Announcements

[marcus033090]

Brecca looked over her arm and sighed as he paced to some medical supplies stashed away in one of the many unoccupied bedrooms and brought back with him a roll of cotton bandages and had already taken out the bottle of pink liquid from his coat.

"Let's make this quick shall we?"

He grabbed her arm and straightened it out, ignoring the fact that it was injured and likely uncomfortable then proceeded to tilt the bottle of healing potion over the exposed flesh stopping for a moment as he noticed the ooze. He leaned in a bit to observe it, curiosity almost overpowering him with the urge to touch it. Deciding that mixing the ooze with the healing potion may not be the best choice without first knowing what it was, he corked the bottle putting it back in his coat and retrieved a vial of the clear liquid like what he dropped Taniths spec of elemental energy in, he uncorked it with his teeth while holding her arm still with the other he dripped a single drop of the liquid on her hand and watched as it sizzled in the ooze and evaporated. Brecca's eyes widened only briefly before he returned to his annoyed composure and awkwardly corked the bottle and replaced it in his coat and commenced with wrapping her arm, being very careful not to touch any of the exposed flesh on her hand.

"Fall off? No, you'll be fine."

Once her arm was covered thoroughly, the alchemist proceeded to guide Tanith to the door where the others were already trying to make their escape.

"Quickly now, we wouldn't want any impending doom to creep up on us, now would we?"

----

Joseph was taken aback by her question, since when was being nice a bad thing? Of course, she probably was among the people like Ryudo who didn't appreciate his knowing things they didn't feel compelled to tell him.

"No reason, you just seem a bit overwhelmed."

Joseph followed her outside and stopped just in front of the doorway and took a deep breath as the tide of thought came rushing in. It was a bit unsettling, but as he forced the thoughts to the back of his mind, he felt that he could walk without loosing his lunch and and continued out of the way for the others.

[Ryudo]

Ryudo grumbled to himself, hearing the footsteps of only a few of his companions following him as he walked out into the street. He was loathe to call them such things in all honesty. Companions he had before never usually lasted very long, but this group of oddballs and misfits seemed to have a certain air of destiny about them. Yet it still did little to convince the Werewolf that their fates would remain any different than those who had preiviously suffered so much in Ryudo's company.

His patience was rewarded as Iskosia and Joseph finally followed him outside, Brecca and Tanith took a little longer to appear, by the looks of her arm Ryudo's blue leaf hadnt dont its job as intended. He sighed letting the disgusting fumes of mass pyres fill his lungs before he breathed outward.

"Are you all sure the capital is where you all want to go?" He asked. Knowing fully well that the city was his destination and he would be going there regardless of how many came along.
"Theres a lot more people there, i know that will beneifit some of us more than others." He continued glancing at Joseph and Iskosia repectivley. He knew the theives guild had its hidden headquarters there, Iskosia would have a much better chance of finding what she needed there. Ryudo assumed Brecca was along for the chance to see the beast dead but it was Tanith who now puzzled the Werewolf. He had thought that once they found Almwater he would simply leave the girl with the minotaur to train her further in the ways of the elements. But with the Old bull gone Ryudo was at a loss and the recent attempt on her life worried him further, part of him feeling a little responsable for leaving the girl by herself for so long and allowing the invisible attacker to get so close. What confused him further was who actually stopped the creatures attack.

Deciding not to air his thoughts to the others out loud he turned on his heel and stalked off in the direction eastward out of town. Trying hard not to look back at the destruction they passed on the way. Once out of the city he checked to make sure he small golden dog was following too before falling into step alongside Iskosia.
"So... what is it you are after the guild for?" He asked, hoping for at least a little coversation to pass the time on the journey into the heart of the locket empire.

[Infamous D]

Tanith smiled, "Thanks, Brecca. Now let's go before they leave use behind!" Without another word, Tanith grabbed Brecca's wrist and jerked him along.

Finally, Ryudo came into view, but he had already begun to move. "WAIT UP! We are coming too!" Tanith called out. Finally Tanith caught up and fell in beside Joseph. "Geeze. You guys were probably planning to leave me behind. That's not very nice you know...."

In truth, Tanith wanted to be surrounded by other at this point in time. She felt utterly alone just minutes before when she was facing her doom. However, with everyone around her, she felt safer. Even though some of the individuals were a little brooding.

The dragon had found a comfortable spot on Taniths head and was dozing peacefully.

____

The next day, Tanith had trouble waking up as usual. She was very thankful that she hadn't had any nightmares. Though, she knew she had Astroth to thank for that. Tanith currently stood like a zombie, eyelids still heavy and hair a mess. She still wasn't at the point were she could actually comprehend what people were saying.

Her stomach made a loud sound and she put her hand on it as if to shut it up. "Hungry," she mumbled.

Deadra

[marcus033090]

Brecca didn't sleep well that night, an hour maybe two at the most. Opting not to knock himself unconscious while they spent the night in the wilderness was perhaps a mistake, after all, if something decided to attack, there was a "watchdog" to keep track of that. The alchemist stretched and slowly stood up and rested against a tree; the sun was just starting to shine and the star he was transfixed with becoming less and less visible. Joseph was sound asleep with his head propped on his knapsack his face contorted, likely having trouble purging the last of the unwanted memories. Brecca scratched his head as he thought on what to do, eventually deciding to find something to eat. He left his company for a moment and ventured into the forest.

The greenery was a relaxing place, if the animals would stop with their morning noises it would be better, but never the less, relaxing. Eventually Brecca found something to eat, a small patch of wild turnips which he promptly pulled up and carried to small stream he passed earlier and washed them off.

The alchemist returned to the groups campground as the sun began to shine a little brighter, biting into a turnip as he walked. The greens would make a good salad, or maybe they could be boiled. Either way, Brecca and Joseph had something to eat, the others as well if they didn't mind-- turnips...

[Ryudo]

Ryudo hadnt slept, it wasnt unusual for him to go like this for several days so it affected him very little while, the others had slept he had scouted the area and found a small freshwater late nearby spending the last of the dark hours and dawn at its bank doing little more than try to catch fish with Almwaters old rod. He grinned remembering how he would watch the old bull for hours as he caught their breakfasts and suppers. It had been easy for the minotaur though, being a master of the elements he could manipulate the water so that the fish would favour his own area. Ryudo had no such power to speak of but was content with doing it the hard way.

So ingrossed in his fishing Ryudo hardly noticed the wolf sat next to him. It was one Ryudo's pack, Shial. Ryudo rolled his eyes as he turned to look at his fellow packmate.
"What?" He asked, giving her a decidedly angry look. "Can i have some resbite for at least a day or two?"
Shial looked sideways at Ryudo before responding.
"The beast has dissapeared it seems." She said. "none of the other long range scouts have seen or smelt it."

There was a breif pause before Shial began to speak again.
"Almwater died bravely Ryudo, he bought this world precious moments, we all saw him."
Ryudos eyes narrowed at this comment.
"You were there?" he asked giving the other werewolf a look that could sour milk.
"You saw everything and did nothing?" Ryudos tone grew darker and anger began to bubble in his stomach. Shial senced this and lowered her head.
"My aplologies, Ryudo. The beast made it impossible to act. All these woods around us were filled with its minions. If we came out hiding we would surley be massecred."
"Better a hundered of you than Almwater." Ryudo muttered bitterly under his breath. To this the Shial shook er head sadly and then dissapeared into the undergrowth.

An hour later Ryudo returned to camp and was glad to see evryone was awake or in the stages of waking up at least. Caring little for the stomachs of his companions he sat at the edge of the campfire and began the gutting process of the few fish he had managed to catch.
With a few sticks of kindling he skewered the peices of fish and stuck them over the fire.
He didnt notice Brecca's absence until the Alchemist returned with a armfull of wild vegetables. Ryudo was surprised at the mans resourcefulness but supposed an alchemist would be knowlegable in all things that grew in forests.
"We are making good time." Ryudo announced. "If we keep on as we are we will make it to the capital by nightfall."

His ears pricked up as Taniths belly rumbled with hunger. He looked at the greenhaired mess and smiled as the overpowering stench of cooking fish filled the air.
"Breakfast is on its way princess, hold your horses."

[Flesheatingvamp]

Nena thrashed uncontrollably, her arms and legs were trapped within her cloak and she grunted and gasped as she tried to break free of her prison. Her eyes opened up and she jolted from the ground, coming up on her feet. She looked around quickly and seemed to settle with a soft sigh.
" Fish?" She reached up with her hands, rubbing at her face and hair. Her eyes were puffy, she hadn't slept well. Her night had been restless with dreams of a one armed invisible foe who sought after them in the night. She looked over at Tanith with her sleep mussed hair, actually sleep mussed would have been an understatement. " You look like crazed lion or something," She said to the girl, laughing under her breath. She took off her cloak then, dusting the leaves and dirt off of it, careful to keep away from Ryudo and his cooking fish and vegetables from Brecca. " I'm going to go see if I can find a good spot to clean up in."
She turned from the group, throwing her cloak over her shoulder and traipsed off into the woods. Letting the sound of the water draw her to it. She hung her clothes over the branches of a tree and climbed into the water. As soon as it was deep enough she laid back in it letting the water wash over her, carrying away her bad dreams and thoughts. She hoped the cool water would clear her head but it just seemed to bring everything more forward into sharper focus. She couldn't let herself be worried, worrying was how people messed up. She just needed to be aware, that would help her. She took a few minutes settling everything into place in her mind, like cleaning up a room, but with thoughts instead. She looked down at her arms under the water, her skin looked ridged or bunched, like a leper or a lizard. She raised her hand up above the water and closely examined all the scars there. They crosshatched like a decoration down from her wrists and across her chest and back then down to her legs. There didn't seem to be much of her body that was not ridden with the puckered pink lines. She dropped her hand back into the water and led her thoughts flow uninterrupted into the water with the dirt and grime.
When she felt good and clean she returned to the bank, laying out to dry there for just a few minutes before becoming a bit nervous. She threw her clothes back on, wringing out her hair as best she could with the time, and made her way back to the camp, almost dry, but hair dripping. She hoped Ryudo had finished the fish.

[Infamous D]

Tanith looked over at Ryudo and the fish, then squatted down next to the fire and stared at them. She looked up at Nena's comment and gave a sleepy shrug. She wanted to go take a bath too, but she preferred how water than the cold water of a stream. If she HAD to take a bath, at least she should enjoy it, right?


The golden dog was awake at the first sound of movement and had gone off to find its own food. The dog was still trying to learn to hunt, but it was a difficult process.

The golden dog suddenly camp bolting into the camp from the bushes, hot on the tail of a rabbit. The rabbit turned sharply several times, trying to shake off its pursuer, but the long legged dog was very nimble. Finally, just when she though she got close enough, she snapped her jaws down only to miss and stumbled head over heals.

The rabbit got away and the golden down lay sprawled out, having wasted her efforts. She decided just to lay there and pant to cool off. <Damned rabbit! I nearly had him!> She thought to herself.


Tanith watched the golden dog zip by and snorted slightly. "I bet that dog was someones pet. It doesn't seem to hunt very well. If it was wild, that would have been a different case," Tanith mumbled. "Is it reeeeaaaddddy yyyeeeeeetttt?" Tanith said in a long drawn out whine.

Deadra

[marcus033090]

Brecca's face contorted to the smell of the cooking fish, and was relieved to see that Joseph had fallen asleep upwind from Ryudo's meal; so he took his seat next to Joseph who's face was still contorted almost as if he were in pain. Brecca took another bite of his turnip before taking off his coat and resting the turnips on it then carefully hoisting one of the roots above the mind readers head and dropping it.

Joseph awoke abruptly staring at the vegetable that had disturbed him before he remembered where he was. He rolled over to see Brecca sitting next to him eating another veggie like the one that had fallen onto Josephs head. The mind reader hesitated at first before clasping onto his father-of-sorts wrist and showing the memory that had haunted his night; the memory of Brecca's destruction of a little known town of devout worshipers of some obscure god. The alchemist stopped eating before his thoughts echoed into Josephs mind, calming him; assuring him that it was nothing but random recollection. Though Joseph disagreed, he was with-holding the voice that acted as a narrative the whole night, he was hoping that Brecca would know better than to assume Josephs mind would wander to such unpleasant memories, being that it rarely wandered at all. It didn't matter though, the voice though persistent, was powerless and well on it's way to being purged; so Joseph calmed himself and sat up leaning on the same tree as Brecca and took a bite of his turnip as the alchemist began harassing his company.

"I have turnips here as well if any of you want one, though honestly you barbarians probably cant appreciate the flavor."

[Ryudo]

Ryudo looked over at the alchemist chewing on the vegetable his ear flattening at being described as a barbarian. Once again turning to face the fire rolling his eyes before mocking Brecca, mouthing his haughty words silently into the flames before responding.
"I'll pass." Ryudo grumbled. "Vegetables dont agree with me."
He turned the couple of fish over in the fire so that they would cook a little more.
"Especially ones pulled up fresh from the ground."

Ryudo looked sideways at the mess of green hair and bandages that was Tanith Dees and sighed. The girl obviously had an appitite from the way she whined. His catch wasnt especially awe inspiring to be fair at least Brecca's turnips seemed to be in ample supply. All he had managed to pull up from the small body of water nearby was a mud-water catfish and two smallish carp. He pulled a peice of hot fish from over the fire and with de-scaled it with his weapons blade, impossible would have been the world used to describe the action, if not witnessed first hand considering the sheer size of the glaive. But after decades of simply existing in the wilderness with the glaive as his only possession he had learned to use it as somthing more than just to spill blood.

Once he was happy with the meat he handed the stick towards Tanith with a smile, for once.
"Careful." The werewolf said, noticing the odd parental tone to his voice. "You gotta pick the bones out."
He plucked another stick of fish out of the flame and offered it to Nena who had returned to the camp looking a lot fresher than before. He could smell the lake water in her damp-looking hair even before she took her first step into veiw. Once the stick was taken from him he whistled and took the last few sticks from the fire hoping the small golden dog would take the piece of meat instead of chasing bunnies about and wasting energy. He stuck the stick into the ground deep enough so that the dog could take it remembering how it had refused to eat off of the floor once before.

The other peices he had cooked for Joseph and Brecca he left just over by the fire and pulled his own (and biggest) breakfast from over the flames. It wasnt because he was greedy or that he thought he had put hours into catching the food. It was just that Ryudo had learned the hard way that not eating enough was as deadly to a Were as a knife was to the throat.

"We could make the city by nightfall." he said, his serious side retuning as he pushed a mound of earth over the flames, putting them out abruptly.
"Sooner if we move at a quick pace."
Ryudo noticed Joseph as he looked over his shoulder again. The mind reader looked deep in thought and slightly worried. He shrugged deciding not to hassle the boy. Afterall, he nearly aways looked that way.

[Flesheatingvamp]

Nena smiled and took the offered stick," Thankyou." She turned as Brecca spoke, taking a small turnip for her fish. " This barbarian will take a turnip to. Thanks." She smiled, taking a bite out of the ugly little vegetable.
She sat down again near her pack and blew across its surface, cooling it with her breath. Her eyes darted about, catching everyone in turn and then jumping around to the area around them. She noticed Joseph off to the side still not up and about with the rest of them. She studied his eyes for a moment, he was in pain. She really didn't understand the young man. He was calm, but agitated. Always agitated, though his personality refused to leak that through. So it was like he tried to stifle it almost. She found him very odd. Almost, amusing in a way.
Before she could think about it once more, Ryudo was speaking again. Her eyes widened slightly, " So soon?" She sort of mumbled under her breath. She was surprised. The time was really slipping on by. Her heartbeat quickened, she was surprised on how excited she was. She may possibly have answers. She tried to control herself, she'd thought that when she came to the last town too, and the one before. She'd been wrong both of those times too. She took a bite into her fish, her teeth came into contact immediately with bone and she grimaced slightly at the feeling against her teeth. She still bit off a chunk spitting the bone out beside her before removing the fish from the stick altogether and thoroughly checked each bite before taking it.

[Infamous D]

Tanith took one of the veggies from Brecca and the fish from Ryudo and began to chow down. The turnip was gone in a flash and the fish was gone just as quickly. Tanith seemed like she was an expert in eating around the bones of fish. She devour the fish, not even trying to pick around the bones. After a few seconds, she began to spit bones out. The ones she didn't spit out where simply crunched up and swallowed.


The golden dog looked down at the fish, sniffed it, then took it in its mouth and began to eat it. It held onto the fish with its front paws as it ate so it would be easier to do so. When finished, she licked her chops and scratched her ear. The fish wasn't too filing, but at least her hunger was satisfied. The dog sat with a sigh, its wounded side hurting slightly from all the running.


Tanith picked her teeth with one of the fish bones she had spit out and looked over to Brecca. "Whats so bad about being a barbarian? You say it like its a bad thing," Tanith said with a grin. "In any case, let's get moving! Never been to a city before! I can't wait to see what they look like! Are they a lot bigger than towns? I've been to huge towns before, so if they are bigger than a large town, cities must be HUGE."

Tanith then gasped, "OH YEA! I bet cities have hot running water and soft beds! I can just imagine sitting in a hot bath, then sleeping in a giant bed stuffed with down feathers....."

Deadra

[marcus033090]

Brecca laughed at Tanith's remarks as he finished off his turnip.

"No, I suppose being a barbarian isn't all that bad; being as useful as you've been I don't suppose I can complain what with the golem attacks and hostile stalkers that seem to find you at every turn."

Joseph stood up and shuffled his way next to the fire plucking the skewered fish Ryudo had prepared for them from their resting places next to the fire and handed them to the werewolf.

"You need it more than we do, and you'd have to starve Brecca before he ate it," Joseph thought for a second, knowing that Brecca's 'barbarian' comment had offended earlier the mind reader smiled meekly, "Not that we don't appreciate the gesture."

Brecca had stood up and stuffed the remaining turnips into the pockets on the outside of his coat and dusted himself off before whisking a bottle of liquor out of his coat and began drinking.

"To the city then, honestly I can't wait to be out of the wilderness and into high society again."

[Ryudo]

Ryudo took the sticks of fish from joseph and felt a tas embarrased as well as a pang of guilt. It was foolish of the Were to think Joseph wouldnt notice his thoughts and he went on to finish the fish and his own breakfast. Not only that He still struggled to look the mind reader in he ee after what happeneed mere days ago. He swallowed the last of the white meat and stood up abruptly.
"Its alright."
Ryudo replied to the boy before going on to pack away the fishing rod and pushing a small pile of dirt over the fire with his foot, Extinguishing the flames with a plume of grey acrid smoke. He gave Tanith a lookwith a raised eyebrow, feather beds? Ryudo doubted such a place even existed in the capital city of the locket empire without coming with a heafty price tag. Stll from what Ryudo had seen of Brecca's wealth he supposed Tainth would have all the hot baths and featherbeds she wanted.

It had been very long time since Ryudo had stepped behind the capitals walls. so long in fact two emporers had changed thrones. Back then Ryudo hadnt been on a simple sightseeing trip, before the births of most of his companions a war had been raging against the Orcs and the ruling emporer at the time squandered the kingdoms wealth at the expence of its own millitary. The war had been so brutal the emporer had hired entire armies of mercinaries to plug the gaps in the front lines. When the time came at the tail-end of the war to pay the said mercinaries the emporer had refused, Causing the mercinaries to rebel with most of the unpaid members of the locket millitary to their cause.
This ragtag force laid seige to the capital and the folling events had been written into history. Ryudo had been a member of that rebel army and wondered how much the city had changed since then. The werewolf knew most of th rebels settled in what was now the Mercinary quarter and it was there some of the greatest taverns in the world had been opened. Most of those comrades had died of old age or in the wars afterward. But Ryudo knew that there was still one who was alive from back then and it was her who he would need if he was going to defeat the beast.

Without a word Ryudo threw his bag over his shoulder and headed off towards the road. Trying not to remember...

[Flesheatingvamp]

Nena ignored the others, she ate her fish and turnip chewing through each bite thoughtfully thinking of what would come when they reached the city. She already felt a bit nervous, her stomach doing flips with the freshly eaten food and tying her up in knots. She fiddled with her sleeves, rolling the cuffs up in her fist. She wasn't exactly sure how Ryudo was going to help, but she knew he would do his best.
After she finished she fiddled with her pack and cloak, cataloging the contents. Nothing was awry and she reattached her pack and threw her cloak on over. The long black fabric swallowing her up as it always did and her fidgeting settled quickly. She walked out of the clearing after Ryudo, keeping a light quick step.

[Infamous D]

Tanith looked up and spotted the others leaving without her. "Hey! Guys wait up! Just just walk off without saying anything! Do you really want to leave me behind that much?" Tanith said, getting up and trotting to catch up with them.

"Seriously...I can't read minds. You have to use words to let me know these things."


The dog sighed and followed along behind too, but stayed towards the back.

Eventually, they neared the city and it's glittering white walls loomed into view. Tanith's eyes grew wide and she dashed ahead of the others. "THAT'S The city?!" Tanith exclaimed excitedly. "Its incredible!"

The dog also had to admit the city was something to see. She had never seen such a...well, sparkly city before. Still, going into a city was risky business for the dog. She had tried it once before and was caught and sold to some rich fat woman who treated her like a baby. She did NOT want a repeat of that. She growled and sneezed at the very thought.

Not only that, but the more people that spotted her, the more the news was passed on....

Deadra

Thread to be continued in the Locket Empire.