[RP]Obake Blade

[Jae Onasi]

"Oh, my," Takumi said as he caught sight of Aya's wide eyes and realized what had captured her attention.

 

Kyo moved over to distract Aya. "Mr. Takumi, if you could please either step back into the tent or put some clothes on, it would be greatly appreciated..." he said calmly.

 

"I think that's a good idea, Takumi, don't you?" Carwyn agreed.

 

Takumi tore his eyes away from Aya's stunned face with her gaping mouth emitting only squeaks, and looked at Carwyn while being steered back to his tent. "Erm, that's not the normal reaction from someone, you know, though I suppose Aya's a bit young for an anatomy lesson. I'll have to move my tent a little farther away from the campfire so I don't get overheated and divest myself of all clothing in my sleep anymore. Except for the socks, of course." The bard sighed. "I'll have to make it up to you all somehow for disturbing your rest. I'll sleep on it and figure something out. And I need to get some sun--the white legs are rather garish against the green, don't you think?"

[Rogue Nine]

Carwyn did his best not to look down again. "Yes," he agreed as he lifted the flap to Takumi's tent and let the nigh-nude bard settle back in. "You don't sleepwalk very often, do you?" he asked, a little wary.

 

"Only when I have vivid dreams," Takumi replied, settling back down into his bedroll.

 

"Ah. And how often do you have those?" Carwyn asked guardedly.

 

"I'm a bard by trade, my good ranger. Such an occupation requires a very visual person." Takumi was smiling.

 

"So I take it your dreams are very 'visual' as well."

 

Takumi nodded gleefully.

 

Carwyn sighed. "Good night, Master Takumi," he said, letting the flap down.

 

"Good night, Master Carwyn."

[JasraLantill]

As she heard Takumi being ushered back into his tent by Carwyn, Aya let out a long sigh of relief. "Thanks..." Aya murmured softly as she slowly extricated herself from Kyo's protective shielding. "I don't think I really needed to see that."

 

Bob let out a snuffling sort of snort.

 

"Oh, you're just jealous," she whispered brusquely over her shoulder at the horse. She wagged a finger in the animal's direction. "And don't you go taking it out on Takumi tomorrow when we're on the road again, or no oats for you for dinner!"

 

Bob raised his foot and pawed the ground, as if he were offended.

 

"Hush!" she hissed at Bob. She looked over to the bedroll on the other side of her. Maggie was apparently still sleeping soundly. "You'll wake Mags. Now be quiet."

 

She looked up at Kyo and flashed him a bashful sort of grin. "Sorry about that," she said quietly, as she rubbed a sleepy eye. "I didn't mean to... interrupt." She leaned around him a bit so she could see what Carwyn was up to. He was standing guard in front of Takumi's tent flap to block Aya's view as the bard settled himself back in for the night. "But what was all the yelling about?" she asked Kyo. "Is something wrong?"

[ForceFightWMe12]

Kyo's eyes flashed over to Bob, and then to the sleeping form of the young monastery student, his mind seeming to follow the same path as Aya's. However, as she turned to speak to him and the horse had quieted once more, his green gaze turned to her. He returned her smile with a small one of his own, no more than the slightest lifting of the corner of his lips. Something about her bashful smile and the way she rubbed her sleepy eyes made her seem so...

 

He shook his head. "You didn't interrupt," he said, "It was nothing. Takumi apparently had a rather vivid dream, in which he jumped up to the front of the tent and declared that he would defeat us with his mighty flute."

[Rogue Nine]

"And how mighty it was," Carwyn said, trotting over to where Aya and Kyo sat. He ran a hand over his face and plopped himself down next to the blonde warrior. "Though I will admit, that's the most creative use for a sock that I've seen in quite some time."

[Jae Onasi]

"And how mighty it was," Carwyn said.

 

"Pfft," Takumi thought to himself as he drifted off. "Not was. That should be is."

 

The bard woke up refreshed for the early morning watch, and made good use of the time by making a hearty breakfast for everyone--pancakes, sausage, and eggs. He was careful to be quiet so as not to wake the others--after all, they'd stayed up extra late for his unintentional...performance. He had a pancake on the spatula and was ready to flip it when his acute hearing caught a twig snap under a stepping foot. He paused for a fraction of a moment and then nonchalantly flipped the cake over to cook on the other side. He busied himself with a few other cooking implements, including the knife, and listened carefully. The area was acutely, almost painfully silent. No birds chirping there, not so many insects.....

 

He wiped his hands off on his apron and whistled as he approached Carwyn's tent. He pulled open the tent flap and announced brightly, "Good morning, Master Carwyn! Breakfast is served!"

 

Carwyn turned over and squinted against the light. "It's too early!" he protested.

 

"I know, but the day is young, and it looks like fine weather for travel." His voice dropped to a whisper. "Something's watching us. I heard a footstep from the west."

 

Carwyn's eyes popped open, but he went along with the charade. "What smells so delicious, Master bard? Footstep? Could be an animal."

 

"Pancakes, my good lord. Hurry and you'll get them while they're hot. The other animals and birds are too quiet. Like children scared by something big."

 

Carwyn nodded and reached for his clothes and weapon. "Go tell Kyo and the girls. Is there sausage, too? My favorite."

 

Takumi put a hand on one hip and grinned. "Why Carwyn, I didn't know you appreciated sausage that much." He turned and trotted out of the tent before Carwyn could say anything else.

 

He repeated the "Breakfast is ready!" charade with the others. Kyo and Maggie nodded acknowledgement and quickly prepared. Aya looked at him, blushed, and then said out loud, "Oh! I'll help you. Let me get, um, dressed."

 

Takumi left the girls' tent whistling a happy little tune and told himself Relax, bard. It's an acting assignment. You're just an unsuspecting cook this morning..... He went on with his duties nonchalantly, but listened intently and kept the knife close.

[Quist]

Someone's watching us?

 

Maggie couldn't help her hands from shaking a little bit as she did up her bedding. She looked over at Kyo, who had a purposeful, hard set to his chiseled features. He was just as concerned as she was, only much more in control of his emotions. This was the first time she was out in the world, basically on her own. The first time that she was confronting a potential threat without the benefit of the monks watching her. She had to be strong.

 

Pulling her long hair back into a ponytail, she reached down and picked up her quarterstaff and moved toward where Takumi was standing, trying to act nonchalant, lest their stalker be watching.

[Rogue Nine]

Chryseis.

 

Carwyn knew of only one person in his life that would have to try and sneak up on him. Their previous meeting had not gone amicably at all and given the circumstances, Carwyn was convinced that whoever his younger sister was working for wanted her to go after him. The piece of Valinesti wood that he'd found yesterday was the last piece he needed to confirm that in his mind.

 

Reaching into his rucksack, he extracted the trio of shurikens he'd taken away from their encounter with the ninjas at the Ryuu-Tokai docks and placed them on his belt. He straightened up, then quickly darted into the brush. Being on top of a hill wasn't the easiest position to sneak up on someone, but Carwyn knew his sister had the know-how. He'd just have to beat her at the game, for his sake and the sake of all his friends.

 

*****

 

Tellis could feel the tension in the air the moment she awoke. Everyone seemed to be on edge, as if waiting for a hidden hammer to fall. She raised herself up in time to see Carwyn spring into the undergrowth and disappear from view. He was obviously tracking something. Or someone.

[ForceFightWMe12]

Kyo stretched an arm up over his head, bending his elbow so that it fell over his back. His other hand went to the opposite elbow, pushing down until he felt a satisfying pop. He shook out his arm, trying to wake up his body - just another, daily routine. However, as he saw the ranger disappear into the undergrowth from the corner of his eyes, the warrior became instantly more tense. His arm brushed the blade that rested across his knees, as if to verify that it was still there.

 

His green eyes shifted from the obviously-uneasy Maggie to the slightly-bleary-eyed Aya to then to the almost overly-perky Takumi. All were uneasy and scared - he could see it shinning in their eyes.

 

"How is breakfast coming?" he asked the bard, trying to feign indifference to the situation. The last thing he needed was for them to see the worry that was stirring in him over the idea of them being followed - especially if it was by those that had attacked them at the port in Ryuu-Tokai. They had injured Carwyn and nearly killed Aya in that attack. Another sneak attack from them...

[Rogue Nine]

Stalking someone was much like playing hide-and-seek, and Carwyn happened to be quite adept at that game. He had often played it in his youth, darting through the dense western forests near his home. Ironically, his playmate had often been the very person he was seeking out now, his younger sister Chryseis. However, this time was different, as Chrys wasn't just his sister, but a threat to his friends. The stakes weren't inheriting chores or owing favors, this time, they were much higher. Carwyn grit his teeth as he came upon the realization that he might have to kill his own sister to save the lives of his friends.

 

He crouched on a long limb of a tree, concealed by the leaves and the other branches. His keen ranger eyes sought out any movement in the undergrowth. It took a few minutes of tense waiting, but eventually, he spotted a flicker of movement towards the camp a few dozen meters ahead of him. Swinging down from his branch, he padded his way towards the movement he saw, taking every precaution not to be heard.

 

*****

 

Tellis appeared at Aya's side as the young merchant bustled about to prepare breakfast. Aya was trying her hardest to act nonchalant, but it was apparent she was quite nervous from the way her hands shook as she gathered utensils. Tellis laid a cool hand on her shoulder. "Easy," the willowy healer told Aya, her voice soothing. "Carwyn will not let us down."

 

Aya looked to Tellis and nodded, her lips locked into a brave smile. "I know he won't."

 

Tellis returned the smile, then looked up just in time to see a flash of silver coming from the trees---

 

*****

 

Carwyn had spotted the stalker and was almost positive it was Chryseis; he could tell from her posture and the small tuft of blonde hair that peeked out of the front of her head covering. Just as he closed to within a few meters of her, he saw her raise her arm, something shiny glinting in the morning light in her hand. His breath caught in his throat and he glanced over at the campsite, looking to see who she was aiming at. His heart sank as he saw Aya straighten up from retrieving something from the ground, exposing her unguarded chest.

 

Chryseis's arm pistoned forward just as he managed to extract the shurikens from his belt and hurl them towards her. He heard them impact the tree next to her, the cloth of her sleeve caught by the throwing stars and pinning her arm to the bark. He had been too late however, as he projectile lanced towards Aya. Turning his head, he called her name out in desperation, "Aya! Watch out!"

 

*****

 

Tellis heard Carwyn's anguished shout, then recognized the sparkling silver shurikens hurtling towards Aya. No time for a spell, she thought bitterly. Damn you, Chrys.

 

Placing a hand on the young merchant's shoulder, Tellis stepped forward and pushed Aya out of the way just as the throwing stars hit their mark.

 

*****

 

Carwyn could only watch in horror as the shurikens seemed to move in slow motion towards Aya. She had heard him too late; he could just make out the confused expression on her face as the weapons closed in on her. At the last moment however, Tellis shoved Aya out of the way, knocking the merchant to the ground. Carwyn had no time to be thankful, however. The projectiles meant for Aya had embedded themselves into Tellis's chest and side; as Carwyn watched in horror, the dark-haired healer slumped to the ground, gravely wounded.

 

A fiery heat rose up in the normally jovial ranger's mind. He tore his eyes away from Tellis's prone form to stare at her assailant as the black-clad figure struggled to get free from the tree. She had only succeeded in pulling off one of the shurikens when Carwyn came upon her and backhanded her clear across the face. This disoriented her and she gazed up through cloudy vision at the blonde ranger when his hand came back across her face again, this time turning her world completely black.

[ForceFightWMe12]

A rustling in the trees, a change in the direction of the wind. These subtle differences was enough to set Kyo's teeth on edge - both could easily mask the approaching of an attacker. The rustling would shield footsteps, and campsite was now downwind from the brush where Carwyn had disappeared - with the wind at its back, an arrow could fly far further and far more accurate than with the wind at any other point. Though the only true sign was in his eyes, the warrior unconsciously closed his fist tighter around the sheath of his sword.

 

It all happened so fast that Kyo had hardly had time to realize what was happening before it was over. A shout - Carwyn's voice, sounding a word of warning to Aya. His green eyes flashed to where the merchant stood nearby the healer...a flash as something caught the light of the morning sun, and then Tellis collapsed to the ground, unmoving. The warrior's heart hammered - what the hell had just happened??

 

He jumped to his feet, unsheathing his blade in the same, smooth motion. His sheath lay forgotton on the ground behind him as he bounded towards Aya and her fallen companion, vaulting over Tellis' prone form, tensed and ready to defend..but it took only a moment to see that Carwyn had things under control.

 

"Maggie!" he called over his shoulder, "Tellis' bag - quickly!"

[Quist]

It had all happened so fast that Maggie had not seen what had happened. One minute, they were cautiously preparing breakfast, on the lookout for anything; the next, Carwyn had shouted from the underbrush, Aya and Tellis were both on the ground and Kyo had bounded towards them.

 

"Maggie! Tellis' bag - quickly!"

 

Maggie didn't need to be told twice. She scuttled over to Tellis' tent and retreived the rather weighty bag and slung it over her shoulder. She sped quickly over to where Kyo was standing, then gasped and nearly dropped the bag when she saw Tellis lying there with shurikens embedded in her chest and side. "Tellis!" she exclaimed, moving next to the wounded woman.

[JasraLantill]

Aya had only just turned her head in the direction of Carwyn's voice when Tellis slammed her to the ground. She wasn't quite sure what had just happened, only that she was now laying on the ground gasping for breath as Tellis had knocked the wind out of her.

 

Before she could even ask why Tellis had tackled her, Maggie suddenly appeared next to them--with Tellis' healing kit in her hands. "Tellis!

 

Aya slowly sat up. "Mags?" Aya's voice was soft and whispery, not yet having enough breath to properly speak. "What happened?"

 

It was then that she saw that Tellis was wounded. Aya's eyes grew wide, and then they searched the woods around them for signs of Carwyn. It was plain to her now that he had yelled her name because those shurikens had been meant for her. Tellis had saved her life.

 

"Carwyn?!" she cried out. "Where are you?"

[Rogue Nine]

"Carwyn?! Where are you?"

 

Grabbing the dark-clad figure's collar, Carwyn dragged the unconscious assailant towards the campsite. "Right here," he called out, answering Aya's call. He tossed the limp body to the side as he came upon where Tellis lay.

 

She was in a bad state. Chryseis' shurikens had stuck themselves into her chest and side and the wounds were bleeding quite profusely, staining the blue of her dress with crimson. Her breathing was shallow and forced, and even as Carwyn came to kneel by her, he could hear her gasping for air. "Tel, hang on," he said, his voice breaking slightly.

 

She wheezed, her voice straining. "It's okay, Carwyn," she croaked out. "I can... stop the bleeding." She closed her eyes and sure enough, a blue glow began to surround her, chilling her body and halting the flow of blood.

 

Carwyn took a step back as her skin grew cold to the touch. "Tellis?"

 

She opened her eyes again and exhaled slowly. "These need to be removed," she said, her voice sounding softer by the second.

 

"Obviously," Carwyn breathed, then looked at Aya, who was still on the ground a few feet away from them. "Aya?"

[JasraLantill]

Aya felt her stomach do a flip flop as she saw Tellis' wounds start to ooze blood. Bright, red, drippy, gory-looking....

 

Her head began to throb as murmurs of conversation drifted in and out of her ears. And then something rather odd happened. Tellis turned a blue hue.

 

The blood looked more purple now than red, and was oozing and dripping much slower. Almost congealing into a gooey, sticky sort of....

 

Carwyn had just turned to look at Aya. "Aya?"

 

She vaguely heard him call out her name, but didn't have time to answer before her eyes rolled back and her head slammed back down onto the ground.

[Rogue Nine]

"Dammit!" Carwyn cursed as Aya fainted. Turning to Maggie, he pointed toward the fainted merchant. "Mags, go take care of her."

 

"But-"

 

"Just do it, please," Carwyn ordered as he reached over for Tellis' bag.

 

"Okay," Maggie assented, taking one last look at Tellis before moving over to Aya.

 

Carwyn looked up at the tall warrior. "Kyo, we've got to do something for her," he said. "I know basic medicine, but this is far beyond me."

 

Kyo nodded. "I'm not so sure I can be of much use myself," he stated grimly.

 

Carwyn was near his breaking point and he blew an exasperated sigh. Tellis was fading fast and there was nothing any of them could do...

 

"She has to go back to the monastery."

 

Turning his head, Carwyn turned to see Takara standing next to him, Katsuro at her side. They both had the same grim looks on their faces. "Come again?"

 

"The monks at the monastery will know how to heal her properly," Takara said matter-of-factly.

 

Carwyn couldn't dispute that; none of them had the medical expertise Tellis possessed and their only supernatural help lay passed out on the ground next to their injured healer. "But we can't just turn back now, Takara," Carwyn said. "We wouldn't make it in time."

 

The aeromancer shook her head. "You would not," she agreed. "But I would." Before anyone could react, Takara had bent down and gently scooped the Tellis up into her arms. "I will take her back to the monastery, but do not wait for me. I will catch up." With that, a breeze blew up and Takara levitated a few inches off the ground.

 

"Wait." Tellis' voice was no more than a whisper at that point. "Let me see Chryseis."

 

At Takara's confused look, Carwyn stood up and pointed towards the black heap a few meters away. Striding over, he yanked the figure up into a sitting position and bound her arms behind her back. He pulled off the black mask, revealing a shock of white-blonde hair and a delicate, almost pixie-ish face that had a rather large bruise forming on the right cheek. As Takara glided over, Carwyn grabbed the back of the blonde woman's head and yanked it up, exposing her face.

 

Tellis turned her head slowly and tentatively reached a hand out to touch her assailant's face. A few tense moments passed, then the blonde's eyes fluttered open and focused on the wounded woman in front of her. "Tellis?" she croaked out.

 

"Hello Chryseis," Tellis replied softly. "You didn't leave me much choice."

 

Chryseis' voice was anguished. "You weren't supposed to get in the way!" she shouted, her eyes locked on Tellis' wounds. "Let me help you!"

 

"I think you've done enough, Chrys." Carwyn's voice was firm as he tightened his grip on his sister's arms.

 

Chryseis turned to look up at Carwyn. "You! Let me go!"

 

"Fat chance. Now quit struggling before I break your arm."

 

She barked a harsh, cold laugh. "As if," she mocked. "You don't have the guts to do thaAAAAAA---" Chrys' sentence was turned into a pained scream as Carwyn jerked his hand forward, twisting her shoulder until a loud *snap* was heard. "You bastard!" she snarled.

 

"Carwyn," Tellis' voice was admonishing. "Don't be too hard on her, all right?"

 

Carwyn's eyes focused back on Tellis. "It's only for your sake I'm not beating her death, Tel," he said. He turned to look at Takara. "We can't wait any longer. Go."

 

Takara nodded, rising up higher into the air, then speeding off into the sky. Katsuro looked after her, then turned to Carwyn. "I'll shadow them on the ground and make sure they get there." He gave the ranger's shoulder a squeeze, then took off after his mother.

 

Carwyn heaved another sigh, then turned back to the rest of his friends. "Everyone, meet Chryseis Stormchild," he said, his voice full of disgust. "My sister."

[ForceFightWMe12]

((Wheee! Sorry guys - I've been out of town since Thursday, and thus been out of internet access. But I'm back!...obviously ^.^'' ))

 

Kyo was silent as he watched the exchange between Chryseis and Tellis, his emerald green eyes strangely vacant as he did so. Tellis and Chryseis...they knew each other - and quite obviously had a rather fond bond together. It was interesting to see, the anguish in the woman that they had now deemed to nearly be a monster, alongside the subdued pain and fondness in the wounded healer. Even as the wounds - which could easily have been fatal - seeped her blood and her attacker was staring her in the face...Tellis did nothing. She was as calm and cool as ever. And what's more, she was actually asking Carwyn for clemency. Somehow, Kyo found that he could hardly picture himself doing something of the sort. It seemed...impossible.

 

His eyes flashed softly as he watched Takara depart with the wounded Tellis, Katsuro following on his mother's heels by way of the land as she took to the air. He hesitated a moment, watching Carwyn with Chrys before turning to where Aya had fallen. Striking the ground with the tip of his blade, he allowed his sword to sink into the earth, his hand leaving it so that it stood upright as he knelt beside the young merchant. He didn't look at Maggie, who was on the other side of Aya. Rather, he pulled off a gauntlet and pressed his fingers against Aya's pulse, pausing for a moment. When he had assured himself that it was healthy enough, he looked to the other woman and nodded silently. He stood, took up his blade again, and proceeded over to Carwyn and Chrys.

 

"Chryseis, hm?" he murmured, his bared blade resting at his side as he looked down at the attacker. The resemblance was there, between Carwyn and his sister - albeit it wasn't exactly one that you would notice automatically, had they not been side by side. "Well, I would say it was a pleasure, but quite obviously it's not. What exactly do you think you're doing attacking our group?"

[Rogue Nine]

"None of your damn business, you filthy dog," Chrys spat at Kyo, still struggling to free herself from her brother's grasp.

 

"That wasn't very nice, Chryseis," Carwyn admonished, his voice still hard. "Now answer Kyo's question."

 

Chryseis turned her head and focused a brilliant blue eye on the ranger. "No way. You'll have to break my other arm first and I know you're too much of a coward to do---AAAAAAAAAAGH!!!" Another *snap*.

 

"Fine, have it your way," Carwyn said coldly, digging his knee into the small of her back. "Now answer the bloody question."

[ForceFightWMe12]

"Carwyn!" Kyo admonished in return. "Control yourself! Despite all she's done, she is still your sister! Now, release her. There's little she can do with both arms injured."

 

The warrior had to grit his teeth as the second, sickening sound of cracking bone rent the air. Even with all the fighting and gore he had seen, he would never truly get used to the sound of human bone breaking - not even if he himself broke every bone in his body at least once. The fact that Carwyn could do such a thing to his own flesh and blood...Kyo only gritted his teeth harder. He had never expected actions so hateful and volatile to come from one such as the Ranger. Perhaps he had miscalculated when examining the man.

 

Taking a few steps forward, he placed the flat of his blade in the space between Carwyn's chest and Chrys's back, shifting it backward as way to pry the brother away from the sister. "Relax." he murmured to Carwyn before turning to the other Stormchild. "I don't have time to play games with you, Stormchild. Speak quickly before I personally silence you."

[Quist]

Maggie was surprised to see that their assailant was a woman, but was downright shocked when Carwyn broke her arm, then proclaimed that she was his sister. After Takara had departed, the injured Tellis in her arms and Katsuro at her heels, Carwyn had been even more brutal with his sister, who's name was apparently 'Chryseis'.

 

As Kyo moved to restrain Carwyn, Maggie looked down at Aya, having her friend's head cradled in her arms. "Hey, Aya," she said, shaking the merchant slightly. "You need to get up, c'mon now."

[JasraLantill]

As Kyo moved to restrain Carwyn, Maggie looked down at Aya, having her friend's head cradled in her arms. "Hey, Aya," she said, shaking the merchant slightly. "You need to get up, c'mon now."

Aya heard a faint voice calling her name. Slowly her eyes fluttered and she gazed up into the face of her best friend. "Hi, Mags," she said sheepishly.

 

And then she heard the most pitiful moan. She blinked, and quickly sat up. "Tellis?! Is she alr...." She frowned. Oddly, Tellis wasn't there anymore and in her place was a stranger--a blonde-haired woman that Kyo seemed like he was about to kill.

 

"I don't have time to play games with you, Stormchild. Speak quickly before I personally silence you."

 

Aya's mouth hung open, so surprised at Kyo's tone of voice that she didn't even catch that he had addressed the unfamiliar woman as 'Stormchild'. "Kyo?"

[Rogue Nine]

"I only do the will of those who command me," Chryseis said, glaring at Kyo imperiously.

 

"And who is it that commands you?" Kyo asked, intrigued.

 

"You are not worthy enough to know their name," she sneered.

 

At that point, Carwyn slipped deftly away from Kyo's blade and drove Chrys' face down into the dirt. "Not good enough," he said.

[JasraLantill]

"Carwyn!" Deep creases of worry and confusion drew across Aya's brow as she rose to her feet, wavering just a little bit by standing up too fast. "Stop it! You're hurting her!"

 

She looked at Maggie and over at Takumi, and then back at Kyo and Carwyn. "What's going on?"

[ForceFightWMe12]

"Carwyn!" Kyo shouted in unison with Aya, astonished by the ranger's sudden violence. He quickly bent, grabbing Carwyn by the collar of his shirt and tugging him away from his sister with a mighty heave, pulling the other man to his feet. Pushing him backwards, Kyo lifted his sword so that the flat of the blade pressed into his opposite palm, and used it as a guard against Carwyn's chest to keep him back.

 

"Control yourself!!" he nearly shouted in the other man's face. "Calm down!"

 

The warrior was bewildered by Carwyn's behavior. He had never seen the ranger so angry - not even in battle had he been so hyped, so violent. What was it that was causing this change in nature out now? He could understand that he was upset that Tellis was hurt, but...he wasn't particularly close to the healer, as far as he could tell. He was acting as if Chryseis had mortally wounded Aya, rather than Tellis - a fact that left Kyo without a guess as to why.

[Writer]

Chryseis had not been the only person watching the camp from the underbrush... though the second watcher had no previous personal connection to any of the little band. She called herself Audra and thought it fitting. There were two parts of her and they called one another Dark Audra and Baby Audra; and that, she thought fitting as well. Dark Audra knew secrets Baby Audra would never understand, much less be able to handle. So Dark Audra Kept their secrets, thinking it was the best solution for the whole 'Audra' puzzle.

 

Dark Audra was the stronger of the two, though Baby Audra was becoming more aware of the world around them while Dark Audra was in control. It was a constant struggle between the two personalities... a struggle which led them here, to where they could observe the tiny camp and their preliminary interactions with Chryseis Stormchild.

 

"What you have planned," Baby Audra whispered. "It's not right."

 

Dark Audra growled softly. "I'm thinking of what we need," she hissed. "The General's shoulder isn't holding up well... we need something new. And the boots are beginning to be a problem too. What's more, we haven't eaten anything substantial for near a day and a half. We're close to starved, Baby Audra. They have food."

 

"And what's wrong with asking for it?" Baby Audra complained, brushing a hand over the stitches coming loose around the 'General's shoulder', the left shoulder of her 'dress', which was taken from a uniform clearly marked for a general of one of the Northern cities. "Why must you kill and kill again?"

 

"I will not be reduced to begging," Dark Audra growled in response. "Now shut up and go to sleep..."

 

"Just don't hurt them," Baby Audra pleaded. And then she was silent. Dark Audra smirked.

 

"I won't hurt them... much," she told the air. And with that, the puzzle that was a former slave girl, now known as Audra, slipped forward from the underbrush and entered the camp, swift and silent...