Charlotte could feel it. A distant, ever present, attraction. Was it Ita? Charlotte could have sworn that Ita was gone and finished. Loth had destroyed her? Hadn't she? The telepathic bond was utterly destroyed. Char glanced up to the treetops far above and pursed her lips. Was she to end another day with death looming above her? Did Ita the Reckless have a grudge? At least it was a wonderfully warm day, freakishly so. But the fresh coating of snow hadn't melted, and the mercenary captain was standing in a good four inches of the fluff.

She rubbed her eyepatch momentarily as a snowball caught her across the opposite cheek. Snow exploded across her vision, biting cold assailed her skin, and the giggles of children reminded her she had gotten stuck with the little ones again. Charlotte knelt down, another snowball careened over her head. Her hands cupped together snow into a moderately packed sphere, and she stood again and took aim. Children scurried from the prospect of getting struck by one of the lanky lady's snowballs, each one taking cover behind a tree. Charlotte looked around a little more, and found one of the teenagers who had come down. They mostly arrived out of awe for Charlotte, and some to enjoy the fun of whatever the children-loving lass had for them. But one came because he thought her a washout, an archaic artifact of an age that had come and gone. Her eyes rested upon him as he exposed himself from behind the cover of a snow wall.

"Oy, ya' misbegotten harlot, why don't you get back to following your dead mother!" He screamed. Charlotte glared at him, and prepared to throw a snowball. Kids and their jokes.

"Because you know she was nothing! Nothing! Following her made you nothing! She accomplished nothing! You've accomplished nothing! I'd b--" He shouted, before being cut short. A snowball had found its way into his throat at high velocity, and a tall blonde was pounding across the ground behind it. He'd sent her over the edge, and as the children slid out from their hiding places, they got to see the first fist fall. It caught him across the face, shattering his nose in a single blow. Charlotte recoiled deftly from his counter punch. She grabbed his wrist, pulled it past her in a lightning fast move, and placed her hand on his elbow. The hand on his wrist pulled as the hand on his elbow pushed. Bone shattered. The human teenager fell, his short brown hair rippling as he struck the ground. His blue eyes were full of fear as a tremendous boot fell upon his chest. His rib cage creaked as he emitted an endless scream.

The world came back to her as she removed her boot from his chest. The children were screaming. It was a well kept secret, but Charlotte loved children. Now she'd lost her little friends, the wonderful and innocent young folk that kept her sane.

"I'm disgusting." Charlotte spat as the children ran away. She'd ruined everything. Again. She picked up the teen who she'd destroyed, and hauled him to where Cheysa lived. He'd need a healer.

---A day later---

Charlotte leaned back in her desk after the guardsmen left. The story reminded her of darker days. She'd killed the kid's parents when she'd helped in a raid on Lomedor. He never forgave her. The guardsmen had also fined her heavily. Neither of those two things mattered, other than her loss of the children. It was her secret weakness, those small and loveable cherubs. And she'd lost them. Charlotte cupped her head in her hands, with her elbows upon her desk.

Otherwise, whatever it was she could feel was getting closer. As she heard the claws scratching across her doorstep, Charlotte felt her doubt leave her entirely. Ita.

"Come in." Charlotte muttered, a point of etiquette the goddess would have ignored otherwise.

Despite being crippled both mentally and physically, Ita already had built a mental list of those she needed to hunt down and take under her wing. These key people would be almost integral to her success, possessing the power, wit, and experience to serve her in her new life. The closest one Ita reasoned to be was Charlotte Kemensereg, a wingless valkyrie whom the former goddess had adopted (and subsequently estranged) as a daughter numerous times in the past. They had both fought together and fought each other; it was amazing the young woman had endured such ordeals and come out alive.

Which was why Ita was almost certain Charlotte still had some years left in her, years she fully intended to work out of her like a maid wringing every last droplet out a washcloth. While she wasn't completely certain her "daughter" resided in Yomeniampa, it was the most logical choice of residence for the ferocious blonde; even if the lupine was unable to find her, she still needed a horse. The elven tree-city was the nearest area that had its own stables, allowing her to easily restock on rations before stealing one of the beasts and heading north to continue for Lomedor and eventually back to the Ered Annon mountains.

The latter area was open to many possibilities, one of which being incredibly substantial. If she could follow the range north until reaching the pass that once contained her temple, it was possible to locate it and salvage any artifacts she left behind that could potentially help her. This included Mashaka, the divine axe she once wielded with ferocity. When her immortality was stripped from her by the Goddess of Life, her beloved weapon was cast off of Aman's edge, screaming down like a blazing comet before embedding itself into a high stone wall that was once part of her temple.

But the people were still important. Along with Charlotte, Ita's birth son Halrakka was also out in Ea somewhere, a wandering guardian that was half Vala, half angel. Searching for the Crebain hordes and what remained of the Kemenian Hawkwardens (both serving as former spies for Ita) would also be valuable, along with Slade, her Ancient Wyrm, if he was still alive. She needed every small contribution she could get to ultimately succeed in her quest.

Still somewhat weak, Ita continued use of her worn walking stick to help keep her balance as she calmly made her way through the city, spending what little coin she still had on additional food that she kept tightly bundled up. Ita doubted it would last her for the entire trip to her temple, but stops at Lomedor and Ondolond subsequently would allow her to take any supplies she needed then.

During this time, not one trace of Charlotte could be found during her casual perusing of the city. It seemed ironic in her mind that she now innocently walked the wooden pathways she once set aflame during a duel with the mercenary captain. All in good time, she thought to herself, grinning. There was still one stop left before her leave, however; the stables. Ita had the perfect horse in mind; one that was fast, strong, intelligent, and well-trained all in one.

The building, to her delight, appeared abandoned or closed; its main door, at least, was closed. It would be like taking candy from a baby. In attempted quietness Ita made her way across the entrance in the direction of the area they kept the horses. To her distaste, however, she heard a distinct voice from inside beckoning her to come in. Damn. Her cover was blown. If she would have kept walking now, the stable keeper would have come out to check what the problem was. Time to resort to formalities.

It wouldn't be difficult to discreetly kill the person, after all. Straightening fully to make herself look more presentable, Ita pushed the door inward and entered to a surprising sight. "Charlotte?!" It was obviously her; no one could have matched her mental image of the girl better. The only blatant difference the lupine noticed was the eyepatch she now wore. The poor kid was always getting into trouble, it seemed.

"What in the living hell are you doing in a stable?" she blurted out before an inevitable fit of powerful coughs and wheezes before turned once more in her direction to await a reply. She was prepared for her daughter's usual snarky comments, and doubted anything about that would change after such a long time. Crossing her arms and leaning against the side of the doorway, Ita narrowed her eyes and figured she should get right to business. "Either way, it doesn't matter. Let me see the damn horses, I need one."

It was Ita! And Ita looked like she'd gone into a washtub filled with white dye, and then shrunken. Not to mention the utter lack of Mashaka. Charlotte sat up straight, allowed a crooked smile to twist her face, and winked with her free eye.

"Hell? I'm damn certain you went through that, mum. Probably a diet too, and a bathtub full of white dye." Char said in her ever-sweet tone. Then she lifted her eyepatch, revealing the flesh beneath. It wasn't the prettiest of sights, and looked terribly painful. She allowed it back into place with a highly audible snap, and smiled.

"Just an encounter with the critters of the barrow, nothing serious. But I assume you are here for a purpose, like finding me. Now, mom, what exactly are we going to do?" Charlotte inquired, leaning forwards slightly now. Then she giggled, and kicked back her chair as she rose from it.

"But I think you'd rather see Paprika." Charlotte said. She unlatched the door to her indoor stables, and walked through with a wave to Ita to follow. Most people would be expecting the daughter of Ita and Ita to have burned something down by now. They both believed in being somewhat discreet, and the raiding and destroying could wait until later. Char walked by Pepper, the large black mare that was staring into the empty stall beside her. A week ago a pleasant elven girl had received a horse from her. A gorgeous girl, really, her image was still stuck in Charlotte's mind. But she flipped to the wondrous warhorse that inhabited the third stall.

"This loveable stallion is Paprika. He likes long rides on the beach, nipping, trampling, and when Cinnamon was still here, getting lovey-dovey with Cinnamon. Pepper is too old for him, isn't she!" Charlotte said, all the while stroking the horse. Paprika nipped at her, and Charlotte deftly moved her shoulder out of the way, and she kissed the horse on the cheek. The mare and stallion had been Charlotte's children, and Pepper her favorite sister. Horses were better than people, really. They only bit you for fun, and they couldn't stab you in the back.

"He's big enough for you to ride when you gain back all your weight." Charlotte explained. Her eyes glanced back to the scrawny lupine goddess, and Paprika gave Charlotte a loving snort.

"You'll have to treat my lovely nicely, Mom, or I won't give you another horse. Ever." Charlotte stated. She gave her mother a deathly glare before unlatching Paprika's pen, and motioning to the door out of the stable. Immediately, a tiny object hurtled from where she had been hiding(behind Ita's head, where she had secreted a morning glory flower) and she unlatched the door, and shifted it open.

"Charlotte! Why do I have to move this big, heavy door!"
"You make it cute." Charlotte explained as she opened it the rest of the way with a flick of the wrist. The fairy perched herself on Charlotte's head, the voluptuous little thing giggling maniacally.

"That's your mom? Why aren't you so hairy?"
"I'm adopted, Dragonfly!" Charlotte snapped. In response, Dragonfly burrowed into the excess of head-hair Charlotte had, and bent down so she could look Charlotte in the eye.

"You must have gotten your looks from your dad, anyways." Dragonfly explained. Char sighed in response to the rambunctious creature. At least she was cute, and hidden enough in her hair that Ita couldn't harass the diminutive girl.

Ita felt little pity for the wound Charlotte's eyepatch was concealing. In the lupine's experience, her daughter was a bit too idealistic for her own good, preferring to aid her friends rather than allow them to be devoured by wolves or other nasty creatures. It was a trait she was willing to make use of; the mercenary, if still eager to fight, would serve well as both an ally and a pseudo-bodyguard during her journey.

The inside of the stables seemed considerably smaller than the view from the outside, with even fewer horses. The pair soon passed a large black horse that looked similar to the one Charlotte used to ride to battle, coming to a stop in front of a bulky roan-colored stallion. "This loveable stallion is Paprika. He likes long rides on the beach, nipping, trampling, and when Cinnamon was still here, getting lovey-dovey with Cinnamon. Pepper is too old for him, isn't she!" Ita studied him for a few moments before speaking.

"...Paprika?" the lupine repeated, lifting an eyebrow. "Doesn't a horrible name like that betray its obvious power? It deserves a more intimidating-sounding name." Charlotte didn't appear to be listening, however, too busy stroking the animal and kissing it on the cheek. "You'll have to treat my lovely nicely, Mom, or I won't give you another horse. Ever," her daughter soon stated.

Ita narrowed her eyes, unamused. "You know, that eyepatch of yours belies how soft you've gone. If you would like, I could buy you two a room at the inn here in town and I can be on my way." Perhaps Charlotte wasn't a 'key ally' after all, much more willing to frolick in meadows with other tree-huggers than travel with Ita leaving a trail of blood and fire in their wake.

But quickly enough Charlotte unlatched Paprika's pen door and motioned to the stable exit, where a small creature came out of hiding to open it up. The pixie-like thing's presence only strengthened Ita's suspicion of Charlotte's change of heart, and she sighed and moved toward Paprika in an attempt to ignore it. The warhorse gave the lupine a powerful glare, nipping and pressing its ears against its skull. Ita ignored its displays of rage and climbed onto the animal's back without feeling much current need for the help of a saddle. Satisfied, Ita smirked.

"I will call you Earthrender. Much better name than Paprika." Paprika neighed in dissatisfaction, but the lupine ignored it. Turning towards Charlotte, Ita motioned in the general direction of the black horse's stall. "Gather your equipment, Charlotte. If you do not leave this city with me, you will be the first I will hunt down once I regain my immortality. It would be a shame to allow such talent in combat to rot for the rest of her days among horses and tree-huggers. It will be like old times, and the rewards will be great. You could command my new army again." It was an offer she could not refuse.

Charlotte passed her mother a one-eyed glare, and chuckled as she left. There was a cute little flower in her hair that Dragonfly had left as a present. Charlotte plucked the tiny humanoid out of her hair by her shoulders, and gave her a whispered command. The girl nodded and hurtled off, with a haste so reckless that Charcolate was amazed she didn't collide with anything. The former daughter of chaos(again) released Pepper from her stall and mounted the horse. She wasn't as young and sprightly as she'd been two years ago, but that was good. The horse had the experience of an old campaigner, and had seen more hell and lived than anymore horse on Arda. The warmare was just as stolid as its rider.

Charlotte guided the horse out with her legs, not bothering to pick up the reins. Pepper snorted at the sight of the rookie warhorse, Paprika, and promptly went up to jostle the other horse. At this point, Charlotte did pick up the reins and pulled Pepper away. The warmare had a dislike for stallions, no doubt because she was the biggest warhorse in all of Ea, or so she thought. In a blur, the little fairy had returned in a military hat.

"Ma'am, All preparations to leave complete, and as you ordered, the Elite were prepared yesterday, and all of our supplies were inventoried, including the gold and armaments we gained from raiding the Temple of Chaos...But most of those are in the Bank of Lomedor, as your requested, under the name Togod Demse. Furthermoreeee, I've finished the flag, ma'am." Dragonfly explained. Charlotte smiled to the tiny creature as the remaining twenty of Ita's elite, all on wargback, rode into the training enclosure of Char's stables. Pepper snorted at the wargs, and stared one down. Charlotte had given intensive training to both Paprika, Pepper, and Cinnamon in standing the beasts. It would be necessary if they were to be used, even if Cinnamon was off to fighting wargs. The riders themselves however were all titans in the art of chaos. Heavily armored and armed, each one was better than any ten men. They adjusted their helms at the sight of their scrawny goddess, and let loose a tremendous cry.

"For the Reckless, Chaos incarnate!" They shouted, gruff voices seemingly reaching Aman itself. Charlotte laughed as the did so. Ah, it would be a return to the good old days. Crushing hopes, dreams, and even cities in the name of Chaos.

"Good work, Colonel Dragonfly. I expect the sale of my stables will go as planned?"
"Ma'am, It will. I believe it is being purchased to be a charity orphanage to Lothlomendil, Ma'am."
"Ick." Charlotte muttered. The ferocious blonde waved her hand, in the direction of the road. Dragonfly perched on Charlotte's shoulder. Charlotte looked at the little creature, and as the tiny contingent left, complete with two carts for their limited resources, Dragonfly emitted a giggle.

"After Lomedor, this will be such fun!"

[OOC: I have a feeling you'll be home sick tomorrow with nothing to do, so this post will be a special exception to my "reply in the order my replies came" self-policy. :p]

"For the Reckless, Chaos incarnate!" Ita abruptly urged Earthrender to a sudden stop, the disgruntled stallion digging its hooves into the loose dirt stable floor and giving a loud snort. The lupine stared dumbstruck, eyes quickly widened at the sight before her. Was she dreaming? Hallucinating? As if her leadership status had been abruptly restored to her in one large step, she now stood before twenty of her best surviving warriors, still pledging allegiance to the goddess they once served without question.

Every soldier wore their own custom-made versions of black or red suits of heavy plates, each worn and beaten with age and accumulation of battles. Even the tiniest detail differed between lupine to lupine; some had massive metal ram horns curling from their helmets, while others had scraped massive kill tallies into one of the pauldrons they wore. More had adorned themselves with trophies of past victories in battle; the shriveling head of an elf had been impaled into a custom-fashioned spike of one brute, as well as various pieces of jewelry, magical scrolls, tabards, and even a defiled and worn tome of Chaos spells with the snarling visage of the former goddess adorning its cover.

The wargs themselves were just as well-dressed in their own barding, aiding their already fearful visage strike even more terror into the hearts of the countless victims they had torn apart in battle. Their eyes twitched, lips curled into snarls to reveal rows of jagged sawlike teeth, allowing strings of saliva to drip down from their gums. The noticeably faster-looking warriors' wargs wore lighter armor that covered less area, preferring instead to decorate their mounts with branded runes or curling scarred designs that prevented fur from growing back in the area. Teeth from various sources, particularly human, dangled from their reigns and pierced or torn ears; each saddle appeared to be fashioned from velvet tipped with decorative gold or silk shag that draped down a third of the way to the stirrups.

There was no doubt. These were the Warg Riders of Nandgirith, Ita's once-numerous elite lupines originally hailing from the Redeye clan. Veterans to the bone, they must have approached Ita's daughter, seeking undercover shelter while they waited for the former Vala's return. Pacing the line of warriors with a grin, Ita gave a quick satisfactory nod at their physical shape and noticeable eagerness to serve. "When I am not present, you will answer to Warmaster Charlotte Kemensereg by default." Ita boomed, momentarily glancing at her daughter. "She will help guide you to fulfilling my ultimate will. Due to our low numbers, however, we will perform our attacks with deathly precision; you will strike quickly, mercilessly, and escape before a proper counterattack may be formed. There is no room for error."

An uproar of battle cries, roars, and shield-banging tore through the air, rising into an almost unbearably loud crescendo.
"Glory in disorder! Hoo-ah!"
"Kill, maim, burn!"
"Tear their throats out! Their spines will become their noose!"
"To the Returning Goddess and the Warmaster!"

A crafty smirk had materialized on Ita's face when she turned back once more to Charlotte. "It will attract the guards," she remarked with an almost overconfident intonation. "and we need to fight out of this city and make our way to Lomedor for further recruitment. I give you permission to say the words that will send them tearing out of these doors... Warmaster."