Lilika walked beneath the trees not to far from the single caravan and the horses that kept it moving. The sky above her was streaked red as the sun began to set. Down under the trees where they walked it was already dark and shadowy. There were only small sounds that surrounded them. The wind playing with the leaves of the trees, the horses, and the various other sounds of nature around them. There was still a chill in the air from the last hints of winter. When she felt this it made her want to shiver. Yet, not with cold, but with a terrifying memory.

Her bare feet made hardly any noise in the grass beneath, and she moved along gracefully. Her steps had enough speed to keep up with the horses, but not enough for her to lose her breath. She wanted to ask when they were going to stop for the night, but it had been a long while since she had said any words to those around her. Well it had been since the incident the month before. It wasn’t that she couldn’t talk, she could, it was just that she felt anything she would say would be ridicules. She was silent for the voices that had been lost. The ones who were gone forever.

The thought almost brought tears to her eyes but she had them dismissed instantly. There was no room for her emotions to be let lose. She took a breath and slowed down from what had been her original pace. She was looking into the forest that surrounded them and felt a deep throbbing need to disappear into it. Something she also hadn’t done in a long time. It had grown dark enough that she couldn’t see to far off now. Her need was quickly gone after the realization. She grew closer to the caravan until she was almost touching it. Soon the lamps on it’s sides would need to be lit.

Lilika walked beneath the trees not to far from the single caravan and the horses that kept it moving. The sky above her was streaked red as the sun began to set. Down under the trees where they walked it was already dark and shadowy. There were only small sounds that surrounded them. The wind playing with the leaves of the trees, the horses, and the various other sounds of nature around them. There was still a chill in the air from the last hints of winter. When she felt this it made her want to shiver. Yet, not with cold, but with a terrifying memory.

Her bare feet made hardly any noise in the grass beneath, and she moved along gracefully. Her steps had enough speed to keep up with the horses, but not enough for her to lose her breath. She wanted to ask when they were going to stop for the night, but it had been a long while since she had said any words to those around her. Well it had been since the incident the month before. It wasn’t that she couldn’t talk, she could, it was just that she felt anything she would say would be ridicules. She was silent for the voices that had been lost. The ones who were gone forever.

The thought almost brought tears to her eyes but she had them dismissed instantly. There was no room for her emotions to be let lose. She took a breath and slowed down from what had been her original pace. She was looking into the forest that surrounded them and felt a deep throbbing need to disappear into it. Something she also hadn’t done in a long time. It had grown dark enough that she couldn’t see to far off now. Her need was quickly gone after the realization. She grew closer to the caravan until she was almost touching it. Soon the lamps on it’s sides would need to be lit.

The wind blew fiercely through Esmeralda's hair as she ran across open land, tears spilling from her eyes and down her cheeks.Gone. Her family, her friends, all that she had ever known, taking within a single night. Her dainty, bare feet barely touched the ground as she sped across it. She had trained her lungs over her nineteen years on this planet, to sustain her while she ran, as her runs usually lasted until she had run a mile without stopping. It was the only time she could think or clear her head. She remembered her parents, their cheery faces. Suddenly she stopped running, tears continuing to stream down her cheeks. She was about a mile away from the caravan, out of sight. She sunk to her knees. She was not as strong as the face she put up, the person she pretended to be. She looked up at the sky, as if it held the answers to her problems. Why? Why did they have to die? she wanted to scream, but instead she just placed a hand on her mother's locket Suddenly she ripped it off and threw it to the ground. She knew she needed to get back. She stood, wiping her eyes and face in a failing attempt to dry the tears, as they were evidence of her crying. She turned, taking one last look at the locket which she once held so dear. She still did ,but the sadness had overwhelmed her and she couldn't bring herself to pick it up. She turned on her heel and ran swiftly until she arrived back at the caravan.

Still hearing the screams of the dead within his head, he shivers and tries to force back the tears. "Dead! there all dead!" he yells at himself in his mind. Jaike looked at the remaining survivors, it seems only two others had shown up, Lalika and Esmeralda. "Its better then no one at all." he whispered, trying to comfort himself. Beneath his feet, he could hear the crunch of the grass, and the wet dew of the night. This did not help, as he was already freezing. Jaike usually wore a thin vest that doesn't close and a pair of loose linen pants. He just rubbed his hands to try and create some warmth without the fire. He looked over at the on coming presence within the dark, he tensed but relaxed as he realized it was Esmeralda. Her face and body did not hold her normal look of tough and unbreakable. She looked, weak. This worried Jaike, he hated to see women and girls upset. Hoping for a different appearance Jaike looked over at Lalika and sighed. Though she did not look as if she cried, there were conflicting emotions on her face. He reverted his view to the sky and saw the stars. This brought peace to him as he scouted out the individual constellations his parents had taught him. Jaike sighed as a few tears shed from his lids. He missed his parents, and regretted not being of more help. "Why couldn't he have died along with them? Why did he have to live, and feel the pain of loss?" These were the thoughts filling his mind as they walked. His heart was pained, and his mind was fogged. Jaike looked around and saw nothing but the darkness. "Hey, Lalika." he pushed out through held back tears. "You want me to light the lantern?" Jaike looked up to the lantern on the side of the caravan, before digging into his satchel for a match.

The sun was just over the horizon as Exile walked up a hill. The sun and been red for days now, but bad omen's were common place these days. A red streaked sky was a sign of a slaughter, Exile knew this magic well. When Exile reached the top, he surveyed the land in search of hunting grounds and shelter for the night. The stars would be out in minutes, and Exile had still not caught dinner. The dusk was turning the forest into shadows, making it more difficult for man to hunt. Exile smelled the air for a clue but was unable to discern any animals near by. If he was going to feast on meat that night, he would have to go searching in the forest. As the wind began to pick up, Exile descended the hill and melded into the shadows of the forest.

This gypsy was a special one; He had no tribe to call his own. At night, he slept lonely beneath the moon and the trees, though this did not depress the man. He had spent time with people like him, with thieves, and raiders, and whores. In the end, they were not his people, only his blood. Exile could not resist that he had bad blood in his veins. Every situation he approaches, he sees exactly how to take what he needs and get away, but this life grows old. Exile, once a proud and feared city raider had become an Outkast of society, living only off the land for years now.

The huge man called Exile was much quicker than anything that large should be allowed to be, but it was his mother's agility that he moved with now. He moved silently and invisible through the shadows of the forest. Searching for a deer or a wild pig to satiate himself with. As Exile moved the stars filled the sky, at last the sun had set and the gypsy could vanish into the night, sneaking up on prey with the greatest of ease.

He moved to the trees as sensed some stirring on the forest floor. The movement was much too large to be just a lone animal, perhaps a pack was making its way to a water hole this evening thought Exile. He made no sound as he moved, he was too well trained for that. He was also too high in the trees for anyone to see without looking up into the canopy. Even then, the veil of night concealed the gypsy well. As he got closer he had the grass crunch beneath what sounded like human feet. As the caravan came into view, Exile's mouth began to crack a grin. At last, some food. he thought.

Exile descended down from the trees on the opposite side of the caravan, away from where the other 3 could see him. Perhaps with incredible senses one of them would realize he was there, but that was unlikely. Exile moved quickly before the man found whatever he was looking for in his satchel was finished. Once down on the ground, Exile peaked his head into the Caravan to see what was inside.

Lilika turned her head away as Esmeralda come back into to view. She didn’t want to see the other girls pain. What she felt was hard enough for her to cope with. All she wanted to do was sit down and cry and remember when every one had still been alive. It was difficult for her, knowing that she could have spent much more time with them all, could have learned even more from them if she hadn’t been sneaking off to explore. She was disappointed in herself and it tore at her so deeply she was afraid she was going to split in half.

When Jaike asked about the fire she nodded not sure, still, if she could be trusted to use her voice. It was at this point that she noticed something change in the air. She wasn’t sure what it was but it caused her to stop walking. She looked around and then at the stars. She thought about stopping to admire the beauty of them but there was something else she needed to focus on right now. Even though she had stopped walking the caravan hadn’t stopped moving. It took only a split second to catch the movement of the man who was there and seeming to look into the caravan. She quickly, with graceful movements swung herself on top of the caravan and moved slowly toward the front of it. She took only a second to see where the others were.

She hovered close to the edge and watched him for a moment. It seemed as though he was looking for something. But the act was obviously not an innocent one if he wasn’t making himself known. She stood and dropped over the side and landed right in front of him. She was between him and the entrance so the only way for him to get through was around her.

When she had dropped she pulled out her dagger and had meant to press it into the mans stomach. It was too bad, and slightly awkward when she realized the size of him still she kept a straight face. She had to clear her throat, but after it was followed by the first words she had said in a long time. “It’s not nice when company doesn’t introduce themselves.”

In the pitch blackness of the night, Jaike barely made out the nod from Lalika. He felt a small box in his satchel and smiled faintly. It was still to hard to smile, he almost felt as if he didn't deserve to. Grasping his hand around the matchbox he walked closer to the lantern. With a reach to the lantern Jaike removed the lid, and held onto it between is side and upper arm. He slid the matchbox open and removed a single match. It would only take one try of course. He aimed the match slant wise to the rough edge of the box and striked the match head against it. No effort whatsoever. The flame ignited and imediately his eyes focused upon it and this brought a single grin to his face. Fire was his true comfort, and friend. Jaike shook his head and sighed. "Oh ya." he whispered under his breath. Jaike dropped the match into the lantern, and the wick caught flame. The Caravan, and the surrounding grass for about four and a half feet became visible.

Jaike looked back over in the direction of Lalika, and found that she had gone missing. "Lalika, where did you go?" he said. There was no answer, and he repeated her name. Still no answer. He now became worried that the killers had come back to finish off the rest of them. He immediately tensed and tried listening to his surroundings. Obviously something was about to happen, and he wasn't going to mess around. His hand slid down to the oak handled dagger clinging to his belt. A few moments later, he heard a female's voice speak “It’s not nice when company doesn’t introduce themselves.” It came from within the caravan. Jaike growled under his breath. "What else can go wrong? Honestly!" He stopped and waited for the Caravan to pass and he looked into the open door. He saw an overly tall man, who shouldn't have been able to sneak by so smoothly, and Lalika holding her own dagger. "Jaike looked at Lalika, waiting for any hint of a reason she needed him to step in. Just because she was a girl, didn't mean she was defenseless, he knew better.

Loralei stood feet away from the caravan, her long golden hair blowing around her face in the cold night wind. She looked back behind her, touching her hand to where her necklace had been. She fought back the tears that were threatening to once again fall from her deep blue eyes. She turned back to face the caravan and began to slowly make her way towards it, the charms on her anklet shook as she walked. She tried to retain her non-emotional nature, but failed miserably. She saw Jaike walk towards the door of the caravan and started to run over there. She saw Lalika with her dagger and the man whom she held it to. She walked towards Jaike, and spoke with confident, but soft, broken-voiced words. "What's going on?" She placed one hand at the dagger at her hip, in case the time would come that she needed it. Her eyes, still slightly red from her crying, scanned the man. She stood her ground, almost behind Jaike. She looked at Lalika for any instruction or explanation. Her breathing, which was only minutes before, heavy and difficult to bear, now began to returned to her lungs, not knowing if this man had companions that might be surrounding them.

As Exile inched ever closer to the caravan, a girl that he did not notice before dropped from the top. This frustrated him greatly, he did not think anyone could see him and yet she was now standing between him and the inside of the caravan. Food was on his mind, but when he saw the girl, his mission changed. Hunger was the last thing on his mind now. The Raider gave the girl a look that would make her second guess standing against the huge man. He could hear the uncertainty in her voice, she did not want to use her blade.

"Lha'cha'eh shush do dzeh tkin a-chi! Woltah'al ki gi jeh!!"
((your character shouldn't know what this says, unless they know how to speak the raider language. Just let me know if your character does.))

Exile said in an angry voice. He knew the common language of the people, though he did not want to give that way. He questioned her decision to fight against an Apachu. Especially with a knife, their favorite weapon.

"Bih-na-Has'dzoh e chihen. Cha da gahl nai'l tsaidl."

The language was known only by The Apachu, a nomadic race of gypsies that favored theft and raiding over bartering with the villages. He was calm with the blade held against him. But as he spoke, he attracted more attention to himself. Now there were other members of the caravan looking at him. The tension was growing quickly between the huge gypsy and the small band. He knew not to draw his weapons, doing so would surely have sparked the fight. Instead, he slowly backed away. As he did, a piece of hair fell into Lilika's face. It was her own.

While Lilika was flipping over the caravan, Exile managed to take her hair piece. A grin broke onto his face as the piece of hair covered one of the girls eyes. Her eyes were a deep deep green, nearly the same color as Ex's. They were both people of nature, finding home closer to the forest than within society. He could not bring himself to steal from the girl, so he offered her hair piece back to her. He kept his eyes on Lilika, she was the one with the dagger after all. As he extended his hand, his stomach grumbled a little.

"Esmeralda. Jaike. Lalika," comes Emelee's soft, soprano-ish yet commanding voice. "What is going on over here? I leave for maybe twenty minutes to scout ahead and I come back and the three of you are holding a man at knife point. From what I see, and hear, he has not come to attack us, but is merely looking for food. And being as we are right now, we should welcome his company and offer him some of our food. We have plenty of it." Emelee's voice stayed soft and calm as she talked, but her eyes said something different. There was a hardness in them instead of her usual playfulness.

So far being the oldest in the group of survivors was not turning out to be such a great thing. Sure she was more than willing to take the part, but when the other members of the group tended to be as stubborn and willful as she, things became difficult. Stopping the caravan, Emelee walks to Esmeralda and takes her hand. She places a small, cold item in her hand. The locket.

"Keep it," she whispers, her eyes softening as she looks at the heart-broken girl. Although she herself was immensely hurt and distraught by the slaughtering of their "family", she could not imagine what it would be like losing actual blood relatives, especially her own parents. She actually could though if she thought back hard enough, to a time when she was home alone, wondering if her parents would ever return, refusing to accept the belief that they were dead, but those memories were long blocked. "They wouldn't want us to forget them, but they wouldn't want to live in the past either."

Emelee turns back towards their new guest. "What's your name, good sir?" she asks in every language she knows, hoping he understands at least one of them. Skirting around the extremely tall man and Lalika, Emelee enters the caravan, retrieving a small baslet of food left over from their meal a few hours before. She returns her attention to the stranger as she opens the basket and begins to take out food, handing a little of it to everyone, having no doubt the others would soon complain of being hungry as well if she did not.

((OOC: Emelee came up just in time to hear Exile's stomach growl, she didn't understand what he was saying though. And I actually don't know if she's the oldest ebcause I didn't see Jaike's age in his CS. >.>))

Looking over at Emelee confused he tries to speak but holds his tongue. Honestly Jaike did not want to share the food, especially to someone without the decency to ask, but Emelee being the oldest he wouldn't object. He looked at the ground and rubbed the back of his neck, it felt like it was tensing up. This usually happens when he is stressed out, and leads to a headache if hes not careful.

He noticed an exchange between Esmeralda, and Emelee, it was something small, and glinted in the lantern for a moment, before leaving the light. Once again he noticed the brokenness of the three women, and he hated the sight. It pained him, that most of the caravan was wiped out. His mother died years ago, and he had run away after his father had gone mad, the caravan took him in, people actually cared for him. Soon Jaike had been doing chores like the rest of the younger gypsies, he hated it, but he did them. Jaike was family, and thats all he needed to know. This was taken from him, and he would never get this back. What he could do was comfort the survivors best he could, but he knew in order to help someone else, he had to be fine as well.

Jaike watched as Emelee picked up one of the wicker baskets. This one had the leftovers in it, if he remembered right, there would be a few pieces of fruit, a loaf or two of bread, and maybe some meat if it hadn't spoiled. It was his chore after all to help with the meals...when the caravan was still alive. "Are you sure you want to feed him Emelee? After what happened tonight?" His heart missed a beat, but he continued. "He didn't even ask! He just a damn thief." Jaike knew that he probably shouldn't have spoke out, he wasn't any better after all. Stealing was somewhat of a life skill now a days, but honestly Jaike was more upset then cognitive and he just wanted to be rid of the man.


((OOC: Oh thankyou, I did not even realize that I forgot to put his age down, and yep your older, Jaike is only 18.)

She knew the exact moment when Jaike and Esmeralda noticed what was going on. She could hear their questions but stayed exactly where she was with her dagger inches away from gutting the strange man. She noticed the look in his eyes change and she still held her ground. Menacing, was what he was and most likely what he was trying to make her see. But She wouldn’t move, there was a possibility that he had gone into her camp and killed her family, and she would giver everything, including her life to keep the few who were left safe.

It was not too long after that thought when Emelee’s voice reached her. Fist their names were spoken, then she was talking to Esmeralda. While this happened she couldn’t help but to ask her ancestors to make sure Emelee stayed out of this but of course she would not.

Being younger she had to listen, it was the way of the people. She slid her dagger back into place but her guard did not drop. And she conveyed that to him with her eyes. She took her head piece and placed it where it went. Then her thin fingers grabbed a roll and she moved to pass him. As she did her voice was low, but she knew it would reach him. She didn’t know if he could understand but it was worth the try.

“I will have my eyes on you at all times.” The threat was there in her voice, and she didn’t try to hide it. After taking a step past him she grabbed a low hanging tree branch and swung herself into it. There she perched and watched the happenings that were going on below her.

Esmeralda looked down at her locket, trying to fight back the tears that were welling up in her eyes once more. "Its hard to forget the past when it pretty much controls your future." She looked up at Emelee for a moment before slowly placing the locket back around her slender neck. She started to back away and walked away from the caravan to the grass and slowly lay down and looked up at the sky, still holding back her tears. She silently breathed, trying to calm her nerves and emotions. She looked at each star, glistening and shining in the dark night sky. The stars seem to shine and reflect themselves in her eyes. She turned her head and looked at the others. She sighed, closing her eyes and turning her head back up, facing the sky above her. She thought about that night, when she had lost everyone she'd ever loved. Flashbacks and memories streamed through her mind and she had to quickly open her eyes to keep from remembering any more. Her tears started to control her eyes but she fought with them, trying to suppress her emotions, but inevitably failing miserably. She wiped her eyes and looked back up at the sky, looking at the stars, and the moon, as the cool night wind blew across her face.

The anxiety of the situation quickly diminished as the fourth member of the caravan arrived, the seeming leader of the group. She was almost tall, and lean like a dancer. Her skin was decorated with half a dozen black tattoos, all natural or tribal in nature. For all the cultural diversity among the gypsies, it was surprising to see how similar they still remained. When she began to rifle through tribal languages, Exile couldn't help at the silliness. She never did speak his tongue, but a few of them were familiar. He didn't respond to any of their remarks yet though, playing stupid seemed to be working better.

The only other man in the group looked at Exile with threatening eyes. This giant native was certainly not the type of person he wanted his women around, but there was little he could do about it now. Though he didn't realize it, Exile heard his remarks, and his desire to starve him. He stared the small man down when he called him "a damn thief" with a cold intensity that made a frigid breeze pass through the caravan. Such a statement, though true, would not go without retaliation. Now, was not the time however.

Esmeralda could not go unnoticed by Exile, her purity and innocence was broadcast like an aura through the area. Though with eyes welled up on the verge of tears, and a seeming disinterest in the affairs of the caravan, there was no place for Ex to speak to her.

Lilika however, was very interested in Exile. Not that she admired him in any way, but she had not taken her eyes off the Native since he arrived. There were no signs she would be letting up any time soon either. Her selection of weapon was something that made Ex proud, though her choice to wield it against him was laughable. When she said she would keep her eyes on him, Exile smirked and widened his eyes. He was having fun now, watching the group grow agitated, but unable to react. He was about to at last introduce himself when the the silence of the night was broken by a deafening sound.

A horn, the likes of which was all to familiar in this region bellowed through the forest. The raiders were riding again, and they were not far. As the sound echoed through the threes for what felt like minutes, Exile smoothly and silently ascended to the top of the caravan for a better view. His head turned to the east, Exile focused his senses to better pin point where the riders were.

Standing on top of the caravan, with the moonlight now casting a glow on the huge man, Exile looked something special. He is the picture of a perfect warrior, the near splitting image of his father. Standing at 6 foot 11 and adorned with sculpted, athletic muscle from head to toe; he certainly cuts an impressive figure. He has broad globed shoulder and long muscular arms to match. His hands were much larger than an average mans, with long and strong fingers. His skin has a soft tan to it with an enticing cinnamon aroma. His face, clearly defined and softly angular, both elf-like and kingly. His eyes are deep emerald green and filled with an unnatural combination of intensity and coldness which unsettle some people.

He turned to Emelee and spoke the common language for the first time.

"The tribe is on the prowl, and lighting those lanterns will turn your tiny clan into a memory. Thank you for the food, but I cannot stay to eat it. I suggest that you get on the move as well."

His voice deep, calm and the presence of a desert night.

"The Apachu are a brutal people that would not hesitate to take your supplies and your women as their own. Find shelter, and do not light your lanterns until they have passed."

Exile dropped down from the caravan and as he did, no sound was made. Even Emelee who was inches away would not hear a the impact as if this huge human was made of air. He dropped down to the floor and pressed his ear to the earth. "They are riding horses, many of them"

Lalika Stood up from her crouching position on the branch. Her heart had nearly skipped a beat when the stranger spoke to them about something being on the move. He first thought was that it was them. Them being whoever killed the gypsies on that night that was not to long ago. She grew cold with the thought, and instantly was filled with hatred. She Wouldn’t run from them, if they came this way she would use every once of her strength to kill them. Even if she was out numbered she didn’t care. What had happened, and what she had seen after the fact, had ruined her. She was no longer going to cower in fear every time someone passed them on the road.

That night she had been off exploring in the woods. She heard nothing of what had happened. When she arrived back to the camp the sight had shocked her to the point where she had almost passed out. There had been a few bodies, but mostly it was body parts that she saw. Body parts and blood, lots of blood. She had gone searching for her mother but had not found her. She did however find the woman who shared their caravan with them. She was slumped to one side on the stairs and her throat had been cut. From the looks of it she had done it herself. And there would only be one reason for that, someone had shamed her.

Before she could have looked any more Lalika turned and walked away from the camp. It was only a few hours after when she ran into the others. When she found them it was almost light and she finally felt safe enough to sleep.

Now she jumped down from her perch and made her way over to the stranger again. She stood directly in front of him. And since he was leaning down she was taller for the moment and looked down on him. Her dagger was once again in her hand, though not yet aimed for him.

“You, are not going anywhere. For all we know those are your own people coming to steal everything we have and do as they please with us. So you will stay. After they have passed and we feel that they will not return you can leave.” She realized that he might think that she was afraid and trying to make him stay because of it. “ I don’t want you here, but I have to deal with it for the moment. Believe me though, as soon as they pass you can be on your way.”

She looked up to the stranger in an odd way. Even though she was acting hostile towards him. He seemed like he was on his own and could handle whatever came his way no matter what. She wished she could have that kind of strength. Though if she did she would still stay with her own. Because then she could protect them no matter what happened.

Jaike's heart froze as he heard the sound of the horns. He knew this sound, he heard it on warm summer night a year ago when he wondered the lands on his own. This wasn't good. "Damnit!" he hissed under his breath. Jaike rushed to the lantern and snuffed the light. "Someone calm the horses!" he hissed. James watched everyone hoping that they could stay quiet, the last thing they needed was a raid. He glared at the thief, but reverted his eyes, this wasn't the time. They must have been marked for death by the beast! First the slaughter of their friends and family, and now this! James sighed as he tried calming his own horse which stayed with the group of horses. She was his mother's before she died. Raine is what she called the horse. The animal seemed to be happier when it rained. Raine is chestnut brown with a dark brown almost a black ashen color, and she has blue eyes. His old village said blue eyes where a good omen. This seemed true, as Raine has gotten him out of a few tough spots. He sighed, as the horns could be heard again.

As Exile continued listening to the earth, he came to realize that there was no escaping this raiding party. It was much larger than anything he had ever heard of before. It was almost as if the tribes were uniting for some reason. Exile had been watching the region closely but knew no reason for the tribes to ride together in this way. Exile had no trouble pin pointing their location, it would have been harder then to figure out where the tribes were not. He could feel the horses closing in on his position, there really was no chance for the remnant of this caravan to go unnoticed.

Exile slowly removed his ear from the earth and found that Lalika had stepped up beside him. She stood in an aggressive stance against him as he kneeled on the ground, gaining confidence from standing over him for a moment. She had anger in her eyes, though her true courage was hollow. He saw that her dagger was drawn once again, an insult this time that would no longer be ignored.

"You, are not going anywhere. For all we know those are your-" Exile would not stand for this any longer, with speed and strength the likes of which the gypsy had not seen before, he pushed Lalika with one of huge hands onto the floor. Her dagger left her hand and lay next to her. The fear she was giving off was permeating through the air. The shamed gypsy woman lay on the ground while Exile now stood at full height by the caravan. He chose his words next carefully, he knew that placing his hands on the woman would not be received well.

"Those who come against with the blade, shall perish by the blade." Said Exile, making it very clear that she should not draw her weapon against him again. He had every right to kill her when she did that, though he knew she was just an over confident child with her parents knife.

Lalika then tried to insist that Exile would stay, but she was never in a position to make demands. She continued to speak “I don’t want you here, but I have to deal with it for the moment. Believe me though, as soon as they pass you can be on your way.”

Exile would not listen, he did not care about her demands because she, nor her friends had the means to enforce them. As Exile was about to leave, he turned to find that several riders had surrounded the caravan. They were tall dark warriors, with the tell tale signs of the Apachu Tribe. They had war paint on their faces, and their horses were outfitted with leather armor. Exile stood motionless at first, unsure of what to say. The raiders were carrying all types of weaponry, probably because they had stolen all of it.

The lead rider spoke in a language that sounded very similar to Exile's.

"Naa'óí naalzhoodí yee ndaanéégóó deekai."

"Ashkii léi' níí'ii'nií a' nayiisnii'. Éí biniinaa yaa ahóót'e'."

As the raiders sized up the caravan, Exile spoke back in the same tongue. At first the raiders sounded hostile toward Exile, but after a few exchanges, the tension between the too began to subside, and Exile had a more concerned look on his face.

"Kin Náádázídi kééhasht'íigo ach'ááh shi'niihíí nít'éé'."

"Háísh bich'i' ni pop?"

"T'aají éé' ndaazí éí ashkii nááná a' nabí'jígizh."

The two would continue speaking, not acknowledging the 4 gypsies that owned the caravan. It was not clear what they were talking about exactly, only the lead rider and Exile were speaking while the other raiders were looking at the women. They whistled and smacked their lips a few times at the girls, but this action was stopped with a stern look by their leader.

Exile then turned back toward Lilaka. He regretted pushing her, though there was no taking that back now. He lowered his head and then spoke. "He wants to know, what happened to the rest of you."

Esmeralda jumped up when Exile hit Lalika. She ran to her and grabbed her own dagger. She pointed it at the man, her eyes, once filled with sorrow, and weakness, now filled with hatred, fire, anger, and strength. "Touch her again and it'll be the last thing you ever do." She glared at him. She looked then to Lalika, and offered a helpful hand, but not relinquishing her grip on the dagger. she looked back at the man. "Lalike spared you at the words of Emelee, but do not think that I will be as obedient. I will not waste a second in killing you if you so much as place a finger on any of us again." She snapped. She had gone from weak, sad little girl who had lost her parents, to someone filled with anger and ready to strike at any moment. The night wind blew through her long golden hair and her eyes, narrowed at the man. She held no care for the people surrounding her, only that he had harmed her friend. She grimaced and turned her attention back to Exile, as if daring him to make a move. She was ready and poised to fight, not thinking about what would happen to her opponent. He had hurt her friend, that was something she would never allow.