Land Like Home (Gwain Darkson, open)

Imperial City, Outskirts

A doorway of light opened at the edge of the Imperial City, emerging from it three figures. The kitsune, Tamiko, walked out behind her bodyguard, Moriko, and her helper, Orpheus. As soon as the three of them touched the snow blanketed ground, the doorway vanished from behind them. Tamiko stood taller than either of those beside her, with Moriko being the shortest of the three, even with her mistress’ blade on her back seemingly adding almost half a foot of height.

The kitsune stepped forward, admiring the scenery, “This sight,” she whispered, making her way toward the city entrance. It awakened a feeling in her heart, a feeling that she hasn’t felt for several years.

Home…

Moriko walked up to Tamiko’s side, “It feels strange. Doesn’t it lady Tamiko?”

The kitsune looked down at her bodyguard, “Strange...I guess that’s a word for it.” She noticed that Orpheus had yet to join them. She looked back, “Mister Martino, are you…?” Her eyes widened as she saw Orpheus bent over, hands over knees gasping for breath. “Martino!” She called out, dashing toward the priest. Moriko was slightly faster, however, as she was the first to reach his side and eased him onto the ground.

“Th-Thank you, Miss Mio, Lady Tamiko,” he gasped out as the latter made it to him.

“Are you okay?”

He nodded, but the pained look told Tamiko otherwise, “I’ll...I’ll be fine. It’s just...a lot more...agh…”

The priest’s eyes closed and his body slumped down onto Moriko. Tamiko held a hand to her mouth, “Is he…?”

Moriko gave a sigh as she threw Orpheus over her small shoulders, “He’s alive. Barely, but alive,” she looked at him, his slumped head by her cheek, “It seems that doorway took a lot out of him. From his breathing, he’s going to need a good deal of rest before doing anything.” The bodyguard looked up at her mistress, “We must go into the town and find somewhere for him to rest undisturbed.”

“Right,” the kitsune said with a nod, turning toward the town.

“Ah, Lady Tamiko,” Moriko said, “I know I’m usually the one to carry your blade, but...if it is not a burden, I’m already carrying Mister Martino here...”

Tamiko turned back to Moriko, a closed eye smile decorating her face, “Oh, of course.” Tamiko went over to Moriko, retrieving her blade from the shorter woman, carrying the long sword in one hand.

“Thank you, Lady Tamiko,” she said with relief, “and ah...since we are going into town,” she added, a slight amount of exasperation on her words, “I think it would be wise to make an effort to cover, well, you know…”

Tamiko looked down, facing her well exposed femininity. She grimaced, using her free hand to wrestle some of her robe over her flesh, only achieving a slight amount of success before giving a shrug.

Moriko sighed, knowing it was a losing fight. She knew due to her mistress’ endowment, it was rather difficult for her to cover herself completely. Yet it didn’t stop Moriko from wishing that her mistress would make a better effort.

“That will do, I guess,” she said.

Tamiko giggled before the two of them made their way into the city with the third in tow.

The Sleipnir touched down upon what looked too be adequate landing space on the side of a mountain. There were the natural barriers being the powder of snow that swept through and kept the ship mostly hidden from view. Regardless, even if someone were to see the ship and come to inspect it, they wouldn't get into the space-faring vehicle. A hatch opened and fell forward, revealing a small flight of stairs. Metallic boots hit the ground with a loud clank and from outside of the ship, was the tall, stout, muscular Darkson male, Gwain Darkson. The wind nipped at his being, but he wasn't all that phased by it. His hair blew gently in the cold air and his crimson red eyes peered down upon the land before him.

Gwain was mostly impressed with where he currently was. The land was very, very ancient and had the architecture to prove it. A large castle with what appeared be the town lied a bit away from the base of the mountain. More of the land could be seen and the man's scanning eyes made out several key locations that could serve for interesting investigation later. A smile crept upon the king's lips and he started to stretch himself out. He took a step towards the cliff of the mountain that he landed on and pointed towards the large city in the middle. That was going to be his first stop in this new world.

"Alright, let's see how friendly the locals are around here." He said to himself and stepped off the edge of the cliff. Gwain went at an angle and made sure that the cliff wasn't too steep, as he began to slide down the side of the mountain. A decent amount of snow kicked up in front and behind him, but the man shook it off. He held his arms out to help balance himself, as he slid down the side. He picked up speed relatively easily and his eyes soon gave note of a possible path that he could follow down. Gwain smirked and jumped into the air. The man performed several flips, before he landed onto the ground with a large thud. He went feet first, but didn't seemed injured in the slightest. The ground had cracked a little and quaked beneath his might.

Some time later, Gwain found himself at the edge of the Imperial City. The journey didn't take him long and it was rather fun. The king brushed off snow that lingered on him and rolled out his shoulders. The man dropped something as he went forward, though, and it was the strangled and limp body of a Shadow Heartless. Along the way to the city, Gwain was attacked by a group of the creatures. He was able to hold his own and gained victory rather easily. His strength might have been reduced some bit, but it wasn't to the point of where he couldn't function without it. Gwain exhaled a deep breath and laughed loudly, walking into the town and hoping that the creatures weren't the welcoming party.

"Well, there's only one real way to find out. Better stay limber." He said to himself and walked forward into the town. Behind him, a group of near death Heartless lied on the ground, twitching their last movements before they eventually died.