Dark was the cluster of stars that deepened in the full night that always was when the ship sat turned away from the sun. She felt herself lost within the simple lights that flickered like candles in the human eye as she stared up towards it. She knew soon they would be closer to the atmosphere and the sunlight would block these millions of dotted lights from view. For now though, she enjoyed looking towards the sky with the thousands of constellations for millions of different worlds.

"Funny, the more things change the more they stay the same." She whispered, her voice hollow and echoing in the empty deck of the computer powered landing craft. It was no great spectical of a ship like her mother ship had been. This was simple, almost oval in it's strange building and odd angled wings on the sides that could be expanded for landing. The walls of this ship had particular screens put in so it could reflect the outside to the best of it's capabilities so one could see the outside from within much clearer than any foolish window. It was a long jump from the ancient spacecraft and spacestations she had learned about in her school days with Comkit.

"Sergeant McGuinley?" came the computer's voice. It was strange really to talk to a computer, though she knew well enough it was common within the Belvedere System and most of the more populated systems she had been raised on an outter world, further away from the computer systems with such advanced AI. She would have to grow used to it she assumed after this promotion. Her eyes gently gazed outward into the night as she tilted towards the strange stars, almost wanting to reach out and touch it. "Sergeant McGuinley" came the voice again. Only computerized voices could truly grab the tone of non-sexuality. It was almost angelic she supposed, but mainly she found it disturbing.

"yes Computer?" She asked, her blue grey eyes turning her attention away from the stars. She was at zero-gravity at the moment, and it was a rather amusing way to move. Unneccesary of course, but she felt like enjoying the sensation before once more wieght must be set upon her shoulders, gravity and otherwise.

"We are nearing atmospheric entry, I am asked to suggest that you take your seat at the console." A smirk came to her lips, she could have told the computer to piss off but she decided not to. Instead she gently floated towards her seat and strapped herself in once more. Her fingers raising to push back black strands of hair as she felt more than heard the panels reflecting the outside once more disappear. "Also, there is a holographic message that has just arrived for you via the Board of Planetary Affairs." She gave a sigh, not even a moment's rest, but that is not all. "yet most importantly, there is a simple message that has been sent, voice only, from the Board of Govenors themselves, it is my suggestions you read this for it is of a top priority. coded as Omega three, with a warning level of red."

A frown came to the Sergeant's lips. The Board of Govenors ran themselves off of New Earth, light years upon light years from her currect destination of Albedo Prime. A frown pulled to her lips, to get a simple voice message with those sorts of parameters was unheard of, though she did find the new color warning system completely unneccesary. "Open the message from New Earth." or as she often jokingly called it Earth II, "Pipe it through ship speakers."

"yes Ma'am" The ship said simply as she lay further back into the comfortable chair at the controls. Soon the ship's voice was no longer that strange sexless voice, but a voice she knew well. Chancellor Kelley Velcron was one of the most powerful men in the universe, he was high Chancellor and Ambassador for thousands of worlds. Even though this was only a simple message sent she had to fight the urge to jump to attention. "Seargent Liea McGuinley," came his voice, strange to hear outside of a holopit on television as he was often found. "The Board of Govenors for the Betterment of Humanity and All other races beneath the Fruedlang Doctorine commend you on your success within the MaGellan system." A frown came to her lips, this was unneccesary flattery upon their part, and a simply cog wheel in their silly system of propriety, which of course she found totally unneccesary. "That said, we are commanding you to abandon your current two week leave and when you arrive there will be a team awaiting you. It is suggested you have all of your personal effects sent down to you within the hour. The Board of Govenors commends you for your talent. Chancellor Velcron out."

"Be damned!" She cried, after four years out in the middle of blaring no where and her one week near civilization was now to be canceled for some damned mission of the Chancellor. "If but saying no didn't involve a court martial..." she growled before readying herself for departure.

"There is still the message from the Board of Planetary affairs that needs to be looked at." Came the ship.

Her answer was simple, "fuck you." Her head shook and she looked to the side as they broke through the atmosphere and she once more saw the blue of a true earth like sky. "Hello and Goodbye Paradise."

 Since Axi died in my depression, I am instead going to use this to post random little pieces of my character from the pork...

 

First Entry- Danny Boy, aka Danny O'Donnahue.

 

  "In the end...did anything I do...even matter?"

The world shatters, and falls into the neverending nothingness of lost memories, forgotten faces, lost music, things that all have lost. They float there in the space between here and the end. The end, when the pictures stop and the blackness start, that harsh blackness.

A scream. It haunts and fills the space, the blackness stops. All is consumed in that scream, that haunting reaching scream of yet another realm, of the memory left untouched. Eyes shoot open, the grey off tones unknown, the strange placement. He shoots up from the couch letting his unmanaged black hair fall around him. Underneath the eyes the yellow black of his insomnia shows. It shivers angrily into exsistance. A deep protruding hatred spreads through those eyes for a moment as fingers push back the strands that block his eyes. His fingers so thick, his eyes so narrowed.

A growl leaves his lips for a soft moment and he gently pulls himself upward fully. Booted feet smack against the wooden ground as he adjusts the jacket. The leather fitting taut to his narrow frame. He felt his teeth still gritting and mentally forced them to stop.

He carries himself away, far away from that damned couch, that damned psychiatrist trying to undress his mind like a skirt in the old world. There were millions of things he never would understand, that old bag with his PhD. As if that meant anything, you could spend all your time in school and still be a moron.

"I may be some sort of crazy, but at least I know what waits." He whispered out, he heard the man calling out for security, demanding he not be made to leave. As if the man could stop him. His tall frame, lanky, but bulky at the shoulders. He was some sort of strange traingle as he walked down, with long legs sticking out of the triangle of his form. His fists gently clenched.

Demented, yes that was what they screamed at him. He was demented, he was troubled, he was no good. He would kill some one some day..but of course calling security was not helping that situation. His unkept black hair fell around him, swishing in and out of his eyes with every brisk and determined step he took. The danger of himself overly apparent, the tufts of black hair standing up almost like they were frightened standing straight on end. Yet his suave and crisp walking manner left that to be disregarded.

Finally the white coats caught up. His fingers raised and flat palmed they blasted him. Some sort of energy ripped from within him, it pushed out angrily knocking them an into the wall. His imprint denting into the plaster as the man kept walking. Not even a sweat glistened as his sneakered feet continued to walk him. His eyes narrowing once more as he kept going. More were going to come, and more. They wanted to over power him, but for once he was not going to let lie. Ten weeks he had been in this hell hole.

The bad food,the injections, the group therapy with morons who had no business being here either. The white coats swinging their weight around when no one was looking, the screams in the middle of the night, the screams of the girl in the room next to him, her crying as she tried to pretend she wasn't there.

Feet running, one heavier and slower. The fat man, or so Danny called him. He ran up, his smaller friend, the pole, waiting behind him. But Danny did not wait for a first move, his body swiveled and his foot in the air kicked up before coming down on his shoulder. Once more that self destructive and angry energy reached foreward, guiding his movements as if he was on air. The bone cracking and the man fell backward. His fist then rammed straight out, the pole fell. He completely his full turn and once more began to step.

The doors there, the men stopped chasing him. His hand, flat palmed once more shot the doors away. The sun flitted, birds sang. A deep breath as that black hair caught the wind, and his grey eyes were closed away from the world. A deep smile moving through his lips as he almost shivered with enjoyment towards the sensation.

Boom, explosion, something exploding. A bullet from the gun, it hit true. A deep wounding pain. It only lasted a moment, before numbness. The body falling, exploding, shattering into the glass, disappearing.

Shatter
Black
Boom
Scream...

"In the end, did anything I do matter?"

The scream breaks the silence, it shatters it. The memory left untouched. A thousand years ago, of sweet lips which opened and muttered the scream. The explosion of blood, the spray that clouded his view. A gasp, he sat up his black hair unkept...

does it begin? Does it begin again?

The lull of sleep was easier with the rock of boat. It was like she could feel Nani rock her back and forth. Then the dreams started. It started as just a re-run of events. The tears streaked down her cheeks, even though in sleep she couldn't feel them. Eyes, so very bright. Hands in the darkness, grabbing, holding onto one another desperately. The trees, ripping, flames, blood. Jek's face, the tears, his words.

It fell into darkness, and it was like she started falling forever. Everything was weightless, soft, decending through tons of clouds, soft pillows. The light went from black, to purple, to blue. The blue continued to lighten, and suddenly she was inveloped in this great warm white light. She stopped falling, and was now instead standing on what felt like a warm spa. Her barefeet were suddenly no longer painful and covered in scratches, but warm, beautifully warm. Slowly, her eyes opened. Everything seemed to have a blurr around it, as if everything were slowing down. Everything was only able to be seen in shadows, the light was too bright. She raised her hand and brought it over her eyes to watch. Something was wrong, off. It was just too bright. A bunch of pillars with warm water running down them. The whole places was covered in bright white steam. Something in the center, no something in the center was causing the light. Her eyes gently squinting as she stared trying to see it.

Her head tilted, and then she heard it. "Zenna. Zenna. Allahan is waiting for you. We're all waiting for you." The voice whispered, it was not hte voice of man or woman. It was something, else, almost singing in how soft it was. Gentle soft. Then suddenly black, suffoating. She couldn't breathe, couldn't think. Her head spun as she woke up and opened her eyes to only close them again. Days passed this way, confused and forgotten. The ship had no food, no map, not even drinking water. So all she did was sleep, and the dream kept repeating and repeating. Same words, same place. The only thing that changed was her, she would move over. Or sit in the warm water. She would sit and talk to the voice, unable to remember any of it the next time.

The boat kept rocking, hoping to find some island some where. Unknowning of where to go. Then one night, the tears were particularly violent, she had the dream again. Only this time, the pillars were covered in black, and the voice did not come. The light was gone... "Hello?" No answer, nothing. Soft and warm, it was, but still dark, still black. Her eyes stared out at him, her eyes strange and tilting. "Hello?" Nothing. She stepped off the pillar, and fell, began falling. The water turned cold. Very cold, and suddenly it became like ice around her. Her eyes opened, strange and off set. She couldn't understand what was going on. Suddenly they opened in the real world, it stung it stung bright. Why was the boat wet...why was the..Suddenly it hit her.

There was no sun, no light, and no air. She screamed, but only bubbles came out. The ship had capsized. She pulled towards the surface, swimming upward, or at least what she hoped was up. It was night on the surface. Dark and black night. Impossible to tell what was where. She came out of the water as her mouth went wide gasping desperately for air, she was disoriented. The water, the water was so cold. The sea was all around her. No sign of the boat, no anything. She should have known better than to go to sleep! She now had no clue where she was. She started to cough, shivering. It was so cold in here, she must be further away north than she could have. It was only one night, how far north could she get? Or was it just one night, she couldn't remember now. Lelli's white hair was falling around in the water looked almost like the foam. Her form so small, she felt like a coca nut in the middle of the forest. Her eyes staring out at mounrtains of water, ever moving mountains like the sand. A shiver passed through her again, it was so cold, so very cold.

"Help!" she finally cried, her eyes staring out at the water. "Please! please help!" Her voice felt raw from the salt and from screaming before. "Please, please help me." Tears fell, salty as the water that was stuck in her mouth with each rise and fall. She kept shivering, her arms trying to tread water as each wave put water against her. "Please help!" she screamed, she knew she wouldn't be able to last like this much longer.

"It's cold, oh Axi...Axi protect me." Then, darkness. Lelli was sure she was dead, gone to finally find her parents where she knew they must lie. And then suddenly, there was light. Bright, unforgiving brilliant light. Her hand went over to cover her face. "the dream.." she whispered to herself, wondering and confused. Then suddenly, suddenly she was being lifted. Instead of falling it was lifting. Strong arms had her, pulling her upward and upward, further and further towards the light. Then the light was gone, everything was plunged into darkness again. "Jek, Jek you're home.." she said gently, before once more falling into sleep.

They ran for what felt like hours til she manage to find where she was again.Criss crossing, side moving, and just trying to find their way through the passing dark. In the tropicals it became dark far too quickly. Finally she found the tree, and as she leaned down and saw against the roots the softness of her scarf. She could hear something so far away, it sounded like crackling, like burning of some sort. That was when things slowed down. Lelli could hear Jek come up behind her, he was running. His fingers grabbed her clothes and she grabbed the scarf. He said something, but she just couldn't hear it. The crackling was so loud now. Finally she looked past him, and she saw, saw something so strange.

"No...no..." she whispered, fingers clenched around the scarf as her eyes widened in horror. "Jek, we need to go!" Her hand reached, pale even compared to the moonlight and grabbed onto his. With that, she ran. Her fingers grabbing onto him with a power, a force he had never seen in her lithe and sweet form. She dragged him with her, running at a breakneck pace back through the forest. Too many times had her feet cross this path too many times today, at least now she knew her way. She lost Jek some where, their hands had parted, but the breaking of sticks behind her let her know he was still there. The crackling became louder and louder, the trees slapping around her.

She heard her clothes rip, but did not care. A sleeve fell away, and her hat after that. She tried to cover her face as she tied it around her, and finally she broke out of the trees. Disaster. Huts were burning, and she could hear Lady Jikanta and her children crying. A ship was off shore, and soldiers running around. She couldn't figure out who they were, who sent them. The dark of their outfits were even blacker still, slick like the darkest blood as they continued setting on the houses. Torches made them look like the old 'death ghost' myths. Several of the villagers were already chained, being walked away.

Lelli couldn't move, she couldn't make herself move. Jek came crashing through as well, and both of them stood there in shock. That is until she finally noticed a group of men in front of her house. They were yelling, and beneath them she could see flashes of red, and the bright blue of the gowns only Nani wore. "Nani! Nani, no!" Her feet kicked up the sand and dirt of the path as her mind raced her there. She didn't know what she was going to do, or what to say. She couldn't hear Jek running behind her, screaming for her to stop. She couldn't stop, no not now. Tears streaked down her face as she came closer, she could see Nani's face pressed into the sand, her clothes ripped and torn assunder. Her hair falling foreward and matted away. "Get away from her, get away from her you monsters!" she screamed, and picked up a large and forgotten torch as she came at them. The men turned and the eyes were all she could see. Filled with hate, filled with anger, and one of them laughed.

"She hides you, and you come to us." came his voice, it was thick like poison, and sounded like a coconut connecting with a viper. Her anger grew, but Jek caught up to her.

His hands grabbed her arms pulling her back. She gave a screech, but Jek didn't stop. He threw her onto his back and took off. The sand kicking up behind them as he fireman carried a crying young blonde on his shoulders. "Please, please, pull yourself back together." He whispered as he ran back into the forest from whence they came. His eyes gently staring at her with disapair as he set her down back at the tree, at the tree where it all began. "Le...Le listen to me. There is nothing we can do now." Her slumped form rested against the tree in agony. She still had the snuffed torch in her hand. Her eyes half open as tears continued to flow against her cheeks. "Le, Le come on they'll find us!" his voice panicked, but his looks were completely calm.
"How can you be so damned calm!" she screeched.
"Listen Le, we need to work together!" he kneeled down. "Please, my brother and mother are back there. But sitting here crying is NOT going to win them back. We're all that is left Le! We're it!" He shouted..
Her eyes almost seemed to quiver as he shouted at her, but slowly she raised herself back up. "I'm...I'm sorry Jek." she said gently "Let's go...Nani told me to run to Zet when I saw the black cloud. There is a ship on the other side of the island. Please...let's go."

The tears didn't stop, the tears would never stop. Jek gently leaned over and placed a soft kiss on her head. "Come on Le...we need to go." She nodded. The two connected hands again and began walking. For such a small island, it took quite awhile to get there on foot. They walked long hours into the night and much into midmorning. Neither of them knew what drove them, besides the knowledge was they were all that was left. Her mismatched eyes still sparkled with the tears that never ceased. She didn't know why she kept crying, but stopping was impossible. By the head of afternoon they had reached the shore. Usually the white beach would bring some sort of serenity, but on this particular afternoon it looked like a thousand ghosts laying out shattered. The sun hurt her eyes as she left the glory of the trees. Her clothes in shambles, her face covered in dirt, and Jek tall, strong, and exhausted. The small row boat sat on the makeshift dock. It was an Ikvan made boat, almost a strange and elongated gravy holder made from cabana tree wood. It glistened and shined in the afternoon sun. They approached it slowly, unsure where they were going or how to get there. Her eyes bright and frightened, and his divided and stern.

Crash.

How little they had seen, the soldiers had followed them through the night. Now as they were just on the brink of freedom they had given their secrecy up. The trees shook with their footsteps, and both Jek and Lelli took off running for the dock. Unfortunately, the men had shed their armor, and suddenly they didn't have as great of head start. They moved like shadows, impossibly fast. Neither of them could even hear their footsteps, but instinctively knew the monsters were coming. She couldn't stop running, couldn't stop worrying. Jek was behind her, and at least his footsteps kept her going. She hit the dock, the wood slapping against barefeet hurt impossibly, but no stops. She jumped the distance between her and the boat and turned. Jek wasn't there, Jek wasn't following. He had stopped at the end of the dock. The men were almost there.

"Jek! JEK COME ON!" her voice was intensly harmed, hurtful. The screech sounded like it was taking out her voice, but she couldn't stop screaming. He just stood there, stood there like a deer in headlights. "Please, Please Jek." The tears had started again full force as she stared out at him. He moved, slowly. The sand was slowing the men down. He grabbed the rope and threw it. Jumping in the water and pushing her away, pushing her far away before he climbed back on the dock. His eyes were full of tears. " Jek! Jek please!" she cried, her fingers raising out at him as the sea took her away. Slowly, his hands cupped his mouth and he shouted.
"Le! I love you! I have always loved only you!"

The tears continued to fill and over run with tears as she cupped her own mouth. "I'll come back for you Jek! I Promise!" she saw them get him. Hands grabbing him up and taking him away...and soon the sea took her so far out she couldn't see him anymore. Yet nothing, nothing would ever take away those words, or the last time she saw him. The sun began to set, and with no idea where she was she slowly lay herself down. Sleep came quickly, and a momentary end to her nightmare.

The isle of Nil, falls in the southern most part of Axi. Of course, the only problem is the island is so small it is well...Nil, thus the name. This was originally the paradise for the Ikvan before they were taken over. A few of the last free Ikvan live here, but the population is incredibly small. It is here, that our story begins, with the trial of one small girl. Not so different from her others, except for one place. In an isle filled with Ikvan, a girl as pale as she would look rather out of place. However, they live here in peace, completely seperated from the outside world, fortunately, or there would be a completely differemt story to tell. And so we begin, as many do, with a seemingly normal day, with exceedingly normal conditions.

"Jek! Jek,wait up would ya!" came the high soprano voice of a young girl. So unlike the other boys and girls who run towards Nani's house, even her look was different. Not in half on crudly sewn together garments, she runs past in a full skirt and long shirt in the latest of worldly fashions. The bright material, and shine completely different from the plain white and tans of the normal girls. Also, an incredibly large hat adorns her head with just enough falling away from it for a few strands of silver white hair to catch and shimmer in the bright light. Her fingers long and pale stretching out from beyond those long sleeves, and the almost funny look of this short girl running towards a group where the shortest person was atleast almost a foot taller than herself.

"Jek!" she whined "wait up!" she cried once more as her bare feet ran at one of the tallest boys of the group before she tackled at him and grabbed at his ankles. Jek, with his tall and gangly look and large black afro came crashing down like a cabano tree. A laugh still in his throat as he tried to regain his breath from the dust. "Lelli! Get offa me!" he cried kicking at her and trying to push her away as she flayed and was moved around like some sort of clinging ragdoll. She screamed and he yelled until the both of them finally collapsed in a series of laughs much to the amusement of their fellows. All of which were so used to the routine that most even began to lean on trees or even go as far as sitting down on the dirt path and waiting for them to quit. Unfortunately, their amusement would be cut short, and cut short far too quickly.

"Lelli!" came a terrible yell, and there stood Nani. An older gypsy woman who settled in Nil for no one knows why. Her tan skin and large eyes staring down at Lelli's pale form and tapping her foot. Now there is one thing about Nani that must be understood, she was probably the most powerful woman in all of Nil. As well as for good reason, when she was mad, it just showed. As she stood there, withered hands on old hips, bent over due to back problems, and her long gray hair going everywhere she looked like one of the horrific witches in one of the fairy tales. Her long staff in hand as she tapped Jek on the head, who moved very quickly out of the way. Lelli was now left on her own as Nani continued to stare at her. "You know you were supposed to be here three sun places ago." She said, her bare feet tapping as she stared. "Now get inside before I turn you into my lunch."

Lelli, of course, knew she wasn't serious. But the mere threat pulled her to her feet and she ran inside, grabbing her hat with one hand and waving to her friends with the other. The wave was not remorseful, because almost everyday was the same. And, the moment she was in side. "Lelli! How many times do I have to tell you not to spend so much time outside. You know your condition. I don't want you to get sun sickness again." "Yes, I know Nani." "And look at what a mess you've made of those clothes I got you!"

"I'm sorry Nani!" she cried, "I just, I want so badly to be just like everyone else, I want to play and swim during the day time instead of at night." Nani smiled, with that old smile and shook her head as she brought that aged and strong arm around the smaller girls shoulders.

"It's better to not be like everyone else. You're something special Lelli, and some day you will see that."

It was the same thing Nani always said every time Lelli got down like this. Lelli, hated that. It was always the same around here, she frowned and simply nodded her head to Nani before being sent off to do some chores. "I hope...that some day things will be different." She would say ever so softly so Nani couldn't hear, though often the blue eyed girl worried that Nani heard anyway, before removing her hat and letting those long white tresses fall. A smile gently shining on her face as she goes to singing to herself and completing her chores. Same as everyday. Lelli was bored with this life, but could not complain. With stories of blood shed from the main isles, she decided boredom was better than getting involved. Especially with her Ikvan friends, should the war spread here they would be enslaved. It was strange for a girl of only seventeen full seasons to have to think of so many, but as the daughter of Nani there was much more she had to think about.

"Lelli?" came Nani's voice, and she smiled picking up the large glass of lemeon water. It was like clock work, already the water was ready with the mint leaf on the edge as she went to stand outside. The large glass balanced on a straw plate was moved with ease against Lelli's pale fingers. She went to step outside as they were so known to do. Their grass and leaf hut was sagging with age, but it was so well done, especially with the circular sleeping quarter for Lelli neither of them could bring themselves to change the house. For some odd reason, Nani had decided that having a sagging house was simply a great showing of character. The large rim of the circular hut top up to the grass sleeping sphere gave them shade as she handed Nani the glass. "Lelli," she said gently, looking down at her. Her eyes staring out at the sea, "I have forseen, something terrible." This is a tone that Nani had never taken with the young white as snow girl. Her hat shifted back as she looked up to her in shock and worry.

Rarely did Nani discuss the gifts, the dreams from above that let her see things that began to change. This was the reason Nani moved, her powers so sought after she had to disappear. "A cloud is coming Lelli...a dark black cloud of fire that will whisk you so far away." Her old grey eyes like her hair they stared out at the clear sky. To Lelli the idea of a strange black cloud coming into their clear skies was upsurd! Not even the rain clouds became black. "
Are you sure Nani?" Lelli asked, her body staring up gently.
"Do not question me child, my age alone makes me much more wise than yourself." Her voice took on a harsh tone, and it frightened Lelli to the point she actually stepped back. Never had Nani been harsh, or as commanding as she had just been. Yet in a moment, it was simply gone. Suddenly, she looked older than Nani ever had. Gently Nani crossed the distance between them and took her pale fingers into her withered old ones. "When your parents entrusted you to me, I knew...I knew that something great was going to happen to you." Her hand raised, the old leather hands gently cupping the soft as silk cheek of this young girl. Her grey eyes looking through her as if she could make her turn inside out with a look. "You are steeped in fate, and that fate is waiting for you. I had hoped to keep it away, but Lelli, my dear Lelli they have found us."
Lelli stared at her, for the first time in all her days afraid. Nani continued to speak, but Lelli did not hear it. This was too much, too strange on a day so beautiful. Her body froze up and she gently jerked away from Nani. Quickly she stood away from the walls of the hut. "Please, Nani..."
The old woman gently stepped back. "I know, it is too much...just please, please remember. When the black cloud comes, you must run. You must run to Zet." Nani shook her head, "Now come, we must work on your lessons." Lelli could not understand it, play as if nothing happened? She wanted to run away, so tired of her whole life being fated. Her entire life Nani told her of fate, and even the people of the town looked at her as some kind of priestess.

Once lessons were finished, she ran into the jungle. It was not fair, it would never be fair. "I want my life to be my own!" she cried behind tears, shaking her head. "Who cares about some stupid premonition anyway, no premonition can tell me where my parents went!" She stood her bare foot kicking at the tree. Then punching it, again and again. Causing the large leaves of the cabana tree to fall out, landing around her with her fury. Tear streaked hidden eyes were seething. So tired of having her life weaved instead of being able to weave it. Finally her hand falls away, knuckled sore and red. Her eyes out of focus. Slowly she sat, letting her large hat fall from her. Nani had taught her to keep her face a secret. Lelli had never known why, and finally her large hat fell away again, and she moved away the scarf she always had to wear. Her bright white hair falling around her pale skin that almost seemed to blend into the white clouds in the sky. Her eyes, were so strange. One so green it was almost an emerald, and then the other was a color impossible. The bright purple of it soft and strange. Her pink lips covered and glittering in tears. A gentle shiver moving through her as gently she raked pale fingers through strands of pale hair. "It's not fair, nothing about it is fair!"

"Le..." a voice gently whispered, she knew the voice, it was Jek. He knew he wasn't supposed to follow her, but Jek never listened. Jek was the same age as her, and funnily enough they were born only five minutes from one another. Jek had his parents...that was the main difference between Jek and Lelli. Almost every one in the village was sure they would marry some day, and even Jek was sure of this as he gently approached. His dirt covered and patched jeans and dark black skin looming over her as he approached the tree where she lay.

"Le. Has Nani upset you again?" This too was part of their almost daily routine. Lelli didn't answer him, her arms crossed over her face and knees keeping her hidden beneath those long white locks. Jek's voice was so soft and gentle, so different from her cute little soprano voice that was sniffling and mumbling to herself. He crossed the space, his bare feet gently crunching against the large leaves that had fallen from the tree. She sat, almost nestled between them as he stood on the edges away from her. Gently his large tanned hand reached foreward to grasp that silvered shoulder. "Please Le...nothing she can say will change what you are, or who you are. You can do anything you want Le, you know that." Jek frowned, gently moving closed as he tried to move away that mass of white strands to get to her face. Jek had always been in love with Le, and Le, like most girls, was cluless. His fingers met her eyes and wiped away the tears, a sad little look on his face.

"Please...it's getting dark. Let's get you home, okay?" It fell on deaf ears, and Jek knew that. He gently grabbed up her hands and pulled her up, as he gave her a bravado look. "Come on, what would the guys think if you were crying!" that finally broke through and she gave a harsh punch to his arm. A shake of his head was the only response as he gave his deep hearty laugh before grabbing her up and throwing her over his shoulder. That was the end of arguement, as they walked back into town. Surely, this world could not be so bad, with so much laughter Lelli thought and closed her eyes as he hauled her off.

Jek didn't mention about her face, and even picked up her hat placing it back on her head. A small smile moving on his face. Now Jek, really did know how beautiful she was. The secret of her face was no longer hidden from him. He gave a smile to himself, she really was the rarest girl in all of Nil, if not in all of Axi. Jek had decided years ago, she would also be his. So with a limp rag doll of a girl on his shoulder, and a long way to walk, he began to think about how to ask her. Marriage was pretty much required on Nil at eighteen, and that was coming up very soon for the both of them. How could he tell her. They broke through the last of the trees, and there was the village.

The small collection of huts the only real bit of civilization on Nil. Jek gave a smile as he set her down and ruffled her hair. "Lelli...can we talk?" He asked gently, his chocolate voice seemed nervous, catching Lelli offgaurd. She gave a frown and shook her head for a moment.
"Of course! You can talk to me about anything," she laughed at him for his folishness. But, for some odd reason his nervousness didn't disappate. She readjusted her hat, and then gave a smile as he seemed to try to work up what he wanted to say.
"Lelli, we've been close for a long time, and I..we're both getting older, and of course coming with older things, and." He was practically stuttering over himself and Lelli continued to adjust her hat, then suddenly her eyes went wide, just as he was about to try and truly ask she gave a gasp.
 "Oh no my scarf!" she screached, "Nani's going to kill me." She looked at him and gave a shake of her head, "we'll talk later."
 "But, but Le-" and that was it, before he could even shout out what he wanted to say she was gone, rushing off in a cloud of dust into the trees. Jek sighed and put a hand to his head, "Oi, Le, you're never gonna grow up," he whispered, and shook his head. "What am I gonna do with you." And he took off after her, hoping to catch up with her small littlle for that could hide so easily between the trees.