..." She kinda looked lost in thought for a moment and then she suddenly whipped her head back up and smiled nervously.


"I'm sorry, it's Artemis. Like the Greek goddess of the hunt- 'cept...doesn't look like I'm very good at hunting." She sent another look towards the bird on her shoulder and the bird just craned it's neck and pecked at her forehead again, this time more affectionately.


"Thank you Marcus....and you are little man?" she spoke to senji, although over all she still seemed to view them suspiciously.

[Marcus Prasad]

{OOC} Sorry for the late and short reply >.< {OOC}

Marcus clutched his guts and was doubled over laughing so hard that his face had turned red, the only sounds comming from him being an almost squeaky dry cackling, leaving Senji standing there looking more than alittle hurt and confused as he stared down at his slender frame. Well, not so slender since he had began Marcus' rigorous parkour training. In fact Marcus noticed the boy was alittle more muscular since last he had seen him.

Still didn't help his case too terribly much though.
"My....my name is Senji."
He muttered, crossing his arms and sulking as Marcus regained control of himself. Wiping a tear from his eye, the man reached back and grabbed at his long dark hair, weaving it into a braided ponytail before taking his hat from the chagrined young asian.

"Well....."
He began, pausing to take a deep breath and calm himself.
"Don't mention it little lady. Though I have to tell you, there's better and......safer things to eat than birds of prey out here."
Suddenly a thought occured to him. If she wasen't that good at hunting.......

"Hey Artemis? Are you alone out here? I mean is there anyone else out here to take care of you?"
Marcus asked curiously. She didn't exactly look underfed. Slim yeah, but not starving. Mabey she had a caretaker of some sort? That or she was good at scrounging.......

[Nera Augustus]

Nera gawked and began to bow repeatedly at Senji.

"I am so sorry! so sorry! Mr. Senji it is" Her Scottish accent came threw thickly. She stopped when Marcus asked her the question and she nodded a bit. Again the role was perfect, and her acting flawless. How easy it was to sink into the guise of innocence.

"I'm alone. Honestly, I dont know how I've survived. Fishing used to work, I'm a good swimmer but...well, the back stock ran out a week ago...and I'm having trouble catching anything edible. I left this morning from the ship wreck and decided to go fishing closer to the tide pools...but this bird took the clams I managed to shuck and I ran after it.... and well..."

She pointed around.

"I've been eating what I could find, but it's frustrating. So far I haven't had to worry about starving, but I dont think I rationed enough or right.....I ran out so fast..."

[Marcus Prasad]

Watching the young girl sputter and bow completely mortified the poor boy.
"N-no, it's alright....you don't have to....that's not really nessisary....just.....please stop bowing!"
Which pretty much sent Marcus into a fit of giggles. It was like watching a younger him talk to a girl for the first time. Well, a younger asian him.

"Common Senji, stop picking on the poor girl. Anyway, I know what you mean about rations and food supply. All it takes is to get careless just once before hey ho! You're all out of food. I tell you what, we can take you down to the Farmers Market down in Crow territory and we can get you set up with mabey a month or two's worth of supplies."

"YEAH! Then we can have a big beach bonfire! In celebration of...of....FRIENDSHIP!"

Marcus looked sharply at Senji in surprise.
"Ya know....that's.....that's actualy a cool idea."
He then turned to Athena and put his hands on his hips, that smile never leaving his face.
"Well little one, what do you think? better than trying to chase down a razor clawed falcon huh?"

[Nera Augustus]

Nera blinked, then bit back a smile and nodded.

"I think uh.... I think that sounds awesome." She said, although 'awesome' came out weird on her with her accent and everything.

"The bird's names Max" She smiled. "He's a jerk really"

She looked around nervously then shuffled her ruined outfit.

"Do they have clothes? Maybe?"

[Marcus Prasad]

"The bird's names Max. He's a jerk really"

"Awwww, I bet he's not so bad. When you stop trying to eat him anyway."
He jested, prompting Senji to sigh, prompting Marcus to playfully bap him one over the back of his head. Not wanting to let the Eagle feel left out, he turned to it...him and tipped his hat.
"Allo Max. Names Marcus. Have to admit, I havent seen many of your type around here in awhile. Pretty much gives you the run of the place doesent it! So...did She SERIOUSLY try to eat you? I mean a young scrap of a thing like her, It'd be the other way around wouldn't it, well...ya know, unless she set a diabolical trap for you or something like that. Ah, she DID then huh? Wicked Tricksy tricks! Well I'll be happy to say that you wont be want for food yourself. The rats are plenty and thick around these parts.........."

He would prattle on with the bird, sounding as if he was completely convinced the animal could not only understand him, but respond with whatever body language and chirps Eagles used. Leaving poor Senji to answer the young scottish girls questions.

"Do they have clothes? Maybe?"

He would blush up then, realizing once again that Marcus' Jacket was the only thing protecting her modesty at the moment.
"Errrrgh, Yeah! I mean they should anyway. There's a spot in Crow territory where people just gather around and just....ya know....Sell each other things and stuff! I'm sure we could find clothes for you there!"