Sentinels Fall: Rain's History
Rain looked on from the side of the wagon, barely a cub at her two brothers, playing their game as always. She tried to join in, but the boys always stopped her, voicing she was 'too small' and they 'didn't want to hurt her'. The tabaxi sat stewing.....she knew in her heart this wasn't a mans of isolation - the two brothers loved their sister (a little too much at times, she thought), they genuinely didn't want to see her harmed.
She remembered back from her early memories, and the tales from her mother and father - Rain was born early, and because of this was sick and small. They even spoke that they thought she would de. But Rain proved to be a stubborn fighter, in every aspect of the word.
She looked up from her brothers, playing their game of warrior's to her parents. Her father, though still held a hint of strength, had lost it's edge with a life of family. He was now a guard and merchant with his wife and family, leaving his life of adventure. Still, his tales had rubbed off on Onyx and Timber.
...and Rain.
The young cub was determined to find her own path in this huge world.
<Years later>
The caravan moved with the same bouncing speed, the small knit family as always knowing their place. Rain's parents up front. Onyx, now an image of their father sat nearest the back, his chain armor and twin short swords on hand. The brother had, over the last few years, trained with his father nd became quite the warrior.
Opposite rain, Timber sat reading another of his books, frowning as he muttered words. The smaller of the two brothers realized he had not the skill of a warrior, nor the steadfast faith of a cleric - but a few weeks ago, a wizard had taken him aside and given him some tasks. Since then he had managed a few minor magical spells, fueling his hunger for magic.
Even Rain herself had changed. Now no longer a child, but not yet a woman, the Tabaxi had her own training from her father. She smiled as her hand rested on the crossbow at her side, remembering her first time.
It was a few months ago as she looked at her brother train, and she held a stick, swinging it clumsy. She stopped, hearing a sound behind her and spun, the stick held like a sword to see her father smiling. "Your reflexes and hearing still astound me kitten." Rain relaxed, smiling at the pet name her father gave her.
He walked up and sat next to her as she crouched. "Rain....i don't think your path is that like Onyx - he is strong of arm. And though your smart, not like timber - nor do you have the patience to read books." Rain narrowed her eyes at him, who chuckled. "Easy kitten, i'm the same."
Rain sighed, then nodded. "Then what am i good at papa?"
The tabaxi patriarch smiled. "I saw you throw that dagger last week - hit that tree first try. That's no mean feat. So here's what we will do." He reached behind him to his old crossbow. Rain's eyes nearly popped, but then she saw her fathers stern look. "This is no toy Rain - you will practice with this ONLY when i am around. We will start slowly and test your skills."
Rain was eager to begin, but saw the wisdom in her fathers words. She stood and held the unloaded crossbow as her fathers led her away a bit, Rain noticing Onyx had stopped his practice and smiled at the two.
Rain was a quick pupil, and in the few months, she had become an even better shot than her father. He had agreed that she could help guard the caravan, but her place was ON the caravan, protecting from a range.
Several bumps brought her out of her reprieve, and she looked at Timber, still engrossed in his books, then Onyx, who looked at her with a smile. "What ya thinking about drizzle?" Rain frowned at Onyx, the name he used to tease her. In truth she didn't mind it too much, but the way he looked when he thought he had gotten to her made her warm inside.
"Just some things papa taught me." Onyx smiled as he looked at her, his hand on one of his sword. "You know....he's right. Your a natural archer. The way you shot that rabbit on the run last night was amazing. Even dad said he would never had hit that thing - and he's right. Your eye's sharp sis. I can't think of anyone better backing us up."
Rain smiled as she stroked the crossbow at her side.
<A few months later>
Rain frowned as her eyes scanned the failing light of the caravans as they moved to the telltale signs of the circle that would indicate camp for the night. The tabaxi family had met with a human merchant on their way to Rexxintrom, the same destination as them, and the more people together on the dangerous roads, the better. The few small weeks had built a friendly bond between all of them.
Even as the caravans circled up, a slight drizzle fell, and Onyx came by, looking at her. "Keep your eyes sharp drizzle." Rain nodded.
The camp was quickly set up, and the ring was now lit by a huge fire. Not long after, the tenseness had escaped as they gathered for dinner.
Evening gave way to night as the group spoke, laughed and ate - the same as every night. The sounds of the night were shadowed by the sounds of the night. Things were good.
....when Rain heard a thud, groan and something falling. Her head turned, and her father and onyx, trusting their sisters instincts, were on edge. That's when all hell broke loose. It seemed the swarms of goblins, gnolls and bugbears came from the darkness itself, outnumbering the caravan three to one, but even the attempt to take the sentries had alerted them, and all had trained for this.
Everyone knew their place, and what they could do. Rain's parents fought back to back, her father his sword and shield, her mother two daggers. Onyx, brave and true fought like a whirlwind, twin swords cutting a swath of blood in the enemies. Timber utilized what magic he learnt, burning the enemy with fire and ice alike. And rain, from a high vantage, used the crossbow with deadly accuracy.
the human merchant's wife and children screamed, and Rain's mother nodded, disappearing into the darkness like a wraith. The fight went on and Rain, from her vantage watched it all. She saw her brother, along with one of the other human boys, fighting.
She then spied Onyx facing a bugbear with a polearm. She knew that he was in trouble and she aimed her crossbow at the bugbear....when the string snapped. She cursed as she fought to replace the string - not a difficult task normally, but in combat, time consuming. She worked as if on autopilot as she watched, her brother using his skill. The bugbear was skilled, and scored a minor hit on her brother, where he had two on teh bugbear. The bugbear smiled as he went in, a seemingly easy move seemed clumsy to her, but Onyx acted on it.
The bugbear anticipated this, taking a moderate wound, but swung around, the blade of his polearm skewering Onyx.
Rain stopped, froze in horror as she watched the sight. She fitted a bolt and fired, missing the bugbear. He moved on and she saw her brother alone. She dropped to the ground, crossbow in hand and ran to her brother. She lay her crossbow at her side and touched his face. Onyx smiled as he looked at her. "Not your fault....drizzle. He...was fast. Keep....the....saaff......"
She watched as the life fled her brother and she sat there, tears coming from her eyes. She heard a sound and watched as the same bugbear smiled walking up. She would have died if her father hadn't had come in and tackled the bugbear.
She watched the battle between the skilled bugbear and the seasoned warrior, her hands still cradling her brother. She watched as each scored hits on the other. Finally, a last advance saw her father fling his shield out, slamming the gnoll, then with a swing, he cut it's head off. He stood there, panting as he looked at Rain, and smiling he took a step forward.
...and dropped to the ground.
Though he had one, her father had taken too many wounds. Rain screamed, and people flodded over. Rain's memory was a blur.
It had been a few hours since the battle, and though they had fought off the enemy, the cost was great. The human caravan owner, three guards and onyx had all died. One of the woman was wounded, and Rain's father was on death's door.
Rain sat outside, in the drizzle, with timber by her side, saying nothing. Their mother had been in there for an hour without coming out, and Rain sat, looking into the darkness, reliving her brothers death. The curtain flap opened and Rain's mother came out, tears on her face. She looked at Timber. "Your father wants a word with you before he speaks with your sister." Timber just nodded, his grief stunning him as he walked in.
As that happened, Rain's mother knelt. "You saved many lives tonight Rain - Never forget that - it was YOU who warned us." She smiled at her, though there was grief in that smile. Her mother stood and walked over to a litter with Onyx, and held his hand.
Rain stood and looked at the sight, her heart breaking. She didn't know how long she stood there, but too soon, she felt a paw, and looked to see Timber, his face drawn. "He wants to see you sis."
Rain looked at the tent and walked in.
The tent was warm, with a brazier in there, warmed with incense and light. Her father lay on a litter, covered with a blanket - though even it had stains of blood. The older tabaxi smiled at Rain. "There's my kitten...." He coughed, and Rain came over, sitting by his side, grabbing his hand. "Rain - listen to me...." Rain had tears in her eyes as she opened her mouth, a spill of words comming out.
"I'm sorry papa....i couldn't save him. I tried, i really did. I just couldn't It was my fault papa - ony is gone because i didn't have his back." Rain's fathers eyes broke with sorrow as he cried. "Rain! Kitten....His death isn't your fault. Onyx died doing what he loved - protecting his family. Don't take that from him. He was a warrior - how he lived and how he died." She felt her fathers hand tighten around hers. "You have to learn that you can't save everyone. Your still young kitten, and you will learn more. Your brother may be gone, but he will live here..." He pointed at her head. "...and here..." pointing at her heart.
Rain, tears running down her cheeks, nodded. Her father smiled. "...and i will to." Rain swallowed, confirming her fears, she nodded. "Listen kitten...i need you to do me some things. First, watch your brother and mother for me. Your mother will be lost and needs help to find her feet again - shes a strong woman. And your brother is smart - he will be a great wizard. But, when they settle, you need to find your own path."
Rain just nodded. "Promise me Rain - you will find your place.!" Rain looked at his hand. "I promise papa."
The early hours of the morning saw several pyres, alight with the bodies of the dead. Onyx and Rain's father were side by side as their bodies burnt to ash. Rain's mother collected two metal urns and scooped ash from both.
This was the morning Rain's world would forever change.
<one Year later>
Rain sighed as she moved the silk linen in the small shop, the place they had come to call home. As her father had said, Timber had found a master and now lived in a tower far away, learning magic. Her mother, teamed up with a halfling woman, ran one of the most prestigious linen stores in rexxintrom.
But Rain was unhappy.
It was the previous night her mother gave her a pack, telling her to go and find her heart again. Rain tried to argue, but her mother knew she had a wandering spirit. So it was with a heavy heart she bid her mother goodbye....for now as she left the city with her gear, a dagger and her crossbow.
Rain was surprised to find the camp of the elf, and even more surprised she had sneaked up on him. But as she approached, she realized he wasn't asleep - he was unconscious, wounded. The tabaxi sighed, and stocked up the fire, putting a pot of water on.
It had been a few days since she found the wounded elf, but he only regained consciousness the day before. The elf had been wary, but Rain went about her routine without word. She cooked a simple stew of rabbit she had shot, with a few simple vegetables. "Please - eat. I won't hurt you." The elf looked at the tabaxi, the stew, then took it and began eating. Rain sat down with a smile. "My name is Rain."
The elf looked up. "I am Raieylan."
The simple chance meeting turned into a bond greater than friendship. Raieylan and Rain spoke the next few nights, and found a passion in the outdoors and archery. Raieylan tested her without her knowing, and by the time he was healed, he told her to come with him. That was two years ago now and the ranger had taught Rain so much.
Gone was the crude crossbow, replaced with a simple shortbow years ago. Rain now was at her full height, and though small for most tabaxi, her speed and agility rivaled most. Raieylan taught her of nature, hunting and archery. It was at the end of a particular trip that Raieylan smiled at her. He had disappeared for a few days (Common for him), but returned with a parcel. That night he sat at the fire with an odd look. "Rain....it's time for us to part for a while - i must return home for a while to Syngorn - And before you offer to come, this is something i must do alone."
Rain had a look of horror. "What have i done to upset you Raie? Whatever it was, i didn't mean it. I'll be fine too..." Raieylan held his hand up. "Rain! This is something I must do alone....this isn't because i don't want you to come, but because what i face is a family matter. And speaking of family, maybe you should see your mother and brother."
Rain looked at him, about to argue, but snorted. "I guess...it has been a while." The elf smiled, handing over the parcel. "This is for you."
Rain looked surprised, but unwrapped it. Within was a beauitful bow, made of deep oak and hints of white, black and blue. The bow, though bigger than a shortbow, wasn't quite as long as a longbow, and was clearly elven in make.
She looked at him, who smiled. "A friend of mine owed me a favor so made this. I call it 'Rain's song'"
The tabaxi held the bow, feeling its balance. "It's beauitful." She muttered.
Raieylan smiled.
It had been several days since Raieylan and Rain had separated, vowing to return to each other soon. The tabaxi walked over the hill and spotted rexxintrom - her mothers home. She had grown so much since she last seen her
