Name Ari Vaisan
Gender Female
Age 18
Birthdate October 13th
Class Nomad
Hometown Born in Mornur, she was taken away by her father shortly after the death of her mother. While she still visits Mornur, she actually lives in a tent with her father and their horses near Mornur.
Personality Ari is a tough girl, raised to fight and survive. She has a short fuse, not one to take others nonsense. She is easily riled, actually, and often subject to jokes and jests because of this, her reaction either very violent or full of profanity. When others are not trying to lure that temper out, she is quiet. Quiet and serious. She likes to focus on the facts and her jobs, having a hard time relaxing. Her humor, when she has one, is very sarcastic, though she rarely ever shows humor.
She doesn't share her emotions or thoughts unless someone is very close to her. She finds that it wastes time dwelling on emotions, and she feels uncomfortable letting outs know her vulnerable side. She needs to be tough, needs to be the one that others see as put together, she can't live a life where she is seen as vulnerable. She is unable to comprehend that a strong person can also show fear or sadness, it just doesn't register for her.
Ari is hard to startle, a naturally alert person that has been trained to always listen to her surroundings. However, if you do manage to startle her expect her quick reflexes to kick in, either a foot at your throat or, if you're unlucky, her weapon.
However, she does have a gentle side. While she isn't one to particularly like people much she does love animals. Her wolfhound, Nyre, being one of her favorite animals. She also seems to enjoy children, overly protective of the young and often slapping people around if they act bad in-front of them. She doesn't like when others are hurt (unless she did it because they deserved it) and will tend to the injured or sick, coming off as even friendly when caring for them. However, the second their healed her tough, somewhat cold exterior pops right back up. People who was naturally sweet and gentle seem to get on her good side, and she'll end up protecting them.
She is someone you'd want to fight with, for she is reliable. Whether or not she likes you she will keep your back. Though, there is one con to her in a fight. She doesn't like being protected. This can and should be a pain in battles, for when she is hurt in battle she will continue fighting. Also, there are moments where she goes into a blind rage, though this should only happen if someone she cares for is hurt or, though unlikely, she were to meet the Niche that murdered her father.
She doesn't like being indecent, meaning ungroomed. If you wake her in the morning she will lash out. She actually is a shy person, despite how tough she is. She hides it well, but the girl is self-conscience and gets embarrassed easily. This is one of the reasons she is so violent to those she cares for, unsure how to show affection and finding it embarrassing, she instead chooses a well timed punch or rough kick. If anyone were to flirt with her.... hell, they better expect stuttering, red-faced Ari kicking them to the ground.
As a side note, she's awful at cooking. It never was her thing, and never will be. She even found a way to burn pasta. Yes. Pasta.
History Her story begins with her Nomad parents, Arihen Vaiset and Yisun Nasan. Arihen was her mother, traveling with a separate group than Yisun. However, every time the Nomads gathered within Mornur Arihen and Yisun would meet, trading stories of their adventures and occasionally trading items. During one of these meetings they decided to trade something different, bodies. They spent the night together, and Arihen became pregnant. She left her group and joined Yisun's side, giving birth to one daughter that resembled Arihen greatly in Mornur.
The child wasn't named for a week, her mother wishing to either have the child's name simply show itself or grow fed up waiting and choose a name belonging to one of the parents families. It was during that week that not only was the child named, but a tragic event occurred. Niches attacked the family during their travel to Mornur, and the mother perished. Scooping his daughter up, Yisun only barely managed to escape to Mornur. Heartbroken, the only thing that consoled his broken, weak heart was his beloved daughter, and he affectionately named her Ari, after her mother. Her parents were never married, however the father decided to combine the last names of both parents, a strange choice however one he saw to resemble the love of the two creating Ari.
Yisun did not like cities much, however he decided to live near Mornur for both his child's sake and to stay close to the city that introduced his late wife to him. If they were attacked again, he could reach the city quickly and easily, and this was vital to him for the safety of Ari. As the child grew she was raised to hunt and fight, an odd choice for a female Nomad, but her father was one to make odd choices. Ari grew up strong, and resembling her mother more and more by the day, and Yisun grew older and weaker. Never less, they happily stayed in their tents outside of Mornur, enjoying their quiet and peaceful life together. That is, until....
Drive After a Niche murdered her father, Ari had no where else to go, having lost her mother many years ago. First fueled by an anger that consumed all decisions and logical thought, Ari had decided to get her revenge, though that eventually developed into a desire to protect people just like her and stop families from being torn apart. She never wants to let someone she loves be devoured by a Niche again, and she never wants for other families to be ripped apart so violently again.
Prompt Three "Ari, would you get up?"
It must have been the seventh time he asked, Ari would think he'd take the hint by now. No, he hadn't, or if he did he just didn't care. Another foot nudged her, another groan escaped soft lips. She was not having it, not today, she refused to have anything to do with this morning, perhaps even this afternoon.
"Ari. Up."
It was his own damn fault. For the first time since she was born her father had gotten a hold of liquor, and he had decided to share it with Ari. At first she had believed it tasted horrific, but she had enjoyed the warmth it spread through her chest and throat. Eventually, she grew accustomed to the taste and assisted her father in downing the entire bottle in one night. He had laughed heartily that night and failed to warn her of the awful morning that awaited her.
Now, here she was, head pounding and temper raising. How could her father still be so cheery, loud, and clearly awake while she wanted to set fire to a village? The young girl considered kicking her father from where she lay, deciding instead to keep ignoring the man. The girl wiggled further under her covers, pressing into the mass of blankets, attempting to bury herself. Yisun promptly kicked aside the covers, exposing the young girl. She flipped onto her back, blue eyes flashing open, and promptly slammed her bare foot into the older mans chest.
"GET THE HELL OUT!"
- - - - -
Yisun cradled his bruised stomach as his daughter stomped about the camp site, watching her untied hair widely swing about as the stormed throughout the site. He should have known better, Ari had a foul temper in the mornings, and having a hang over.... No, it wasn't the attempt at waking her that pissed her off, he already knew what it was that sent that strong foot after him. It was the removing of the covers. She hated being indecent, and she hated when others saw her in the morning before she was able to groom herself. Combine that with a hang over and you were given a vicious kick. Mentally, he lectured himself for teaching her how to fight, it would have saved him that quickly darkening bruise.
"Papa. What is wrong with Nightingale?" The grey-haired man raised his head as he spotted his beloved daughter beside her horse, tensing considerably. This wouldn't go well.
"She was bitten by a snake. I cleaned the wounds and extracted the venom, but she won't be able to ride properly for some time." Ari sent him an icy glare, considering either questioning why the hell her horse was even in the position to be bitten or why he was riding her to begin with, however (lucky for Yisun) her head let out a screaming headache, causing her thin body to shudder violently. Flicking long hair from her face, she decided to simply let it go, slumping beside her horse.
Perhaps she should lighten up on her father, though at times he needed someone to kick him into shape. He was an older man, hair already a bright grey, body beginning to hunch in on itself and skin wrinkling quickly. He was lazy at times, then suddenly as loud and hyper as a teenager. He was lucky Ari watched over him, making sure he didn't push himself to far or kill himself by doing something stupid. Despite how completely different their personalities were the two lived in harmony, interrupted briefly by trips to Mornur or travelers stopping by. Yes, a kick to the stomach was considered harmony.
Today was one of the few days that her father would leave her alone for the night. He hunted, and at least once every two weeks he would head down to Mornur and exchange pelts for money. She only hoped that her headache would subside by night, she needed to be alert when alone in the camp. Her father had drilled into her basic survival skills, and to always, always be completely aware when alone in the dark. Damn b*****d of a father... letting her drink that much.... She needed to begin preparing for the night. Pulling her legs to her chest, she pushed off her knees, standing and heading for her tent, bare feet drifting across the dirt quietly. Her fathers bright green eyes followed her, wrinkled face crinkling further as he smiled.
"Little sparrow, do you want anything from the city?" He growled the word "city", a word he hated. He was not one for cities, he hated the smells and population and the strange life-style of those in the city. He liked the wilderness, peace, and being close to the earth. He never really enjoyed the days he had to visit the city. Ari peeked her head out of the tent, hands busily tying her long hair into a braid.
"Something sweet for Nightingale." She slipped back into the tent, grabbing her clothes and slipping them, removing her sleeping attire which consisted of a simple, thin dress. Finally dressed appropriately, she stepped out of her tent, flopping down onto a tree stump, frowning as she viewed her father. His beard was everywhere, and his hair was not even combed. When was the last time he combed it, anyway? Frowning, she returned to her tent, grabbed her comb, and approached her father.
"Papa, you look like a feral monkey. Stay still." Reaching for his hair, she scowled when her father leaped away, waving his hands.
"I like my look."
"You are not going to the city with hair like that."
"I always do."
"And that is why people do not trade or buy from you. Stay still."
The rest of that evening was filled with Yisun's angry, old man complaining yowls, and his daughters attempts to hush the loud man.
- - - - -
She never slept when her father was out. She was tense, twitching at every sound she heard. Her hand would grab her spear each time an animal cracked a stick, each time her horse even so much as neighed she grabbed her spear. She was a cautious creature by nature, even more so when alone. It was the story of her mothers death that made her on edge, the story of the Niches.
Her mother had been killed by Niches when she was extremely young,. Niches was what took her mother out, and what was the creature that bumped in the night. She was, like anyone, absolutely terrified of them. It didn't help that her father refused to live in the city, where they were safer.
A sound echoed in the night. Her horse let out a loud neigh, alerting the girl. Her long, tan fingers grasped her thing spear, twirling it into her hands as she rushed out of the tent, legs spreading, feet digging into the ground as she tensed. Her outfit fluttered about her quietly, settling as her breath did. Her eyes frantically sought, narrowing and focusing as a shadow wavered in the distance. Then, suddenly a smaller shadow rushed towards her, her hands twirling her weapon, feet moving forward, weapon halting, raising, and then....
"STOP!"
Her spear jerked to the side, stabbing into soil instead of flesh. She stumbled and fell, eyes wide as her head raised. Ari was not used to being stopped, her body did not react well to her sudden force halting. Feet pounded closer to her and something warm slid into her lap, her hand slapping it away. Familiar hands lifted her up, the scent of her father reaching her.
"I come back early and you try and stab your present!" Yisun gasped, voice shaking as the elderly man panted. Ari stared at him, stepping back and grabbing her spear, ripping it from the earth with a grunt.
"You never return at night, what did you expect? You trained me." Her eyes flicked to view her father in the dark, jumping as something warm and furry jumped onto her leg, pawing. Her eyes flicked to view a small, dark red and white wolfhound puppy, tail slightly curled and ears perked, warm yellow eyes viewing her as if she was a goddess itself. The creature ran circles around her, warmly pressing its muzzle against her leg.
"I found him and brought him back for you. Don't kill him!" Yisun gasped, catching his breath slowly as Ari knelt down to lift the small puppy. The second it's pink tongue flicked across her cheek she scowled, flicking it's nose.
"I have Nightingale. A puppy will get in the way."
"It's a wolfhound. It can help you hunt and protect you."
Her eyes raised, locking onto her father. "I don't need protection. Besides, I have you." She watched his face falter, watched him nervously laugh and mutter something she didn't listen to. This puppy was given to her to replace him, this much she knew. He was predicting his own death, whether it been this year or a few years to come. His death was a silent topic between the two, something Ari liked to avoid. Something her father liked to hint at quietly.
The puppy lapped at her cheek again, resulting in it being set down. Ari rejected him quickly. She did not need him, she had her horse and her father. That was her family. If she was given this puppy as simply that, a puppy, she would not be giving it such scowls as she was at that moment. However, Ari knew better. Ari was not amused.
"You smell of sweat. You should bathe before you get sick." Ari muttered, heading for her scent, tensing as the puppy followed. However, she allowed it to sleep at the end of her covers, refusing its attempts to snuggle.
- - - - -
Her eyes flashed open, body jerking upwards. It was still night, so why was she awake? Her father had returned, she should be sleeping. Why was she suddenly so afraid? So.... frightened? Her hands quivered, clenching them tightly as she realized how they shook. Was she sick? Had she eaten a bad mushroom, perhaps? Or was the kill tainted? A low, rumbling, shaky sound alerted her, hands reaching for her spear only to spot the little wolfhound. His hackles were raised, teeth exposed and tail tense. It's throat let out premature snarls, legs almost raising its body, reluctant to leave the girls bed.
Animals were more aware than humans, this she remembered. If he was snarling then she needed to check the site, she needed to wake father. She'd skin that dog alive if he was just being a fool, though! Gripping her spear tightly, she rose and exited the tent silently, and then was thrown right back in, violently.
Her back slammed into the ground, head snapping backwards as a hand covered her mouth, stopping the cry of surprise that almost escaped. Hands easily knocked into her wrists, forcing her to release her weapon. Her nails dug into shoulders, stopping when a familiar grunt escaped her attackers lips.
"Ari. Quiet." His voice was low, lower than she remembered it ever being. It left her still, shocked by the authority that rang in the usual carefree voice. His hand removed itself, body turning towards the opening of the tent. He hovered there, hand pushing Ari back down as she attempted to sit up.
"Papa."
"I said quiet." She hushed immediately, though her hands reached and gripped her spear, just for comfort. She jolted upwards when her father suddenly left the tent, pushing herself up and peering outside the tent.
It was then that she viewed fear itself.
She had never seen a Niche before. She had also never really thought about what they would look like. However the second she laid eyes on it she knew. Her instincts screamed to run, her mind fought to stay. It wasn't that the creature looked frightening, minus the hole in it's bare chest, it was the fact that it looked human. A creature of death and fear itself could hide amongst her own kind, a creature with an inhumane smile as it viewed her father. A creature that was of the same species that murdered her mother. It was fear itself, it was a perfect monster, able to blend in easily if it had a shirt. Able to hide.
Her body lurched, hands frantically fumbling with her weapon. Her father stood in the middle of the camp site, his weapon thrown aside. If she was thinking straight she'd remember that weapons were useless. If she was even thinking she'd remember that it was useless to run at the Niche like a bull, screaming your head off and launching yourself with a spear in your hands.
Thought was gone, instinct was ruling. Her instinct was not right, but then again, humans instincts weren't always right. It couldn't possibly know not to attack a Niche, for instincts did not think that way. It did not think: "That is a Niche. They are immune. Run." No. What it thought was: "That is a threat. Threats are bad. Make it go away. Now." Half of the human race were runners, their instincts telling them to flee danger. The other half were fighters. She was a fighter.
Her weapon went through the creature, her body slamming into the ground. She rolled, crying out as she felt the side she fell on give as she attempted to quickly rise. She had hit it all wrong. What was she doing?! Hadn't her father trained her for years? Why was she being so stupid? Her head snapped up as a shadow covered her, hand reaching for a spear that was far from her, stopping as she viewed a figure she did not want in-front of her.
Her father stood before her, arms spread wide, standing firm as the Niche stood before him. The Niche's eyes were monstrous, barbaric at best. They screamed hunger. Her father stood firm, head tilting back. She could see a crooked, tired smile on those stubborn lips, body rushing cold.
"Run."
Blood splattered, and she felt the warm liquid touch her face. Her eyes widened, pupils becoming slits, mouth gaping wide. A small squeak escaped her lips as her father went limp around the arm that had ripped through his chest, inhumanely strong arms easily tearing through bone and flesh. She froze, and she would surely have died if a loud bark and bite didn't awaken her. Eyes flicked to spot the puppy from before biting into her hand, teeth sinking into the flesh. The pain was enough. It reminded her mind to wake up. Run. She was supposed to run. If she didn't her father would.... would...
Would die for no reason.
Her feet managed to somehow force her body upwards. Her hands gripped her spear, legs darting after her horse. She willed herself not to turn around, heart hammering faster as she ran. Heart. An organ her father didn't....
Stop. She needed to run. Her hands dropped her spear when she fell, turning into solid fists as she kicked off, gripping her horses mane when she approached it. Frantically, she began to hoist herself up, stopping as frightened eyes spotted the Niche. It held a heart, his heart, in its hands, and its eyes were locked on her. Her mouth parted, gasping as the creature tilted its head back and bite into the heart, mouth holding the organ still as it began to walk over, its hands free.
A bark. Once again the puppy broke her from her fear. She glanced down, watching as the puppy viewed her with narrow, intense eyes. The puppy was saving her life, even though she had never given it anything but cruelty. It was protecting her. It was her turn to save it. Her arms wrapped around the puppy, switching it to her left, and using her right arm to hoist herself onto Nightingale. Clicking her tongue and letting out a loud cry, she gripped her horses mane as it kicked off, creating distance between her and the Niche.
As the horse ran Ari willed herself not to turn around. Her eyes closed, body hunching over the puppy, and her body shivered. She stayed this way until morning hit, and she was asleep.
- - - - -
She woke by a lake. Nightingale had stopped moving, though she knew she was far from the camp site. She knew the area surrounding it for a few miles, and this lake was not one of them. She was completely resting against her horses neck, and her puppy was curled roughly into her stomach, probably to not fall. It stirred as its human did, head raising and licking her cheek, tail wagging once. Ari pulled the wolfhound closer to her chest, gripping it tightly. They stayed that way for hours, the girl weeping and the dog comforting. She didn't know it, but that was the day that her life truly began. That was the day that marked her adventure.
