Heirot

Soran glanced down at Rai's words and stopped so abruptly that Sid walked about ten feet further before realizing he'd lost his train.

The rogue knelt in the leaves and set his daughter down lightly in the leaves, blocking her form from the views of the others. He called back his blades and quickly stripped off his trenchcoat, then held it out to help her into the large garment. Even on her new body, it would be long enough to drag on the ground by about a foot.

Rai smiled softly and slipped her thin arms into the sleeves and when it was around her shoulders she pulled it tightly closed. "Thank you," she said in a whisper, hugging it to her. She tried to stand up then, managed to get to her feet. But, she trembled so violently it was clear she wouldn't stay that way. She stumbled forward and grabbed hold of her father, feeling strange being so far off the ground. So far away, that is. She was a good deal taller than she had been, long slender legs.

She was still small, tiny, mostly due to her elven blood. Her blond hair was long, lighter, and hung in ringlets down her back. Crystal blue eyes glanced back and forth between Soran, Sid, and Blade.

"Maybe you should leave me here. Go and get mother and then come back? I'll only slow you down," she said softly. It suddenly accured to her that she knew this. It was strange knowing such thoughts, knowing more than she had known as a child. Speaking with wisdom beyond her looks, for even as a child she had been very wise for her age.

Soran looked Rai straight in the eyes for several seconds, a silent understanding passing between them. "Sid," he finally said, without looking away from his daughter. Sid followed Soran's cue and stepped up beside him. Soran didn't need to ask to know he was listening. "I want you to stay with Rai until Blade and I return," he said very quietly.

Sid hesitated a moment before answering. He understood why Soran wanted Rai to remain in safety, but what didn't quite register was why he was chosen to remain with her and not Blade. There was no doubt that Sid and Soran had the better team dynamics in a battle, but this was more about Rai's safety than the elf's. Was his lost friend beginning to trust him again? Did Sid really trust him after being left for dead in Sinead's dungeon? He knew better than to ask the rogue for his reasoning. He walked to Rai's side and touched her shoulders protectively. "It's just ahead," he said, meeting Soran's eyes. "We'll be here."

Soran reached out and rubbed the top of Rai's head gently, ruffling her golden hair. It felt oddly the same as it always did. "We'll be back," he said firmly. With that, he turned to Blade. "Let's go."

Shea was lounging on her bed of furs staring up at the lamp light flickering on the canvas ceiling of her tent. She was relaxed until she felt it. The surge of power, a presence long forgotten. Could it be? Could she be so fortunate as to have it stumble into her lap again? The Key. Shea smirked. No, this was stronger. The child could not be so strong. Not yet.

However, here the power was a beacon that suddenly ignited and roared like a blazing inferno. Power that could, eventually, one day rival her own. That was in itself a reason to seek out this new presence and snuff it out.

"Serith," she called and a tall man ducked into the room. A very handsome young man with long shoulder length wavy black hair. Across his right eye was a black patch. He was dressed in fine black clothes.

"I sense something..." she said, rising from her position and sauntering over to his form. She trailed a elegant finger down his bristled cheek, long straight blood colored hair fell over her shoulder, strands slipping in front of her golden eyes. "Find it for me. Will you? I know how good you are at it."

His one peircing green eye stared deep into the eyes of his queen and he smirked darkly. "And what will I do with it once I find it?"

"Use your imagenation." The tone was nothing but amused and he bowed his head, turning to leave the tent. As soon as he had exited the smirk left his lips and he rolled his eyes at her. He was possibly the only man in all of Arken that was not effected by her charms, in fact it just annoyed him that she tried. Hadn't she realized yet that most of his kind were not affected by her?

He walked with a certain bit of determination, for he had to admit he did love a good hunt. However, this would be different. He could tell. He closed his eyes and tapped into that power, isolating it from all the others. Pinpointing. Calculating. He froze in mid stride, a cold wind tossing the cloak around his shoulders. "Ahh," he said. "Your there..." He tilted his head in the direction of the forest.

* * *

Rai sat with the coat pulled tightly around her, her knees pulled up to her chest and her head resting lightly attop them. She was glancing from Sid to the ground and back again, not really enjoying the silence of the moment.

"Having fun?" she asked him with a sarcastic smirk, feeling slightly better the more she rested. In fact, her limbs were starting to stop trembling. "If you plan on being around for a while you better get used to it. This is a constant thing. This... getting attacked and all. Its almost a hobby by now."

Blade worried over Soran's decision to leave Rai behind, a sinking feeling in his chest that this could prove bad.

"Was that right?" finally voicing his concern.

(OOC: in CA, may post once in awhile on my laptop and hopefully I can concentrate enough to do good ones )

"Sid knows what he's doing. If you're worried, you stay too," Soran snapped as he moved quickly through the trees, not feeling patient enough to justify his decisions to the boy.

Blade stopped, taken aback from his father's response. Yet somehow, the feeling that Soran was his father began to ebb away. Jealousy stabbed at his heart, but was then replaced by anger. But saving his mother was more important, at least he was secure in his relationship with her. Narrowing his eyes at his father's back, he stood straighter, his muscles taunt on his back and his wings standing up proud with the black feathers showing agitation.

---

They were getting closer to her position, she could feel it. But she also sensed something else, and it sent her nerves on edge. Someone was in danger, and she couldn't concentrate enough to know exactly who it was.

"It's time for you to met your Queen." The General who kept her captive and tortured her with the newfound knowledge about Luc.

"Shea is NOT my queen." she spat out with malice. She was struck hard for the response.

"Learn your place in this war," he growled with dark promise, "Submission may just keep you alive."

"I will not submit..."

"Then I'll have to teach you how." he grabbed her from her position on the floor, he had a moment ago just released her from her bonds. His grip was rough and hard, his touch vile against her battered flesh. It was right away that she sensed his intention, and she rebelled.

"NEVER!" she kicked at him hard, thrashing in his iron grip. When he would not let go she resorted to her magic, which would tax her greatly. Her eyes glowed and she concentrated all her anger towards the general. He lost his grip on her arms, holding his head in agony. It felt like his head was splitting. He screamed in agony, blood dripping from his ears, and before Mizuki completely drained herself, she stopped his agony. She meant to just leave him and to escape, but her anger over Luc got the best of her.

Everything they had gone through was this man's doing. He'll destroy no more lives, was her mindset. She grabbed his head with both hands, dark anger an ugly mask on her beautiful features, the general was just barely conscious and couldn't fight back as she used her anger to drive his head into the stone wall.

Soran let Blade react however he liked as he led them swiftly through the forest toward where Sid had indicated the cave would be. He didn't have it in sight yet when an agonized scream sounded in the distance. It wasn't Mizuki's, but it was coming from the right direction, which set off alarms in Soran's head. If anyone else was closeby, they would hear it too. He broke into a silent run toward the sound, and suddenly he was able to spot the cave mouth through the trees ahead. He studied it closely for guards, slowing his pace again as he fell into a cautious crouch.

Sid looked over at Rai. He thought about her words for a moment, because she was probably absolutely right about how dangerous it was to be around this group. "I think I'll stick around for a while," he mused casually. "I live for this stuff, so don't fret over it." He paused and became very still as the sound of footfall came through the woods nearby. The soldiers were searching. It was really just a matter of time if they stayed where they were. "Do you feel strong enough to walk?" he whispered to Rai while still listening for any further sounds.

Rai glanced up at him with her crystal gaze and gave a gentle nod. She pushed herself to her, at first, unsteady feet. "I can walk," she said, her brilliant innocent eyes turning in the direction of the feet that were quickening in pace. She could walk, yes, but for how long she was unsure. Healing death wasn't something she was used too. She hugged herself tightly and though there wasn't any possible way the coat would ever reveal anything given its size, she still felt very self-concious in her new body. She turned from Sid suddenly, buttoning a few bottons in the front just encase she couldn't keep her hands around her the entire time they were evading soldiers. Just to insure the fact she wouldn't be exposed she tied the leather strap around her waist tightly, causing the material of the coat to hug closer to her slim curved form.

Curves, that was something to definitely get used to.

"Let's go." She gave him a swift nodded and began walking on unsure legs.

She stumbled a little on her feet and it was clear she still wasn't used to having legs so long. "Stupid feet..." She was beginning to miss her tiny body, at least then if she fell she hadn't very far to go. "Is this a good idea? We told daddy that we'd be here when he returned. If were not..."

* * *

Serith walked gracefully through the woods, his feet barely making a sound. However, the steps of the three guards that were with him were loud enough to give them away. At first the noise only mildly irritated him, couldn't they be a little quieter? Then, it just seemed to build feverishly.

With every twig that snapped and every leaf that was crushed he found himself wincing at their loud stupidity. Any normal human, whether magic made or not would hear them coming by now.

So, he let the go on the course they had been headed, signaling he was not to be followed. Then, he moved on his merry way, arching around. It would take longer, but he would eventually head them off. Though, his movements were quiet, even he was not soundless.

He pulled his cloak hood above his head, blinding in the the darkness of the midnight forest. The moon was out, casting an unearthly, which broke through the openings in the sparce treed forest. It wouldn't be hard to spot someone if they moved deeper into the forest, for the brush tended to lessen with the thickness of the canopy top blocking out the sunlight so that the weeds and bushes could not grow.

He knew that he would eventually need to turn and head back around in front of them, for he wasn't totally sure who he was dealing with and wouldn't assume they would head further into the dark dangerous abyss of overgrown shrubbry.

Mizuki's stomach churned at the sight of what she had done. Blood covered her hands and she stepped back, feverish and shivering. But she could still think and function. Quickly, and cautious to not touch the killed man anymore than she should, Mizuki extracted the dagger from his person and scrambled away from the body. She steeled her nerves and tried to focus through her cloudy thoughts. She was tired and sick, but she had the determination to survive. Gripping the dagger in her right hand, Mizuki made her way to the mouth of the cave in stealth.

If there were any guards, why had they not come at the sound of the general's screams? As she got closer, she saw two in the dim light of the moon coming into the cave. They must have thought the screams were from a prisoner. A sickening thought, how they have mistook the dying screams of their general for a prisoners.

She crouched low to the ground, carefully making her way to the first guard in front of her. She would have to be fast, the next one would be startled by her attack. With a swift, and deft movement unlike her, Mizuki grabbed the back of the first guards head and pulled it back, slitting his throat. More blood poured over her hands, warm and sticky. Her stomach gave a lurch and before she could even think to control herself, she collapsed onto her knees and emptied her stomach.

Sid held his hand out for Rai to take if she needed it. Somehow he could tell that she might not be in the mood to be touched right now, so he just offered his support should she accept it. The footsteps had begun growing farther away. Whoever it was, they had either lost their trail or been heading in a different direction in the first place. He grimaced at the thought that they might overtake Soran and Blade from behind, but then again, there was no way the rogue would fail to detect their approach.

"Your Dad said to stay with you, but not necessarily to stay here," Sid said, still barely whispering. "We will find a way to meet up with him, but staying still is rarely a good strategy."

* * *

Soran narrowed his eyes as he spotted forms fighting just inside the mouth of the cave. That had to be Mizuki...but it all seemed a little too easy. Still, there wasn't much choice but to go in after her at this point. He saw a female form sink to its knees inside the shadows of the cave, and that was when he jolted to a sprint for the entrance. There wasn't enough time to really communicate with the angel prince behind him, so he left it to the boy to decide his role in the situation.

He made it to the cave in a matter of seconds, and when he was able to make out the situation, he saw a man dead on the ground, Mizuki kneeling and looking ill, and another soldier approaching her to strike while she was off guard. The cave smelled of blood and vomit. Soran shot forward, his blades erupting from their bracelets. He came between the man and Mizuki, standing just inches in front of her, and split the man up the front like he was filleting a fish. He raised his leg and kicked the dying man in the chest so that he fell away from them and scanned the cave for anyone else who might be approaching. How could she be this poorly guarded? Not that he was going to complain about it.

"Mizuki," he said, spinning around to crouch beside her. She was covered in blood, and he had no idea if it was hers or someone else's. "Are you hurt?"

Blade followed after Soran, but instead ran straight for his mother. The smell of blood overwhelmed his nose, causing him to panic. Rushing to his mother's side, he paid no heed to Soran as he comforted his ill mother.

"Are you hurt?" Soran asked.

"Battered... bruised... tired... otherwise fine." She said weakly, but actually managing a smile. "If you're wondering, none of this blood is mine." She shuddered and leaned against her son. Blade felt waves of sympathy and rage. These men hurt his mother, she was covered in blood, no doubt fighting and killing them.

"I'll carry you," Blade said, trying to lift Mizuki to her feet. She took his help in relief, but was heavily leaning on him. "Everything will be fine mom, I'm here now... I'll protect you."

"Don't beat yourself up... it all happened too fast in order to have warned of it. Rai?" She directed the question to Soran.

Soran held back the urge to throw his arms around Mizuki and hold her. Blade was in the way, swearing his protection and doing his best to look grown-up. If anything, to Soran it made him look immature, but maybe that was a good thing. He wouldn't speak his feelings to Mizuki in these circumstances, and they needed to get out of the area quickly. "Rai is different from the last time you saw her, but safe. Sid is with her," he said, taking up a protective formation beside the pair as they made their way back into the woods. Unfortunately, footsteps were coming. Someone was approaching their direction.

Mizuki groaned, taking a few feeble steps with Blade's help. "Whatever has happened to her, she is strong and can get through it." Mizuki said, knowing it for a fact. The girl survived seeing her parents killed right before her very eyes, she was very strong for a girl so young. Mizuki thought nothing of Blade's reaction towards her. He was her son with the burden of being a Prince, he still had much to learn but she knew he as well could get through it.

Blade heard the footsteps as well, his wings and body tensing. "We should get out of here..." he warned, even though he knew they'd never get out of the way in time. Whoever was coming they'd would have to fight them. It sounded like only one, it might be an easy escape.

Rai took Sid's hand because she knew that she wasn't really capable of walking at a fast pace given her new... arrangement. "Okay... I believe you."

However, she didn't want to be too far from them, for this land was not her own and she didn't like not knowing what would happen or the sort of people they would meet.

They were pushing through the brush when they entered a rather sparce part of the forest, miles and miles of large trees with little ground brush scattered across the floor. A mist hung low to the ground, illuminated by what little moonlight filtered in through the canopy.

At there fast walking pace she hadn't the time to cast her eyes around in curiousity, so she didn't even notice him coming from the direction. Maybe Sid had, she wasn't for sure. But, suddenly there he was, moving like a black shadow to stand before them.

Serith's green eyes found the figure that was radiating the energy and he snorted. A wide grin spread across his face and a soft chuckle escaped him. "This is it?" he asked with a great deal of amusement. "A girl?" Though, she wasn't much younger than he. She was small and far to doe eyed at the moment to seem very much like a threat. "I need a raise, this is pathetic. Sending me after a girl."

Rai suddenly cluched onto Sid's arm, hugging it to her like she used to do Soran's leg.

He drew his sword. "Oh well, I guess we should get this over with." His eyes fell on Sid. "I'm guessing you aren't the type to step a side, right?"