On A New Path

[olive juice.]

Celestine was numb, and though she could hear the hushed whispers of the crowd around her, she felt as though she were distant from the world at its current state. Her father, by her side, seemed to hold a rather firm hand on her shoulder, but it was obviously forced. Placed in more of a manner to keep her under control rather than in affection, she could nearly feel all of his emotions through the mere few inches that they touched. She could feel the heavy, nearly suffocating disappointment already weighing on her, which sent her into an incredibly emotional and anxious state. Though her father insisted this was not about her, she thought differently. It all boiled down to her father's emotional state. She had refused to support him, and it was now that she had realized her mistake.

It had built another wall between them, and though there were numerous ones already, this one felt as strong as the wall of china. Not only did she disagree with the decision he had made without so much of a breath of it to her, but as much as she hated this town, she felt the only man good enough to keep it sane, was her father. Once the speech had ended, she didn't move. Her father, however, took time to speak with the new 'mayor' as though to tie loose ends, or congratulate him on his first open assembly. Celestine, however, found this an opportunity to do something she had long since wanted to do..

Run.

And she did. Turning a quarter to where the path had taken her back to this hell, and took off into the forest. Her pace was fast, and full of adrenaline. She had to escape, once and for all. She wanted freedom. She sped past her secret haven and deep into the unknown wilderness.

Anywhere but here.
Anywhere.



[Sorry for the delay guys. Life has been so crazy. I will try and keep up if you guys are still interested.]

[Nayt]

Offtopic: Okay, remembered what I was doing. Replies from me will now be more prompt.

Baleron's address to Serj was a little strange. He'd called this guy out on eavesdropping, and he went and treated it as a diplomatic situation. Granted, it was commendable, and Serj couldn't fault the guy for it, but it was a little awkward, that was all. Just a tad bit weird. Nonetheless, Baleron seemed to be innocent enough, and if he wasn't, there was enough firepower in this crowd to take care of that--he just didn't know it. Yet, if he stuck around, and continued to try and become well informed. Most others, however, didn't do that, and thus a majority of this crowd didn't know exactly how great of crowd control the militia could actually be.

"Serj Goiyer," he replied with his name.

Then, at the request for a trade--

"I'm good with this, thanks," Serj replied as he took a drag, "Don't like it when I can't think straight. Anyways, what brings you here? Trade, or just wandering?"

Their conversation was cut short, however. Baleron wouldn't even have the chance to reply with any great detail, before Celestine ran past them; she'd have had to push through the crowd a little, which ultimately made her that much more noticeable. Serj watched her go--and sighed.

"Well, I guess I've got a job to do. Hold this."

Though he hadn't taken the trade, per say, he did give the cigarette to Baleron, in the most literal of ways. He took it and put it between Baleron's lips--and broke off into a jog in the opposite direction, intending full well to chase off after Celestine, to make sure she didn't get herself hurt. Running off in an emotional way like that . . . it just couldn't end well. Not at all.

Coincidentally, in Baleron's possession, the cigarette would actually burn itself out over time; in Serj's possession, though, it never ran out--not even by an inch.

[olive juice.]

The taste of dry air, the feel of coarse leaves, as well as the stinging pain in her legs; it all brought reality crashing down so hard she nearly went slamming into the ground. It was at this moment that she realized what she was doing. She was running, quite intensely now that she had finally broke from the crowd's harsh and tight grip, and was heading in a direction that she was becoming increasingly unfamiliar with. All that remained in her thoughts now, was the inclination and drive to escape. Tree after tree, rock after rock; it all looked the same but yet unbelievably different. The speed and intensity of the entire ordeal was starting to become exhilarating. Was this how her brother had felt once he too, had escaped? Why was the unknown so.. desirable? Perhaps she truly did not belong in the grips of this humble and quiet society. She deserved to see the world, and inhabit a place that was accustomed to her personality, her intense vision, as well as her growing adventurism.

Her breath was growing shorter, but that did not cease her motions, though they seemed to have slowed greatly. Realizing she could barely catch her breath, she slowed further into a stop. Taking the needed moment to recoup, she gazed at her surroundings for the first time. Silence filled the vicinity, and though she was grateful for the sudden decision to escape, she was now seemingly confused.

What is this?
How far have I gone?

[Nayt]

"Gnnn . . ." a groan slowly came from behind Celestine.

Had she been followed, it would be difficult to say. She could have just as easily passed by someone in need of assistance, rather than accidentally outrun someone who just happened to be--

"What the hell . . . why didn't your father tell me you ran marathons?"

--chasing after her.

Serj emerged from the brush behind Celestine, twigs attached to his clothes and hair, with loose leaves everywhere. Somewhere along the lines, he'd fallen over, but to keep from losing Celestine, he kept on running. Either he wasn't trained to run long distances for extensive periods of time, or Celestine was actually extremely fast. It was probably a combination of both--but nonetheless, Serj was not amused. He picked brush out of his hair as he started towards her, inwardly hoping she was going to break out into a run again.

Whether or not Baleron was behind him, or still in town, he didn't know--just the same as Celestine hadn't originally known that she was being followed. Just like her frantic rush to get out clouded her judgment and senses to a point, Serj's need to fulfill his duties did the same to him. Except for when he tripped and fell face first into brush. That was a pretty good awakening to the reality of the situation, but shortly thereafter, he concluded that Celestine was still running, and he had to throw caution to the wind again. But now, he was there, behind her; not a threat, but still someone to possibly be worried about. After all, he might have chased after her with intentions of dragging her back.

[olive juice.]

The young woman turned when she heard Serj emerge from the brush, though it looked as though he had nearly met his demise by chasing her. She had initially been startled by his appearance, and had jumped slightly, nearly toppling over nearby obstructions that were probably stone or low bush. Though he was not of any threat, that did little to deter the slight fear she seemed to harbor. She was unsure at this point why her emotions were driving a pace that was becoming increasingly uncontrollable, but she knew why Serj was here now. She sighed, trying to relax, and failing horribly at doing so.

" I'm not going back, " She insisted hastily, assuming he had come to return her to town as many of the guard had done numerous times before, "I'm tired of this place. "

She turned slightly, making her way around the obstacle that had nearly caused her to trip moments prior, and looked into the depths of the forest. The remaining areas were unknown to her, but she seemed fully willing to venture into it. If her brother had been able to do so, as well as other denizens before her, she could too -- or atleast she stubbornly thought so.

"I'm going to find my brother, " She declared, not really looking to see if Serj was still following her as she took a few hesitant steps forward, " I want to know what else is out there. I'm tired of being held prisoner. "

She turned to him briefly, " Have you ever been through here? "

[Nayt]

Having nearly expired while chasing Celestine down, Serj wasn't quite in the mood to hear that. His lips curled up into a sneer, but it was only temporary. The anger--and his sneer--faded in seconds, but the aggravation might well last awhile. The least she could've done was at least consider going back with him.

Fuckin' hell I need a cigarette . . .

Out of sheer necessity, he reached into his coat and fumbled around for the small box of cigarettes he always carried on him. Serj bought nicotine and rolled the crushed up leaves into cigarette form himself. Rarely, he treated himself to something different. Cigarettes, at the very least, didn't screw his mind up. It was the same with alcohol. He just didn't like having his judgment clouded for any reason--and truth be told, a good smoke during a tough situation helped him relax, and if he was relaxed, he could make a better judgment call.

Like now.

"No, I haven't," at first, he was talking with a cigarette in his mouth, but he soon withdrew it and let the smoke out, "Look, you're going to worry your pop to death. It's a dangerous world out there; you don't know what the hell to expect."

[olive juice.]

" But isn't that the best part? " Her voice spoke the ambition proudly as she continued to face the side of the woods she'd never been. The thought alone of what lied in this 'new world' was beginning to fill her with a rush of fresh air, and a new mustered sense of adventure. " Discovery is wondrous. "

She paused however, when she realized he had spoken of her father, and had initially dismissed it. Though she had not intended to merely just 'forget' the family that remained in the town, she could not help but feel the gravitational pull of the unknown. She thought though, to herself, the further repercussions of leaving the town for good, and though it was a heavy battle, her curiosity was winning. What was so dangerous, beyond these woods that made the town so reclusive? Whatever it was, was furthering her will to want to explore, discover, and understand. Was there more beyond this world that seemed to do nothing but strangle her? Or was this truly the only good that lived in this place? Was there only evil outside? Celestine's head was beginning to spin from all the jumbled questions that seemed to bounce furiously around in her brain.

" There has to be something out there better than here, " She seemed to insist, though she knew Serj would more than likely protest, " If there wasn't, what more would there be to live for? "

She turned back to Serj, noticing he was now smoking, but it didn't deter her, " Even father knows how different I am to everyone else. I don't belong here. "

[Nayt]

"Be that the case," Serj paused to take a long drag, followed soon after by letting out a long exhale. Such great stress relief, "That still don't mean you should run out on your pop without even sayin' goodbye."

There was still some family etiquette to deal with, Serj figured. What loving father would want his daughter to run out on him like that, no goodbyes or anything--like running out on an important day with no supplies or means to protect herself if the worst happened?

Serj continued: "Yeah, you're gonna leave this time, and there's no good goddamn reason for someone like me to stop you this time. The mayor ain't the mayor no more; he stopped bein' my boss as of today, it's not my job to chase you down and drag you back anymore, and it ain't his job to try and keep everythin' copacetic for yours, his, and the village's sake. If you go home," Serj pointed with his cigarette back towards the way they came, "And sit down with your pop and tell him flat out that you're goin', and nothin's going to stop you, he's not going to fight it anymore. He'll be hurt to hell, but I'm sure he'd rather you be safe than anythin' else. He'd probably give you a houseload of shit to go away with to make the trip safer and easier."

And he'd know that you haven't been eaten by wolves so soon. Celestine's father was more than just a boss to Serj. That was a man he respected, and as such, he'd do him this favor. Nothing he said was a lie, either. With her father having stepped down from political power, there was no reason to try and keep the public uninformed about Celestine's disdain for the town. Her father might protest, but in the end, she was a grown woman--and her father was one of the most intelligent people Serj know. There was no way he'd try and keep her there against her will anymore; she'd just sneak out and go. It was a much more rational and educated decision to help her off, if there was no way to civilly convince her to stay.

[olive juice.]

She thought deeply of his words, but did not respond. She was too busy staring into the unknown that she was desperately eager to explore. Whether the world beyond these trees was harsh or more willing to accept her own ferocious personality, she just could not deny Serj's rational thinking. If she were going to truly venture into these places, she needed to say goodbye properly, and though she knew the reluctance of her father would way heavily upon her, it'd at least give her a more comforting feeling of her need to escape. She turned to face Serj, and was obviously showing him her defeat - for now anyway. Her body language seemed to be more of a silent sorrow, but perhaps it was more of regret.

" I'll return shortly, " She said softly, her footsteps taking her a few more feet into the wilderness to sit upon a rock. It was obvious things of nature did not bother this young woman at all. " I just want to be alone. "

She knew Serj would not trust her entirely to be by herself, especially so far away from the edge of town, but she needed the silence. Where as she was thankful for someone to actually care of her own thoughts, emotions and actions, she was perturbed by the entire ordeal. From her father's retirement, to the strange encounters of Serj, she was a little aggravated with not only herself, but the town in its entirety. Whether or not Serj would grant her this privacy was unknown, but she would remain upon the rock, appearing in deep thought. Though one would assume she was thinking of her father, she actually was not. She was replaying the fond memories of her brother, who had bore such a rare friendliness and ambition for the future, and inwardly smiling. She continued to ponder his sudden disappearance into the same woods she was staring heavily into while appearing to hug her knees, all the while suddenly acting as though Serj did not exist.

[Nayt]

Alone? Why the . . . ugh . . . In his mind, Serj sighed.

It took effort to keep from grumbling, too. "Sure, fine."

Serj looked at his cigarette for a moment. Conveniently, it hadn't lost any of its length for the entire time he'd been smoking it. For that reason alone, the man only carried three or four cigarettes on him at a time. There just wasn't any need for more. Why, though, no one knew--but then again, no one really seemed to notice, either.

The cigarette was placed back where it belonged, between his lips, as he turned away from Celestine. Sure, he'd give her some alone time, but that didn't mean he was leaving her there. What if she didn't come back? Then there'd be trouble. Though, more importantly, Serj still felt like he had a duty to keep her safe--for now. That would pass once she officially left the village, but for the time being, he wasn't going to let her walk through the wilderness alone. Mistrust actually had very little bearing on his decision.

"I'll be back this way. Just follow the way you came and meet up with me; I'll walk you back," Serj announced as he started back through the brush again.

It was best to give her some space, yes, but not too much space. If she couldn't find him, there'd be a problem. He was going to escort her back to town, after all. Serj wasn't too far away. All Celestine had to do was follow her footsteps--which wasn't hard, considering how much brush she (and Serj) had trampled down. Just a short ways away, near a wide space between trees, Serj stood in wait, with a cigarette between his lips and his hands shoved into his pockets. Hopefully, he wouldn't have to wait for too long . . .

[olive juice.]

It came as no surprise to her that Serj would be near. Celestine was an individual with a horrible reputation of disobedience, which lead to the slight distrust that was often harbored by those around her; Serj included. It really didn't bother her, however, for she knew she could still easily disappear into the greenery that was folded before her with little to no consequence. At the moment though, she was really not thinking of running just yet. She remained on the rock, knees hugged closely as she remembered the last fleeting moments of her brother's form before he too, took a much similar path. It fascinated her how brave and fearless he had seemed, and though she didn't know of his fate, she yearned to do the same.

I should have gone then with you, brother.
If only I knew then what I know now.
Father will never let me leave with a stable mind.
It's never going to end.

She began to stand once the memories faded to black, her vision returning to that of the brush, and slowly turned as though to peer into the shadows of the forest. She was hunting Serj, though he was probably unaware of her actions, and was unsuccessful. He was out of sight, but she knew he was allowing his other senses to watch her intently. The man was persistent, insistent, and far too aware of her personality. It caused quite a damper on what she had initially planned to do. Though the thought was tempting, she declined it, and took a few steps forward back to the village. She hesitated though, before the next steps continued to bring her back to the way they had both come. It seemed her conscience was voicing a grueling defeat that was visibly noticeable upon her face.

"Let's go, " Her voice allowed nothing further as she saw Serj's form come into sight.

[Nayt]

For the time that Celestine hesitated and thought to herself, Serj leaned with his back against a tree closest to the left side of path, a wide piece of work that could withstand that kind of pressure.

He couldn't help but admit--to himself--that it was nice to be out here sometimes. In town, he had to look after the entirety of the townspeople. There was no being off duty for him. There were just times that he slept, and if something went wrong in town, that time would be cut short. It was a tough job--an annoying job, even. It was bound to get worse, too, with the new mayor. Serj just didn't trust the guy.

Out here, though, he didn't have to worry about the town . . . which was a bit of a double edged sword; in one hand, he actually wanted to worry about the place--in the other, being concerned with the fates of two people, rather than an entire town, was so much easier.

Serj was still smoking when Celestine came back. Ironically, only time and the possible rustling of leaves and the like would have actually tipped him off that Celestine had left. Content to be alone, smoking a relaxing cigarette, he would have lost track of time easily. It seemed just having a reputation sometimes did the work for a man.

Serj pushed away from the tree. Without a word, he motioned for Celestine to follow, and started back towards town . . .

[olive juice.]

" Are you insane, Celestine?! "

The former mayor paced to and fro. His brow, splattered with perspiration, was lowered into a state that seemed pre-programmed for the father.

" You should never challenge that which you do not understand! These lands beyond the forest are of a ferocious breed. There is no way you could survive! "

It had come, and though she knew it would be intense, she had not been prepared for how much. The look upon her father's face was digging a hole into her heart, but she refused to give it the satisfaction of sorrow. This was something she had to do, with or without her father's blessing. Though Serj was lurking near by, he was no protection - leaving her very much so alone. The moments that seemed to spiral had all balled into one giant blur, leaving her with just broken shouts from her father, all of rage. She seemed to stand and accept the anger, a characteristic not typically common of her, and only continuee to speak things of a calmer caliber.

" I have to do this father."
" I don't belong here father."
" I am going. "

The man seemed to ignore these continual rebuttals, and it only further fueled the young woman's determination. He continued to pace to and fro as he released his anger, his apprehension and the constant reminder that she was the only remaining child of himself and her late mother. The guilt trips had come and gone, though they seemed to effect Celestine little. This was not something her father could control.

She was leaving.. first thing the next morning.

[Nayt]

For awhile, Serj stood outside of the house, right next to the front door-- arms folded over his chest, back leaned up against the siding, and a cigarette still between his lips. The festivities were all dying down, and he stopped giving a damn about his duties about two hours ago. There were other militiamen in town, and little to no risk of an incident breaking out or anything; the others were more than enough to handle it. This was a situation that Serj felt he might have to get involved with eventually, though.

Domestic abuse was one of his pet peeves. More than a couple of times, he had been taking different routes home, only to hear a horrid commotion in a home along the way. Upon further inspection, it always turned out to be what he resented the most--followed in short by two crimes committed begrudgingly by him: breaking and entering and assault and battery, excused only because he broke the situation up, and in the worst cases, had the unlawful abuser taken into custody, where the town could take action upon him or her. Serj was just waiting for a shout or a scream that indicated any foul deeds. He trusted his former boss and all, but . . .

He'd just seen this all before. It went beyond a father trying to protect his daughter; it had become a father trying to keep his daughter at home for his own sake, not hers. Perhaps he didn't want to feel the inherent despair of living alone, or perhaps he wasn't comfortable letting his daughter grow up. Either could work. Both were probably the case.

Nothing came of it, though. Not anything too terribly negative. For once, Serj's fears didn't come true. That was a relief. Still, though, it wasn't a positive result--not like it should have been, not like Serj had suggested to Celestine. Once everything was quiet again, Serj left, but not for good.

In the morning, he'd be there again, waiting for Celestine to leave. It was inevitable: the very second she'd leave, she'd probably notice that Serj was waiting outside, just like he was last night, leaning against the house, next to the front door, with a different cigarette in his mouth--not quite waiting for her, but for her father.

[olive juice.]

The sun had broken upon the horizon, and it was then that Celestine emerged from her father's home. Though it was barely dawn, she was still insistent in going to places that lay beyond this town, regardless of her father's obvious objections. She had listened intently, unusual for her, but then went straight to bed without any further protesting from her father. The night had been long, however, and caused her some rather uncomfortable dreams of what was to become of her from the moment she stepped outside the comfort zone of the town itself. Her hands gripped very few items; a small pouch of currency, though she didn't know how useful it would be, a small water canteen, and a small loaf of bread. These items were in a small 'back pack ' like accessory, though it was much smaller than the usual size for such a carry on. She was unsure if her father had been awake, but she had not taken the time to truly look. Instead, her eye contact was on the rising sun only.

When her footsteps took her to the open pathway to the road that moved through the entire length of town, it was then that she realized Serj's presence. He had startled her at first, because his position was nearly identical to where it had been the night before, cigarette and all, but she was relieved it was only him and not her father. She relaxed slightly, as though allowing her nerves to calm before she'd truly leave the edges of this town forever, and readjusted her backpack. Her form continued toward the road then, but ceased to look back at the man standing at her father's door.

"It's bittersweet, " She said to him, though she was unaware that her father was stirring in the depths of the house as well, " But I have to do it. I want to find my brother, or even just find out what happened to him. There's so much world out there that I'm eager to see. Maybe it's stupid.. but -"

She paused momentarily before continuing.

" I want to find out for myself. "

After then she began the trudge toward the wood, but appeared to be taking her time, savoring her last walk through the town. There was not going to be a return for her, unfortunately(or atleast that was where her mindset currently was), and though she knew the hatred she bore for this town was eternal, she found herself missing it already.