Thread: A Striders Choice (Attn: Claudia, Any; 3-8-10)

Ashalyn watches Corin from behind the light of a dying fire that still sputtered and resonated heat.

He did not interrupt her as she knocked on Claudia's door, and pushed the remaining embers of the fire to flare up and release more heat.

Claudia opens the door, obviously she's been up all night from her run to Kansas City yesterday. She looks oddly at Samara for a moment and then steps inside coming back out with two huge steaming cups of coffee. She sits down in one of the two porch chairs and takes a sip of her own coffee, holding the other one out to Samara.
"It's Turkish coffee, so be warned. Now, I've seen that look in your eyes in the eyes of others. I won't stop you, but I will ask your plan."

She smiles at Samara warmly. She nods to Ashalyn and then ignores him.

She takes the coffee, sipping it, then sits down next to Claudia.

"I don't have a plan, as of yet. I have my duty to Gaia, but I also have a duty to a young girl. This battle with the wyrm is coming fast. I'm not wanting to leave because of the battle, I'm ready to fight...But I have to help Posey."

She takes another drink of her coffee, and looks out towards Ashlyn, and nods, then looks back at Claudia.

"I figured you'd be the only one who could understand."

Claudia takes a long moment before speaking, as she stares off into the distance as if deciding if she really wants to continue this conversation.

"I can't make that choice for you. But I can give you a little advice. Posey is from around here. That allows you to make short trips trying to help her. The battle won't be coming today. That gives you time. First, find Posey, then take her with you when you scout the caves. That way you can do your duty while you talk to Posey and see what she needs. You don't have to do one and then the other. There's no rule against taking Posey with you to scout unless you think she's a danger to the Caern. But I don't think D would have let her come here if he had thought she was a danger. And if she's a local, hell, maybe being in the caves will stir some memory for her that will help us in the long run. Just always keep in mind that when the fight comes, you may have to make some tough choices if you can't think of a way to do both at the same time."

She drinks up more of her coffee and stretches her neck.

"I had a dream last night, I took a walk and found myself in town, a part of town I've never seen before. There was a specific house that I seemed drawn to, I'm positive it was Posey's house. That's where I want to start. I have to find her Claudia. It's my fault she ran off...I promised I'd protect her...I have to find her."

Claudia nods as if this is the most natural choice.

"Of course you do. You don't want to know what happens to Striders who don't keep their promises to the dead. Be extremely careful going into town. Talk to Ayven before you go, and Ashalyn. They've both been in there. Go by yourself, easier that way. Go through the Umbra till you get to her room, pop out, grab something of her's and then back into the Umbra. Something like a teddy bear or .... D said something about a tiara. Look for that. Bring it back and see if she shows. That should only take you a couple hours and then you're back here scouting the caves. There's my two cents."

She drinks more of the coffee as she listens to Claudia.

"Yes, Posey mentioned a tiara, and I saw it in my dream...I'm just scared that it might not be enough to bring her back. After what I saw, I couldn't control my rage, and that's what frightened her away."

She sits and thinks for a moment while drinking the coffee, and looks out at Ashalyn.

"I'm not sure if I'll be able to find the house. I suppose that's where talking to Ashalyn and Ayven comes into play."

She sighs.

"I know this is what I have to do. I've been running from my responsibilities long enough."

Claudia stares off into the distance, although she is too young to have the thousand yard stare, there it is, in her eyes. Striders so often see more than they should...

"May the spirits guide you little sister."

She stands, finishes the last of the coffee and nods to Claudia.

"Thank you sister."

She moves off towards the campfire to where Ashalyn is. She moves up to him, and sits near him.

"Ashalyn yes?"