Wind of flying sands passed over the great molds of dryness. The guardian of wind pushed and pulled the winds left and right so the two travelers just might get thought without sand in their mouths. Ah yes the desert, the two travelers first journey together after they had left the warm embrace of the wind shine. She enjoyed this trip espessly being able to walk with her new friend. Soon the figure came to a huge wall, there were guards that looked at her for moment then slightly bowed there heads. It did feel good to be appreciated sometimes.

She folded her black wings and walked in the mighty gate; inside there seemed to be nothing but a few openings from the ground to the surface. Quickly she walked down below using the stairs. Once she got to the bottom her ears filled with noise, the opposite from the ghostly silence from above. “So this is the underground city.” After gazing the tunnel they were currently in Ploay turned around to face Marinar. “Have you ever been here? I’m sorta nervous of getting lost but whats the point of adventure if you don’t get lost huh?” She asked calmly while she could hear a loud clanking noise from the back. Sounded like metal footsteps.

The journey here had been long but rather uneventful, which was pleasant, considering that it gave the pair a bit of a chance to talk- nothing earth shattering but Marinar was willing to admit he was getting quite comfortable being around Ploay. The tall, broad shouldered man walked along slowly, casting an aura of intimidation naturally about himself and the raven haired angel as his dark green eyes caught the eyes of passer bys, silently and perhaps subconsciously appearing quite protective of the woman. It was not that Marinar lacked faith in Ploay’s ability to defend herself, but in a city like this one, one could never be too careful.

His partly gloved hand rested loosely along the hilt of his sword as it hung from his hip, between that, the look he was giving anyone who got too close and his stature it was no great surprise that the people around them were keeping a comfortable distance. Marinar nodded slightly to the stunning angel’s question. ”I actually lived here for a few months.” He answered, his voice strong and clear but still clinging to its usual rough and tumble undertones. ”Getting lost is a perfect way to get somewhere you’ve never been before.” He added, casting a half glance in her direction and a sublime smile for a moment as they walked along down the underground tunnels.

Ploay smiled strongly at the handsome man next to her as they continued to walk along the tunnel full of watchful eyes. Despite the fact she was a guardian, Ploay actually was pleased to have someone to walk with her along these poorly lit tunnels. Also her kept away any flirts who would try to make any passes at her. But most of the passerby’s knew her thanks to the harsh desert winds in the desert, some looked even fearful. This made her alittle sad inside to think someone would be actually afraid of her, yet it also made her feel quiet powerful.

Glacing from the crow she turned her head back to Marinar, “indeed. How long were you living here?” She asked him as she kept hearing a clanking sound, now instead of feet they sound like gates being unhatched. But those sounds were at least two hundred feet away, not close enough to pay much attention to.

It was rather impressive for an onlooker to see just how much presence the pair held, between the man's stance and the angel's reputation, only a fool would have gotten in their way. Of course, the world was full of fools and imbeciles, but it would have taken a particularly daft one to try anything here.

"A couple months. Nothing spectacular, just a corner in an empty tunnel after a week in an inn room." Marinar replied, half listening to the clanking of gates somewhere off in the city. It was not a very pleasant noise to be awoken by in the morning, he knew from experience, but it gave a bit of a nostalgic feeling to Marinar, which was almost pleasant... almost. Memories of this place were not his favorites, but not his least favorite by a long shot.

Little did the two travelers know, there was a show about to start in the center of the city. One type of show where there would be a lot of pain inflected, not something Ploay was into very much. In fact she didn’t care for such a thing unless herself was in some sort of heavy battle which required inflecting pain. As they made there way though the crowd the tunnel widen greatly in a round dome like structure. While Ploay kept moving though heavier crowds she saw a large pit surrounded with a rail.

Down below the dark colored sand was a man is rust grey armor, cowering against the harden sandy wall behind him. There were sounds of whimpering from his voice as Ploay’s violet orbs scanned at the other side of the pit. A steel heavy gate was raised, and growls deeper then any monster Ploay had ever heard of. Dark grins from town folk gazed below at the gate while this huge sand worm slithered out.

Ploay whipped her head around and locked eyes with Marinar’s dark green eyes, “this looks like an excusction...think she should help?” She questioned him for she didn’t know if this man was accused of a crime or if he was innocent. But Ploay knew if they didn’t stop the mighty sand worm soon, the poor armored man would be killed in a matter of seconds.

There had once been a time when Marinar possibly would have faced this pit. Suddenly his memories raced with thoughts of days gone by, an execution in a different pit than this one, one with a stone floor. He had been taken for nothing more than having no friends in the city when he first arrived and was tossed in with what he had on his back and in his hand. Memories of raising his sword against a snarling warg, starving and sickly, Marinar could justify his actions as beyond self defense, but in order to put the poor creature out of its misery. Obviously, he had survived that day and now he was here seeing the same thing play out in another man's life, but by the looks of it, this man was not going to survive this encounter if help did not intervene.

Marinar nodded to Ploay slowly. "He's done nothing wrong... he needs help." With that, Marinar plucked an arrow from his quiver and pulled his bow from his shoulder, shoving a pair of spectators out of the way and drawing the arrow back before it sang through the air and collided with the side of the worm's jaw, letting out a loud shriek of pain and writhing about in an attempt to spot who attacked it. It's attention drawn from the man in the pit with it, the creature decided that someone from above was the attacker and threw itself into the wall of the pit, attempting to shake one of the spectators down. But Marinar knew it was only a matter of time before the beast remembered who it's closest and easiest target was: the man in the pit. The one that needed saving.

Ploay gave the worm an emotionless expression as she heard the voice of Marinar. Slightly she nodded trusting her friends judgement in the matter for he had much more experience of these sun hidden city folk. The she had thought of something, she never had seen how this man fought, indeed this would be interesting. While turning her head back to Marinar she smiled as she saw him ready his bow then let the arrow whistle is the winds striking the worm. Ploay had never seen him more majestic then looking in his dark green orbs right now.

Her tanned smile faded as she suddenly blinked and was teleported in front of the man with his back against the sandy wall in the pit. Her brown satin sash hung tightly while it blew in the slight wind from this huge worm like monster crashing at the wall. But soon the worm ignored the Marinar and then did something Ploay didn’t find very amusing at all. Lightly raises his font body up, the worm crashed head first in the sandy ground, causing a slight earthquake.

The wind guardian felt outmatched for she was more air basied then under ground based. In fact she couldn’t even feel just where the sand worm was. Quickly, her tanned body turned towards the cowering man who had tears in his light blue eyes. The man seemed more like a young boy how he was wimpering. “Come on it will be alright.” She told him while reaching for his arms so that they might fly out of there. Sadly he was too slow to reach for her arms, and before Ploay knew it there was a rumble under her!

Quickly she looked down, but then was suddenly lifted up from the rising ground like a sandy hill. The sand worm’s teeth were clentched as her black ashen wings begin to flap quickly. Higher and higher she flew until gravity pulled on the worm, and it fell back to the ground. She noted that the man had flung into the wall his back was towards thanks to how close and quick the worm was. For now the worm was concentrated on the flying angelic figure, that was how she liked it. “Have any bright ideas?” She asked looking over her left shoulder towards Marinar, because tag teaming this huge thing would be much wiser then trying to kill it by ones self.

The mild earthquake made Marinar steady his footing as he pushed past a few other people, notching another arrow into his bow, his dark green eyes studying the sands below while keeping a careful watch on Ploay, half interested in seeing how well she truly fought while also wanting to keep her safe. As the worm ripped from the earth once again and she flew into the air he let a slight sigh of relief out, too many close calls like that were going to give him a heart attack. He smirked slightly at her question to him. "Not usually." He replied jokingly, his fingers running along the black reed shaft of the arrow between his fingertips before sliding back against the gryphon feather fletching at it's end as the arrow was pulled back. "I'll distract it... you come down on it. He stated quickly, his dark green eyes finding her briliant violet ones for a few moments before looking back into the pit and letting the arrow sing.

A quick spurt of crimson escaped the creature's side as the arrow impacted against it's hide. As the people scattered from their observation deck, retreating to the doorways of the arena, the worm suddenly noticed who was causing it the pain: Marinar. The creature flung intself into the air and burrowed underground for a few moments before it leapt from it's earthen confines and snapped at the railing before Marinar, ripping the metal apart with it's jaws.

"Oh, this will be fun..." Marinar muttered under his breath as a third arrow flew from his bow into the open jaws of the beast, impaling into the inside of it's mouth before he flipped his bow over his shoulder. drawing a throwing knife from his side, he whipped it into the beast's flesh and after a few steadying breaths from himself and a slight running start he leapt from the upper level, grabbed the knife in the creature's skin and dragged it down the monster's back before staggering to his feet in the sand, immediately drawing his sword. He certainly knew how to get an enraged animal's attention.

A small smirk replied at Marinar to his words towards her, then she found his arrow whistle at the worm again. For now the man in the rusty armor was going to be alright, yet the guardian was slightly worried about Marinar. But if he had been her before, then he would know just all what this worm could do. Yet still her mind couldn’t bring herself to worry about him, after all her violet eyes did see him as more or less a human. Still there was barbaric traits that just may give him the boost to survive this, and then after this was all over the two would laugh and talk about this. For now she needed to think about the worm, and kill it before he could do any harm to Marinar, or the strange man at the bottom of the pit.

Flying over the worm she saw Marinar leap on the creature and drag his knife along the worm’s body. She saw the spews of burgundy fly out from the worms seemingly thin flesh as it made a loud growl mixed with a scream. “Thats the way to do it!” She called out self consiously before she could stop herself noting at Marinar’s detraction attempt. Right now the guardian had just the plan how to deal with this worm.

Reached out her right palm a pulsing purple fiery light came out, and smashed itself at the worm’s head. Or what looked like the head, both the bottom and the head looked more or less the same. Yet whatever she hit, the mighty worm let out a roar as it jumped towards Ploay, but failed once more. When it landed on the ground again there was another earthquake that the guardian hadn’t felt thinks to her being in the air. Once the worm was settled, Ploay teleported in front of the strange man, and quickly yet roughly grabbed him. In a matter of seconds she teleported next to Marinar. “Shall we go?” She asked with a smirk while holding onto the man’s arm, trying to hold him somewhat up. But his legs were shacking badly, and Ploay couldn’t blame him for it.

Marinar watched closely, his head cocked slightly as Ploay worked her magic upon the beast. As his eyes ran down her form to the worm's he began to notice the many scars all over the creature's body, they were not the first to damage the monster. He turned half to Ploay and the man, who was evidently scared out of his mind and then looked at the stunned beast. "You're going to make my work seem rather insignificant if you keep things like that up." Marinar managed a bit of a smirk to the ever gorgeous angel before once more he looked at the worm. "It needs to be put out of it's misery..."

With that he walked over, sword in hand and put his hand on the creature's jaw, moving around and finding the wound opened by his dagger moments before and plunging his sword into it's flesh again, this time deeply and with a twist the creature stopped moving, finding it's eternal rest. "Nothing can hurt you anymore now." He said quietly before sliding his blade from the motionless heap of flesh.

He moved over to Ploay again. "Someone is not going to be happy that we interrupted their sick play time. We should find somewhere out of the way... and you..." Marinar said, turning his eyes from Ploay to the man. "Need to get out of this city as soon as possible."

Ploay smiled at Marinar’s comment to her, there was something about him which made her whole life seem to come alive. “Then keep up with me,” she replied with a slight chuckle looking towards the stunned creature. Ploay had the man’s arm wrapped over her shoulder while she saw Marinar stabbed his sword into the worm, which suddenly caused the creature to stop breathing.

Ploay nodded slightly, “only fools would mindlessly run out in the harsh desert looking for use,” she spoke as the man seemed to finally get his baring. slightly Ploay could hear him chuckle so she turned her head and looked at him. He had already removed his arm from her shoulder, “I’ll go wherever she goes,” he said turning his head at Ploay and giving her a wink. The wind guardian cocked an eyebrow to the took a rather large step to Marinar’s right side.

Already this strange man was making her uneasy but right now they had bigger things to take care of. Above them her ears could hear shouts from the upper arena where they first were. “Whatever the plan we need to act fast before there are any eye witnesses who have remembered our faces.” She remarked as she smirked to Marinar, like anyone could forget such a handsome man’s face.

Marinar rested the tip of his sword under the man's chin as Ploay stepped closer to the barbarian. "You had best learn how to have some respect or else it will be me you'll be cowering from next." He let just how serious he was settle in for a moment before lowering the tip of his blade, leaving a mark of the worm's blood on the man's chin before he turned his face towards the lovely Ploay and put a reassuring hand on the small of her back, pointing to the iron gate the worm had been held behind. "Over here..."

Moving over to the gate, Marinar quietly said the word "Strength" and grasped the metal crossbars, pulling the gate up and holding it over the heads of the trio. "Go through... they won't expect us to be able to escape through here." He said quickly, mild strain in his voice from the weight of the gate. It seemed that barbarians were not all just pure muscle, even the strongest men had to pick up a bit of magic to be able to keep up with the other beings of the world they were competing with.

A faint hint of red hint from impressed gently glowed on the tanned cheeks of Ploay while she saw how well Marinar stood up for her. A smile was form as she locked eyes with his green eyes when in placed his hand on the small of her back. For a moment she had almost forgotten the whole ordeal from the worm until he lead her passed the creature to the gate. The heavy steel gate almost looked impossible to be lifted but for some reason Marinar seemed to be able to do it, of course with some help of magical arts.

The wind guardian pulled on the strange man’s arm as she walked though the steel gates. While walking she instantly found that it was really dark, and seemed more like a very huge tunnel as well. The very first thought that crossed her mind was walking right into the sick person’s stronghold. Maybe that worm was some sort of pet, or maybe they would end up in a prison with dead carcasses. Ploay turned to Marinar and asked with her violet eyes if they would have to venture deep in this dark passageway. Her wide eyes seemed to plead no, but she was willing to if need be.

Suddenly an awful rotting small filled her noise, and in a moment time she had covered her nose and coughed; yet this action proved to be a lost. “I don’t wanna go in there.” The man said while somewhat keeping his distance away from Marinar, slightly shaking. Scarlet blood from the worm was still there, Ploay figured that he may have been to scared to wipe it away quickly. Ploay was looking at the man while she spoke, “Nor do I, but if need be,” she said quietly while turning her head to look at Marinar, “Then I shall go wherever you go, or need me to go.”

Slowly lowering the gate into it's orignal position, just with the trio on the opposite side of it allowed Marinar to let out a slow, quiet sigh as the strain of the weight eased away. He glanced down the dark tunnel, his infravision taking effect and allowing him to see a short ways down the long corridor as the stench hit his nostrils and he grimaced slightly. Turning slightly to Ploay at the sense of feeling her eyes turned to him, he could see how much she wanted to stay out of the darkness. He reached over with his free hand, his right occupied by his sword, and took hold of her hand. "Just stay close and walk slowly... and try to hold your breath... I'll get you through." He said to her calmly, the stench and the impending darkness not seeming to affect him much.

His dark green eyes turned back to the darkness, the faintest glimmer of light up ahead as he overheard people shouting above the arena. Up ahead he could see a few scattered bodies and strewn limbs on the sand, he was going to have to guide Ploay and the man around that. The light, if her remembered correctly, came from a feed chute that was just wide enough to fit him through, he stepped carefully forward in the darkness, surveying the area around them and every so often looking back to Ploay to ensure she was alright.

Ploay enclosed her fingers around his own fingers while holding onto Marinar’s strong hand. Her felt warm so she got alittle closer to him while her other hand still held on the man’s arm, helping him along the passage way. There was thicker and thicker smells of the rotten flesh. Looking over her shoulder she could see the faint light from which they came though, and how far they had gotten. The wind guardian was beginning to wonder just when or where they would be able to get out of this huge tunnel.

Finally she looked strait forwards and saw another dim white light, surely that was the exit but the exit to what she couldn’t tell. Ploay gently squeezed Marinar’s hand alomost in anticipation to what would await them next. The wind guardian did feel better that he was with her right now. “Thank you for going with me on this journey,”she said in a soft whisper as they ventured closer.

Marinar smiled slightly over his shoulder to the angel and replied to her comment in a calm, quiet voice that despite it's tone did nto fail to hold onto it's strength. "I wouldn't have it any other way." He gently squeezed her hand as they moved into the light as it came down from a narrow doorway up a few steps recessed into the wall. In his mind he was attempting to recall what was on the other side and how they could get out from there.

The barbarian turned and in the dull light spoke to the man they had rescued "Once we get to the other side of this door, you are going to go left, at the first tunnel on your right, you'll go that way, it will take you to a staircase up to the promenade and from there get lost in the crowd and disappear." Marinar turned his dark green eyes onto Ploay's as a tiny sliver of light from the grate in the door let him see her beautiful features. "We'll take a different path." He looked between the pair for a moment before peering out the grate in the door to ensure no one was around before pushing open the door into the barren corridor before them and going out first.

Marinar looked to the left, then the right, where he was going to lead Ploay to get away. "We'll go down through the aqueduct system... can keep out of the way til they give up and go back to drinking."

Relative thinking about which way they should go in her own mind, Ploay hear Mainar’s plan. Her eyes widen in surprise that he had gone though the same passage behind the gate, which instantly triggered the thought that maybe there were more of those cursed worms. But now wasn’t the time to think negative, no she needed to keep in mind that they had escaped one worm, now it was all up to luck of the draw. Who could get to where or whom first. The man nodded as he went though the doorway second after Marinar more or less pushing pass Ploay.

An annoyed look came on her face as she was forced to let go of Marinar’s hand while she walked calmly, but in somewhat of a sneaking way behind the two men. A cool smell of water seemed to come somewhere, something she hadn’t smelled since entering this underground city. Of course thanks to being taught by the goddess of nature, all things more or less living needed water to survive, which also came without saying. So not only was this a place for battling unwelcome people, but a place where they could store water. Ploay gently smiled that even in this harsh desert hardly anyone would die from drought.

Tiny driplets could be heard from where they were standing, looking over her left shoulder suddenly spotting dampness along the floor. “Uh, fine fine,” the man stuttered as he walked passed Ploay to the right, but Ploay payed no attention to him. Her eyes seemed locked in that damp passage way which seemed to scream out danger in every way possible. Shifting her gaze to Marinar she nodded, “Alright lets go then,” she spoke quietly, almost showing a hint of worry in her strong voice. For now her concern was maybe they were taking the dangerous pathway, while the other man got away scot free. Sure that was really great on Marinar’s part seeing how he and the wind guardian were much better fighters.

Up above sounds of rushing footsteps from the city could also be heard, but they weren’t going up; instead the passage way was actually looked curving downwards. Ploay slightly nodded to Marinar as she began to calmly walk down the passage way. Slightly but surely the passage way was indeed lowering, and sounds from above were drowning out as sounds of water was increasing. While walking she turned her head to see if Marinar was falling her, “once we get down there, then what shall we do?” She questioned, not even asking if anyone would ever really forget about the two worm killers.

In his mind, Marinar was thankful the man had not protested, finding it much easier to be able to move along when it was just him and Ploay- since he knew she could handle herself. It did not make him any less protective of her, but it was still a relief- not to mention that the man's attempt at flirting with her had set Marinar slightly on edge... not that he would admit that to anyone. He quickly caught up and kept close to Ploay's side, not wanting to let her get too far ahead of him.

Upon seeing the gentle curve downwards in the corridor, Marinar smiled slightly to himself- it was good to know that his memory was not failing him just yet. The sound of the water on the opposite side of the wall suddenly drowned out the footsteps from above, and suddenly Marinar felt like escaping their pursuers had come with an amazing amount of ease. "We can either linger in one area for awhile... or we can walk to the opposite side of the aqueducts and come out on the other side of the city, you pick." Marinar replied to his companion as the heavy iron door that they would have to pass through came into view ahead of them.

Adjusting to the sudden light from above, then having to squint slightly for as the two went lower, the light went dimmer. Such a surprise how much that Ploay loved the sunlight filtering though her black ashen wings. She could only imagine how dreadful the sun would be upon the desert dwellers. Never had she known that anyone would even dare try give this sun trap place a chance and actually live here. Not only that but the wind guardian had an odd feeling that the massive desert was filled with those hellish worms which tried to devour the two travelers. Her tan throat swallowed hard with that thought in mind, as well with another thought which suggested that arena didn’t always have that one worm. It was a major possibility that the ones who enjoyed the show would easily round up some more worms; or worse, they had a hatchery!

Her tanned round face gently dropped down to the ground as she could see pale puddles of dripping water. Such water clung together as she stepped into it carelessly with her brown leather sandals on. The cobblestone made a gentle echo of their steps then suddenly she could hear Marinar speaking to her. Ploay felt it would be wise to blend in with the city for awhile, then just sit down waiting for the entertainment to eat them. They were behind enemy lines which in short was not one of the wisest things to stay behind for a long while. Her head rose, lightly tilting to the left so she could see his handsome features.

There were many fair words Ploay could use to describe the barbarian built man, but now wasn’t the time for any of that. No, she needed to keep her eyes on escaping from this underground water area as soon as possible. Just as her smooth lips parted, they pressed together once more as she turned her head forward ending in a sudden halt of her footsteps. An iron door laid in their pathway, it is always something isn’t it? Ploay asked herself with a slight shake of her head. The wind guardian could try to force the door open, but on further looking there was a lock on the door. Even that seemed to suddenly end all her ideas for getting away.

Slightly bitting her bottom lip she softly let out a hot air of annoyance from her breath. The loud sounds of rushing waters were actually drowned her sighing sound, which made it also difficult to hear anything. Ploay turned her body to the left with a push from her heel so she could look at Marinar. It only it was locked from the inside, maybe they could knock on the door, someone behind the door would unlock it then bingo. But seeing how the lock was on the outside, facing them in an intimidating way, Ploay really doubt that possibility. “We need to get the heck out of here fast,” she said in a fast hushed tone as she could hear heavy footsteps down the cobblestone walkway. It was almost like a pulsing sound.

A lock. How annoying. As they approached the door Marinar noticed the metal lock and began to ponder whether he could just snap it off with his bare hands, or perhaps he could figure a way to unlock it. Upon closer inspection he realized that his lacking lock picking skills would have no chance against this fine piece of security. He looked over the heavy door, trying to decide whether it was possible to kick it in- which it evidently was not. That was when he noticed the latch that the lock was attached to, it was dark metal- looking almost like copper but more likely bronze, attached with iron studs.

”Just a matter of leverage…” Marinar muttered to himself as he raised his sword and slipped the blade into the loop of the lock, pressing the tip against the cold metal of the door and pulling down- the strain causing the bronze latch to begin to bend just as the footsteps could be heard. Marinar glanced up in the direction of the footsteps and then to Ploay as she spoke.

”Don’t take this the wrong way, just play along.” He said as he quickly withdrew his blade from the lock, knowing they did not have enough time to break it off at the moment before whoever was coming down would see them. So, Marinar remembered a trick he had seen used once when he was on the run from guards- his partner and he had ended up in a brothel one way or another and as the guards came by his partner- as he put it- ‘blended in.’ Marinar rested his forearm against the wall next to Ploay’s head, blocking the lower half of her face from being seen by the approaching person and leaned in to catch her lips with his own as a single guard rounded the corner- ‘the kiss of desperation’ is what Marinar’s friend had referred to the move as and that was exactly what it was, fueled by and intensity that only came from danger.

“Oi, what you-” the new arrival began but was silenced by a wave of Marinar’s free hand- the guard simply rolled his eyes and moved over to the door, unlocking it with a key from something vaguely similar to a stereotypical dungeon master’s key ring and with that the guard lugged open the door and stepped through the door, closing it completely as he went in to make his rounds through to shoo away anyone who had snuck in… which left this door unlocked and unprotected.

Doubt reached Ploay’s mind as she saw the lock, yet that didn’t seemed to cease Marinar from giving up. Getting his sword out the guardian winced as she heard metal against metal sound while he tried to unlock it. Quickly she turned her head to the sound of footsteps, nervousness crept up on her as she looked back at Marinar who had put some scratches on the lock. Right then and there she wished there was a possible way of actually disappearing from that whole place. Yet there were only two ways to escape, though the locked door or down the hallway where an unknown footsteps were coming from. Heavily her heart beat hard in her chest as she saw Marinar remove his sword from the lock. Maybe he had an idea to get out of here.

There was some sort of twinkle in his dark green eyes as he looked at her, a type of look which Ploay’s face gave a questioning look towards him. Something seemed very off in her mind as she looked at Marinar.
“Don’t take this the wrong way, just play along.” She heard him say as he moved close to her. Ploay slowly backed up only a few inches for the wall behind her was blocking her way. Those soft ashen wings were pressed against the wall as well as her back. His hand was placed next her to her face and those violet eyes lit up for she had no idea what he was going to do. Sure there were a couple of guesses, but still she was almost too shocked to really thing that much about it. Don’t take what the wrong way? She asked herself just as he leaned in to meet her lips with her own.

Very lightly as his lips were pressed against her, those eyelids of hers slowly dropped until she was closing her eyes, standing still while she heard the footsteps pass them. With her left hand she reached up to place her hand on the back on his head as she kissed him back. The guardian felt like this would be the only time she would feel his lips on hers so she might as well not waste it. Then she heard the door shut, but the fateful sound of a lock clicking back in place was not sounded. With her lips locked with his, Ploay stood in silence to see what his reaction would be.

The sound of the door being closed seemed rather inconsequential to Marinar. He leaned into the kiss a tad more at feeling Ploay’s hand touching the back of his head, it was quickly becoming evident that this was more than just a ploy to be hidden from the long since passed on guard. Marinar’s hand moved from the wall to run along the wind guardian’s raven hair, he too thinking that this was likely the only chance they would get at this- so it might as well be made worth while. His free hand brushed against her ashen wings, taking the feeling of the feathers under his fingertips in and putting it to memory.

Just how long it had been since he had last felt anything like this was almost beyond memory for Marinar any more, it had been over a decade… probably closer to eleven years now. In all honesty, he missed having someone that he could put his arms around and hold at times more than he missed all his friends and family that he had lost back on that fateful day. But that was something he would need to think about later, now he had to act and lead the new object of his affection to safety... or relative safety anyway.

Slowly, Marinar forced his lips to part from Ploay’s, his hand coming to rest on her hip from her wing. His eyes opened once more for a few moments to look at hers before closing the tiny distance between their lips once more- just to make sure that she knew that it was more than just a method to avoid detection, or so he hoped that would be conveyed. “We should get moving…” He said, his voice quiet and almost soft, had his voice not been so naturally rough sounding. Once more, he took her hand and pulled open the heavy door, staying noticeably closer to her than he had been before.

Small ashen feathers lightly rose as they felt warm fingers touching them for one of the first times. Ploay felt him pull back, beginning to think it was only a trick for the man who had the key. Now the door was unlocked, she couldn’t find anymore reasons why Marinar would kiss her any longer. Before she was able to speak she could feel his lips pressed against her one more time before he finally seemed to give her room to move more manageable. What about Samarin? The wind seemed to ask her just before Marinar talked to her. Ploay pondered about the earth guardian for a moment just before she took Marinar’s hand. Softly she sighed as she interlocked her fingers with him.

Slightly nodding she went to his side as he pulled the heavy doors. Ploay never had any idea where Samarin was right now, hardly did she ever guess that he knew where she was. Slowly but surely her relationship with the earth guardian was dying rather quickly. It just never seemed meant to be, in fact it seemed like it was more or less fate. True the earth guardian treated her well, but in her mind the earth was slow, lacking the speed and power of wind. Adventure like this was no longer met because often she felt trapped even though Samarin wasn’t really trying to. There were so many things Ploay wanted to tell him but never gotten the chance for they were lovers first before friends.

Peering though the doorway she saw, and heard the soft powerful sounds of water. The cobble stone walk way was made in a cross like shape. Forwards was the long and rather wide base, then near the back was three passageways. But what really caught her violet eyes was the metal ladder at the back which was leading up. From the looks of it, it would take a good long while to even get halfway up. Behind the ladder was a passage way, and looking closer she could see a faint dim of light which looked like a lantured leaving them. Surely it had to be that man that passed the two kissers. Ploay turned to her left and looked at Marinar’s dark green eyes, she seemed to be a little closer to him then she was before. “Which way?” She asked quietly so the man wouldn’t hear, also she was trying to ingore what had happened at least for now until she could think.

Quickly scanning around their options, Marinar stopped and closed his eyes, taking a deep breath and trying to still his thumping hear so he could listen closely to something in the distance, the sound of the water. He could see that Ploay was suddenly rather withdrawn, but he had no choice but to remain the leader for now, he had to get them to relative safety.

"This way." Marinar replied quickly and quietly, his eyes reopening and his hand motioning to point down a hallway, up the ladder was the faint sound of the guard who had passed by moments before so that way was off limits for now. He began down the corridor towards the sound of the water, down the tunnel around around the corner was the aqueduct, running water along the dark stone causeway, carrying the water to the various holding areas of the city. There was a narrow ledge on either side of the running water, obviously not intended to be walked on, and there were no torches or lanterns at all down along the aqueduct.

Marinar's memories brought him to a time when he was escaping pursuers, alone in the dark tunnels before him and Ploay now- he dove in without a second thought, after all, what fate would be worse than being held by the warriors of Angband? Marinar soon knew the answer to that, he had met the face of the shadows in the pitch, the dark creatures that lived in the true underbelly of the city, monsters that at first glance made the demons and undead of the world seem good compatriots.

Marinar stood on the edge of the aqueduct's running water then looked between the darkness and Ploay. "We're going down here... hold onto me... and don't let go, no matter what."

Water. Ploay thought to herself as all words from Marinar’s lips seemed to fad away as she saw that merciless current he wished to dive into. Water was much like wind, which in a great way actually scared her almost. Like wind, water was chaotic, thus could turn for the worst at any given time; when people least expect it. Was chancing her life on a chaotic element she didn’t have a spiritual connection with, worth it? Looking away she tried to see if there were anyways of not diving in that. Softly after looking for a few seconds she didn’t see any.

“Have you done this before?” She questioned his dark green orbs. The guardian was still kept her stance, not showing any movement of diving into that water any time soon. Folding her big ashen wings, and letting go of Marinar’s hand in the process she crossed her arms.

Still looking at his eyes, she still stood awaiting his next action. Maybe by luck he could actually convince her to dive in.

Marinar could almost hear the sound of creatures chattering around in the dark corners of this area of the aqueducts, whispers in the pitch in the dark tongues of the world yet here they were, standing on the brink of going further into the shadows. He sighed at Ploay's evident hesitation. "Yes, I have done this before. The barbarian's attention snapped past the angel and came to rest on the shadows being cast off the light at the intersection they had passed through. Apparently they had not had as much time as Marinar estimated when they had taken the secret exit from worm arena.

"We are running out of time, Ploay... just trust me." Marinar stated, holding his hand to her. To him, this hesitation was illogical- fears were made to be conquered as far as he cared and she was allowing them to put her own life at risk. He would not leave her if her fears got the best of her still, but he would certainly be displeased if it came to that. Hers was not the only life at risk at the moment, a fact he was deathly aware of.

Quickly Ploay sighed and knew just what needed to be done for both of their lives. Folding her black wings behind her, she went to Marinar, wrapping her arms around hoping to have him in a tight embrace. Now wasn’t the time to be afraid of water like a scared cat, now was the time to take action. “Alright Marinar I’m not letting go, please don’t let me go,” she said hurriedly with quite a few chuckles as she tightly closed her eyes, and awaited the cold water feeling.

((I know bad post X_X))

"Hold onto me... and don't let go."

The water was warm... not much cleaner than your average river but a good deal deeper. Being submerged in the flow for a moment at first was almost refreshing, just in time for the guard to hear the splash and rush towards the pair as they were rushed from sight by the flow. The last words Marinar heard from him was "Good luck" followed by a wry chuckle. Though the guard walked away, Marinar had not been able to see it as the darkness overtook himself and his angelic companion.

The flow carried on, never once did Marinar loosen his grip from around Ploay's back and waist- here she was his responsibility, he deemed. For almost ten minutes it carried them, Marinar using himself to keep Ploay's head above the water as long as possible, though the way the water flowed it was hard to assume that she was able to go the whole way without going under once or twice.

Finally Marinar grasped onto a ledge in the darkness, his other arm still around the angel's waist as he lugged the upper half of his body onto the small platform. As he looked up a figure stood over them, a mottled voice mumbled something from the figure moved away. Apparently it had been expecting someone else.

Torches flickered in the darkness, casting tiny areas of dim light over long ramshackle platforms of flotsam and jetsam that had managed to find it's way here into the true underbelly of the city. There were a few tents just for privacy of the individuals living inside. All sorts of creatures roamed here, from those who merely shunned the light to horribly deformed or mutilated beings. And then there were a few men and women together who would have fit together perfectly with the people of the surface but chose to be down here. They were physically similar to Marinar, tall, fit, strongly pronounced jaw lines and cheekbones and all of them having dark hair. To the observing eye one might believe that these few people, numbering no more than a dozen, were what was left of Marinar's people.

Marinar turned his eyes to Ploay and cleared his throat while catching his breath. "Are you alright?"

Slightly coughing up water, the wind guardian shook her head to get the water out of her ears. Finally fixing her gaze at Marinar, she nodded to answer his question. That was some ride she took, a ride she could safely say she never wanted to do ever again in life. Slowly she pushed herself up on both feet, breathing heavily to catch her breath.

“Hm,” Ploay said aloud while looking around the dark looking area. She couldn’t tell if they were inside the city or outside. The tents sort threw her off more or less, something an angel could honestly say they hadn’t seen something where they come from. Turning her attention back to Marinar she studied his face with her violet eyes, “Are you alright?” She asked him quietly, not to disturb the people around them.

((sorry for the bad post))

Once Ploay was safe from the flow of the water, Marinar pulled the rest of himself from it, sighing as he regained his breath and nodded to her question. "I'm fine." The barbarian turned onto his elbows and looked around, more than a few of the people there seemed to notice the pair and waved to Marinar. One of the men who seemed to have nothing externally wrong with him made his way over and thumped down the steps to the pair. He was obviously among the ones that looked drastically like Marinar, slightly shorter but equally muscular, a light beard and a head of thick black hair.

"Marinar..." Was all the man said in a rather condescending tone before his eyes fell on Ploay. "What have we here? Finally found yourself a woman who can put up with you? He smirked at Marinar out of the corner of his dark brown eyes and then looked back to Ploay, offering a hand to her.

"Maedred..." Marinar started as he got up, grasping the hand intended for Ploay to pull himself up then give the man a territorial nudge away. "I forgot how short you are." Marinar said rather sharply before turning around to offer his hands to help Ploay back to her feet.

Taking her two tanned hands, the guardian reached up behind her head to gently take hold of her locks of black hair. With a small twist she gave them a like squeeze like one would squeeze a lemon to get the juice out. Instead of sour juice, water trickled down her back to the hard ground her bottom was on. As Ploay was drying her hair in this fashion; avoiding using the wind to dry her hair on a count she really didn’t want to get cold from the speeding currents. No. This time she would take the slow approach to this situation.

Suddenly a man began to approach them, and Ploay was still ringing out her hair. He seemed to be a bit smaller in height compared to Marinar, but not too much. Yet he did seemed to be equally has handsome as her barbarian companion. With a small polite smile, Ploay put her hands on her knees as the man spoke. The two men seemed to know each other rather well, and when the man offered his hand towards Ploay, the guardian looked at him cautiously.

Without her having to take his hand, Marinar then quickly took his hand from her face. Then offered his own hand. With a small smile on her tanned face, she took his hand with her left, as she pushed herself up with both feet. “Do you two know one another?” Ploay asked Marinar with a slight puzzled look on her face after she stood up in all her angelic beauty. Although her hair was still soaking wet, and those ashen wings were very damp; there seemed to be some odd prettiness that her face showed as she gave Marinar a small smile.