(Lore) Recovering

[Soran Nightblade]

Thread started by Emora Deen on June 26th, 2005

Emora:

Laya had been at sea in the little row boat for more than four days… at least she thought it was that. She had really lost count after the second. She had thought she had brought enough food… but she was down to her last soggy loaf of bread and few sips of water. She hadn’t entirely been totally thinking when she had gotten in the row boat. But, she was too over come with joy at the fact her tormenter was finally dead.

Kron was dead… gone… Never to bother her again. He couldn’t take her body anymore. He couldn’t hurt her in any way. She was finally free. So how come she felt so trapped still? Maybe it was because she had been broken by a monster and used to being someone she was not. It had taken a while for Kron to do it… but he had won. Even if he was dead he had won. He had taken her feisty, life loving personality and crushed it. He had taken her happiness with it. She had become his whore and she couldn’t escape because he used other people’s lives as a way to keep her in his hold.

Laya laid in boat staring at the moon and listening to the waves crash against the side. Poor Yoshia… Laya tried to bring herself to be sad, but she wasn’t able to. It was as if her emotions were numbed. She had gotten to the point where she only cared about herself. But, she hated that.

“I’ll start over,” she told herself. “As soon as I reach where ever it is this damn boat is headed, I’ll start over. Try and get my life back… Try and get over… Try and not be afraid any more.”

She fell a sleep and when she woke the next morning she ate the last of her food and began rowing. Her arm muscles had built over the few days. It made up for the month she hadn’t been doing anything but lying under Kron when ever he wanted her. She hated him, hated him more than anything. Every time she thought of him it made her row faster and harder… and it tired her out.

Another day passed and night came, only for morning the next day. She didn’t have any food… and the day passed and then the next day came and she ran out of her water. Yet, she continued to row. If she could live through Kron she could live through this… She was going to live through this.

That night her boat landed a shore Ighten...

Mizuki:

"Listen, I'm telling you I don't think it was the best thing to do leaving the that fox girl!" Kratos tried to reason with his stubborn sister.

"Shut up Kratos! And if I remember correctly, she had left first! So it's none of my buisness to go following her now is it?" Neko glared at he brother who stood helpless under her gaze. Strange, since he is a tough warrior, but only his sister could bring him down. They had finally reached the sandy shores of Igthen, Neko always wanted to see the shores and ocean and Kratos wanted to make his sister happy after she had endured and pirate ship battle, then an anthro mage with a bad temper. Kratos was surprised at how much his sister had matured over the years when he was away, and he believed it might've left a sore spot on her. She still accused him of leaving her.

The sun was rising, casting a glow on the sky making it a beautiful scene and the air was still cool. Neko breathed in the air's freshness.

"How come we've never come here before big brother?" she asked him.

"Hell if I know." was his answer as he sat down on a sand dune that overlooked the shore. He squinted at the horizon then his gaze wander over the calm ocean and grazed the shoreline. For a moment he thought he saw a lone boat. "Hey, is that a boat?" Neko looked to where her brother pointed then grabbed the telescope from her napsack she had swiped from some cheapskate who tried to sell it to them for way too much. She peared through the glass and she did see a boat... and someone in it.

"I think...there's someone in it..." she said idly. "Oh... do you want to check it out?"

"Only if you do." Neko rolled her eyes at her brother.

"Let's wait, the person seems to be alone... normally lone boat travelers tend to get into trouble but.. let's wait this out..." Neko said and peared through the glass longer at the person in the boat.

Emora:

Laya slowly woke, shielding her eyes from the bright sunlight shinning down on her. She groaned, licking her chapped dry lips. It was a bad idea since most of the moisture in her mouth was gone. She pushed herself up, expecting to have to grab an ore and row more.

She was a bit dazed and grabbed an ore. It felt strange... the boat wasn't rocking. She heard the sounds of waves splashing against something.... but didn't feel the boat move. Laya wiped her eyes and looked around. Shore... Shore!

Laya smiled and got out of the boat quickly, her bare feet, which had sandals until she stupidly left them on the ship. Laya's bare feet touched sand and she stretched her arms. It had been so long since she could stand up with out falling overboard. She wondered where she had landed. Ighten... or Ongoreth... those were the places she was closest to. She hoped more than anything it was Ighten. Ongoreth held to many bad memories.

Her long brown hair flew around her and in front of her eyes as she spun in a quick circle with her arms out. Happy to be free.

Mizuki:

Neko, for the hunderth time with her brother's nagging, looked through the spyglass again then whistled.

"IT'S ALIVE!" she called out. "OOH, and it's a very pretty girl! Kratos you may finally get a girlfriend!" she joked. Kratos blushed then tackle his sister into the sand.

"Shut up!" he replied then he rolled with Neko down the dune, sand flying and getting everywhere. Finaly, they landed at the bottom.

"Kratos! You moron! I thought you were a warrior!?" Neko yelled stummbled to her feet and shaking the sand from her body. She stuffed the spyglass bag into her bag around her waist and adjusted then staff she had also swiped from the weapons master, then hurried off to the woman form the boat. "Hurry up! She might neep help!.... like you.."

"HEY!" Kratos scrammbled to his feet and hurried after his sister who seemed egar to help this stranger. When they came closer Neko called out to the woman and Kratos found that the woman was beautiful. And to his non fortune, he fell flat on his face. 'Note to self: sandals don't mix well with sand.' he thought and sputtered out the sand from his mouth. Neko, ignoring her brother's fall went the rest of the way.

"HO!" she called out. "You stranded?" Ok, Neko loved to play hero ever since her brother started to train her own his own.

Emora:

Laya looked at the two coming towards her warrily. Taking a rather defencive stance, ready to run if she had too. "Well, that all depends on where I am... Where am I?" she asked the woman, glacing at the fallen man.

Laya's eyes held a hollowness, or a "closed door" sort of look. The smoky gray seemed to swirl in a circles around... though it was just the lighting.

Mizuki:

Neko thought for a moment, stopping a good distance before the woman. "The Shores of Ighten!" she said cheerfully. "My name's Neko Torankusu, and the fallen fool of a man behind me is my brother Kratos." Kratos came up behind his sister and promptly hit her on the head.

"Aye, I am this one's older brother, but I am no fool." he said with as much dignity he could muster after falling on his face. Neko rubbed her head and glared up at her brother who was making it a point to get her as annoyed as possible by not looking at her.

Emora:

Laya let out a sigh of relief to hear she was finally back on Ighten ground. She would go to the nearest store and buy some clothes that were close to the ones she usually wore. She didn't like kimonos... Kron had managed to make her distaste them greatly.

"Aye, I am this one's older brother, but I am no fool."

"I'm sure..." Laya said smirking. She didn't mean to be rude, she really didn't. It was just she hadn't been herself in a long while and she scolded herself inwardly for being so rude.

"My name is Laya," she said softly. "Thank you for telling me where I was..." Laya brushed her brown hair out of her eyes and held out her hand to them.

Mizuki:

Resisting the urge to uncerimoniously attack her brother, Neko shook Laya's extend hand and then let it go for Kratos to shake. When he did Neko spoke up before her brother could utter a word.

"Laya...." Neko pondered it. "That's a pretty name... darn-it Kratos!" she scolded her brother for no reason. "Why couldn't you have had mom name me something that pretty?" she folded her arms and scowled, but it failed as her brother stuttered, surprised by the attack, on his words.

"I-I... w-well.. uh, I don't think this is a subject to get into baby sister!" Kratos resisted the urge to give his sister a well deserved nuggie. "Now," he calmed himself a face Laya with a calm and soft expression. "Do you need any help, we had spied you boat from a dune but wasn't sure if, uh, well, you were alive. When we had found movement we rushed over to see if you needed aid."

"Yeah, we don't nessassarily come across lone boats like this.." Neko added in. She eyed the woman's stature and,noting the woman's dry lips, she brought out one of her canteens and handed it over to Laya.

Emora:

Laya took the woman's canteen, taking long gulps of water and wiping her mouth. She smiled thankfully. "Thank you," she said softly and handed the woman the canteen back. Laya was starting to feel funny now that she was about moving around quickly. She hadn't had food in a while and her sugar was very low. Her body felt strange, shaky and out of place. She felt dizzy and lightheaded. "I... I'd like some food...."

Laya sat back quickly on the side of the boat and looked up. "If you have it... I don't want to be imposing..." She was starting to get a little breathless as her head began to swim more. “I… I don’t feel very…”

Too much moving around after not eating for two and a half days…. Suffering from dehydration… Idiot… Laya scolded herself again.

Mizuki:

Neko went wide eyed but Kratos was the first to Laya's side. He produced a half a loaf of bread from his own napsack.

"Here. Until we get you to a good place to eat this is what we can offer." he told her, urging her to take it.

Emora:

Laya looked at him, shifting away as he grew closer, but took the bread from him and thanked him. She took quick small bites, swallowing quickly. "Thank you... Its been a while since I ate or drank anything..." she said softly.

She swallowed more of the bread eagerly. But, it didn't fix her sugar level right off the bat.

Mizuki:

Kratos stepped away from her at a comfortable distance. "I suspect that traveling alone on a small oat would limit your supplies.." he said. "Neko, get out the spyglass and look towards the land and try to find a close village." Neko nodded and did what he asked. She scanned the land line and spotted a few buildings off to their right.

"I see some buildings over there." she said pointing in that direction and turning to them. "Maybe they have a place to eat?" Kratos nodded and looked down to Laya.

"Up for a walk?" he smiled to her.

Emora:

Laya looked up at him quickly. "Yes," she said rather bluntly. But, she didn't want to be carried. Being carried made you vulnerable. "I can walk I think..." she said more softly. She pushed herself to her feet and brushed her hair away. She grabbed an ore and smirked. "And something to help me keep my balance."

More than half way to the town Laya was winded and hungry and rather dizzy again. She swallowed hard, but refused to ask for help. She wouldn't, even if she passed out. She didn't know these people. What if this seemingly nice woman's brother was just like Kron? She didn't know.... and wasn't taking the risk.

Mizuki:

Neko walked slightly ahead of Laya and Kratos to lead the way while Kratos stayed as close as comfortably possibly to Laya in case she stummbled. He and his sister had silently agreed on it after Laya had picked up the ore. Kratos walked next to Laya with his hands folded inside his long, wide shirt sleeves in front of him and he kept his eyes open on Laya's condition. Neko looked over her shoulder to see how Laya was and when she found that the woman was still on her feet, she turned her head back around. She worried the thought of the woman suddenly collapsing then they would have to carry her. 'How heavy is she?', Neko thought hoping Laya would stay on her feet.




OOC:...I'm not saying your fat!...just...>_> <_<... yeah, lol ^-^

Emora:

IC:Laya glanced at the man walking close to her out of the corner of her eyes. She gripped the ore with two hands tightly, that way if she needed to hit either one of them she could. She didn't trust people any more. That had been her mistake. She had trusted Kron too soon.

"You two don't look like your from around here..." Laya said, stumbling slightly.

Quickly a group of men, in different sizes and shapes, came running out rather ungracefully. The came to a hault in front of them, holding there weapons out threateningly.

Laya grabbed the ore tighter if possible.

One nodded to the other and before she even knew it they were lunging at them. Laya lifted her ore and smacked one against the head.

OOC: lol, yea I know. She's not that heavy anyway

Mizuki:

"WHAT THE---" Neko called out and was promptly tripped to the ground by a man's stick-like weapon. Kratos reacted instantly and pulled out his katana. He battled with two men at once, dodging and parrying their attacks and striking back with his own.

"Neko!" He called out when he saw her fall, but he couldn't get to her without dropping his guard. Neko, snarling at the man standing over her sneering, rolled away in the sand and grabbed the staff attached to her back. With a swing to the man's knee's he fell in the sand with a groan.

'Where the Hell's did they come from?!' she thought as she swung her staff's end into a man's stomach.

Emora:

Laya was being ganged up on by two men. She swung her ore at one and the other one reached out and caught it, snatching it from her. She stumbled forward and caught herself, taking several steps back. She looked around and then back at the two. She then turned and took off into the woods, running.

It wasn't a good idea. She was using her energy, the last of it. But, Laya refused to get caught and have it happen all over again. She refused to be vulnerable or in that situation again.

The two bandits looked at each other and then back at there comrades... Then took off into the woods after her.

She ran and tripped over a root. She skidded to the ground, quickly moving to hid behind a tree, gripping her twisted ankle tightly.

"Where'd she go?" she heard a voice ask and foot steps.

"Don't know..."

Mizuki:

''Where'd Laya go!?'' Neko said as she jabbed and swung her staff down on one man's head, effectivly knocking him out.

"Don't know, we should find her in her weakend state," Kratos said as he kicked one man in the stomach. "She could be in trouble, let's go!" The both of them, after having finished with the group of men back on the beach, ran towards the forest where they last saw her run to. After they entered they found that it was a mistake. The trees made the forest a maze and the brush and sticks on the ground made it easy for one to trip over on and effectivly lose sight of their path. "Stay close," Kratos said as they ventured as quickly as they could through the trees.

Neko scanned the trees with her eyes and spotted two of the bandits that attacked them.

"Looks." she said, pointing them out to Kratos. "It's two of the bandits, do you think they followed Laya in here?"

"Possibly..." Kratos whispered and told her to stay quiet as he circled around the two men to get up behind them. When he was closer he grabbed his katana and brought the hilt of the sword up over his head. In a swift motion he moved to strike one of the men in the back of the head but he tripped of a root and fell on his face. The two men spun around and spotted him on the ground behind him. "damn." Quickly Kratos got up just as they lunged for him.

"KRATOS!" Neko cried out as she watched him fall. "Clumsy fool..." She charged for the three of them with her staff drawn. With a flourish she moved to knocked at least one guy to the ground but something caught her foot and she also fell.

"Lookit here..." One of the men leered and helped his friend up. "I do believe a treat just fell into our laps now.." The man she knocked to the ground glared at her angrily.

"I don't care one bit, she's dead." The men snarled and went for her but Kratos jumped on him. They both went down with fist and feet flying. Neko cried out for her brother but the man grabbed her by her collar and lifted her to her feet. Neko glared and stepped on his foot hard with her heel and pushed him away. She scrammbled for her fallen staff and faced her attacker.

OOC: Oh... long..^-^;;

Emora:

"I do believe a treat just fell into our laps now.."

She knew they were talking about Neko. But, she couldn't bring herself to move out from behind the tree. What if these people she was with lost? She couldn't and she wouldn't have it happen to her again. But, she would be a horrible person if she allowed such a thing to happen to anybody else....

Laya sat behind the tree, out of site, gripping her sprang ankle and contemplating what she should do. She was afraid, but she couldn't always be a afraid. A stern determined expression came to Laya's face as she reached out and grabbed a stick lying on the ground. No one would hurt her like that again... or anyone else she knew. She hadn't even paid any attention to any of the other things that had been said.

She gritted her teeth and stood up, her back sliding against the bark. She didn't want to be seen yet. She held the stick with both her hands. Then she turned around, and went right up to the one who was attacking Neko.

She began to bludgeon him on the head with the stick until he hit his knees and kept on until he hit the ground face first in the mud and dirt. She had to will herself to stop. All the while running through her mind were thoughts of Kron. She couldn't stop hitting him at first, and then she finally did. She sunk to her knees, a few tears in her eyes and sliding down her cheeks as she stared at the beaten body in front of her.

She shouldn't have done that.... Or should she have? Laya was confused and unsure of what she had become. She thought she was a whore, because as Kron's slave that’s all she did for him. Now she felt like she was becoming a monster. She was just beating people to death now... At least she thought he was dead. If not he probably wouldn't remember who he was when she woke up.

She started crying, leaning forward and burying her face in her hands as they laid in her lap. She just didn't want to remember. She just didn't want to go through life fearing him or people like him...

OOC: Ha! Long one!

Mizuki:

Neko stared at the scene before her. Moments ago Laya sprang forth and began beating the man into a bloody pulp, now she's sat on her knee's crying. 'Why...?' Neko thought and a loud bone cracking sound came behind her. She spun around to see her brother shaking his hand with some blood on it.

Kratos had broken the man's nose and was now coming towards them to see what was wrong and to get them away from here now. If they could even get out.

"What's wrong with her?" he asked. Neko shrugged but went to Laya's side.

"Come Laya, we should get out of here." she said and tried to ease Laya to her feet.

Emora:

Laya didn't want to get up, she didn't want to move. She just wanted to be alone. But, part of her didn't want to be alone. Part of her wanted to have someone to talk to... but she didn't want to ever utter what happened. Never.

She wiped her eyes, figuring she must look like a fool kneeling and sobbing. She was just over come by emotions for a moment... That's all... It would take her a while before she recovered, she figured. Kron had brought her to her breaking point... She cursed herself, but she might as well admit the fact he broke her.

She dried her tears as the woman tried to help her to her feet. "I can manage," she said stubbornly with a shaking, but growing strong voice.

Soran:

Some distance away, the peaceful silence of the forest was broken by the faint sound of racing hooves pursued by those of heavier horses and rushing bodies thrashing through the underbrush. The unicorn wove deftly between the trees with uncanny speed, knowing that he would soon be out of room; the ocean lay less than a mile ahead, where the safety of his forest ended. His gold pearl horn flashed brilliantly in the shafts of light that stretched down from the canopy as he raced ahead of his pursuers, a sheen of sweat building on his coat. The bounty had been raised once again, and the head-hunters had grown even more persistent than usual. It had been careless to visit the same water source twice in a row. Drinking in safety was becoming an increasingly difficult task. No matter; they would give up when their animals ran out of strength to run, as they always did.

He suddenly skidded to a halt, rearing slightly as his haste send him galloping full-speed into the presence of a small group of humans. It appeared that there had been a fight in the area. Several injured men lay prostrate on the ground, their souls emanating cruelty. One man’s life-force was nearly gone. The scent of blood all around him send a wave of dizziness through the unicorn’s head. One man and two women were still conscious, though the woman seemed injured. The unicorn stood huffing tensely for a moment, almost glowing, and stared with nostrils flared at the group, the injured woman in particular. A strong aura of misery surrounded her…

He abruptly remembered the task at hand as the sound of the men’s horses thundering through the woods came closer. The unicorn danced nervously sideways, casting a last glance at the woman, then took off weakly in a new direction away from the ocean, the scent of blood numbing his senses. A few moments later, the band of bounty hunters reached the place where Laya, Kratos and Neko were. The man riding the lead horse, a 45 year old with a brown beard and a gentle face, pulled to a stop in front of them. The others followed suit.

“Sir, he’s getting away!” cried one of the men to their leader, looking anxious.

“The hunt ends here for today,” said the man with the beard, quieting the group with a calm, stern gaze. “We were closer than ever today. Next time, we’ll have him for sure.” The others, exhausted from the long chase, seemed satisfied to accept his decision as the lead man climbed down from his horse and stood a safe distance from the three strangers.

“Hail,” he said, directing his voice to Kratos, “You people seem to have had some trouble. Is everything alright here?” He inspected the body of one of the bandits disdainfully with the toe of his boot.

Mizuki:

“You people seem to have had some trouble. Is everything alright here?”

Kratos perked up and looked hard at the man. 'More bandits?' he thought. He figure he should pick his words carefully.

"Aye," he said warily but in a strong voice and kept a secure stance before the two women. "But we've tryumphed."

"What in the hells what that?!" Neko said loudly looking off in the direction of whatever just ran by them. She stood next to Laya and made sure that she would catch her if she fell.

Emora:

Laya's head came up as something bright came through the bushes. She turned her head towards it, her cheeks were wet from tears and her eyes were watery. Her mouth was open slightly in amazement at the site of the creature before her. She was amazed by it. But, as quickly as it had come into the clearing it left. The reason for the amazingly beautiful creature leaving wasn’t to far behind.

Laya looked at them warily, shifting uncomfortably back and slightly behind Neko. “It was a unicorn…” she whispered softly. She had heard many things about them… but never in her life had she seen one. They were as beautiful as the stories portrayed them.

“Why are you after it?” she said, not really wanting to speak up, but thought she had to. Why would these people hunt such elusive creature? For sport more than likely.

Soran:

"That was our quarry, but we've given up on it for today," said the man, looking somewhat wistfully in the direction the unicorn had fled. "Forgive me, I haven't told you my name. I am Fandir Telrin. We come from a small farming village outside of Lowight called Treston. We can't take you the full way to the city, but if you'd like a lift as far as Treston, we'd be happy to help." His exhausted but friendly looking team nodded congenially in agreement.


Mizuki:

Neko raised a brow. "You're going to kill it?" she said in an unbelieving tone. Kratos put his hand up to her, sensing exactly the rage that would be boiling in her soon.

"We'd love a lift into town really. It'll make our journey shorter thank you." he said polietly then turned an angry glare to his sister. "Don't even speak." he whispered to her harshly. He knew exactly what she'd do if she found out that the men intended to kill the beautiful creature. But right now they needed to get Laya something in her stomach and that was their priority now.

Emora:

Laya looked at them and then the people who found her first. She didn't know if she trusted these people. She didn't trust people with friendly faces... You can hide many things behind a friendly face.

Laya bent and picked the stick up, pretending to use it as a brace, but holding it just encase she needed it. Laya wouldn't go down with out a fight... not again. She didn't say anything, but let Kratos talk.

What was she thinking? She should get away from these people... If they were hunting a unicorn they had to be evil... or something. Laya backed away more. She turned and began hobbling off at a quick pace.

Soran:

"Don't be fooled by that beast's appearance," the man said understandingly, frowning. "He looks white as snow, but he's black inside. I can't begin to express the harm he's done to our family and friends. He worms his way into your heart, and then turns on you, cold as ice. When we finally capture him, the score will be settled. That horn on his head will make up for the wrongs he's done us. If you ever run into him, my advice is to run with all the speed you've got, and report it to us." His eyes suddenly widened as if he'd realized something. "It wasn't the unicorn that did this to you, was it?" He frowned angrily. His expressino changed to concern as he realized that one of the women was no longer there. "Where'd your friend go?" he asked in confusion.


Mizuki:

Neko spun around suddenly. "Ah!! wait Laya!" She caught up to the woman a put a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Please where are you going?... I don't like what those guys are doing either but they'll take us to the nearest village.." She added in a low whisper.

Kratos stared hard at the men before him. He really didn't like what they wanted to do to the creature but it wasn't his business. He looked back in the direction of where the Unicorn went off to and tried to figure out exactly how a lengend... gentle creature would harm people.

Emora:

Laya felt weak and tired and hungry and thirsty. She walked past a tree and leaned against it for a second. Her head was spinning, but she wanted to keep going. She needed to keep going. What if she was wrong about those people though? Maybe getting away wasn't the best idea? What if she was right? Neko and Kratos would be endanger... But what if they were the enemy and those people on the horses were the good guys?

She didn't know who to trust. Maybe she had been better off with Kron! At least she didn't have to worry about people attacking her. He was the only one aloud to attack her it seemed.

She cursed herself, she couldn't think like that. Not everyone in the world was evil. Just because one had did horrible things to her didn't mean everyone was like him. But, it would be to late to go back now... wouldn't it...

"Ah!! Wait Laya!"

Laya felt her hand on her shoulder and sighed. "Please where are you going?... I don't like what those guys are doing either but they'll take us to the nearest village.."

"Yea..." Laya muttered. "and to there beds..." The last part she said so low that she herself didn't even hear it. She turned her head and looked to Neko. Sighing, the woman with her hollow gray eyes turned and decided she might as well go with them. She would make it no where with out food.

Mizuki:

Neko smiled. Not quite hearing what Laya mummbled under her breath but she took it as not trusting the men. "Heh, don't worry, if they try something I'll whack 'em one." She said low only for Laya to hear and with humor. She meant it too.

Kratos looked at the two women with curiosity. He really wanted to know why Laya wanted to run off on them... they were going to the nearest village to help nurse her from her fatuige. He stayed silent though.

Soran:

"Don't worry, we'll get you to the village safely. Jim, Drake, clear two horses for them," the man said over his shoulder to his men. They nodded good-naturedly and doubled up with friends on other horses, leaving two steeds for the three strangers to share. "It's not a long ride at all. We should be there within an hour's ride," he said.

Emora:

Laya smirked and walked back with her. She guessed she would ride with Neko on one of the horses without a rider. "Yea, lets hope you don't have to do that..." she said tiredly, her haunted gray eyes looking over the hunting party.

Seh let her stick fall to the ground. Thinking she wouldn't need it and even if she did there were a lot of sticks in the forest.

Mizuki:

Neko smiled and followed her to one of the horses. "Kratos you take the other one." she ordered her brother and rolled her eyes when he glared at her. She helped Laya one to the horse forst then climbed up after her.

Kratos mounted the other horse and took the reins confidentally in his hands. He rode the horse over to his sister and Laya.

"You know how to ride?" he asked them.

"Of course." Neko said then looked back at Laya sitting behind her. "You know how to ride? If not then you'd better hold on." she smiled in humor.

Emora:

Laya looked at her. "I know how to ride," she said plainly. Holding onto Neko so she wouldn't fall off the horse. "Besides, I'm not the ones with the reins..."

Laya felt bad for being so cold and she lowered her head, deciding to keep quite for the rest of the trip. She was tired of being rude and directing her aggrivation, and pain out on someone else.

Mizuki:

Neko actually found her amusing, not rude. So she laughed softly and turned the horse to the other riders.

"Lead the way?" She said. Kratos made sure to ride close to his sister.

Soran:

Once they were all mounted and ready, the group rode through the woods for about 45 minutes without incident. Soon, a brighter light in the woods ahead indicated they were finally approaching the village. The woods opened up to reveal a small stand of cottages surrounded by small fields of farmland and a large pasture in the distance. Before they were far down the dirt path, though, a pair of young boys came running excitedly towards them. They stopped short just in front of the horses, panting, and looked up at Fandir. "Uncle Fandir," they said, looking clearly upset, "The sheep..."

Fandir frowned. "What about the sheep?" he asked, though his eyes seemed to already know.

"Five more are sick, and two can't move," the taller of the two boys said grimly. "Old man Forman can't figure out what's wrong."

"I see," Fandir said thoughtfully. "Well, chins up, boys," he said after a pause, dismounting and placing a comforting hand on the younger boy's head. "There's still plenty of grain left in the shed." He pushed them along the road toward the house casually. "Tell your aunt we have guests for dinner." The boys seemed to calm down and ran back down the road ahead of the group.

The other men in the party exchanged worried glasses as Fandir remounted with a more serious expression on his face and they rode together into town. "We're awfully sorry, Fan. That's the third time this year, isn't it?" offered one of the men carefully.

"We'll squeeze by. It's not like our family's the only one that's been affected by the scourge," Fandir said calmly as they rode on.

Emora:

Humans... Laya thought in her head as she swayed on the horse, feeling sicker and more light headed by the minute. "Did the ever think it could be a disease caused by something they ate or got from another animal...." she said aloud... not even realizing it. Her eyelids drooped slightly and she leaned forward, then backward. "Always blaming the wrong person..."

In away, though Laya didn't realize it. It was sort of what she had been doing. She had totally convinced herself that these people were bad... though she didn't even know them.

Mizuki:

Neko listened to the swooning girl behind her. 'Dear Gods! I think she's dillusional!' she thought and gave her brother a worried expression as he rode next to her, prepared to catch the girl if she fell off the horse.

"We should feed her soon." Kratos said with concern.

Emora:

Laya took a ragged breath. She was so hungry that she was sick and dizzy. She felt as if she were going to throw up or pass out. Her hands slipped from Neko and her shoulders slumped as she slipped side ways, mumbling things that couldn't be understood.

Soran:

"Whoops," said the man riding next to Laya and Neko as Laya swooned toward him from her horse. He caught her by the shoulder and gently pushed her back upright to where Neko could hold onto her. "Almost there," he said encouragingly, keeping an eye on the woman as they rode the rest of the way to the village center. Members of the group dropped off at their respective homes as they rode through, exchanging goodbyes to one another as they rode. Finally Fandir and the three travelers came to a stop outside a small cottage with a stable and corrall out behind it.

"Here we are. Please go ahead inside; my wife should be cooking something up as we speak," he said to his guests, preparing to bring his tired horses back to the stable to rest.

Mizuki:

Kratos thanked the man and was the first off his horse and handed it over. He reached out to take Laya off the saddle and eased her to her feet with his strong support. Neko was also soon off and handed the horse she rode over to a stable boy.

"Will she be ok?" she asked her brother who was supporting Laya.

"Once she get's some food and rest... I think she will." he responded with a grin. They made their way into the house.

Emora:

Laya felt numbly aware she was being stood on her feet, so she decided she better stand... Though she still swayed as the world tilted and turned forward and tilted again. She turned her head slightly around to the person who was holding her and through the blurry haze she thought she saw a silver haired blue eyed man standing next to her, but in a split second it morphed into someone else. But, at the site of who she thought the person was for a split second she took on a look of horror, that faded once the image changed.

She sighed, as if sighing in relief and everything began to clear a bit, as if moving was helping to settle the war raging in her empty stomach.

"Food would be nice..." she said, swallowing hard and holding her grumbling stomach.

Mizuki:

They entered the house and the smell of cooking food covered thier noses making Neko's stomach growl.

"Ah hehehe.." she laughed nervously. Not seeing anywhere else to go, they entered the kitchen. Neko knocked on the door frame. "Hello? Umm.. we do have permission to come in here, and our friend's reaaal hungry..."

Emora:

Laya took a seat at the table, the closest seat she could get too.

Her mind wandered with the dizziness… Wondered through memories. She was hungry. So hungry…

"Stay away from me! No, better yet, unchain me and let me go! I haven't got any money or valuables. There's no reason for you to keep me here. I probably don't taste to well either. Let... me.... go...."

"You do have one thing I'd want though," he said and licked her face. "And you do taste pretty good you know."

“Well, you can have my damn bow and arrows if you want it so badly. You could have held me at knife point for that… You don’t have to go and eat me…” she looked at him, her smoky eyes defiant.

He pressed the knife against her face, not cutting anything and then moved it down to her skirt, starting to slice down it. "Your weapons aren't what I want," he said.


Laya swallowed hard, feeling a sort of nausea come over her. Her eyes were glassy, caught up in remembrance. The memory of that horrible night. That first night. She shook suddenly as if cold, and looked around at the people in the room as if they could all read her mind and they all could see what she was thinking. She felt embarrassed all of the sudden and her cheeks flushed lightly.

Soran:

"Well well, what do we have here?" came a bubbly voice from the corner of the kitchen as a middle-aged woman wearing an apron came in through a screen door with a hand ful of fresh-cut scallions in hand. She gave them a big smile, and seemed to have energy pouring out of her.

"My name's Maria, and it's a pleasure to meet you folk," she exclaimed kindly, setting the scallion on the counter and wiping her hands on her apron. "Sit down! Sit! I'm making up some soup now, and we're having outselves a feast! Sit!" she urged, pulling chairs out and half-dragging them to the table. "How about some bread? And is water alright? We have milk, but until we learn what's become of the cattle, I'd say it's better not to taste it." WIthout waiting for answers, she pulled a loaf of bread and glasses out of the cupboard, setting the bread out on a plate and pouring water from a pitcher into the glasses. She set the food and drink on the table, looking at the guests with a motherly smile. "And where did you poor folks wash up from?" She looked especially at Laya, who looked somewhat pale.

Emora:

Laya reached forward and grabbed some bread in one hand and the glass of water in the other. She tried to make it look somewhat decent, but she was eating like she hadn't ate in days.... which was true.

She ate quickly, taking large bites... And then she felt quite foolish. She probably looked real idiotic and mannerless eating like such a pig. She lowed her head. "I'm sorry," she said softly, feeling rather ashamed.

Soran:

"Don't you fret, you just eat up, child!" insisted Maria, chopping up scallions to throw into a pot that ws already bubbling on the stove. WHen she lifted up the lid, a scent of chicken broth, herbs, and carrots wofted out and made her grin.

Emora:

Laya looked at her and nodded, eating more of the bread, but slower. She really felt ashamed for being such a pig. She drank her water quickly and wiped her mouth. She looked at them and lowered her head. Keeping it there.

"Well, pleased to meet you," he said. "I'm Kron Bloodfang." He turned to Yoshia. "Here are your apples Yoshia." He put down his cloak and placed the apples down next to her. "And I should rewrap your ankle know. You should take it off before going to bed by the way, it gives the muscles and tendons some air to heal." He ripped off a strip of his cloak and rewrapped the ninja girl's ankle....

If only she hadn't been blinded by his seemingly niceness... If only Yoshia would have warned her instead of going along with him...

"If you wish to accompany us then you may," he said. "But we should see how your ankle is by then, we also need to see how your fever is. If you're still sick when the rain dies, then you may have to stay here."

Yoshia giggled as she turned to Laya and completely changed the story of how her and Kron came to be staying at the cave. When she finished embellishing her story she turned to Kron. "Besides, love, my fever should be fine-you just said so yourself when I was still in bed." She smiled innocently at him, almost childlike and naive.

Laya was staring at her lap, her face sad and her eyes hollow. Yoshia hadn't even warned her. She could have yelled and said he was a rapist. She could have told her long before she entered the cave...

Laya made her way to the cave, pausing at the entrance and looking in. "Hello? Excuse me... is anyone home? Hello?"

"Hello! Did you get caught in the rain? Come in.. I don't live here this is just a hide out from when I was a kid in a town not far from here. My names Yoshia Sakakida."


Maybe Yoshia had been pretending the whole time. Kron did try and get them to lure his food.... Well, he got Yoshia. Maybe it had been the plan all along. And Laya thought that she had a friend...


Soran:

Maria watched Laya in the corner of her eye as she stirred the soup. "You three must have been through a lot, to be in such shape out in the woods," she said. She couldn't help noticing that Laya was in far worse shape than the other two. "Have you been traveling together long?"

Emora:

"No," Laya said rather bluntly than she meant to. Her head as still lowered and she was still staring at her lap... Her eyes as hollow as ever. Her mind kept going over and over. It finally had time to go over it.. with out having to have Kron wanting to use her.

She could hear her own voice screaming for him to stop over and over in her head. She could hear it and it was driving her insane. She put her hands to her head as if she had a head ache and closed her eyes. She could hear it.... and see it as if it were happening all over again. She wanted it gone... She wanted it all gone.

Smiling, he said "I see you haven't lost your spunk after yesterday, that's good, maybe I should do it again then." The vampire exposed his fangs as his smile got wider.

“No!”

"Don't worry, I'll but much gentler this time," he said. With that he licked her face again.

She struggled frantic. Not again! No! Not again! Please! She pleaded with who ever watched over them… what ever gods up there that some people worshiped. Take this monster off me!

“No! Please!” she found her voice yelling out. She looked at him. “Please.”


Laya closed her eyes tighter. "Go away," she mouthed, but made no sound. She wanted the thoughts to go away.

Soran:

Maria observed Laya with a mother's knowing eyes. "Now, child, if you're feeling a bit better, why don't you help me and dice that parsley over there," she said, pointing to some herbs sitting on the counter and a knife. "It ain't my place to guess what's ailin you, but if there's one thing I've learned in life, it's that there's no use in broodin. And I know a broodin face when I see one, and you're wearin it," she scolded, gesturing again toward the parsley.

Emora:

Laya looked at her... not feeling like doing it. But, the woman had giving her food... it was the least she could do. she stood up and walked towards the parsley and the knife. She started slicing it. That woman knew nothing of her life. She could brood. There might not be any use in it... but it was all she knew how to do now.

So much pain and loneliness filled her heart. She felt that she would never have a true friend. That she would never let a man close to her again... That she would never love. She hated living. Her life had ended the first time Kron had raped her. What was the point in living if you felt so unhappy and life treated you so wrongly....

Suddenly, the knife in her hand looked very inviting. Suddenly, for some uncontrollably reason she wanted to run the sharp edge of the blade across her wrist... or plunge it into her gut. She stared at the blade as it sliced through the parsley. It couldn't be any worst than the pain in her heart. It might hurt... only for a while and then the pain would all be gone.

Kron wasn't there to stop her. If she did it quick....

No. How could she think of doing something like that. It would mean Kron had won... Which he had, but he would have won more in breaking her. Laya dropped the knife quickly and looked at the woman. "I'm sorry..." she said and turned, leaving the room quickly.

Mizuki:

Neko and Kratos had been standing in the room idly, looking a bit nervous.

"I'm sorry..." Laya said and turned, leaving the room quickly.

"Oy.." Neko breathed. "I wish I knew what was wrong with her." She said to the woman. "But we just met her..." she fell silent for a moment then looked at Maria. "Oh, I'm Neko and this is Kratos.. and she is Laya... ah.. I'll go get her.." Neko said and hurried out of the room after Laya. Kratos looked at Maria and gave her a nervous smile.

"You still want some help m'am?" he asked her. Meanwhile Neko was chasing down the retreating Laya, and gaining.

"Laya! Hey whats wrong?!"

Emora:

Laya sat down in a chair on the very edge as if it were made of spikes and if she got any further back in it it would slice her open. She looked up with her sad hollow gray eyes. "Nothing," she said and looked back downwards. "I'm just tired..." she said and still stared down.

She bit her tongue to keep her mouth shut. She wanted to scream and yell and curse and hit something... yet she wanted to sob and cry and just lay down and give up totally. Her mind couldn't decide which one to do.

Mizuki:

Neko looked at Laya with sheer concern. She recongized the look of hopelessness in her eyes, since her mother had it often when she realized Neko would never grow to be a lady. Neko didn't know how to comfort Laya really.

"uhh... maybe if you sleep?" Neko suggested. "Get some more food in you maybe and sleep fitfully.. would it make things better?"

Emora:

Laya looked up at her and then downwards. Just to get the woman off her back she would agree. "Sure," she said plainly and nodded. "Yea.... it might." Knowing it wouldn't. The only thing that could possibly help her is time.... or death. She was sorry to admitt that she was a bit happier with Kron. With him she had never thought to taste freedom again. So she didn't have to compare her past to the future.... But, now... She didn't have him to constantly be near her.... She wasn't used to it.

"I'm sorry..." she said and shook her head. She must seem really stupid for acting so funny. "I just need some sleep and some food..." And a new life. "I'll be fine..."

Mizuki:

Neko nodded approvingly and smiled.

"Everything should be better when your back on your feet and steady!" Neko said happily. Back in the kitchen Kratos was put quick to work starting where Laya had left off. He never felt more uncomfortable in his life. He fummbled with the knife from time to time and came close constantly to cutting off his fingers. Luckly, he never did.

[Emora Deen]

Laya looked at her and shrugged. "Yea..." she said, not really wanting to argue. She just had to pretend that nothing was the matter and so the woman would leave her alone. She really didn't want to be interigated about Kron or her life. She didn't want these people to know what a whore she was... how she had been a love slave to a beast... She never wanted to... But, these people might not see it that way.

She went back into the kitchen with her head lowered. She sat down, folding her hands in her lap and keeping quite, waiting until she could eat.

[Mizuki]

Neko followed the sulking Laya back into the kitchen then gapped at her brother.

"Are you trying to lose fingers?!" Neko protested at him, taking the knife from him. Kratos glared at his sister.

"At least I do work." He retorted. Neko fummed then started ranting on how Kratos had left her home while he had gone on his big journey to learn more fighting technices. Kratos started blushing, only because his sister was making a scene.

[Soran Nightblade]

Maria looked at Laya curiously as she returned to the room, a cross between concern and irritation on her face after the girl's behavior. She was a kind woman, but also the type who hated being wrong. "Whatever's wrong, dear, running away from it's no good," she said ignorantly, testing the soup to see if it was done.

Just then her husband and the boys came back into the house looking considerably more somber than they had before.

"How is it?" Maria asked seriously.

"We can talk about it after dinner," Fandir said.

"How is it?" his wife demanded more firmly, worry she had concealed before coming out in her voice.

Fandir frowned at his wife's pushiness, but answered. "Tess and Mira aren't going to make it. Also, there are two or three more cattle that aren't looking well."

"It's that damned beast," Maria said, and released a long, angry breath.

"It's because you're hunting it...Papa, maybe we shouldn't make it any madder...at this rate, we'll have nothing left to eat!" said one of the boys unhappily.

"That would just mean leaving it to victimize everyone else. No, we're going to put a stop to all of this. We were inches from getting him today. It's only a matter of time," replied Fandir, sitting at the table sternly.

[Emora Deen]

Laya looked up from staring at her hands. These people were really starting to aggravate her. She wished they would stop making suggestions about her problems when they didn't even know what it was. It wasn't any of there business either! So she wouldn't tell them.

She didn't understand these people and there logic. Have they ever heard of a unicorn before?! The poor thing. It was probably being blamed for something some mage was doing or some psychotic priest.

"I'm not feeling hungry anymore," she lied and stood up, her head hanging in the same look of shame as if looking them in the eyes would reveal her dark secret. "I think I just need a breath of fresh air... If you'll excuse me."

Laya glanced at Kratos and Neko for a moment before walking out of the kitchen and then outside, closing the door behind her. The wind rustled her clothing and her hair. She wanted out of the clothes she was in... She wanted into something that didn't make her feel like she was walking around in a bathrobe.

Laya walked alone down the street of the village. Her face held her usual hollow look as if she had been through something so horrible it couldn't be expressed in words. You poor creature… I to know what its like to be hunted. Though, I’m sure you have out ran you predator longer than I did….

[Mizuki]

Neko took Laya's leaving as arrgavation about these people hunting down a Unicorn. Stopping from victijmizing Kratos, she cleared her throat and look sternly at the men who had just come in. Kratos made a warning gesture to her but she didn't listen to it.

"Can I ask exactly why you people are hunting down a unicorn?" she said distastefully.

"Ahh.. Nekoo" Kratos whispered to her. He knew his sister's temper too well to let these people go through it.

[Soran Nightblade]

Fandir frowned at Neko, but looked like he understood her concern. "Believe me, we were as skeptical as you are about suspecting a unicorn. That creature used to come to our village regularly, silently visiting various people when no one was looking. It always did good, healing folks, makin em feel better, sneaking into town and coming and going undetected. One day, some group of dumb kids decide they're gonna catch it, and sneaks up behind it with a net.

"Of course, he failed and it got away, but after that strange things started happening. Animals started fallin sick and dying overnight with no apparent cause. Merchants who used to bring goods to the village suddenly stopped coming. And right when it all happens, the unicorn disappears. We knew right off it was all his doing. We maligned'im and now he's having his fun taunting us. But it's gotten to the point where we're running out of healthy animals to eat, and even the crops aren't doing that well. The only choice we have is to bring that thing down before it does anything worse."

Maria and the youngest son nodded angrily in agreement to Fandir's conclusion, while the elder son frowned at them all from the corner, saying nothing.

* * *

Telanis stood alertly at the edge of the wide brook, listening and smelling for signs of human presence. It was very unlikely that they would come out for him again this soon, but he was dangerously close to their village, so extra caution was in order. Sensing nothing, he lowered his neck to the brook and took a much-needed drink of its cold water.

[Emora Deen]

Laya hugged herself, wondering down a path. She would return... yes. Neko had been kind to her so far and she would return... She needed kindness. At the moment though what she needed was to sort things out with her emotions.... with her thoughts and memories. Kratos had been kind to her also... they both were something she hadn't expected to meet upon reaching her homeland.

"I'll make a deal with you," he said. "If you surrender yourself to me, I'll promise that you'll live through this experience. I also won't punish Yoshia or anything. Frankly, I'm pretty sure that I'll eventually catch you one way or the other, you running away will just make it take longer and cause more deaths, so how about it?"

Laya shut her eyes. That had been her mistake. If she hadn't of been so kind and worrying about that woman... who didn't even need to be saved since she clearly enjoyed Kron raping her... Then she would have been safe. She could have gotten away.

Laya cursed herself silently about talking about Yoshia. The young woman had been her only friend. But, she still didn't understand her reasoning.

[Soran Nightblade]

The unicorn's head shot up alertly as a human scent drifted into the air. It didn't smell like a large group of people - probably one or two at most. He had hoped to rest for a few hours at the side of the brook, so he decided to stand his ground. It was possible the humans weren't even coming his way.

[Emora Deen]

Laya stumbled closer to the sound of soft running water. The light trickle of it was almost calming. She didn't look up from the ground... but stared at it constantly until she saw the water's edge. She dropped to her knees quickly, which would surely leave a light bruise, and leaned over the edge. For a long moment she looked at the reflection, her long brown hair cascading over her shoulders and hanging in front of her. She stared at her face... and into the eyes of the reflection.

No matter how hard she tried she couldn't see the woman she had been. She couldn't see the girl who would run head long into a battle with out fear or worry. All she could see was an ugly whore who feared everything the world had to offer. Her bottom lip twitched.

[Soran Nightblade]

The unicorn watched the woods on the other side of the brook warily as the human scent became stronger and stronger. Finally, he turned and trotted quietly out of sight to wait for whoever it was to leave. He already knew it wasn't a hunter - at least not a normal one. It was approaching from upwind of him without any detectable caution.

He stood behind a large boulder while a young female human walked to the riverside and fell to her knees, staring into the water. Though she was out of sight, Telanis recognized the distinctive aura of misery and self-hate that he'd sensed earlier that day. He tossed his head slightly to try to dull the anguish that was resonating from her psyche to his. In the past, he would have stepped out toward her and offered his help without hesitation, but...

His instincts overpowering his reason, Telanis stepped out from behind the rock and walked quietly to the edge of the brook opposite the human. He wouldn't get too close, and he knew she couldn't catch him alone.

[Emora Deen]

Laya stared into the water, listening to the sound of it and closing her eyes as she reached out and ran her hand over the top of the water, distorting her reflection.

It hit her... the feeling of being watched. She stared at the water before slowly, ever so slowly looking up in front of her. Her hair fell in front of her face in soft strands, obscuring most of her beautiful features. Her hollow gray eyes widened at the sight of the magnificent creature and her mouth opened as she gazed in awe.

She was still kneeling at the edge of the water, the mud soaking into her already tattered kimono. She wanted to move... so this creature of purity wouldn't have to look upon her dirty form. But... at the same time she didn't want to move... she wanted to just stay and stare at it... at its beauty and let it make the move to go away...

She felt as if it could see through her... and see her uncleanness... She felt ashamed and unworthy... A single tear trailed down her cheek.

[Mizuki]

Neko didn't like their reason for hunting down the Unicorn. Anything was possible for crops failing and animals dying. A plaigue or an evil Wizard was quite possibly killing the land, she just couldn't bring herself to believe that a creature of legend, told to be so gentle, would cause famine and discord! She narrowed her eyes at them but said nothing.

Kratos stood wary next to his sister, waiting for an out burst and was surprised when none came. Though he could feel the tension in the room that was forming.

"Dear sister," he said desparate to change the subject away from the village's problems. "How about you so me how much you had learned since I've been away." Kratos urged her. Neko snapped out of her frustration and perked up.

"Ha! Yes!" She said excitedly, it seemed impossible to believe that she was angry just a minute ago, but she wouldn't pass up the chance to beat her brother to the ground in a good sparring lesson. "let me so you what I've accomplished!"

Kratos smiled and asked for permission to use the families backyard for their sparring. He promised to keep a distance from their home.

[Soran Nightblade]

The atmosphere in the room seemed to lighten somewhat as Neko and Kratos bean speaking of sparring together. "You two are welcome to spar to your heart's content, after you have some soup," Maria said cheerfully. "Jerem, set the table dear," she directed her elder son, who still seemed unhappy about something, but did as he was told, getting out plates and bowls in silence.

* * *

Telanis watched the human warily as she stared back at him, tears rolling down her face that was hidden beneath her hair. Despite the guilt that emanated from her, he could sense no darkness in her soul. She didn't seem to be armed...

Watching her closely, the unicorn began crossing the shallow stream with slow, graceful steps until he stood in the water directly in front of her. He lowered his face so that it was in front of hers and let out a gentle breath through his nose, blowing her hair out of her face. Now that he could see them, her eyes were every bit as pure - and lost - as he'd expected. He arched his neck up and tilted his head sideways curiously.

[Mizuki]

Neko and Kratos sat down obiedantly at the table to eat.

"SHould I go get Laya?" Neko asked. "She was starving when we had met her... it wouldn't seem fair if we ate without her."