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Post by sarahruff2010 on Mar 7, 2013 23:30:21 GMT -5
"My daughter is lost..." croaked a voice, heavy with guilt, sadness, and a thick Russian accent. The voice belonged to the large, white haired ex-Bandit King, Nicholas St. North, and he now currently sat at the base of his daughter, Anastasia's, favorite tree. Beside him lay a sword crafted from Moonsand and diamond dust, and in his hands he held a red sash. It had previously been his wife's, but it had been passed to their daughter shortly after her death. Now Anastasia was gone, too, leaving the Cossack alone again.
Nicholas sighed heavily and shut his eyes. A tear dropped from one of them staining the fabric of the sash.
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Post by neverlandlostgirl on Mar 9, 2013 18:38:35 GMT -5
Despite the help from Jasmine and Genie, Coraline hadn't been able to find Norman again. She had been searching all over the city, going anywhere and everywhere she thought she might have found him, but still no luck. Now tired and feeling all the more lost, Coraline had found what appeared to be a park in the city. It looked like a good place to just take a breather. She walked down one of the paths and soon came across what appeared to be the largest and most beautiful tree in the area. Coraline was just about to sit down on one of its large branches when she heard a sad voice. Carefully, she poked her head around the tree trunk and saw a large man with a white beard sitting by himself. She couldn't understand him very clearly with is thick accent, but she definitely heard the word "lost". Had he lost something important too?
Coraline remained quiet for a moment before walking towards the man.
"Excuse me, sir. Are you ok? I thought I heard you say you lost something. Maybe I can help you find it."
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Post by sarahruff2010 on Mar 9, 2013 18:56:14 GMT -5
Nicholas looked up, a little startled by the blur haired girl's sudden appearance, but calmed the moment he realized she posed no threat. Nicholas sighed, stuffing the sash into one of the pockets on his huge coat.
"No," he said sadly, "it is not something that can be found." he eyed her curiously, "Aren't you a little young to out by yourself? Where are your parents?"
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Post by neverlandlostgirl on Mar 9, 2013 19:17:22 GMT -5
Coraline noticed the man put away what appeared to be a red sash. She cocked an eyebrow at his comment. What could he have lost that couldn't be found again? However, once the man asked about her parents, Coraline felt her face fall down in a frown and she crossed her arms.
"I'm plenty old enough to walk through a park on my own! Besides, my parents aren't here and I prefer it that way."
Coraline couldn't help reflecting on all the bitter fights she had had with her parents, how they constantly had been on her case and didn't want her hanging out with her friends.
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Post by sarahruff2010 on Mar 9, 2013 20:13:51 GMT -5
"I am sorry, child. I did not mean to hit touchy subject." said Nicholas, noticing her frown. "Anyway, Oranchd, despite all the good places, can be very dangerous place after dark, especially since the Shadow Lands attacked. Perhaps you can travel with me to town center. It is safer there." Nicholas didn't know why he was offering to hep this girl. Maybe it was because he didn't want any more children to lose their lives that day...not when he could help them.
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Post by neverlandlostgirl on Mar 9, 2013 20:22:13 GMT -5
Coraline gave a disgruntled noise. She didn't really want to talk about her parents with this stranger and she was grateful he wasn't pushing it. However, she gave him a puzzled look at the mention of the Shadow Lands.
"Shadow Lands? Who's that? And why'd they attack this place?"
Coraline had heard the name said around the town with fear but she had no idea who they were.
"Come to think of it, what is this place even called?"
Despite the time she had spent in this new world, she still didn't know what it was called.
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Post by sarahruff2010 on Mar 9, 2013 20:34:02 GMT -5
Nicholas sort of blinked in surprise but quickly shrugged it off. Maybe the girl had been from a different city?
"Well, this place is called Oranchd. We are at war with the Shadow Lands..." Nicholas shook his head sadly, "The city used to look grander. My daughter loved..." he made his voice trail off, "Point is, it is not safe to be alone at night. I can protect you." Like you protected Anya? said a harsh little voice in his head.
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Post by neverlandlostgirl on Mar 9, 2013 20:44:27 GMT -5
"Orachd." Coraline let the name roll off her tongue. She liked the sound of the place. It brought to mind wonderful visions of magical beings and epic adventures. She turned back towards the man, the frown having faded from her face.
"So this "Shadow Land" attacked this place and now you're at war?"
Coraline didn't know what to make of that. While she loved having LARPing battles with her friends, it was quite different to actually be in a country at war. She continued to mull over this until she remembered that the man had offered to take her back to the city center.
"Look, it's really nice that you want to help me, but I don't even know who you are. And besides, I don't have anyone to go back to there. I'm on my own here."
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Post by sarahruff2010 on Mar 9, 2013 20:53:16 GMT -5
"You may not know me, but I swear I won't hurt you." Nicholas said. He hesitated before adding, "I just saw my daughter died. The last thing I would do would be take someone's daughter away from them." Pain had filled his voice as he told this girl about Anya, but he needed her to trust him so he could get her to a safer area.
"The town center is still the safest place. Brightest, too. You should take care to avoid the darkest parts of the city. I hear that's where the Nightmare Men hide. Children are they're targets of choice."
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Post by neverlandlostgirl on Mar 9, 2013 21:34:54 GMT -5
Coraline felt her mouth fall open in shock as she looked up at the large man. She couldn't imagine how much he must have been hurting. That must have been the reason he was so sad when she had first met him. He was thinking of his daughter.
"I'm so sorry about your daughter."
Coraline didn't know what else to say. What could she say? Even if she got into fights with her parents a lot, Coraline knew how hurt they would be if she died. Trying to think of a way to comfort the large man, Coraline went over to him and put her small hand on top of one of his. She gave it a small squeeze.
"I'll go back to the town center with you, if you want. And don't worry, I didn't think you would hurt me and I'm not afraid of whatever "Nightmares" are. I have a special weapon for anyone who tries to hurt me." Coraline smiled up at the man and tapped the front of her jacket where her Witch's Stone lay.
"My name's Coraline."
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Post by sarahruff2010 on Mar 9, 2013 21:58:10 GMT -5
Nicholas smiled a small but sad smile at the girl. In a way, she sort of reminded him on Anya.
"Believe me, you will be taking that statement back when you meet them." he stated, a flat tone to his voice, "and my name is Nicholas. Nicholas St. North."
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Post by neverlandlostgirl on Mar 9, 2013 22:06:56 GMT -5
"Well North, you don't know Coraline Jones very well." Coraline said with a cocky grin on her face.
"I don't scare easy and with my Witch's Stone, I think I can take on whatever a "Nightmare" is. Besides, I don't plan on being alone here much longer if I can help it." Coraline then performed some of the moves she had learned while LARPing, hoping to prove to North that she could take care of herself.
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Post by sarahruff2010 on Mar 9, 2013 22:14:33 GMT -5
North chuckled at the girl. Oh yes, she was definitely beginning to remind him of Anya.
"You are brave, I give you that, but it is still good idea to avoid them the best you can, yes?"
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Post by neverlandlostgirl on Mar 9, 2013 22:21:20 GMT -5
Coraline paused in the midst of doing a high upper kick. She returned to a more stable stance.
"Yeah, I guess you're right. My parents always tell me I go looking for trouble, but I don't. I just can't stand seeing people getting treated badly is all. But I'll try to stay away from "Nightmares."
Coraline looked up at the tree in front of them for a moment.
"Hey, is it ok if I ask something? You said that there's a war going on, right? Between Orachd and the Shadow Lands?"
Coraline turned to look back at North with her brown eyes.
"Which side are you on? And why?"
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Post by sarahruff2010 on Mar 9, 2013 22:26:00 GMT -5
Nicholas grinned.
"I am of course on Oranchd's side." he said proudly, "I was made a Guardian of the prince John Rolfe after I saved him from a would-be assassin. That is where I met Anastasia's mother." Nicholas sighed, a happy note to it as he remembered his wife, "Oranchd accepted me, took me in at a point when no one else would."
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