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Nervous Habit Part One By Kael Yakuza Ain't it lovely? Kael thought to herself as she strolled down the streets of North Tek. Today, she was on her way to the races. It being fairly early, she still had an abundance of time to get there. The famed Jet would be racing today. Finally at the station that would take her to the S-tunnel, she ploped herself down upon a waiting bench to rest. Today, today would bring the big payoff. Kael, you see, is an avid gambler. Most on Hekshano find some way or another to spend their meager incomes. Some stim addicts, other dims... she, on the other hand, could not do without gambling until she hits the jackpot. This Jet kid could be the one. Squinting up at the diseased sky to see the planet's heat source, she finds it approaching the midpoint of its journey. A glance at her prized watch confirms the suspicion. While others might be lulled into a sense of unawareness with the need for time to pass, she is different. Being half elf/ half human, her senses are more aware than the average passerby. The BlackLine bus service pulled up right next to the waiting area. Kael and the other people waiting for the bus left their places and stepped aboard, paying their fare as they do so. Kael took a seat towards the back, and she slumped down in the ripped and worn thing. The BlackLine isn't the best of services, but it gets you there. Looking outside as the mobile machine goes into motion, Kael didn't see many trees. She's used to that now, being here for as long as she has. She was taken in by an elven hunter long ago. The hunter had known her mother -- she was of the middle class among the forest-dwelling elves. She had fallen for a young, dashing human male who was passing through the area, as did many of the forestfolk. Humans were so easily amused by mystical forestbeings, elves in particular. Kael was simply a mistake. Left for dead perhaps a few miles from her young mother's village, the hunter had found her. He was an older f ellow, indeed, but he was wise. In his time, he had seen many like Kael's mother, and many who would simply kill their young or throw them into some river. Not that just being left in the forest was any better, but at least the hunter, Morsk was his name, would be there to care for her. Morsk had taught her many things about the way of the forest. Though Kael was half human, she looked very much like an elf as well. She has long, pointy ears on a clever face with rustic brown hair circling it, steel blue eyes that hint a persisting intellegent curiousity, on a lean, lanky body. Morsk had named her Kael because in elven it means 'inner courage'. Kael was taught the elven language and the way of the hunter at a very young age. Since the hunter was a widower, and he had no children, Kael didn't have anyone else to interact with or look up to except Morsk. He was convinced she did not need to learn the violent ways of the humans, but rather be more of an elven creature. Some day she could meld completely with a village out there in the forest. The only weapon she was trained in by Morsk was this short jo staff... an interesting little bo that was quite cumbersome for her when she was a little tyke, but now it's very easy for her to wield. She always carries it around since it just looks like a walking stick anyways. Her mother never returned for her. She never found out if she had any siblings, and if they're still alive if she did. Kael soon turned a teen and found herself bored with the forest. Never could she go and interact with others, and exploring was limited. She came to Morsk to ask if she could go to North Tek and live there. After all, she wasn't a little kid anymore. Morsk was quite taken back, for he always thought she would join the elven culture. She didn't even know any Uni! Protesting that she could easily learn their language, she eventually convinced him that she needed to find her way in the world, and that she would return to him if she needed advice. Later that week she had left with a backpack full with what she figured she'd need to survive. It had only taken her a few days to reach the city of North Tek. Elven feet were fairly nimble and could run fast, spliced with that of a human, which were simply made for walking. Life there wasn't as friendly as it beconed to be... (C) 2000 Dann Erikson AKA Kael |
