[Mizeria]

A woman with long straight black hair walked in through the throne room doors. Her head held high and her crystal blue eyes shone with dignity. She was beautiful in every sense of the word. Her gown flowing softly as she walked up to the throne.
"Your Majesties," she said in a clear voice "You requested my presence?"
"Yes, we've heard rumors..." The king began
"Rumors that you have seen something, Seer, and haven't told us." The Queen cut in. She seemed highly upset even though she was normally the more level headed of the two. Her emerald eyes shiny in the bright lights of the throne room. She look like she was in perfect health even thought she had had a child not even three days ago.
"Yes, I've seen something. Yet it was unclear. Something blurred my vision. I know not what it is that I saw. I've been trying to recall it... but it has yet to come back to me. I'm sorry my queen."
"What is it that you remember?" The queen hissed harshly. "There must be something"
The seer studied her queen silently for a moment. No one knew what kept her from answering right away, but she seemed to be waiting for something.

"My Queen, your daughter is in good health I assume. I heard she was quite a beauty...." She paused again her eyes seeming to look far away "...The thing I saw my Queen...You will not enjoy. Death and destruction. Fires and pain. The only hope for your people in a tight bundle in a cradle, but it most not remain here. Your kingdom will fall. As you will with it. Your people in chains. Your daughter..." Her eyes fluttered over the cradle by the throne "... Two must take her far from this land. She will know nothing of us or you. Until she is old enough and strong enough to save us from the dark."

"What?" the Queen stood her voice a high shrill "You expect me to give up my daughter?!"

"....There is no other way to save your people... The Dark is coming. She will rule. You will fall." She bowed her head and waited.

"But who should we trust with our daughter?" The King spoke softly.

The seer thought of this and looked at her leaders.
"A young couple... One you trust. Make them promise you to watch after your daughter. They may say no at first but explain to them... Tell them what I've said. You have.... till the full moon raises into the northern sky.... that night will be our end" She bowed her head once more and turned to leave. She knew they needed nothing else from her. She started to walk away with a fear in her heart. She saw her death. She knew she could not save herself. She just kept hope for the future.

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

The sun was high in the sky and shiny brightly over Asui's family home. There were no roads to there house, and no neighbors to speak off. They lived in a nice quaint little valley surrounded by mountains. No way in or out unless you could fly or knew the hidden entrance. Her parents never explained why they lived there, but what more could she want? They were safe and happy.
The nearest town was nearly 150 miles away and they only traveled there when they really needed too. They grew everything else, or hunted what they needed for food. Right now Asui's sister was down by their lake playing in the water while trying to keep from doing her daily duties. Their father was out in the yard tending to their crops. Their mother was singing in the kitchen as she made lunch. Asui herself was out back hanging the clothes. The perfect little family, and they were hoping for another brother or sister soon.
Asui's bright green eyes scanned over the forest in front of her. She thought something was out there. Watching. Waiting. Yet she couldn't be sure. Her beautiful red hair, slightly wavy today, fell over her shoulder as she reach down for another shirt. She was well built and dressed in earthy tones and clothes that allowed her to move easily. She loved her peaceful life, and would tell anyone that. Yet something was missing, and she could never quite put her finger on it.
That is when Asui heard the scream. Loud and filled with pain, and without a doubt from her sister. There was nothing dangerous in this valley. Her father had made sure that they would be safe. They were always extra careful. She never knew why... Her sister screamed again bringing her from her thoughts. She was already running. Turning around the house. Her mother grabbed her by the arm and pulled her in the house. A bag was shoved into her arms. It was heavier then she remembered it being last time she held it. They practiced leaving in a rush before. She was always told that she would have this bag. Always. No matter what her parents would give it to her somehow. And now she looked into her mothers eyes and saw pure fear.
"Mo-" She began but she was cut off
"Shhh!" Asui was dragged through their house and out the back door.

They ran silently through the forest soon they would split up. Asui felt terror building up in her. She never thought they would have to do this. She remember the plans as her mother whispered something to her so softly that she almost didn't catch it.
"We'll meet at that special place. If I'm not there in the time limit you know what to do. I love you..."
And with that her mom switched course. Leaving her on her own. She would be alright. She would. She had to believe that or all of this would be for nothing.
Even at the distance from their little home Asui heard her fathers screams. She didn't want to think about it, but deep down she knew it was just her and her mother now. She hoped that she would meet her like she said. Yet her words had felt like a goodbye. Tears started streaming down her face, but she forced herself to keep moving. Pushed past tree after tree until she could almost see the way out. She was tired and scared. Thats when the last scream hit her ears. Her mothers voice. It was ringing loudly in her ears. She thought she heard "Not My Baby" but she wasn't sure if that was possible. Sobs locked themselves in her throat and she pushed through the hiding place of the way out. She locked the door behind her, but she knew it wouldn't matter. It was well hidden and her path couldn't be traced. She had been taught well... but little mattered now. She had lost it all....

[Rosekitten]

At least a half a days distance from where the screams had fallen silent, someone else seemed to be on the current ruler's blood list. It was a odd sight to behold as a small unit of armed soldiers were perusing what looked to be a scholar.

"There's no escape, even you know that.. why do you run?" The commanding officer of this group of five seemed to taunt and laugh the unmounted elf they were chasing. Making a quick hand gesture to the others they quickly spread out in formation surrounding the hooded being they had chased onto a cliff side.

"Your crime is studying in the dark arts, your punishment is death" The commander grinned wickedly "The way you go is up to you."

"Heh.. It's only a crime cause that wench you call a queen has no idea the power behind the scrolls!" He seemed a bit cocky for someone who was back into a corner, but he had his point. The queen only knew fire magic as did most dark elves of this region, to learn another element was almost unheard of and if you managed to do so then you were exiled as a traitor to the crown.

'I didn't come all this way just to die..' He thought to himself knowing in his current state he was in no position to fight these soldiers head on. The idea he got into his head next was either going to work.. or he'd have to risk it and jump from this cliff side. With any luck the bluff would work and he wouldn't have to try and aim for the river below with high odds of missing.

"Any last words before we deliver your head to the queen?" They knew they had the upper hand, the pray they had been chasing was injured, even if he managed to slip away from them he'd probably bleed out elsewhere.

He had to smirk at the last words, he couldn't have asked for a better line. "Gi ussen dal tu'jol l' videnn Usstan lar ulu tau, doer fotus lu' sila elge rath pholor l' tresk'ri nindel vel'bolen took dosst vaen breath. Sila fotus dosst zakath lu' despair!" The chant was far from correct but it would have enough effect to maybe get him out of this bind he seemed to be in.

As nothing happened the commander of the group burst out laughing "Aw.. did your dark goddess abandon you? Finish him and take his head" he said with a flick of his hand to order the command but he was stopped short as the ground started to rumbled under the wyrm's claws as the beasts paced and seemed ready to bolt as a seconds notice.

He stood there with his hood still up hiding his face, though he still had a smug grin across it knowing the downfall of mounted soldiers was the mounts. A thunder crack heard directly over head easily spooked off three out of the five as another one was dismounted and it's beast ran off into the forest.

'Geese.. I didn't think it'd have that affect... ' He wasn't going to question his good fortune as he took the opening he had and dashed off into the forest. He wasn't familiar with this area he hadn't had the time to look into it between running and trying to stay low to avoid what just happened.

"H-heh next time just jump the cliff" He breathed to himself as he kept running, he didn't have a choice seeing as the leader of the group was trying to give chase. Though after a while he finally lost the commanding solider.. the other problem was he ended up losing his own way as well.

"Ugh.. damn it .." he hissed out before grabbing his chest and half slamming his back against a tree. "Well .. running might have been a bad idea.. heh" He still seemed to have a slight smirk, he almost found a grave sense of humor in this the fact that the soldiers might have still killed him in some form or another. A few silvery white bangs hung out of the front of the hood he had manged to keep up this whole time as he hung his head down. He needed to try get somewhere to properly attend the wound, really he had a rather uncanny luck streak today seeing as the stab should have killed him but it missed his heart by mere centimeters.

For the moment he was rather vulnerable, not really having the strength to fight back after such a run and the loss of blood was starting to mess with his head. He should be ok so long as no one saw his face, he wore the battle mage attire that held the symbol of the queen's personal guard. Most would stay clear of anyone in such wardrobe, he oped for now it just bought him time.

[Mizeria]

Asui sat there a moment to catch her breathe and clear her thoughts. There was only one reason to go to the meeting place now, but should she? It could be compromised... Why had this happened to her family? They had done nothing wrong. She opened the bag her mother had given her and looked through it. Food and some water, a blanket, some medical supplies and something she didn't know would be there. A book. It was what had made the bag so much heavier.
She couldn't deal with that now. Closing the bag she stood up and looked around.

"Time to make a choice..." She whispered to herself. Her eyes scanned the forest in front of her to the right was a way out of the forest and towards a town and to the left she would go deeper into the forest... Most anyone would get lost in there. It would be safer, and it would take her to more supplies... She sighed to herself and went to the left. She started out slowly be careful not to leave any trail that she had gone that way.
Twenty minutes later she appeared in the doorway of a well hidden shack. She pulled her necklace off and inserted the key into the lock. She would spend the night here and then in the morning move to another location and get a horse. There was a farmhouse... miles away. It was placed between where she was and the nearest town. The owners didn't know her... but that didn't matter. She would buy a horse off them, or if she felt she couldn't risk them knowing her she would steal it. Things were harder to decide when you didn't know who your enemy was.
She sat in the corner and lit a small oil lamp her parents had bought for this little hide out, and pulled out the book. There were no windows in the tiny shack. So there was no way the light would shine in the darkness of the forest and attract unneeded attention. She opened the book to the first page and read it.

"Dear Asui,

If you are reading this my dear then I fear we are all dead. Long ago we figured this day would come and have taught you to survive the worst if we were no longer there to protect you. Your father and I, well we are not your real parents. We have loved you like our own and feel you are a daughter to us, please never believe otherwise. Yet, the truth is you are our princess. You're real parents left us in charge of taking care of you because they feared the worst for their Kingdom. A great seer came to tell of a prophecy. She was never wrong. She told of the downfall of our people, and of your parents to the dark queen. You may not know of her because we have never spoken of where we came from. Your Kingdom is the country far to the East, and it is now under the rule of Keeshe. Remember her name, but never say it. Do not bring unneeded attention to yourself. Live as we have taught you. Stay to the shadows and make your way home. Friends will help you along the way. We have set up save houses for years. Everything you need should be found somewhere in this book. Codes, names, places, and the like. You are our only hope. Take back what is yours and remember we will always love you."

Tears fell from her eyes again for the second time today. She had never known such a sadness as she had this day and things kept getting worse. How was she suppose to beat a "dark queen" when her real parents couldn't? How would she know who to trust? Things could have changed. It had been years since her parents had talked to anyone outside of the family... that she knew of anyway. She flipped through a few more pages. It was a lot to take in. She found a page with a picture of the royal symbol on it. Asui studied the picture. Anyone with this symbol was her enemy. Tears fell down her face when she flipped a few more pages ahead. There was a hand sketch of her family. Her mother holding her new born sister and her father holding her. She didn't remember posing for it, but she knew someone else had drawn it. There was a name at the bottom, and a date. She had been so young when they had it drawn. She missed them already. They were the only family she had ever known. It wasn't in the book. The page had been set there for safe keeping, and behind it was the royal family. Her real mother and father. Drawn by her fathers hand. Such detail. She could tell how much they had meant to him. Beautiful and calm with a child in her real mothers arms. Could it be her?
Lost in her thoughts she almost didn't hear it. The twig snap not to far from her. She had some control over the earth. She had been trying to get better over the years, but her family never had the skill. She was odd like that. She could do things they couldn't. She didn't even look like them. She finally knew why. She felt out with her senses. There was only one person, but she didn't get the sense she had from when she was in the valley. It was someone different. Someone that was lost maybe? She couldn't take the chance. She closed the book and put it away and turned out the light. She curled into the corner and got ready for whatever happened next. She knew the place was well hidden but someone that is lost can find things they are not supposed to very easily.....

[Rosekitten]

After resting against the tree for a few moments he had picked up a bit of movement near him, deciding it was better to move then to risk resting further he did so. Odds were it was just a wild animal but he didn't have the energy to fight if it wasn't. He kept his hand pressed against the wound on his chest, the cloth he had pressed against it to try and stop the bleeding was drenched as it ran down his arm. He was still trying to get his boundaries, there had to be a road out of this damn forest. "Tsk.. just a bit longer.. I can't afford to let the goddess take me just yet..." he said aloud to himself as he walked, not like he was talking to anyone but he had this dumb idea that talking aloud maybe the goddess would stop making his life a living hell. At the least for a few hours. After a little while longer of walking the forest grew still as night fell across it, had he really been walking that long? He wasn't even sure any more seeing as the loss of blood was starting to take a hard toll on him. Only certain branches of dark elves held the ability to see in the dark, seeing as he wasn't of any of the house bloods under the royal family he didn't possess such a gift. Though somewhere in his blood line someone did, it wasn't to a great advantage from what he could see but shapes at least were helpful when you were in unfamiliar territories.

A twig snapped under his footing as he froze, trying to keep his breathing under control he stood there listening. After a moment he decided nothing paid any mind to the sudden noise as he walked forward and crossed paths with a shack in the middle of no where. He laughed slightly before walking towards the building and putting a hand on the wall for support. Something about this place seemed to strike heavy on his heart as he retracted the hand and then returned it against the side of the wall in a fist. The building didn't look like anyone had been here in ages, but it was also dark too either way he didn't care by this point. "Sinestra... I should have listened to you and became a priest." He still talked aloud to himself, it seemed easier then thinking to himself with how he felt at the moment. "All of this... and I never got the revenge Neimi deserves!" He hissed out resting his head against the building.

Shortly after he stopped talking again he slowly went to his knees, not that he had a choice in the matter. He continued to try and keep himself steady with the shack's wall as he went on to say another small bit. "Little one.... I'm sorry, I couldn't make it in time... Please forgive me" He breathed out, the whole him he had been trying to control his breathing though in the last bit he couldn't help but show his true condition with labored breaths. Mere moments later he seemed to rest his full weight against the building side as he arm he had pressed against the wound fell limply towards the ground. If his mind was with him he could have tried to get into the shack at the odds of there being left over medical supplies, really if his mind had been with him he wouldn't have gotten into any of this today, he would have kept his mouth shut like a good little drone.

[Mizeria]

Asui froze as the voice spoke outside. He wasn't speaking to her. Not that she could tell anyway. He sounded like he was in great pain. She thought for a second on what to do, but even the fear in her heart couldn't keep her from looking outside. She opened the door and stepped out. She could see well enough in the dark to find the man, but not much else. It was dangerous to just take a nap in the open. The wild animals in this place would eat you alive. She made another judgment call. He didn't seem to have the predatory sense that the others had...

Against every fiber in her being she walked over to him to wake him. She touched his shoulder gently trying to wake him, but he didn't move. After a few more attempts she decided that he wasn't going to wake up in whatever condition he was in, and that she would have to move him to see what was wrong. She didn't dare light the outside and draw others near. She was taking enough chances already.

Slowly and carefully she dragged the man into the tiny shack. There was enough room for her family. But the four of them were tiny themselves and could pack into small spaces easily. She was the tallest. Even taller than her father had been. Yet this man made her feel small. She hoped that he would be alright, and then she hoped that he wasn't going to kill her....

Finally she got him inside and closed the door. Stepping over him she light the lamp once more and looked down at him. He was bleeding heavily. No wondered she couldn't wake him. She had medical supplies... but nothing to treat this. She had a choice. Her family told her to never do it again. Ever. Yet, she figured it was the only way. He needed help... And so did she.

She touched his chest softly and her fingers started to glow a faint green color. In mere moments his wound was healed. No scars to even prove he had been hurt. She had used a lot of energy healing him that way, and had taken a lot of risk. Yet she felt she had no choice. Her heart was kind and pure. She was naive and young. It was what made her different from the dark one. It was what gave her the advantage, and it was what would save her life over and over. Yet she knew none of this.

She got up slowly looking more pale then before and using the wall to steady her as she went to the bag to get some water. She was mostly drained now and wouldn't be able to fight him off if he was one of the ones trying to kill her. She could only hope he wasn't. She drank heavily from the canteen, and watch the man. He was still asleep. Resting more peacefully now then he had before. Now all she could do was wait, or run. Three tough decisions in under an hour. She was not ready for her life to change this much. She wanted to rewind time and stay with her family forever in that nice dream world that they made for her. She closed her eyes to think...

[Rosekitten]

Morning would eventually fall upon the two, though the daylight hardly brought sanctuary with it for either of them. There was no way to even know it was morning inside the shack aside from a little that managed to seep in through the door and a handful of spots in the wall. His internal clock was telling him he needed to get up, and that he needed to do it now. His senses were back to normal by this point and he felt like he wasn't alone, not really being watched by whoever was near but there was still a odd chance that remaining asleep would bid ill for his health. About the same time he started to think to himself to prepare for whatever was near the thought of what happened last night came back to him, he has to be dead there's no one someone just recovered from that among of blood loss. Let alone the fact he knew he had passed out... something was wrong here. His eyes shot open as he silently moved reaching a hand for something attached to his belt though he stopped mid movement seeing the only thing near him being wise was a young girl.

'What in the world...' He thought to himself as he relaxed his arm for the moment. She seemed to still be asleep and his movement probably wouldn't be enough to wake her, not with how he was trained. Her skin though he seemed to question his knowledge as to where he had seen that color before she was by far not one of the queens underlings. Not that the facts made this situation safe, there were plenty of other races who despised the dark elves no matter your clan background.

He sat back a little more thinking on her looks though his only thought he quickly shook off. 'There's no way she's the one they are hunting... why would they need to send so many after such a small girl?' That thought aside he noticed he wasn't bleeding though he had noticed before his curiosity often made his mind side-track from important matters. He seemed to test the spot a second, there wasn't even a wound there anymore, scar, stitching nothing. There wasn't any proof he had been a brink from death at all remaining, not even the most skilled of priests could pull that off.

Was it something the girl had done? If so he had to admit he was impressed, and it would explain why she was out like a light for now. It would require some powerful magic ability to use whatever force she had used. He had to admit his curiosity was raising by the second, sure the girl had family somewhere she looked far too young to travel alone the world would eat her alive or at least outside of this forest. For now his questions would have to wait, he didn't want to startle her and test what powers she possessed. The longer he sat there though he seemed to get unpleasant memories he had been so blind all of those years ago why didn't he stand up before. Though if he had of he probably would have been dead long before now as well.

His dress alone was of the dark queens, of the battle mages to be exact. This girl had to know that anyone in such attire could bode ill for her, they had the orders to kill any light skinned elf they came across. Up until recently he would have followed such a order without hesitation but now he had no reason to follow a order. His only plan was to recover what was lost and to get the revenge he wanted... He wanted to see the current queen fall, he hardly cared who took her place after that so long as they left what he had left in the world alone.

Clenching his teeth due to his thoughts he quickly forced himself to relax before he did anything stupid, like what happened the other day with the calvary he had picked a fight with. He'd at least stick around to thank the girl, possibly avoid whatever family she had recalling back on a few horror stories of what the light skinned elves did as a sign of rebellion to ones they caught... Not that he thought he'd have a issue defending himself, but he didn't want to completely drop his guard just to be on the safe side. If he could help it he didn't want to fight his way out of here either. 'Neimi...' He went back to thinking to himself to calm his inner rage. 'This girl looks about your age'.

[Mizeria]

Hours seemed to pass before Asui opened her eyes. Nothing had changed in the small room she now shared with a stranger... His eyes were closed and his breathing was slow as if he was asleep. She didn't think he was though. She knew she had probably been out for a while. Proving the point that she wasn't in danger from him. She moved slightly and went through the bag for water and some food. She was weak. It hurt to move at all, but she knew she needed food. She couldn't tell if it was light out or not, but that wasn't her concern right now.

She pulled out the water canteen and some food. Dried meat and bread. There wasn't much because she had planned to be in town in the next day or two. She would share it of course. Why heal the man and then make him starve. That just seemed highly unkind. She looked over at the man and wasn't sure what to do. He hadn't moved when she had started to. Maybe he was asleep...

She hadn't yet lit the light again, but she was going to have to so she could divide the food. She lit the light but stared at it to long by mistake and now had spots of color in her vision. She sighed softly and tried to ignore it as she went to the task at hand. She made sandwiches from the bread and the meat and wished she had more to work with. It was hardly a good meal, but she would make do.

Remembering that she had to be thankful she was alive brought fresh tears to her eyes. Silently they slid down her face as she thought back to their screams. She pleaded to the heavens that their souls were safe wherever they had ended up, and prayed that she could do what it was they asked of her. Her mothers last wishes for her to survive as all that kept her going...

[Rosekitten]

He knew very well she was awake, but he was also taking the time to figure out a few things about this girl. In order to do so without outright questioning her he kept his eyes closed, even though he had moved from where she had left him the night before. Either way it seemed to work he noticed as she went about whatever she wanted to do. He had rested his back against the wall of the shack long before she had begun to wake, he preferred resting in this method. It also wasn't too uncommon where he was from, you needed a position in case you had to strike with little to no notice.

By this time he had figured out the girl seemed to be alone, whatever happened seemed recent. He could tell by the way she acted, the young girl might have been silent in her tears but the sadness was still there. He continued to wait though before he bothered to move or speak, at the least till she finished eating. No point in startling her at the risk she could choke. Though he was still content with his thoughts of trying to figure out why a light skinned elf was alone let alone in the forest at her age. He'd get the information if he stuck around but he wasn't counting on her trusting him enough for that to work out.

After he was sure she was done eating he continued to keep his eyes closed as he spoke, his voice was soft to keep from scaring her too much but it held it's strength behind it as well. "Traveling alone at your age is dangerous you know..." He didn't mention the fact that her supplies seemed to be counting on if she could reach a certain destination in a allotted amount of time and that it would have been smarter to carry extra in the case she had been discovered by someone intend to do her harm.

He waited to see what she would say, let alone if she even understood common tongue. He knew a bit of the light skinned elves native language from busying himself with scrolls when he had the chance, but things would be easier if she just knew common. Really he owed her his life, though if she had been taught anything he was sure she knew what that meant. It was a sort of code that the dark elves followed, they disliked being indebted to someone for any reason thus they would do as the person asked just to remove said debt. At the least he was going to try and follow her to whatever town she was seeking, if she wanted to go alone after that it was her choice.

[Mizeria]

She looked at him a little startled, but over all kinda expected him to say something sooner or later. Her parents had made sure she was well versed... Well, as well versed as she could be.

"Not in this forest... Not for me. Outside of it your probably right... but its not like I want to travel alone..."

She didn't know what else to say. It wasn't really any of his business. She just wanted to figure out what to do next. She handed him some food and then started to go through her bag.

"So how are you feeling anyway? You were in pretty bad shape..." She paused not really wanting to share with a stranger the amount of skill she had for something that wasn't even supposed to be possible... "You really gave me a scare last night."

[Rosekitten]

She wasn't telling him anything he didn't already figure out that was certain, though even knowing this forest she could be in potential danger now that he thought about it Matters weren't helped that he had a sort of price on his head, though she didn't need to know that. "You'll have to go outside of this forest sooner or later, and I think you know that the dark elves hardly have sympathy for your kind." She seemed to know more then she was letting on and the way she spoke he figured putting it bluntly would hardly hurt her.

He declined her offer of food, in the case something did happen he wasn't going to have it on his shoulders that she was short on supplies. He advised to her she should hold onto it, though he was still trying to figure out why she'd go out of her way yo help him. She'd have been better off leaving him for dead. She'd end up getting herself into trouble if she was going to go around helping the very kind that wanted nothing more then to see her in chains or dead.

"Heh... I had already accepted my fate." He had to admit he had expected to never wake let alone be in good health, though she seemed to avoid saying she had healed the wound. For now he left well enough alone getting the sense from her she wasn't going to talk about it that easily. "But, aside from being the walking dead I think I'm fairing rather well." He seemed to avoid looking at her as he spoke, he was trying to read the girl but she wasn't like most people he had encountered.

He didn't go into saying how he had managed such a condition of when she found him, figuring she didn't care to idly chat that much. At this point he wasn't even sure what to do, he could get to the next town easily enough to get supplies. If he had a choice he would have been prepared and that wound would have never happened. He sighed a little knowing there were questions he had but out of respect for the fact she had saved him he didn't ask.

The girl seemed to fall silent once again on him, he wanted to offer her some form of assistance seeing as she did save him. He owed her more then she'd know, a second chance at executing revenge and reclaiming what little bit of life he had left. His thoughts quickly went back to Neimi, he feared the worse had already happened but that would not keep him from reminding the queen just who she had crossed. Odds were high he'd fail but he'd leave a mark, not all of his kind were senseless drones.

[Mizeria]

She sighed. Listening to the words he said she knew that they were not willingly talking about things. A lot of things. She wasn't sure if this was good or bad for now it would have to do.

"Your kind likes to hunt mine for sport, slavery, or whatever else you deem us useful for. I know this well enough. I lived on my own in a valley closed off from the world. Only leaving when I absolutely had to. I can survive without others for long periods of time, and I can outrun even your most skilled assassins. I'm not looking for pity or sympathy. I just want my life as my own. Isn't that enough?"

As she spoke she packed everything up in the bag and turned her back to him. She removed two floor boards from the back corner of the shack to reveal supplies hidden from anyone that would just happen upon this place. She stocked up on bandages, canned food, a blanket, and some other things. Packing all of the new stuff in a second bag.

"Shall I assume you are coming to the next town with me at least, or are you going to go off on your own and get yourself killed again?" She smiled softly at him to show that it was meant to be lighthearted. "I know the way your kind is and you owe me nothing unless you feel you do. You can live whenever you wish to. I'm not one to chain others to me."

She spoke with an intelligence that seemed to surpass her years, or maybe she was older then she looked. Either way for a split second she thought she saw shock in his eyes.

"I have enough supplies to last until the next town. I had more then enough to share..." She tried to believe that but her mother hadn't packed as much in the bag as they had always told her. She had known that she was not going to be meeting Asui... and this realization seemed to bother her.

[Rosekitten]

He seemed to listen to her, questioning what he had first thought about her age, either way she reminded him much of Neimi. "I never said I was giving you neither now did I?" He was referring to her saying she didn't want his pity or sympathy, he saw no point in giving either if she knew what road lay before and behind her. "Though i'd appreciate it if you didn't lump me in with the Queen's brood..." The very thought seemed to irk him, sure he was stuck in these colors for the time being but as soon as he got to a town they were to be burned.

Not that he really had much room to talk about lumping someone into a category seeing as he had done the same thing, and his history would be very fitting to what she had just said. Though after his slight hint of annoyance he fell quiet again listening to the rest of her words. Really if he parted ways they'd end up going in the same damn direction any way. There was one of the military towns and then a small trader town of sorts being the two closet areas to go to. The one was out of the question for either of them.

He smirked slightly at her hint of humor, though he had to admit he wasn't expecting to from her. "I could go off and get myself killed again... But then I would have failed at what I even came out here for in the first place." He knew he'd be going to the military encampment, it had merchants there as well but he cared little for that fact. He was going to destroy the whole camp if they let him go long enough. But first he'd pay this girl back by getting her to the town she was seeking.

Sure by the condition he was in last night she probably thought he wasn't all that strong or if anything stupid, but she would have been sorely mistaken. "I'll accompany you to ensure you get there... afterwards I'll be parting ways with you." He didn't tell her his plans she didn't need to know and from the looks of things she had her own problems to deal with.

Standing finally as he looked down at her he finally let on he knew about what she had done last night. "Though I'm also following you because that power you used last night intrigues me." He had read enough scrolls and tomes to know each branch of magic and what it was capable of, but this one seemed different like it was in the ranks of the lost magics. He still never bothered to lower the hood he had up so reading any expression he made was nearly impossible and the poor lighting in the shack didn't help matters.

[Mizeria]

She blinked but didn't miss a beat. She knew that it was a danger for him to think that it was her. So... She laughed at him. Full on really real laugh.

"When I found you last night you had passed out in front of the shack. There was blood all around and your clothes were as cut up as they remain now. Yet when I tried to find the source of the blood..." she paused and over looked his body again

"...When I tried to figure out where your wounds were everything was healed. I dragged you inside and passed out myself. Onto the "Your Kind" - "My Kind"; You're the one that started it and I have no reason to keep you from putting you on her side. You wear her color. I should have let you die." She hissed out the last part with all intent of a threat. She would not be bullied into answering questions not even spoken. She picked up the second bag and tossed it at him.

"You have to understand one thing. This forest has many gifts. It saved your life. I had nothing to do with it. The sooner you learn that... The safer you'll be. On another note, I don't need you to "accompany" me anywhere. I can make it where I need to go on my own."

She put on a brave face and didn't falter at all. Anyone would believe that to be the truth. She picked her bag up and stood. She felt short in his presence and highly self conscious. She didn't feel like a princess... She didn't even feel like her life was worth others dying for her. How many had lost their lives to keep her secret? How many more would she bring death?

"Either way... I guess its up to you. I couldn't stop you if you wanted to tag along. Why even bother trying." She rolled her eyes finally and blew out the light.

Taking the lamp with her as she ducked around him and out the door she stepped out into the quiet blankness of the forest. She had scanned it with her senses but not with her eyes so when she looked around to be sure she was right she was relieved to know she hadn't missed anything. She wasn't sure if he could follow her at night in the forest so when she got about seventeen paces from the shack she looked back to make sure he was there, and to get one last look at her past life leaving her behind. The stillness of the shack in the lonely darkness didn't bring joy to her as it had the day before. There was nothing more but a hole in her heart filling with anger and hate as the day went on and she knew her family was dead and gone forever.

[Rosekitten]

He'd let the topic go for now, but he knew far better then to believe that she didn't have something to do with him being alive. Though her next words seemed to cut into his normally calm personality. if he wasn't keeping the hood up his eyes would have shown her what danger she was potentially in by her comment, but he managed to keep his self calm for the time being. She was still young, most would not have been so stupid to question why someone in the queen's colors was nearly killed.

"Your right I did, I apologize for that... no name makes a conversation rather difficult." He seemed to pause clenching a fist before he went on just to control his temper. "You should have, most would have gladly saw it as sport a chance to get back at the queen. But these colors are no longer mine, not after what was taken from me. The queen will know what she has done...." He seemed rather serious but stopped his sentence there, she didn't need his details and from the sounds of it she wasn't fond of the idea of him following her, though he thought she might be putting a show on for the time being.

"Well if that is the case I will be on my way" He smirked slightly under his hood, she couldn't see in the dark but he could a little. He'd trail her just to make sure none of the soldiers that had been on his trail crossed her path, not that he didn't think she could take care of herself but if it was a group she'd be in trouble. "Good luck in our travel then Mi'lady" He didn't know anything about her past history but the way she acted he was poking fun at her with the mi'lady part and half showing respect at the same time as he preformed a formal bow before walking off in a slightly different direction.

He noticed as he stayed out of her view that she kept looking back every once in a while. It must have been hard on her she seemed to be use to someone always being there with her and now she was alone, he knew how she had to be feeling. 'You put on a tough face but your scared, you'll have to admit it sooner or later to yourself. You'll be better off when you stop hiding everything and accept help when it's available.' He kept his thoughts to himself and made sure to remain undetected by her. At the least if she was jumped and couldn't handle the odds he'd have a advantage of surprise as well, not that he needed it.

At the least he'd trail her to the edge of the forest, from there the town was easily seen and she could get there. He'd go about his own business to avoid getting her wrapped up n the crossfire.

[Mizeria]

She was half way out of the forest when she felt something. Footsteps running through the forest. They seemed to be getting closer. The people that had been after her moved quieter then that... With soft footsteps. She might not be in any danger from them. Yet she doubted that. She walked to the closest tree and pulled herself up into it. She sat there for a few minutes waiting to see what would happen. Four men stormed into the clearing she had been standing in mere minutes ago.

"Stop...." He must have been the one in charge. He was tall and well built with hate in his eyes. "Spread out. He's gotta be close."

The four men went off by themselves. They were unprepared for what this forest had in store for them. They would never again see the light of day. Before the night was over blood would be spilled. Even if she did nothing. She had not been lying when she told the man that the forest had many gifts, but with gifts come the worst of curses. The Queens' Brood wouldn't survive here. She hoped silently that the man would survive for now. She didn't want to have anyone notice the power she had. So.. even though she could kill all four at once.. she never would. Not at the cost of her secret. She took out the farthest one away on her right. He had covered some distance. Roots came up from the ground below him. A silent killer. None of his companions knew he was dead. Then she turned her attention to the one are her far left. The ground opened up beneath his feet and he disappeared into ground before and sound could escape his lips.

All of a sudden she heard "SOUND OFF!" it was a loud boom from the man that spoke before. He knew something was wrong. Otherwise he never would have given away his position.. right?
"Beta here sir!" Called back the one she had left standing.

And with that they became high alert. No one else made a sound. She held her breath deciding what she wanted to do.

[Rosekitten]

The leader of this now one man troop seemed to smile before his next words. "Thalion I'm rather surprised at you. Killing all but one of my men and you never let them get so much as a scream off." He acted like he was talking to someone but it wasn't his lone knight. But that knight did not last long as he seemed to be afflicted by something out of the blue.

The solider seemed to double over in pain as his skin showed boils and in places he just suddenly burst open as steam left the wounds. Mere moments after this the man drooped dead right behind his commander.

"Thalion!" He barked again "Crimson mage, traitor to the crown. Show yourself" A slight hint of panic in the man's voice, he knew that he was being toyed with. Aside from the slight hint of fear the man showed no emotion once so ever and the fear was quickly hidden through his years of training and service.

"I've not been called that in a while..." A familiar voice sounded from near-by. Thalion never knew the girl that had saved him was there, he had his own motives. "You came with so little troops I never bothered to waste my time on what the forest could do for me." The hood was still covering his face as he stepped forward towards the last of the queen's squad.

"should have known you ween't behind them vanishing, your methods always were bloodier" The man spoke as he had his weapon at the ready, a lance with a green aura at it's tip. "The queen wants your head on a platter..personally" He spoke again as he weighed the odds he had in this fight.

Thalion seemed the least bit concerned as he stood there almost lazily from the looks of it. "She should come here herself instead of sending weak underlings... I should leave you alive to tell her that." The commander had found his opening by this point as he went to strike forward but was stopped dead in his tracks as the deceased solider that was behind his grabbed his foot.

"what trickery is this!" the man cried kicking his foot free all too late as Thalion was in far too close for his weapon to be of use. He quickly put a hand upon the commanders face as his palm glowed for a brief moment before he released him again.

"go back to your queen her seeks can read your minds eye and see what I plan, her blood will be mine" Thalion hissed out at the man before turning and walking away. Leaving the commander to scream in his agony, though the man did as he was told though from his body movements it seemed forced and not of his own will.

Thalion only walked a few mere steps before casting his hand back to the corpse of the solider he had killed. The body quickly caught ablaze, though after the corpse was consumed the flame died out slowly not touching anything else.

He wiped the corner of his mouth and seemed to look at his hand before walking again. there had been a dab of blood there, though he knew why and for now he didn't have the time to worry over such things.