Rinsing Rage

[Avalt Laguz]

[align=center]Ul'dah[/align]

 

Arms hurt...

 

The figure trudged through the paved street.

 

Legs hurt...

 

Deserted, save for a few peddlers setting up stall on Emerald Avenue.

 

This one aches....

 

The toothed end of a staff dragging along behind the weary wander. He climbed the stairway, and rounded the corner to the fountain below the Ossuary.

 

Dirty...need to clean

 

The first garment to be removed was the dusty shawl from around his shoulders. It was draped on the edge of the fountain, but only momentarily as it slipped down onto the street, pooling atop the staff.

 

A pair of boots followed, the ornate designs around the edges scuffed and marred with dust. The former wearer paired them up neatly - also collecting the shawl and folding it carefully to place atop them.

 

Finally, the pair of shredded culottes followed, leaving the figure clad in modest undergarments as he stepped over the small wall into the fountain - trembling slightly at the pleasant sensation of cold water touching his aching body.

 

Avalt leaned forward, pushing his hands through the cascade of water until his palms lay flat on the wall behind. He took a deep breath, and winced as even this caused discomfort and submerged his dirt ridden head beneath the torrent.

 

[align=center]Lightning struck, ripping the air asunder as it surged through the black claws worn on Avalt's hand and was directed upon the one eyed axe wielder across the camp - her distorted grin taunting him, goading him she advanced. Levin crackling around her from a previous onslaught of the mage.[/align]

 

He shook his head beneath the fountain, long blonde hair laying flat against his skull before he withdrew from the fountain with a gasp for air.

 

This time no wince followed, the flowing water appearing to soothe his aching torso. He peered down, examining a shallow gash on his left side. A thin trickle of blood wound it's way down the sun-kissed form before a palmful of water was cast across it.

 

Avalt watched the cut, his eyes narrowing as if daring it to continue secreting blood. The flesh wound succumbed to his glare, and no further blood was spilled.

 

Nodding in approval, Avalt turned his face skyward to cleanse his face this time. His eyes forced to close by the pounding of cold water, the contrast to the dawn sunrise on his back was pleasant.

 

[align=center]The sweet kiss of aether, embracing his body as he slipped through it. The teleportation spell incanted flawlessly to place himself behind Moengeim. His own actions somewhat taunting in their own right as he appeared truimphantly behind her - mindful of her limited peripheral vision. Another flurry of lightning, the bolts rapidly striking the dust around her feet as she gracefully stepped through them, swinging her axe to deflect them,[/align]

 

[align=center]An iron wall...no, not really...Moengeim's heavy bulk behind the force of the axe handle forcing him violently from his feet. There was a resounding crash of wood and assorted metals. Avalt's body was flung through the flimsy wooden wall of the encampment's hut, crashing through a weapon rack and rolling across the floor. Nary a second passed before Moengeim was back on him, hurling him back through the hole made from his first flight.[/align]

 

Avalt opened his mouth, drinking an icy mouthful of the fountain water before stretching out. He turned his head, and a crack echoed above the falling water.

 

[align=center]The mage's body rolled across the dusty Thanalan ground, losing momentum and coming to a halt before the feet of two superiors and a new recruit. The only movement from Avalt was the gasping of his breath, and the occasional spark of lightning from his fingertips.[/align]

 

"Stand down!"

 

The voice of Dweia rang in his head as he sat back on the wall, his toes wiggling in the water.

 

"Nothing broken..."

 

 

"....this time."

 

A satisfied smile.