Peace Is In Our Grasp

[seyennaathenial]

Date: Sometime in March
Time Frame: about 7:30 am
Place: New Zealand
Status: Open to anyone

Seyénna rustled in her sleep. Something nudged her, and moments later something wet and warm graced her cheek. Disgusted, the slender half elf opened her eyes, startled, still groggy. Souka, her wolfen friend, had found his way into the house she and her father shared. Not only that, but he stood there rather proud of himself, wagging his cinnaomon and grey flecked colored tail in an almost doglike manner, grinning at her with a wide smile. She rubbed her cheek off and chuckled, then ran her hand through her ever so tangled curls.

"How bad will it be today, Souka?" She muttered as she took a look in the mirror by her bed. Her hair was infamous for getting tangled, and it was a miserable process to try and control it. The hybrid was surprisingly good natured about it, however. Perhaps it was because she was used to having her hair misbehave that she didn't care, or perhaps it was because she knew that grumbling over it would do no good. Either way, she rose from her crumpled downfeather bed and stretched, and then calmly walked outside.

They had a wide sweeping porch on one side of the house, and the sight that greeted her pleased her. Tall mountains and lush, dark green grasses was the vision before her. The grass swayed in a gentle breeze and she smiled. It was here her father and she had found peace.

Souka, hungry, whined a little, and she glanced at him, amused. It wasn't as if he couldn't go get his own food. The wolf was merely lazy, knowing whatever scraps came off of the breakfast she made, she would toss them his way. Turning back to the mountain view, she surveyed the area one last time, to make sure all was well with their property. The sun was already high in the sky, even though it was early, so the porch shaded her, which she was glad of.She narrowed her eyes as she saw a lumbering shape in the distance, but then relaxed as she saw it was only an animal. Sighing, she finally turned back to the house and began the meal.

"You'd better not beg too much, Souka." She chortled. "Father will be up soon and you know he'll be displeased to see you acting so." Her father, though not a traditionalist by any means, thought wolves were graceful, noble creatures, but wild...and Souka defied that. He had been with her through the last five years of her life, (named after the first Souka she encountered, who was a great deal wilder, and would never take hand outs,) comforting her better than any friend could have, or so she thought. She mixed the berries and eggs now, and bits of ham to make an omlete of sorts, her lips falling into a pursed grimace. Their struggle for peace had been a long one, so much so that she had developed trust issues with anyone who wasn't her father. Oh she could be friends with people, but never trust them. That right belonged to her father, and of course Souka, who had never been anything but kind since the day she found him half starved in the mountains.

[watchfulcub13]

A few days' vacation in the southern hemisphere was exactly what the doctor ordered for Hazel Greene. She climbed off of the airplane, backpack firmly secured on both shoulders. She never brought luggage anywhere when she could carry-on. Her backpack was looking a little ratty, though; maybe while she was on vacation, she'd pick up a new one. She looked around the airport in amazement. It was probably one of the biggest she'd been in for a long time. She walked through it with determination; even though she'd never been here before, she didn't have any intention of asking anyone how to get around. If there was anything Hazy hated, it was looking and behaving like a tourist.

After spending nearly half an hour strolling aimlessly around the airport, she finally found the exit and left the building, climbing into a cab. She had the name of a hotel where she could stay, and she gave it to the cab driver. She didn't have a reservation, but this was more like a hostel than an actual hotel. She got a room and decided that she really needed to take a walk. Hazy had been holed up on an airplane for almost a full day, and she was exhausted, but she knew better to let jetlag get the best of her. It was still early in the morning.

So she changed out of her clothes and into some clean ones that would be suitable for hiking, pulled on her boots and started out. The hostel where she was staying was at the foot of the mountains, so she decided to head away from them, into the wooded area that surrounded the small, sturdy structure.

There was a well-worn path into the woods, and Hazy followed it closely. She may be on vacation, but the last thing the young BPRD agent wanted was to end up lost in a New Zealand forest. She strolled slowly down the path, taking in the sights and smells. The whole world was green. While it was early spring at home, it was getting close to fall in the southern hemisphere. Still, it was warm, and she felt very comfortable in her sleeveless white shirt and dark cargo pants.

Well, she would have been comfortable, if it hadn't been for the fact that, very suddenly, she was lying facedown on the ground. Blinking several times, she turned her head to look back at her feet. Apparently, she'd tripped over a rock. Didn't it just figure, the first hour into her vacation, that she would injure herself? She stood up brushed off her pants, and took a step, wincing. A sprained ankle. And her left knee was bleeding.

What was she supposed to do? She was too far from the hostel to go back, so she pulled a handkerchief out of her pocket and pressed it against her knee. She didn't have a first aid kit, because let's face it, who would have thought that something like this would happen? She didn't know if she could make it back to the hostel without doing serious damage, but she needed a bandage and an ice pack. Only now she couldn't remember which way she'd come from.

She stood up and started walking, wondering if she was heading the right way. She knew that it wasn't when she saw the light brighten at the end of the path within just a minute or two. Arriving at the edge of the fairly thin patch of trees, Hazy was amazed at the view ahead. Before her was a bright meadow-like grassy area, and near the center of it, there stood a house.

Hazy couldn't believe her luck. It wasn't the hostel, but if she could get bandaged up, then maybe she could get directions or even a ride back. She walked very slowly up to the house, climbed onto the porch, knocked on the front door, and prayed that there was somebody at home.

[seyennaathenial]

She was dreaming again, she knew that much. The woman before her had the same chestnut locks she did, and the same pale smooth skin. There was a healthy glow to her cheeks, however, which wasn’t how Seyénna remembered her. Ennya felt her mouth go dry at the sight of her. She hadn’t dreamed of her mother since she died. Now the woman before her with light green eyes smiled and reached a hand forward, and Seyénna wanted to take it, really she did, but she couldn’t. There was too much fear and pain in her chest, swollen from losing her.

“How could you leave me? Leave Father? I was only three!” She murmured, feeling the pain in her chest rise as though someone had stabbed her. “He needed you, why couldn’t you just get better?” She knew she would never get an answer, but still she felt compelled to ask. The woman merely smiled however, she never gave her an answer about that.

“Come…” The answer came like wind rustling dried leaves, gentle and barely audible. “Come…” She held her hand out to her again, as though begging her to let go of the secret pain in her chest and heal, and Seyénna wanted to, oh how she wanted to, she was used to that pain. It was a constant companion in her chest, and she wasn’t sure what she would be like without it. Still she raised her hand, dared to lift her slim fingers to try and grasp her mother’s hand –

– And that’s when Souka woke her up with a gentle lick on her cheek. Now she continued to mix the morning meal, thinking about the dream and it’s meaning. It hadn’t been her mother trying to communicate her, she knew that. Her mother had long been dead because of tuberculosis. So what did it mean? She wasn’t sure. The brown eyes glimmered with thoughts, and she sighed.

“What are we to do with me, Souka? I am a mess.” She muttered, and the wolf cocked his head in an almost puppy like fashion and whined, tail thumping against the wooden floor. She turned back to the eggs and berries, and perhaps would have continued to think down the current path she was on, when suddenly Souka did something quite unexpected: he howled.

Startled, she dropped the spoon and turned to find his face upturned, his mouth making a small O, to let the sound out. Then he stopped, thumped his tail again, and growled, his lips peeling back on sharp teeth, eyes gleaming. The look on him was so out of place, she didn’t know whether to be frightened or laugh. She was used to his puppy like antics, so now that he was acting like the creature he was “meant to be,” she wasn’t sure how to react. The wolf crossed her and smelled the floor, eyes alert and ears back, and eventually he left the kitchen – still in Alpha male mode – and came to the front door.

“It’s alright, Souka. Whoever it is, I will handle it. Calm down friend.” She saw he picked up on a scent, and stubbornly stood at her side, but begrudgingly let her look through the peep hole. A human stood before her, and an injured one at that. Even from a distance it looked as though she had hurt her ankle badly, and her left knee was bleeding pretty hard too.

Seyénna did not open the door right away however. She let the woman approach and knock, and even then she did not open the door. Instead she chewed on her lip. On the one hand, it appeared someone needed her help, and she would feel guilty refusing them, but on the other, she knew it could all be a trick. After all, she and her father had some artifacts that people would love to get their hands on. She gave Souka one last glance, and then made her decision however. She opened the door.

“Please, come in. Forgive me for not answering right away. I was fixing breakfast. Something you look like you might need.” Seyénna said. “But, silly me, you probably want to get medical aid first before eating.” Her words were ever so tainted by an Elvish accent, so light it was barely audible. “I’m Seyénna Athenial…and the grumpy wolf by me is Souka.” She said, and then offered the woman her hand to help her inside.

[watchfulcub13]

If she hadn't been so dizzy, and still more than slightly disoriented, Hazy would have thought the view surrounding her was absolutely stunning. The sun shining over the trees, the mountains in the distance...it was gorgeous. But she wasn't thinking about that right now. She was worried about whether or not this house was abandoned. She couldn't imagine anybody just getting up and leaving this house willingly. It was nicely built, wonderfully secluded. Probably the kind of place that she'd choose to live in after she left the Bureau for good. Not that she expected that to happen anytime soon, but it was kind of nice to think about, regardless.

Her ankle was swelling. She was really, really dizzy now. And she was just about to give up hope when she realized that the door was opening. Hazy looked up and tried to make her eyes focus on the person opening it. All she could truly see was that the figure was female, with dark hair. Actual details? Not so much. Then she started speaking, but Hazy only made out a few words. “Answering”... “breakfast”... “medical”... “Seyénna”... “wolf”... At the last, she looked around, and noticed a large, dog-like shape standing next to the young woman who had answered the door.

“A wolf?” she asked quietly, her eyes widening in a mix of fear and shock. Dogs were one thing; she absolutely adored dogs. When they were sweet and even-tempered and perfectly domestic. Wolves, as a general rule, were none of those things. But then she shook her head, trying to clear it. Shock was not the best way to handle a situation like this; she needed to be calm, and to not look like an absolute idiot. “I mean, I'm Hazel Greene, and any first aid you could offer would be great.” She accepted the woman's assistance and followed her inside.

[seyennaathenial]

She seemed a bit unsteady to Seyénna, dizzy even, so Ennya took her by the arm gently, to stabalize her. Souka eased his protective nature, still eyeing her causiously, but making no move to attack.

"You have no reason to fear him. He is warey of guests because we do not have them often, but I assure you, he poses no threat." She quickly explained when she saw the woman's eyes grow wide over Souka's wolven heritage. "I found him half starved and wounded, a mere cub who had no one to care for him. I took him in and...well he has been, for the most part, docile ever since."

"Foolish "m'eudail," a voice came then from behind her, "You regail our new friend with wolven tales, while she sits with a swollen ankle." The voice was kind, however, as was it's owner, and the name he called her meant 'sweetheart' or 'darling,'in gaelic and Elvish, so Seyénna was not upset at his words. A tall male elf stood behind them, with dark hair that fell to his waist, but eyes the color of Ennya's own. A half smile played on the elder ones lips, and he greeted the woman before him. "I am Kendarnometh Ategus Athenia, Seyénna's father." And he bowed slightly. "It is a pleasure to have you in our home."

Seyénna meanwhile gathered food and set some in front of the woman, (who told her that her name was Hazel,) and her father, as well as giving Souka the scraps. "That is a beautiful name." She said with a smile. She was being friendly and polite, but her father knew this was all customary for guests. Hazel had not earned her trust, no matter how kind Seyénna appeared to be to her.

"Hmmm." She said, lightly running her fingers over the wound to check the pressure points, and to see where it was most tender. "And where are you from, Hazel Greene?" She asked while she eyed the wound, It would take some doing to heal her...

Her father finished the meal, then disappeared. In a moment he returned however with a heavy stone bowl filled with warm water and a towel, a wrap for her ankle and a small brown bottle. "Symphytum Officinale." He explained. "Otherwise known as Comfrey. It will help with the tender areas, wherever it is, and prevent bruises. The leaves have been made with infused oil - I bought them that way - but it would be best if you heated it up before applying it, Seyénna. It was nice to meet you, Miss Greene. I do hope you feel better." And then he placed the items down on the table, and left as quickly and quietly as he had come, probably to go hunting, or so Ennya thought.

"Father." She muttered with a chuckle as she picked up the cloth and dipped it into the warm water before dapping it on Hazel's leg. "He's always thinking of something." When the blood was washed away, Seyénna began to bandage it. "So tell me, what were you doing, wandering around New Zealand? You looked lost when you came to my door." Now that the cut was clean, she took the oil and heated it up, (as her father suggested,) before returning to her and spreading the herbal remedy over her sprain. "There, you should be better in no time." She murmured with a smile before gracefully sliding into a chair next to her, to keep her company.

[watchfulcub13]

Hazy listened as Seyénna spoke, staying clear of the wolf called Souka, regardless of the fact that her new companion said not to fear him. Normally, if a person shows an animal proper respect, and doesn't let fear get the best of them, then the animal will show the person proper respect and not attempt to frighten them. All in all, that seemed a win-win situation to the BPRD agent. She wasn't scared, per se; she had just had little interaction with wild animals. She was a domesticated sort of individual, and unusual pets weren't in keeping with that philosophy at all. One of her former friends had had a boa constrictor for a pet once. Hazy didn't visit that friend for months, until the boa died suddenly from what seemed to be natural causes. She couldn't help but think that the friend's mother had something to do with the death, but she didn't know for sure.

She nodded at the wolf. "Hello, Souka," she said with a faint smile. She was too dizzy to manage much else. She had just settled into the chair, happy to have the weight taken off of her swollen ankle, when a voice sounded behind her and gave her heart a good jolt. She turned around in the seat to locate this new voice. Hazy's eyes had cleared slightly, and she was able to make out more details of this man's looks than she had Seyénna when she first saw her. Probably the longest hair she'd ever seen on a man, but it suited his face. And, obviously, he was not human; she'd worked with the Bureau long enough to recognize nonhumans when she saw them. Given his slender appearance, and the mouthful of a name he introduced himself with, she was guessing elf.

"A pleasure to meet you, Kendarnometh," she said with a nod of her head. Seyénna set some food in front of her, and Hazel took a cautious bite. She wasn't used to eating home-cooked meals, considering that her job kept her more or less restricted to microwave meals, but whatever was on the plate before her was delicious, and she eagerly took another bite as the older man sat down at the table with her. At Seyénna's comment about her name, she smiled. "Thank you. Seyénna is a beautiful name, also, as is Kendarnometh. Very... exotic." She smiled and took yet another bite, choosing silence over random chatter.

When her hostess asked where she was from, Hazy tried to answer, but pain sucked the words right from her lips as Seyénna pressed on her wounded ankle. Taking a breath to brace herself against further pain, she managed to grate out a reply. "I'm from the US. New Jersey, actually. I'm here having a little vacation. Work is... hectic." Better not to go into details there, either. In fact, now that she'd brought it up, she was sorry that she had. It wasn't as if she could explain what she did; after all, her place of employment wasn't even supposed to exist. Neither were people with powers like hers, but they did. She did. Too late, she realized that she could have air-lifted herself back to the hostel. Had there been a breeze outside? She couldn't remember now. Absentmindedly taking another bite of her meal, she focused her attention on the fingers pressing against her ankle, half-praying that her hosts wouldn't ask what it was that she did.

Hazy watched Kendarnometh leave, and then return, his arms full of equipment. He explained the contents of a brown bottle, either to her or Seyénna, but Hazel didn't know for sure which. Maybe both. Then he left again, and she got the feeling that this time he wouldn't be coming back anytime soon, so she was left alone in the hands of someone that she felt was probably a better healer than she could ever hope to be. She watched as her companion wiped the blood from her knee, and when she asked her question, Hazel smiled again.

"Well, I've never been out of the US before, so I thought I'd head someplace nice for awhile. I'm staying in a hostel not too far from here, and I thought I'd go for a bit of a hike, but then I fell, and when I got up, I wasn't sure which way I'd come from. Turns out that instead of going back the way I came, back toward the hostel, I came out here. I'm glad I did, because I got to meet some new people, and they know how to fix sprains. I don't know if anybody at the hostel can say the same."

She sighed as Seyénna put the herbs on her ankle. It felt better already. She smiled at her hostess and offered a nod of thanks. "I really appreciate your help. I'm not typically a clumsy person, but it's like that rock just appeared out of nowhere." Her grin widened slightly, and a brief chuckle escaped her lips. "Is that a problem that you usually have with rocks in New Zealand?"

[seyennaathenial]

She smiled as Hazel looked to Souka and said, "Hello, Souka," trying to be nice. Souka seemed to sense this, for in a moment he discerned she was kind and not an enemy, and he thumped his tail in a rather puppy like manner, his large brown eyes filling up with light. He grinned at her, but made no advance. After all, he understood somehow that in her weak condition, she might be frightened of him. He wasn’t a dog after all.

“I am glad you have found us.” Kendarnometh answered when he saw her. “That ankle looks quite bad, but my daughter is good with injuries. This you will see.” There were no contractions in his words, and each syllable was pronounced with a certain elegance that most humans didn’t use anymore. Then again, he and his daughter were by no means human. He smiled lightly at her, as if she were a child, but to him she was in a way, for he had lived for quite a long time compared to her.

“Thank you Father. My abilities are not as incredible as you profess, however, I think.” Seyénna blushed, but she was happy. That happiness was shown in her eyes and tone, even if she did not like compliments because they embarrassed her. While Hazel and her father talked, she worked on breakfast, but constantly kept one eye on the visitor. She was new, after all.

"A pleasure to meet you, Kendarnometh," Hazel said and Seyénna set breakfast in front of her, and Hazel took bite, and inwardly Ennya’s nerves flared. Would she like it? Ennya hoped so. She wasn’t used to cooking for guests, but she did like to do cooking for her Father and herself, (and of course Souka,) and he seemed to like it. Hazel smiled and seemed to enjoy the meal, and Seyénna’s heart felt relief wash over it. "Thank you. Seyénna is a beautiful name, also, as is Kendarnometh. Very... exotic." She smiled and took yet another bite, and she grinned.

“Yours is exotic too. A spice, I believe?” She inquired, tipping her head and smiling. “It is fitting of you.”

"I'm from the US. New Jersey, actually. I'm here having a little vacation. Work is... hectic."

“I see.” She said with a nod. “Believe it or not, I know how that can be. My father and I, we work with and for the land. Most of what you see surrounding you is the Athenial Reservation. That’s our last name. Athenial.” She nodded and continued. “We work on preserving the natural beauty of the land, and protect it against developers who would seek to cut down the trees and run roads through it.” Her bronze eyes sparkled a little. “Of course we are not totally against civilization. Man is free to do as he wishes, to an extent, so long as it does not injure this glorious place which we call home.”

Kendarnometh left then, and Hazel got to speaking."Well, I've never been out of the US before, so I thought I'd head someplace nice for awhile. I'm staying in a hostel not too far from here, and I thought I'd go for a bit of a hike, but then I fell, and when I got up, I wasn't sure which way I'd come from. Turns out that instead of going back the way I came, back toward the hostel, I came out here. I'm glad I did, because I got to meet some new people, and they know how to fix sprains. I don't know if anybody at the hostel can say the same."

She laughed. “When you have had the life experiences I have, most things are easy to fix. I study herbs especially because my mother loved them.” She stopped smiling for a moment, growing serious. “She isn’t with us anymore.” Her words took on a sadder echo, and she looked away for a moment. “I’m sorry, forgive me for being so emotional.” She muttered, and finished applying the herbs to her ankle.

"I really appreciate your help. I'm not typically a clumsy person, but it's like that rock just appeared out of nowhere." She said, and Ennya smirked. "Is that a problem that you usually have with rocks in New Zealand?"

“Oh yes. Father and I like to joke they are enchanted, and when they see new comers, they leap out at them.” There was a bit of a playful gleam in her eyes, but in such a way that it was hard to tell if she were joking or not. After all, she was half elf and her father full elf. That meant magic existed, and that meant to expect the unexpected.

[watchfulcub13]

The good news was, the wolf, Souka, didn't seem to want to attack her. He probably sensed her nerves. Most animals, when they sensed nervousness, attacked, but Hazel had a feeling that this wolf was no ordinary animal. She was as sure of this as she was of the fact that Seyénna and Kendarnometh weren't human. Well, Kendarnometh wasn't. She'd never met a human who looked or talked like he did. Seyénna might have been partially human, but Hazy was sure that she wasn't full human at all. She wouldn't bring up this knowledge, though; if they were trying to pass as human, she most certainly wasn't going to shatter their illusions. She herself lived a rather obscure life, being aerokinetic, and she kept her abilities to herself outside of the Bureau. The BPRD was able to handle what she was; most "normal" humans weren't.

She was also grateful that her hosts hadn't pressured her to describe her work. Hazy had a lie ready in case they did, as always, but the less she had to lie, the better off she was. She didn't like the feeling that lying gave her in the pit of her stomach, as if she was doing something wrong or illegal. She listened with great interest, however, as Seyénna described the details of she and her father's work with the preserve. Hazy probably would have suspected that this was some kind of nature park or something, considering the lack of anything around that looked manmade, the Athenial house notwithstanding. She knew what Seyénna was talking about, with men coming in and ruining everything. She wasn't against progress, and she wasn't much of an environmental defender, but she hated to see places, such as this reserve, get wiped off the face of the earth just because mankind had itchy feet. It was enough to make her sick.

"Wow, that's really interesting, about your work," she said after Kendarnometh left and Seyénna was working on her ankle. "I couldn't imagine, taking care of a whole natural preserve. Still, you and your father do a very good job; doesn't look like anything manmade, except your house, has ever been anywhere near here."

When they got to talking about Hazy's ankle, and Seyénna's mother, the BPRD agent frowned. She still had both of her parents; they wrote to her and she saw them occasionally. She wasn't as close to them now as she had been, but she still couldn't imagine losing either of them. "I'm sorry," she told her companion. "That must have been hard to take." She wasn't much good at handing out condolensces, and the last funeral she'd been to, she'd been about 8 or so. She hated them, hated feeling sad, and she was starting to feel a little teary. Shaking her head, she forgave Seyénna her moment, and listened as she commented about the rocks. Whether her hostess was serious or not, Hazy couldn't tell, but she laughed.

"Oh good," she replied. "At least it's not just me."

[seyennaathenial]

She was steadily growing more and more curious about the woman in front of her. She seemed awefully young to be working, although now that Ennya thought of it, there was work available for even 'teenagers,' as society called them. (She personally was amused by the name teen ager, because in elvish the word teen didn't translate exactly with the English, but she said nothing on that.) The bronze eyes analyzed her carefully, calmly, but not in a rude way, or so she hoped, for that was not her intention. The hybrid talked little about herself, and let her father do most of the talking for a while then, and concentrated on the food.

Ever since she was little, right after her mother died, she had had to take the role of 'wife and mother.' Not in the sick, perverse, sexual sense, but in the sense that like a wife she gave guidance, and was the "strong one" in their relationship. Her father had suffered severe bouts of depression when she was little, (something that she herself suffered from later on in life but told no one,) over the death of her mother, and there were times were she - at four years old - had to get him up...where she had to make the breakfast and clean the house...where she had to run things completely. It was a hard job, and it took its toll on her, if she were honest...

"Wow, that's really interesting, about your work," Hazel's words broke her solem thoughts and she smiled. "I couldn't imagine, taking care of a whole natural preserve. Still, you and your father do a very good job; doesn't look like anything manmade, except your house, has ever been anywhere near here."

"Yes I learn much from it. It's hard work, but nothing worth doing is easy, as the old saying goes." She murmured, and lifted her face to the window for a second to gaze outside, and for a moment a breeze lifted her hair from her face, revealing the barest sketch of Elvish markings on the right side of her face. She didn't notice if Hazel noticed however, and went back to taking care of her ankle. "It's my passion, caring for this Earth." She smiled and chuckled. "After all, its the only one we have."

"I'm sorry," she said to Seyénna . "That must have been hard to take."

"Yes...but I have lost many, so with time I learn to let go. Some are easier to let go of than others, however. I will admit that." She nodded, and sat down then. "There. Rest up. You'll be better in no time." And then they spoke of rocks and how easy it was to trip on them.

"Oh good," she replied. "At least it's not just me."

"No a good many people fall prey to them. Quite literally, unfortunately." She said with a chortle. Rising she began to boil something in a pot and asked, "Tea?" It was probably stronger than she was used to, being from New Zealand herbs, but it would taste good. It was, after all, Ennya's own brew.

[watchfulcub13]

If nothing else had proved that Seyénna wasn't completely human, then her total commitment to the earth, coupled with the markings that Hazy saw on the side of her face, did. Those were Elvlish markings; she'd recognize them anywhere. Princess Nuala, an elf staying with the BPRD, had them, too. And as for the earth, well, Hazy knew plenty of conservationists, who were all very active about keeping the earth clean, but she'd never heard any of them talk like this. However, it didn't matter to her one way or another that Seyénna wasn't completely human. She knew plenty of non-humans, too, and she didn't have a problem with them at all. In fact, most of the non-humans that she knew on a personal level were probably more fun to hang out with than most humans that she knew. Humans could be... so dull. And unfriendly. It was a lot easier just to spend time away from them, which seemed to her wat Seyénna and Kendarnometh were doing in this little paradise of theirs.

She had another quick laugh about the rocks, and then listened as Seyénna offered her some tea. It wasn't a drink she typically had, but, even though her ankle was feeling better already, she wasn't really ready to try and brave the path back to the hostel just yet. So she gratefully accepted with a nod of her head, and glanced down at the herbs on her ankle. She'd always wanted to learn herblore. She knew a few things about the basic uses of plants like aloe and camomile, but she'd wanted to learn so much more than that. Maybe when she got back home... Princess Nuala might know something about them, and Hazy didn't have a problem pestering people for information when she wanted it badly enough.

While she waited for the tea, she said, "So are you native to New Zealand, or did you immigrate here?"

[seyennaathenial]

Seyénna studied Hazel for a moment. There was something charming about her features, and she found she thought her spirit was kind. Seyénna was not used to trusting people, but she found herself wanting to trust Hazel, wanting to be friends with her, and not be so alone, and that was a new feeling for Ennya. Shyly she bustled around the kitchen, letting Souka out who deemed it too feminine and stuffy in here, and then teased her about the rocks.

“I am glad you came here Hazel Greene. Perhaps it was fate you did. I was lonley.” She muttered softly, causiously meeting her gaze. “Sometimes it is hard with just Father and I and the wolf.” She smiled and got them both some tea. She wasn’t sure if Hazel would want some, but she put some out anyways, just in case her guest changed her mind. Then she stared out the window, and the wind ruffled her hair, and Seyénna realized her markings showed. With a hurried blush, she covered them. Hazel was obviously a human, and if Ennya told her she was a half-breed of an elf, she might think her crazy and leave, which is just what Seyénna didn’t want to happen.

Oddly enough however, Hazel reacted as though it was nothing, and that made her mind whirl. Has she worked with our kind before? She thought softly to herself. She then thought back to how kind Hazel had been and how respectful when meeting Ennya’s father, when Kendarnometh was clearly not a human and could not really pass for one if he tried…and oh if you knew their history…he had…Thinking about all these things she came to the conclusion that Hazel was either very accepting, very naïve, or not telling her something.

"So are you native to New Zealand, or did you immigrate here?"

“We are not native, no. We traveled from the time I was four years old, after my mother’s passing.” She told her, sitting down to sip at the tea. Ah mint. Delicious. “And you?” She asked, “You mentioned your work before…and I know you saw the markings on my face.” She eyed her quietly. “Am I wrong to assume you know what I am, and have worked with my kind before?” Her heart was thundering in her chest, but here was a chance for friendship. She only hoped Hazel would want it too.

[watchfulcub13]

Hazy watched as Seyénna let Souka outside. She couldn't help but breathe a bit easier; the wolf had more than proved himself tolerant since she'd been here, but the fact that he wasn't in the room anymore made it a little easier to be calm. Seyénna then set about to making tea for the two of them. To be honest, it smelled delicious; it had been a long time since she'd had tea, and she found herself looking forward to it.

She listened as her hostess spoke, and she smiled. She hadn't felt so welcome in a long time outside of any place that wasn't the Bureau. "Thank you," she said, accepting the tea Seyénna placed before her. "I can imagine how difficult it could be. I live with a good number of friends, and without them, my life would be very dull."

As Seyénna's marks appeared, Hazel ignored them. She tried hard not to mention anything to her hostess. If it was all a coincidence, and that was some kind of tattoo, she didn't want to be kicked out for being a crazy person. She was having such a good time, and she wasn't ready for it to end. She took a sip of the tea; it was strong, but very good. She took another sip and gave a thought to Kendarnometh. There was no way that Seyénna's marks were coincidence; not if her father was any indication. He was an elf, plain and simple. Seyénna's appearance was slightly less elven, but she did have the marks, so it was possible that she was half-blooded. Hazy didn't care; elves were fine company as far as she was concerned; polite, friendly, and more than hospitable.

"The tea's very good, thank you," she announced. "Again, I'm sorry about your mother. I couldn't imagine." And she really couldn't; her mother had been important to her, as had her father. They kept her calm after she discovered her aerokinesis, and they were supportive of her decision to join the Bureau, and she couldn't imagine what her life would have been like if she hadn't had that kind of upbringing.

Hazy swallowed hard when Seyénna brought up her work, but she couldn't quite bring herself to lie. The Athenials had been nothing but kind, and lying would somehow undermine that kindness. So Hazy took a deep breath and offered her confession. "Yes, I know what you are. You and your father are elves. I've yet to work on a one-to-one basis with any, but I have met them." She took another sip of tea, and set the cup down. "My job puts me in contact with people of various backgrounds, and I myself am gifted." She smiled. "I'm sorry for acting... ignorant before, but I'm not exactly supposed to talk to people about my work, as my place of employment isn't supposed to exist."

[seyennaathenial]

She seemed perfectly at ease, and yet it was a facade...because if there was one thing Seyénna wasn't around strangers, it was at ease. No she had her guard up, and carefully inspected the visitor. Hazel was kind, it seemed, and made Seyénna want to trust her, which was an unusual feeling for the half elf. She thought this feeling would pass, but the more they talked, the more she found herself wanting to be friends with her.

"Thank you," she said, when Seyénna gave her the tea, "I can imagine how difficult it could be. I live with a good number of friends, and without them, my life would be very dull."

"Yes well, my life has been far from dull." She murmured. "When one travels, they often get adventures others who are settled wouldn't...perhaps it is supposed to make up for friends that way, but it doesn't. I..." She wanted to say more, but wasn't quite sure what, so she blushed and muttered, "Forgive me, I ramble."

"The tea's very good, thank you," she added, and Ennya grinned shyly. "Again, I'm sorry about your mother. I couldn't imagine."

"She is with me in her own way. Sometimes I go out into the feilds, and I can feel her cool caress in the wind on my cheek, like a mother would touch her child's cheek, telling me it's alright. She is with me when I garden, and help Father. When I choose to be kind to others..." She trailed off again, and shook her head to stop hot tears from flowing. "Yes, it is good that way." She rose and wiped her eyes, and came back then. Then they talked of her work and her heart beat fast. What would she say?

"Yes, I know what you are. You and your father are elves. I've yet to work on a one-to-one basis with any, but I have met them." She sipped the tea, and Ennya smiled. "My job puts me in contact with people of various backgrounds, and I myself am gifted."

"Are you? In what?" Ennya asked softly, and excitedly. "It is nice to meet someone else with gifts. I myself have a little talent for plants."

"I'm sorry for acting... ignorant before, but I'm not exactly supposed to talk to people about my work, as my place of employment isn't supposed to exist."

"Oh." She said quietly. "Oh yes I understand, I think. Is it a code or something? Many people have their own personal codes, to protect themselves." Her eyes met Hazel's, a tiny smile on her lips as she sipped her own tea. Yes, it was a good thing Fate brought her here.

[watchfulcub13]

"Yes well, my life has been far from dull." Hazy nodded. She certainly understood that. "When one travels, they often get adventures others who are settled wouldn't...perhaps it is supposed to make up for friends that way, but it doesn't. I..." She knew that, too. For her, friends were few and far between. She was companionable toward her fellow Bureau members, and she adored the FBI agents who helped the BPRD out on special missions. In fact, she was sure she had a crush on one of them, but she was insanely embarrassed about it, and chose not to say anything to anyone. "Forgive me, I ramble."

Hazy shook her head. "Oh, no, I don't mind. Say anything you feel like." She smiled at her companion, and took a sip of the strong tea. It was very, very good.

"She is with me in her own way. Sometimes I go out into the feilds, and I can feel her cool caress in the wind on my cheek, like a mother would touch her child's cheek, telling me it's alright. She is with me when I garden, and help Father. When I choose to be kind to others..." She noticed that Seyénna looked to be on the verge of crying. Averting her eyes, Hazy tried discreetly to wipe a tear of her own away. "Yes, it is good that way."

As she spoke about her job at the Bureau, Hazel felt relieved and terrified at the same time. She didn't expect it to be so easy to talk about it, especially to somebody that she didn't know. "I'm aerokinetic," she told Seyénna. "I can control air currents with my mind. It's something I was born with, and because of a small accident when I was young, I was given a place to live, and a job to help protect people who can't protect themselves."

"Oh. Oh yes I understand, I think. Is it a code or something? Many people have their own personal codes, to protect themselves." Hazy nodded. "Yes, you could say that. We're sworn to secrecy because there are people who work at our business who are far more... exotic than I am."

[seyennaathenial]

She explained about how her life had been full of interesting things and people, but how she never really made friends. Silently she added, It is hard to make friends when everyone keeps staring at you like you’re from another planet. She understood why the humans did, however. Because although she and her father weren’t from another planet, they were from another world entirely. A world most humans did not know existed, or if they got any evidence of it, they chose to ignore it.

She apologized for rambling and Hazel said, "Oh, no, I don't mind. Say anything you feel like." and smiled. Ennya slowly smiled back, the muscles around her lips a little shaky, being very out of practice when it came to her ‘smile muscles.’ And yet she sensed perhaps time with Hazel would change that. After all, she had already made Seyénna laugh several times in one morning, which was certainly a rare feat.

Seyénna felt embarrassed about how she nearly cried when she spoke of her mother. Elves were trained not to show emotion, and because her father had raised her as an elf, (because of her mother’s death,) usually she could control them…but (perhaps it was because she was around another human for the first time in quite a while,) Hazel made her want to be in touch with her human side. The side that was ‘dusty and on the shelf’ so to speak. Thankfully the topic passed off her mother and onto more interesting things, like Hazel’s job.

All this time, Ennya wondered what it was she actually did, and now came the explanation she was looking for. "I'm aerokinetic," she told Seyénna. "I can control air currents with my mind. It's something I was born with, and because of a small accident when I was young, I was given a place to live, and a job to help protect people who can't protect themselves."

“That is a big responsibility, I bet, to c0ntrol such things.” She murmured softly and then smiled more easily now. “Yes it is a blessing for both of us you ‘landed’ in New Zealand.” A chuckle passed her lips warmly. “This is a beautiful spot. It will help you heal, Hazel Greene.” She said her first and last name together, because many elves strung names together regardless of species, and besides that, she liked saying her name that way. It was very pretty, she thought.

"Yes, you could say that. We're sworn to secrecy because there are people who work at our business who are far more... exotic than I am."

“Have you met any other elves?” She murmured gently, a tiny gleam of hope in her eyes. “I would so like to meet another of my kin besides my grandparents and father!” Then she frowned softly. “But I could not ask you to take me with you. It is, as you say, far too risky. Ah well. Perhaps I will meet another one soon.” And she bustled to get the tea to hide her disappointment and embarrassment at herself for even thinking she could go back with her new friend.