[Yael] Ra Ra Rasputin (Nivalis/Mnyiri)

[Fluffesu]

Painted Moose

Maybe she simply didn't understand the thought processes of mainland Alkidike, but Nivalis didn't recall ever acting like she wanted anything from this woman. To her it felt presumptuous to assume that she would- which this woman apparently did, and then had become angry when it wasn't actually true. In fact, the Alkidike had only ever trespassed, lied to her, threatened her with her beast... And then wanted information from her.

They could say the Extremist Alkidike and their Elarian children were as mentally unwell as they liked, but as far as Niva could see, those on the mainland were much worse off. Niva had even been polite! She'd asked the stranger to leave without attacking her, informed her plainly that she didn't belong, had even moved to leave before she'd fully seen her land secure.

If she'd been a true warrior of her tribe, she wouldn't have hesitated. None of the older Elaria would have hesitated, she was sure. Most of them seemed so eager for blood...

Now Nivalis only felt frustrated. She was not as strong a fighter as many of her sisters, and it hadn't been her intention to become wrapped in a battle with a woman she knew so little about. But neither was she frightened. She was well-trained by her cousins and did have magic that generally only the most seasoned warriors possessed.

And she still hated animals.

Sneering, she dipped into a crouch as the beast leapt. She dusted her fingers to the earth and twisted, feeling the vibrations of its paws as it moved. When the radaku's paws touched to ground, she gripped. The earth parted where it stood, just enough to snare it's front paws beneath the dirt and hold it in place. Animals truly were stupid and useless. Trained or not, they weren't worth bringing to a fight against anything but maybe an earthling.

"You should be so lucky as to leave before you do something you regret. Attack me, if you like, but should you mange to injure or kill me, it will mean your life. My tribe would hunt any outsider who would lay a finger on their mystic until the end of their days."  

[Painted Moose]

Fluffesu

The massive radaku hit the ground hard. His paws slammed onto the toxic ground, but his body kept moving, carrying him into a turning half circle, lips still pulled back to expose his snarling fangs. In moments such as these Mnyiri knew her choice not to take a pup as her future companion had been wise; Mvua was only two steps away from returning to his feral roots at all times and that kept him on edge. Any other mount may have faltered in that moment, especially since they hadn't yet faced many battles together, but he remained true to form.

He pulled at the earth, struggling with all of his might to pull himself free.

For a moment Mnyiri stood in genuine shock. Her darkened eyes widened as the word mystic played itself through her mind. Then, out of the sheer madness of the moment, she burst out into a fit of laughter. "Seriously? Oh goddess, now this is a day!" Mnyiri raised her spear, and despite the distance between them the tip of her spear head was pointed directly at Nivalis' heart. "My life wouldn't mean as much as your head. Besides, it's not as if I was ever supposed to come back from this trip alive, anyway. But the elders really would have a fit if I came back with your corpse."

There was absolutely no hesitation in her that this was the right path to take. After all, how many earthling bodies had she examined to learn more about them? She'd already prepared herself to do it with the elarians, should she manage to catch one, and now that their mystic had been stupid enough to come out, alone and unguarded...  

[Fluffesu]

Painted Moose

Niva's gaze narrowed at the bubble of laughter from the older girl, and her attention focused on the Alkidike's hands- where they gripped her spear, specifically. This one was a true psychopath. It wasn't as though Niva couldn't imagine that the mainland Alkidike might have some spite in their hearts for those of their tribe who had split and the children they had raised on a poisoned island. Maybe there was enough hatred to even seek them out for it. Except there hadn't been, yet, and it had been nearly two decades.

And it was clear this one was acting alone. Or rather, with the aid of only one useless mainland beast. Nivalis still wasn't sure if she believed how much of this Alk's tale was true, if she'd actually been sent here, if she'd been driven away because pf her madness, or if she'd chosen to come to Yael of her own accord. Though Nivalis was starting to understand why this ones elders would send her away.

What a sad life to live, when your own tribe shunned you... She could hardly imagine sentencing one of her own sisters to a life of loneliness. Though she couldn't fathom who among them would behave like this, either.

"As I've said, you're welcome to try." She tapped her heel to the dirt, and a short wave moved from that point and outward, sweeping up against her beast's legs and threatening to pull it farther under. "But you would never so much as make it back to the ocean. Not carrying a corpse, and certainly not without the aid of your..." She bared her teeth. "Creature."  

[Painted Moose]

Fluffesu

She couldn't bring a frown to her face after that. It wasn't as if she wasn't trying; honestly, Mnyiri was scared shitless. Not of this little scrawny stick with crimson dreads, but of what she represented.

The mystic wasn't lying. If Mnyiri managed to kill her now then the entirety of the extremist race would be after her. They would tear through Yael at first, destroying innocent homes and villages in their mad search before eventually moving on to the mainland. And the chances of the elders actually praising her for anything were slim; honestly, it would be a miracle if they didn't just turn her over to the extremists because of the uproar she would no doubt bring about.

There was no winning here. Her entire mission had been a complete and utter failure. Had it just been a regular elarian, one of the no doubt dozens that resided in their camp, she could have returned with a few curled antennae and lived with respect.

With a great, heaving sigh Mnyiri spun her spear around in her palms before driving the spear head into the ground. "Fine. Release him and I'll leave. He's sort of my ride." She motioned vaguely to Mvua, who was so angry he had begun to foam a little at the corners of his mouth. She whislted thrice, in quick succession and that seemed to moderately calm him.

Perhaps if she returned with the simple knowledge that the elarians had a mystic at all then she would be allowed to remain? Surely that was important knowledge? It was frustrating, knowing that she wouldn't be leaving with much more than that, but Mnyiri's hands were tied.  

[Fluffesu]

Painted Moose

She couldn't possibly have known how anything would pan out here. The woman before her, alone and far from home as she was, was certainly trained just as well, if not better than Nivalis herself, as far as actual combat. Niva had always been told the Alkidike on the mainland had softer hearts than their Yaeli sisters, but they were still not earthlings, and the cousins of her tribe had learned to fight from somewhere.

It was true she'd be hunted if there came to be bloodshed here, but unless her cousins were already out searching for Niva, it could still be several hours before anyone had any idea what had become of her, and it wasn't as though she'd been looking specifically for a confrontation to begin with.

Niva's heart raced.

Of course, now that she'd started one, there seemed no safe way to get out of it. She held the beast captive now, but if she released it, she'd have nothing, and no way to avoid further violence if it came. She eyed the other woman's spear, now sticking out of the ground, and gave a slow nod. Hesitantly, she eased the magic that encased her familiar's legs, and only gave it a parting nudge to return to its master. With the finished, she eyed the pair warily, body still tense, and muscles taut as she prepared for whatever may come next.

"If it pleases you," she hissed softly, "You may give them my name. It is Nivalis: first of my kind, daughter of Elzira, and mystic of the Elarians."