by Morgan Landry 3/16/2013, 7:56 am
Jana Kay was about to answer her first question - what she was doing in the forest (taking a stroll after a day full of exercises, and why not, take a bath) - when Neryssa asked the second question.
"Oh," Jana said, and suddenly lost her usual broad smile.
This new war was driving her mad with fear. Jana Kay was an absolute pacifist, and she somehow hoped for a nice outcome for both sides, even though she knew it was practically impossible. Gaea would never let the matter go. In addition, several giants had come back to life and even Jana Kay, one of the most optimist persons, couldn't imagine them negotiating calmly with the gods around a cup of tea - or a cup of nectar. Even though that's what she would have done. Hey, my name's Jana Kay! So, you wanna overthrow the gods and destroy Humankind? Come in, have some coffee and biscuits, we'll calmly discuss the matter. I'm sure we can find a compromise!"
Yeah, only she would be close to react like that.
She looked up to Neryssa, who was still watching her.
The nymph's eyes were really astonishing: deep blue, yet full of dim, changing light, as if the color had been cut out from a point just underneath the oceans's surface. It was almost as if Kay could see waves and foam moving in them.
"I... I'm damn afraid about it," she finally, frankly said. "I have survived the Titan's War by an inch-" she stroked her shoulder where the drakanae's spear had empaled her last summer; flashes of memory came to her mind: a giant hellhound, the moment of inattention and the sudden, agonizing pain in her shoulder.... - "and I don't want to live something like that again. I know it's somehow inevitable but..."
She looked at the sky and observed several seconds of silence, then resumed speaking.
"Why does always a war have to go on? Why can't they just let well enough alone?"
Jana Kay looked back at Neryssa.
"Do you realize that since the beginning of History, there has not been a single day of peace around the world? Never have there been no wars across the planet. Over two thousand years of bloodshed, pain, and loss. Why can't we just get the message and stop this?"
She sat back on her rock, her braid falling over her shoulder. The young girl absent-mindedly stroked the delicate petals of the white rose, enjoying their silky texture.