The town was only perhaps fifteen more minutes into the distance, when "Reks" had spoke to him, asking him about why he wore it. "Well, it is actually an advanced tactic that most people overlook. It's quite clever, if you simply sit down and think of it. Allow me to explain:

If I'm coated in this skin of steel, then you must be extremely forward with your attack. You simply cannot fling a weapon at me, and expect it to do it's job. It must be swung with extreme force to cleave armor, and even then, you have no promise of breaching my defense. And to think deeper of it; If my opponent is completely focused on penetrating my defense; completely focused on his offense, then he is not focusing on his defense. I do not have to worry about my defense. My armor is layered so it protects me. It allows me to strike without worry of being couter-attacked and injured. I know my opponent has to throw everything in my direction to hurt me, while I don't." He said. It was almost as if he made it so this to be his fighting style.

"Also, is my Claymore. She is a grand blade, that smashes armor and hews through flesh like a searing blacksmith's calipers through butter. It perfectly coorinates with my armor. I have an extremely massive weapon, able to deal massive damage. I can focus on using it completely offensively because of my armor, which maximizes it's potential. SO I have full coverage in both offensive and defensive worlds. And another way to look at it is so:
You have to get through my claymore's range, unharmed, mind you, and stike precisesly at the vision slit in my helm. Not many people can claim pinpoint accuracy with a blade, even against an unmoving target." He finished his statement. He hoped that he had not overwhelmed the man.

"Hmm. Never thought about it that way! You've got a sharp mind. That wouldn't work for just everyone though I guess, since you have to be able to lift the armor. Wouldn't work for me. But it definitely works for you." She nodded her head at his explanation. He had obviously thought this out before doing it, as she had with her scythe. She smiled just a little and lifted the scythe from her back. She looked at it for a moment, she hadn't used it in forever. She gave a smile and looked ahead.

"So, will the people from your village try to kill me? Or am I safe."

As Eclipse watched Reks and Urvant walk away, he gave a wave and finished with a bow. "May you be blessed by those who watch over you." He said to Urvant and said, "And may your hunting be fruitful and successful." to Reks. As he watched them in the distance, he wished he could go with them. They seemed a nice enough sort, and interesting to say the least. He also wondered if Urvant realized Reks was indeed a she-wolf. It mattered not at any rate and perhaps he would see them again. He hoped so.

Then he playfully slapped Owari across the back of the neck. "Let's be off then. This Raix isn't going to save itself." He said turning and began walking in the general direction.

He beamed down at Reks, grinning. " Well, rest assured, friend. If anything were to try and hurt you, I would intervene. I am not one to simply sit back and watch the events unfold before me. Crusaders are people of action." He would say, his voice seeming softer than before. But it could've been that he was muted by his helm.

"But may I ask you something?" He would stop in his tracks for just a moment. "How long do you plan of putting off telling me whom you really are? Female, of course. " He would look down at her. "And before you ask, your size gave it away. Wolf males are extremely much more sizable than you are. Take Eclipse for example. He made me seem like a dwarf among men. Your stature is nowhere close to his." He would say. He didn't seem angry, or displeased, more curious than anything.

Owari stared at the people speaking out when he turned around and began walking away. "Guess it's not meant to be then!" He said walking away from the rest of the group. Owari got to a fork in the road where he stopped and sat down. 'Well...Where must my fate take me?"

Eclipse watched as Owari ignored him and kept walking down the road. This made him a bit annoyed. "I may have to eat this boy myself... Ignoring one who would help in his quest is rude and unsightly." he said as he continued to watch the boy. He quietly followed the boy some distance behind him until he stopped at the fork. Then he silently sneaked up behind the boy and popped him the the back of the head gently with a paw hoping this would startle him.

"Did you even hear me. I said I would go with you and help. I even told you I had to because of my Bushido... And yet you still walked away from me like you didn't even hear me." He said with a calm, but annoyed tone. He then sat down beside Owari in the road, however still dwarfing him. "So... Which way from here? I'd rather not wait around much while a town suffers." He said looking down one of the roads.

(Really. Did you even read my post?)

Owari looked at the wolf sitting next to him and smiled. "I relatively heard you. I just thought you'd follow me." he said smiling. He then looked back towards the roads. "You have better senses than me. SO you can pick." Owari said.

(Yeah I read it put my characters a annoying kid and walked off. Explaining to my character is pretty much meaning less. He's dumb. lol)

Kira laughed just a little. She had gotten that more than once. She probably could have covered if she really wanted to, but she didn't feel a need to right now.

"Ah, yes, it is easy to tell isn't it. My name is Kira, if you must know. I was born under the name, but I was teased an awful lot. Not only was I small and female, but, if you haven't noticed, I also look like a fox. So everyone decided to treat me as though I was some sort of monster freak to pick on. Our village was attacked by other wolves and my parents were killed. I was upset but it was the only chance I had to do what I wanted to. So I pretended to be a boy, made up the name Reks, and of course convinced everyone I had been there all along. It actually worked, they accepted me. I even got to go on hunts and spar with others. I never went back to being Kira, more or less because I knew what would happen. It was funny how many people talked good about me when they thought I was dead... Eventually though, we went on a different kind of hunt, and I watched my pack kill an entire village of humans. They killed every last one of them, even the pups... I couldn't understand why. I didn't really want to either, but everyone told me that humans were monsters that deserved to die. I left because I didn't believe them... I've been alone ever since."

She looked at the floor. She never did like that story, but it was one that needed to be told. She lifted her head and glance to Urvant again, this time feeling a little better.

"I guess Ive pretended to be Reks ever since. I don't know why myself, but... It works. You're probably bored of my life story! Sorry."

Eclipse looked at Owari incredulously, "Are you saying you set off to save this elven village.. But you don't know where it is? Boy, you're crazy." He said with a rumbling chuckle. "You're just lucky I'm here," and With that statement he stood up and stuck his snout in the air and began sniffing. He stood there sniffing at the air for a long time until he caught a small whiff of something. It was Elf and... Something else, he couldn't quite tell.

He then looked down at Owari. "What did you say was plaguing the village?" He said curiously. Perhaps he could figure out what the other, odd scent was. "At any rate, I caught a whiff of elf down this road. We are both blessed that the wind is what it is." He said pointing down a heavily wooded road. Of course, Elves did like trees.

The two continued their walk. The town grew ever nearer. "I'm sorry to hear your misfortune, Kira. But you have to wear no mask around me. You are seemingly kind and gentle, and Pelor favors those whom are like you, over people whom claim his name in battle, like myself. You should be proud to be whom you are. You are different. If you were like everyone else, then what would make you you? You'd be just like them." He would say.

They reached the town's entrance, striding down the road. He was watching his sides through the silts in his helm for movement. But he continued speaking. "Your appearance as a fox is not very astounding to me. Not to be rude, but I hardly have distinguished the two apart before.... I'm sorry to say such a hurtful thing, but it is the truth." He would stop about the middle of town. By now, the moon was high in the sky, and the man's armor glowed the pale blue brighter than ever in his suit of armor. "What do you fancy eating, Kira? It is your choice, as you'll be the one eating." He offered to her to answer.

"The cheapest thing that you can find Sir Urant. I don't have much." She nodded her head slowly and gave a laugh, "As for your comment about foxes and wolves, I can understand. Many humans find it hard to tell us apart. I am not offended at all." She glanced around the town, she couldn't see anyone, but she still felt as though her eyes were on her. She was a Wolf, humans didn't like wolves... She walked a little closer to Urvant. It was strange...

"Are there people watching me? Or am I just a little paranoid..."

Owari stood up and smiled. Pointing a finger in the direction. "That way it is!" He said turning forwards. When they got to the village it was in a smoking mess and the buildings were destroyed.

Owari slowely entered the village. It smelt of burning flesh and blood was smeared all over the ground and buildings that remained. Owari entered a clearing in the village in which was covered with a dead body mountain of sorts. On top stood a demon like creature pulling it's blade out a elven back.

"Dammit... We're too late." He said looking around the town. He felt terrible, these elves did nothing to deserve this. He wandered the town separate from Owari looking for survivors. The blood seemed fresh and the smoke said that the building were set fire to recently. With a flourish he withdrew both Katana's from his side and continued his hunt for survivors. Every failed attempt to find any just added to his temper.

Finally he turned a corner around a wooden house to find a terrible mountain of bodies. The visage assaulted his eyes to which he immediately turned away from. Living things shouldn't die like that... Then a scent struck his sense of smell. It was that strange scent he smelled at the beginning. He slowly turned his head back mountain and saw what he had smelled. The beast atop the bodies.

The way the creature was situated atop the bodies was it, it snapped Eclipse. He let out a loud, piercing howl full of blood-lust. "You! Monster! How dare you do this to these people! These people did nothing! I will kill you for what you did! Do you understand me?! Come and meet your justice, you damned beast!" He growled at the creature before settling into a low stance with both swords drawn. He stood waiting and snarling at the beast.

The creature stood up straight and tilted it's head. It seemed as though it couldn't talk but it laughed. Owari guessed it understood. Owari joined his friend in the wide open. 'Hey I wasn't paying attention earlier." He said drawing his blade. "WHat's your name?" Owari said charging at the beast. It ducked Owari's slash and punched Owari in the stomach. Owari jumped back and rubbed his stomach. Owari laughed and smiled. "That hurt dammit!" Owari said luanching his blade at the monster. Owari cuaght up to the blade swiftly and grabbed it. Before anyone knew it he was behind the monster. The creature splurted with blood and fell to his stomach. "Bitch!" He said putting his blade up.

Eclipse walked up to the where the creature was on the laying on the ground. He realized the creature was still breathing and laughing a horrible gurgling sound. Eclipse knelt to the creature and growled. "Horrible creatures like you deserve no quarter. The off chance that you may survive and do this to another town. I can not take that chance." He said to the creature and with the end of that sentence, he decapitated the creature on the ground with both swords.

Still kneeling next to the headless creature he looked up at Owari and said to him, "I didn't realize you could be so fast in armor such as yours. I suppose we should look for survivors. After this is done though, I plan to make my way to the town Reks and Urvant are in. Urvant needs to know of creatures like this and their existence. I believe he may could do more use with the information that either of us could." He said slowly standing.

Owari's eyes got serious when he looked at the creature. "News of two new species have come from the north. They have killed of many villages and are known for ruthlesness. In fact by the looks of it there are no survivors. And I am a member of the Hihiiro clan. My uncle tuaght me to be that fast. That's just a need for my clan." Owari stood up and looked around. "You go ahead and tell him." he said Standing up walking toward the back exit of the village. "I need to meet with a Ogre colony. I got a message a few days ago saying that my blade is needed. My uncle has been captured near there."

"Two new species, hmm? So soon after the other races and your human race quit fighting.. This does not bode well." He said mulling over the though. Then he shook his head, he would have time to discuss it with Urvant. "Your uncle you say. This sounds like a family matter, so I'll leave it to you." He said, "May we meet again Owari of the Hihiiro pack. Good luck, and godspeed." With that Eclipse disappeared down the road they had previously took with the speed blessed by him by the wolf race.

He ran all the way to the fork in the road and then he ran to the place where they had all met. Here, he took a break and sat by the long since banked fire. He stared into the blackened wood and thought at how he would break this to Urvant. He also wondered how he would find them. Then he slapping himself on the head. A wolf and a man encased in armor. How difficult would it be to find ones like that? Not very. Content, he stood and began on the way to the town, traveling with the scent of Reks and Urvant.

Light broke through the curtain as Lunqa stood up. She still couldn't sleep, not after what happened last night. This would be a good idea to leave now, knowing she might have a worse reputation. Still, she hadn't been killed in her sleep, that could be a good sign. She grabbed her things and headed out the door, doing it quietly, hoping not to get noticed. Making her way out the door, no one had paid her any mind yet. The sun could be seen all the way now, stealth wasn't an option. Getting a quick pace, she went out the way she thought was where the merchants were all headed. No one had seen her, but that doesn't rule out the chance that someone could be waiting for her in the woods. Though she was an elf and if there was someone, she could easily spot them, but she was still nervous. She could take out a few men, but if there were a dozen or more, she would be in trouble especially if they had archers. Deciding to run, she ran in what was a little faster than a human run. Increasing in speed every so often, she was now running full speed, hoping she wouldn't hit anything. Her running was one of the fastest there was, but she could hardly control it, if there was a turn she'd have to slow down tremendously to make it. Lucky for her, the road was somewhat straight.

After a couple of hours had gone by, she sat down and took a break. Pulling out an apple she bought, she leaned on a tree and began eating it. Though nothing had happened to her, she must still stay alert in case of bandits.

"If they eye you, it is because you are different. And value this." Urvant would say, before turning to her. "Cheap. You do not eat "Cheap" with Urvant, Ma'am." His voice stated quite seriously. "Because when you eat with Urvant, he pays for his guest's meal, like a good person would. You may dine anywhere, Mi'lady, and it makes no difference to me. I am a blueblood, and have more than enough money with me to buy the restaraunt's current occupancy's entire meals." He would smile behind his steel helm. "Now. Pick somewhere, Mi'lady."

"Oh! Um... Alright then..." Kira looked around. She had never eaten what most would consider nice. She had never been in this village either. She let out a slight whine as she thought, just glancing at the buildings. It was strange for her to be making the decisions...

"How about there, Sir Urvant..." She pointed to a small restaurant. It was times like these, she wish she knew how to read. Either way she would be fine though.

Eclipse paused his run and stuck his snout in the air. He had ran most of the night, and made a camp late to which he dozed for a while. However as the sun began to crest the horizon Eclipse roused himself and began again on his way to the town. As he stuck his snout up, he looked and noticed the sun was a bit higher in sky so it wasn't quite morning but not quite noon. He still took in a big lungful of air testing it. He caught the strange scent of elf in the woods. Even though an elf in the woods isn't strange by itself, but with a settlement close it did seem a bit odd. Perhaps the elf had seen Urvant and Reks. There was only one way to find out and angled his path towards the elf.

Momentary he came near the elf eating an apple. He realized it was a female elf "Hello milady," He said to the elf.

Urvant nodded to her, stepping in the direction of the establishment. "If that is where you wish to eat, Kira." He said, even toned. He would escort her to the building's doors, and open them up for her. He looked large, his helm barely over the arch of the doorway. "Ladies first." He offered to her.

Suddenly, a scream rang out in the night. Urvant's helm twisted savagely fast as he looked around, finally seeing the disturbance. Men riding in on horses, rags, bandanas and masks adorned around their face as they rode in, swinging swords and clubs as they rode by citizens. "You may wish to seek shelter inside, Kira." He said boldly. He walked away from the restaraunt, into the middle of the street, in the direct path of the horses.
(Theme http://www.newgrounds.com/audio/listen/158209)

The horse's riders pulled hard on the reins of their steeds, calling them to a halt, right before the beasts ran tinto Urvant.
"I believe that you should perhaps leave, friends." Urvant said with an unmoving tone.
"'Ey fellas! Look at da pret'y birdy! He wants us ta fly away! Fuckoff, Paladin. We ain't a-scared of you."
"So be it." Urvant said. he flung his cloak away from him, and placed hand on his blade. He jerked his blade from it's sheath, sparks flying from the two metals screaming against each other. He brought it out in front of him. "I'll show you I mean buisness!" He roared, swinging his blade around his body. In a spin, he brought the flat of his claymore against the side of one of the rider's horses. The beast screached, and was knocked clean over, trapping it's rider under it. The other two bandits cried for help, and quickly dismounted.

Bandits surrounded him quickly, unsheathing everything from blades to clubs to staves. The first one came at him, yelling as he raised a blade high in the air, and tried to jump strike the man. The short sword clattered against the steel armor, but only slashed the finish. There was no penetration. Urvant looked at the man agrivatedly, and butted him hard with his armored shoulder. The bandit stumbled back, into the deadly sweep range of his claymore. But he didn't stay there long. Or at least, not as a whole. Urvant didn't waste any time in bringing his blade in a deadly horizontal sweep, cleaving the man cleanly in two, and his body flopped to the ground.

The next man, appearently stupid enough to try and strike was found himself javelined onto the Crusader's sword, as he brought it up to stop the man's rush attack. Urvant twisted the blade, and the sound of the man's ribcage prying apart filled their , the sickening cracks overpowering the man's screams. The last assaulter came from behind, jumping on Urvant's back, trying to stab through his helm with a dagger. The iron weapon grazed off time after time as the helm served it's purpose. Urvant jutted his elbow behind him, hitting the man square in the stomach and, grabbing his leg. Urvant jerked him off of his back, and held him with one arm out in front of him, by his ankle. He dropped the man, only to step on him. Almost four hundred pounds pressed down on the man's head. No wonder it popped like a zit.

He looked towards the rest of the offenders, whom eased back away from him...understandably. "Not afraid yet?!" Urvant yelled. "Then let me show you fear!" He said. He began to swing and whirl his blade around like a maniac, and even Kira could feel the wind generated by the giant swinging around his weapon. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bf_vJGCcF9E&feature=related)

The bandits had seen enough. They one by one turned and fled as fast as their feet could take them. Urvant sheathed his sword, and turned in Kira's direction.

Just a little closer, Lunqa had heard a sound of something coming closer. There wasn't a human scent around, but more beastly. Not able to tell what it was, she guessed it was something dangerous. With it getting closer, she drew her bow and nocked an arrow. Come on, a few more steps, trying not to scare it away, she hid her bow and kept eating the apple.

"Hello milady," with that she jumped, dropping her apple, pulling her bow out and aiming it at it's chest. "Stay right where you are, or prepare to be pulling arrows out your heart," carefully she stepped towards it, watching it's movements. Detecting little threat from it she lowered her bow, smiled and said, "Well, I didn't suspect to find a wolf here. I'm not sure I nearly imagined finding one like you." She put her bow away and put out her hand, "I'm Lunqa, it's nice to make your acquaintance."

Eclipse kept his paws up during the entire exchange. Of course the elf would be cautious, who wouldn't? Especially with one such as him. He stood at an even seven foot when fully erect, his beastly size however hid his speed and agility thanks to his wolf heritage. While it was true that smaller wolves would always be faster and more agile than him, he could easily out maneuver a human, and perhaps be a match for even an elf... If he could get close enough to one without being turned into a furry pincushion.

"And it's a pleasure to meet you, Lunqa. I am Eclipse Shadowfang, student of Master Xhu," He said in a bow. When he straightened he gave a rumbling chuckle. "Indeed. I haven't found many my size. So, where do you come from... If you don't mind my asking." He said respectfully.

Lunqa was watching this stranger very carefully, not knowing what a wolf is capable of. "Well, it's been so long I can't seem to recall the name. But be sure it was a amazing to be within it, so many trees and houses of the most amazing designs. You'd be looking at the greatest things there are. But if you mean just barely, I came from a trading post not far from here. All these merchants were headed in this direction, and I thought it would be to a city. It's been so long since I've been to one, I thought it would be nice to stay in a comfy bed."

Recalling what he said about this Master Xhu she asked, "About this master of yours, I've heard things about him that have left me stunned. I'd like you to tell me about him, if you aren't on your way now. You know, just for exchange for me telling you about me."