Kale's Story

The day finally came to a saddened end running it's course yet again, the sun dipping it's round large golden face from the horizon, the silver waning dimply-lit moon taking it's place in the raven inked sky. Pure blackened night seemed to eerily tell signs of woe and true misery that laid ahead, a cold menacing reminder to events that will transpire after midnight into the wee hours of morrow. Moods and changing attitudes wavered through the township of Mallowpine, the people seemingly having an inkling of something so vicious and dreadful looming over them like a curse. In odd reality, they had no clue to the misfortunes that were going to befall them, befall whole of Aurora by something so wicked, so vile, so truly dreadful- Bandrial setting forth with her wishes to scour, pillage and then annihilate Aurora of resistance, traitors,....newborns who might be of the prophecy, which was foretold to her truthfully by a noble and olden prophet so, that would eradicate Bandrial out of existence forevermore.

The ordinary citizens didn't know of such a prophecy and of such a terror that was coming full circle, oblivious and naive all the while. But something put a sense of dread in their thoughts and motivations, a sense of absolute pain that will instill in them something so fierce specially for what was waiting for them the next day. As a result, the chronic effects caused the trader town to become loathing with gloom and doom. The tension was too much for the trader city causing the city to turn in the very likeness of ancient Sodom and Gomorrah within a mere few hours. To put it simply, the people went stark raven mad and out of control. What was a peaceful and prosperous city turned into shambles and pure hell quicker then the magical rivers that flowed swift in the Mallowpine forests. No one knew the cause of such a turn of debauchery and total defilement of such a wonderful city, things going down hill from there.

The city was like a prisoner who was having it's last supper before execution the next day, not caring and doing all things under the sun knowing they will never live to see another day. "Aye! Aye! Come with me and we'll turn the city topsy-turvy!", one boisterous and loud fat disgusting red-haired man spout as he snatched a lady from a throng of delirious and strung out people. The young whorish raven-haired lady, who was by no means the definition of beauty, suggestively giggled at the man as he whisked her away back to a "lively" brothel next to the crowd of people.

Taverns and bars opened to the streets gave off sounds of high-pitched laughter and screams of insanely glee, "One more round for the beggars and one more round for the excrements of mankind!", all shouted in singing with one another from one bar that had everyone crowded to the max. One drunkard bumped harshly into another quickly causing them to break in a grisly fight, all the people chanting and egging the fight on, "Get him! Knock him dead! Do it!", they all chanted away as the two continued to beat each other to a bloody pulp.

Down the street, between a crosswalk and a small vegetation field, an older man walked casually home from a hard days work as a merchant, trying to get home and away from the ruthless nonsense the people were creating all over town. Continuing to walk and mind his own, someone crept up behind him menacingly, stabbing the poor old man into the back twenty-two times, "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!", the old man shouted as his gurgled screams faded into the darkness, the assailant walking away like nothing had ever happened after taking the old man's purse full of hard worked profited gold.

Back in one of the lesser boisterous taverns, The Night Owl, everyone talked amongst themselves, telling stories of olden sad tales that caused the befall of their previous King Zaxon and giving up theories of what was going to happen next under their present queen Bandrial's rule, "Rumors say that the queen has a paranoia to anyone undermining her and taking the throne away from her. That is why she is cruel and ruthless.", one barfly whispered to a small group of people who lined the bar-stools.

"Whether it's true or not, I wouldn't be surprised of the lunatic bizarre Bandrial. The woman is out of her mind as it is.", a cockney voice of a raspy woman spat, taking another swig of her darkened ale. All looked to each other in agreement and clank their glasses together in correction of what the woman said, "Here here to that.", a man nodded with the others. The bartender listened intently to the conversation and added his own two-cents, "Let us not talk too loudly for there are traitors amongst us who are followers of the maddened queen...", he warned them. They all just shook their heads in shame while taking more swigs of their alcoholic drinks....

---

Meanwhile upstairs in one of The Night Owl's resting rooms....

After much praying and chanting to Ai, Elle made a temporary force-field barrier, called protection from evil, around her room, trying to keep the evilness and rowdiness of the people who were on the other side of it away from her. Ai had foretold her things like that were going to happen before the prophecy was put into action, warning her to stay in the room, where she was as of now, until morning when it was all over- she didn't know that the town was going to be submerged in a bath full of blood, Bandrial's soldiers destroying the town in their path, rummaging to see of traitors who had any newborns that could be one of the seven heroes of light.

Elle took a seat on her small feathered bed and moved her silver satchel near her dark gray linen-clad thigh. She opened the bag of its contents, reaching inside for a small painted portrait of her clerical family who had nursed and brought her up until their death. Furrowed delicate arched brows and saddened lavender eyes studied the little portrait, the only memento left of them. Bandiral was going to surely pay for what she had done to Elle's family.... If it had to take seven heroes to take her down then so be it. Elle wasn't complaining about that fact....

All of a sudden, a bright large meteoroid flashed through the darkened bleak sky, signalling a chain of events that were to transpire after it. Elle peered out her window and followed the comet across the sky, never tearing her gaze from it. It seemed to put her in a trance, hypnotizing her to no end. The clock finally struck midnight, everything and everywhere around trader city fell silent to Elle's ears.... Immediately, a sharp pain ran up and down Elle's right arm causing her to screech out in pain, her body hitting the floor in protest, "Ughhhhhhhhh!!!!". The pain didn't stop but only amplified as a mysterious white mark appeared on her inner right pale arm, branding itself into her sensitive flesh.

Quickly Elle ripped her white long-sleeve that was attached to her peasant style shirt, trying to find the source to where the pain seared her skin. It didn't take long for Elle to look wide eyed at it, "What is this marking? How did it came to be on my arm?", she thought, in conflict with her curiosity and horror of the sight. Out of nowhere, a piercing scream rang through Elle's ears, it a domino effect to a chain of massive screams that followed. Everyone down below Elle and outside wailed in absolute terror and pain, the ground shaking underneath them like a massive earthquake from the soldiers stampeding the town, rampaging and killing everyone in sight.

Everyone ran, scattered and spread out, hiding in any hiding spot that they could find, "Please don't kill me!!!!", a man croaked. A solider on horse ran headlong at the man, from behind, quickly impaling the man with his long golden encrusted sword. Everyone screamed louder as more people were run down and killed by Bandrial's soldiers. The sudden mass of hysteria and commotion was too much for Elle, she covering her ears and burying her face in her lap as things continued to go out of control. What was happening?! Why were things turning out like this!?!?

Quickly Elle blacked out....

---

The morning embittered gray air slowly woke Elle from her deep slumber, it telling her that things became darker and.... much more bloodier. Elle slowly rose from the cherry-wood floor, dazed confusion rattling her brain. Was everything, that happened last night, twas only a dream?... Of course not!... Elle walked over to a large mirror that sat opposite across the room, staring at her flushed frustrated countenance. She placed her hands on the glass and stared at her reflection with dull weary eyes. If she didn't move on soon, heaven's know what will happen to her if she stuck around....

After taking a quick bath and freshening up her body, a change of blouse and pants and packing her mentionables in her satchel, Elle surrounded her lithe frame with the dark silver cape that hid her so well. She took leave out of the room and went down the steps.... What her eyes showed her was going to be forever seared into her mind, the images never wavering.... Just taking only one step down, Elle was greeted to the gruesome sight of mangled shredded bodies that littered the floor.

Elle quickly covered her mouth from screaming in horror, shaking her head at such a horrific display. She should've known from the eerie silence that things were not quite right, she greeted by the sight of dead flesh everywhere. Blood pooled around the carcasses as Elle tried her best to traverse around them, trying not to disrespect the dead by walking on top of them. Finally outside, the sight-seeing didn't get any better, getting worse from there. Blood washed and paved the streets, more bodies littering the trader town.

Not too far down the street, "Not my baby, please not my baby!!!!!", a young brunette woman shuddered in fear and screamingly pierced out of nowhere as she clutched her infant near her heaving chest. The two remaining soldiers just laughed at her evilly, taking out their swords quickly. Elle's eyes widened open in fear, standing paralyzed in her spot, when there was a flash of powerful heavy metals striking down on the woman, cutting her and the baby right into....half. There was no more words of protests from the woman, she and the baby quickly dead on the spot.

"That's all the infants in this town. It's time to move on.", one of the two soldier's spoke finally, he sheathing his mighty large sword. The mass slaughter was done, the two finally satisfied with the results. As they were going to mount back on their horses, they quickly caught sight of Elle standing there, the only survivor in the whole town. They furrowed their brows in pure anger, "You there! How dare you stay alive!?!?!", one of Bandrial's soldiers questioned menacingly. Elle couldn't speak but started to tread backwards slowly on her heels.

"Don't you dare move a muscle or I'll strike you down!", the other added, quickly reaching for his sword again. The other studied Elle and began to realize that she was on the top list of criminals wanted by Bandrial, he given a good description of what Elle looked like when she fled from the castle two months ago. She was thought to be of a rare beauty that Bandrial wanted to destroy badly, highly jealous of someone who outshone her own. But Elle was wearing a dark cape?!?! How could they tell it was her they were searching for?!... It was the face that gave her away, she forgetting to put her hood up. How stupid of her!

She didn't listened to the soldier's threat and continued to walk backwards, fight or flight response kicking on overdrive, "Listen to what you are told! Don't move!", the solider quipped again, his sword on full display. "You seem to fit the description of what Bandrial was trying to find of the wretched girl who fled from her!", the other inquired, as the both of them started to threateningly walk towards Elle. Elle didn't say another word and began to run headlong the other way as fast as she could. The two soldiers screamed and began to chase after her out of bloodied trader city and onto the expansive road.

One of the swords, that the solider produced from him, flung at her speedily almost cutting her shoulder if it wasn't for her dodging quickly from such an attack, "How can she do that!? Dodge so quickly?!?!", one shouted frustratingly to the other, "I'll go back and get the horses.", the other one spat as he ran back the other way. With one turned down going back, it was between her and one solider now. How would she get rid of him? Elle thought fast and quickly turned around, running backwards faster than the solider could ever run forwards, it didn't help he had heavy armor on.

"You will regret you had ever chased me....", Elle finally spoke, ice cold anger flowing from her full-shaped pink lips. She immediately stretched out her arms and began to chant readily on command. All of a sudden, using the power nimbus of light, a white light shot from her arms, traveling at light speed at the solider. Quickly, the solider was flung into the air landing flat on his back loudly wailing, massively hindered from running any further. Elle's power didn't damage the solider too much only giving him light scrapes and bruises on his person but it majorly affected him from ever gaining the momentum to run near as fast as she could, trying to capture her with all his might.

Elle turned back around and continued to run, forgetting about the other solider who promised to hunt her down on horse. It didn't worried her too much because by then she was already too far for him to catch up to her and even if he did, she would do the same to him and his horse that she did to his fellow ally and brethren. Elle was not to be trifled with when anger flowed through her holy-loving veins and she was not the type quick to anger, staying angry or being angry at all. But when she was...let's just say it's hard for her to calm down and stay sated in the aftermath. That is why she steadied her temper at all times by practicing meditation of tranquility, the result successfully keeping the nasty rare trait at bay, most of the time.

"And so it begins, young one. The third step to your prophetic journey has come to pass....", Ai whispered to Elle as Elle trudged on, racing across the long open road that was in front of her......

---

The meeting of three heroes....

Running for what seemed like hours, Elle begrudgingly slowed to a stop, surveying her gray depressing surroundings. Not too long ago, Elle was chased out of bloodied trader city by two soldiers who wanted to capture her and bring her back to Bandrial who wanted nothing more then to see her executed- executed for simply fleeing! Elle had it up to her neck with Bandrial, getting more annoyed that the guards and soldiers wouldn't give up and just see Elle as a lost cause. But we are talking about Bandrial here. The dreadful queen wouldn't stop for anything until her needs and desires were met, everyone highly miserable and tortured so behind it as a consequence.

After gaining some of her bearings and breathing, both settling to a better rate, Elle's mind re-registered about the white marking on her inner right arm. She pulled back her dark cape, followed by pulling up her linen white sleeve, quickly studying the mark. If it was a sign by the comet that she was marked a chosen hero then the mark wouldn't go away when she tried to use her power called, curing the maim, to try to heal the mark away. She took a deep sigh and put her left hand over the white mark. A small white light came through it and softly caressed the supposed "scar" on her right arm. It soothed her arm and calmed Elle somewhat but it didn't make the mark go away, she removing her hand quickly and looking at the mark with final realization....

Elle was one of the chosen heroes.... Ai was right with whispering the realization into her ear not too long ago when Elle was racing across the road. "Blessed be Ai! For I am really a hero chosen by you!", Elle surprisingly shouted to the top of her lungs, surprising herself in the process knowing she wasn't the type to speak louder than her usual low serene tone. After Elle fixed her sleeve and re-situated her silver cape back in place, Elle began to walk faster instead of running this time again, platinum blonde long tresses blowing gently in the wind, she regaining and conserving some of her energy.

All of a sudden, Elle could sense the heroes again, their auras ten times stronger this time. They were near, too near for Elle quicken her black knee-high length boot clad steps, it somehow magnetically pulling her to them against her own will. A couple more paces and steps, Elle could see the outlining of two other human beings who seemed to be converging paths with hers. As she drew nearer and nearer, the outlines of the other figures turned into two young men. Were they some of the heroes who knew when to meet up with one another, finally congregating?

Elle strangely somewhat knew but she wasn't sure if they really were the ones. Still, their auras around them gave dead giveaways that they were chosen just like her. She cautiously walked closer to the other two, quickly studying their countenances. One, who looked very muscular and fit with golden blonde hair, was armed with a deadly sword, giving Elle somewhat initial nervous shivers. Elle never liked weapons and the like, wary of what damage they could do, shying away from them as much as possible. But she didn't have time to be threatened by such a weapon on this heroes' person, putting the phobia quickly behind her as much as she could.

The other, with black hair and a slightly smaller frame, seemed familiar to her.... Immediately, Elle recognized a fellow ally- a Wen Lief, he apart of the mage group that was close to the clergy. They not only traded with one another but also worshiped each others goddesses, the young man's attire letting her know he was one of them. She gave a quiet sigh of relief as she continued to walk closer and closer to them. At least she could be familiar with at least one of them, her eyes never leaving the two....

---

---

Nightfall…

After a hard day’s work of preparing for the upcoming sandstorm, the sun descended behind the tall sand dunes and rocky mountains of Sageburrow and the sky turned black with stars shining overhead. The Wen Lief mages wore cloaks despite the hot weather in the day because once night falls, the desert is much colder than it was before the sun set. Damien and the Farroway children, exhausted from their water gathering duties, were sitting in one of the small circles of the cave with a campfire in the center. They were going to be staying her for the whole due to the sandstorm that would be coming tomorrow. They weren’t sure how long the sandstorm would last but from what they’ve heard from the sages, it’s a really big one. Apparently, the sages have said it was an omen from Kayaji that meant there would be utter turmoil and chaos, though they weren’t too sure what sort of chaos she meant. The Wen Lief mages would not take that lightly however, so they made sure to pack carefully, even have some extra provisions just in case, and they forbade anyone to go outside of the encampment.

The Farroway children were playing “A Few,” a game involving Air, Fire, Earth, and Water elements. Water beats Fire, Earth beats Water, Fire beats Earth, and Air beats Fire. Each of the children had to pick an element. If all elements are different, “A Few” is put into play and the order from weakest to strongest is switched and based on “A Few.” This made the weakest element Air and the strongest element water when “ A Few” came into play. Whoever had the strongest element wings that match. This game have been played by the mages for ages, and it’s been said that other children not of mage descent have also picked it up. However, because they did not have the power to conjure up the elements like the mages did, they resorted to using more common items like rock, paper, and scissors, and they could not think of a fourth item so they left that alone and just switched to three. The Farroway children closed their eyes and concentrated on conjuring their desired element. After opening their palms and feeling the miniature versions of their elements dance on their hands, they counted to three and opened their eyes. Glen had gone with her favourite element Water, Willow had gone with Air, and Callen had gone with Fire.

“That means I win!” Glen said happily.

“No fair!” Willow said. “I was going to beat Callen with Air!”

“Nu uh!!” Willow disagreed. “Since we all have different elements, “A Few” comes into play and since I have water, the strongest element, I win.”

“Damien??? Is she even right?” Willow asked.

Damien was busy studying the notes he had gathered along the trip as well as some others that he had taken down before to brush up and commit them to memory. Along the way, he had added to his own hand drawn map of Sageburrow Desert the oasis as well as drawing a couple of humped creatures that were tall, sand colored, and had rather short ears. He had asked the sages about it but as he always noted, although they were wise with predictions and past and some other knowledge, they were not very knowledgeable about new information. Damien decided to name them: Sand Dashers for when they caught sight of Damien and the Farroway children, they ran so fast, sand had trailed behind them as though they were creating their own mini sandstorms. He took note of their advantages and decided to one day see if he could tame them. When Willow asked Damien the question, he looked up from his brown leather journal and looked at the three of them and their elements.

“Yes Willow, Glen is right she wins, but “A Few” is meant for four people, no more and no less.”

“Then why don’t you come and play with us for a bit Damien?” Glen asked.

“Careful Damien, Glen’s a cheater!” Willow said sticking her tongue.

“Glen cheat! Glen cheat!” Callen said laughing.

Just then, Damien’s mother Helena came into the circle and said, “It’s time for the Farroway children to go to bed. It’s already close to midnight. They should’ve been back with their parents a long time ago!”

“Awww!! Can’t we stay up please?” all three of them begged at once.

“Now now, you three need to rest and Damien’s going to have to do some work around the encampment,” Helena urged.

Helena took the three Farroway children back to the tent where they lived with their parents. Damien decided that it was time to head back and get some rest. Who knew what the mages would subject them to? He motioned for the water in a nearby bucket to flow towards the water, using his right hand and concentrating hard with his mind for the water to flow. The water had risen above the bucket following the gesture of his right hand and with a flick towards the glowing flame, the water was sent towards the campfire to extinguish it. As he walked towards his family’s tent, he noticed the cave was still lit up from all of the other campfires though they would be put out soon as no one wanted to stay up lest they be called for the night watch to record the exact timing of the sandstorm. The cave was a dark grey lined with limestone and some stalagmites hanging overhead. He wondered as a child whether they would fall down on him or not, so he made sure to master earth just in case.

---

Destiny Awaits…
Upon reaching the violet tent, Damien ran inside and immediately lay down on his back, loving the chance to catch some sleep. He would have fallen into a deep slumber that would’ve been hard to wake him up from had he not felt a searing pain coming from his right hand.

““AHHH!!” Damien yelled. “What the heck is up with my hand??” Damien asked. He pressed it firmly with his other hand trying to keep the pain subtle but it wasn’t working. His father came into the tent and saw Damien’s face scrunched up in pain and him gripping his hand tightly.

“Damien!?! What’s wrong!?” Aluden asked worried.

“Dad, I don’t know what’s happening, my hand suddenly burns like hell! It’s my spell casting hand. What’s wong with it?”

“Let me see your hand Damien!” Aluden demanded reaching out for his hand.

Damien tried his best and reached out to his father with the hand that was in pain. Aluden grabbed it by the palm and turned it over. His eyes were suddenly wide open and he gasped staring into his hand as though he was going to have a heart attack.
“Dad what happened to my hand?” Damien asked nervous that he might not be able to spell cast again.

“Son, take a look at this! Don’t you recognize this symbol?” Aluden said shoving Damien’s hand to his face. Damien looked at the back side of his right hand and saw a swirling symbol that was glowing for the moment.

““It can’t be…but I’m not…” Damien muttered. He quickly grabbed his equipment to try and find the journal he stashed so he can make sure. Flipping through the pages of the book he went to the section called, “Prophecy” and tried to look for the symbol that he noted from the sages. He stumbled upon the section titled “Comet” which told about how in eighteen years, seven heroes would be born on the night of a passing comet and would be branded with its mark. It is these chosen heroes that would overthrow the evil queen. Next to the text he saw a picture of the mark which he drew long ago. Comparing the swirling pattern on his hand to the one in his book, he found that they were a match. Damien couldn’t believe this! He was right! The Chosen heroes are real and what’s more was that he was one of them! There was however one thing he wanted to make sure of just in case this wasn’t some trick played on by the Farroways or some other mage.

“Wait Dad, just to make sure, did anyone see a comet pass overhead?”

But when Damien turned his dad wasn’t anywhere to be found. Damien went outside the tent wondering where his father had gone off to when he saw him running back to him huffing and puffing.

“Damien! I went over to the night watch and they saw it! A comet had flown across the sky! It’s a sign from Kayaji!” Alucard said excitedly but in a whisper. “I can’t believe in. My own son…a chosen hero… Damien, you’ll join the group that is going to overthrow Bandrial!”

“I know…” Damien said trailing off into his thoughts.

“Aren’t you excited for this son?” Alucard asked concerned.

“Yeah but, that means I have to leave Wen Lief. I have to go on a journey to find the other heroes and I have to leave you, mom, and the Farroways…”

Alucard could see that his son was torn between his own destiny and his own family’s safety, but then he noticed a light in Damien’s eyes as he shouted, ““I’M GOING TO FINALLY GO OUTSIDE OF WEN LIEF WOOOO!!!” He then covered his mouth with his hands realizing he just shouted his escape out loud. Luckily everyone was either asleep or almost sleepy and didn’t care. He sighed for relief and then told his father to help him prepare for the journey. His father agreed and they started packing the essentials in a small knapsack that wouldn’t overwhelm him much.

It took about an hour to make sure that everything was ready. He packed some water, food, a spell book, a map of Aurora (though it’s very outdated), and some ink for the fountain pen that Damien used to write in his journal. He brought his small strap with the compartment for the journal as well, hoping to finally confirm or debunk the knowledge he gathered from the mages over the course of eighteen years. Damien thought he was ready and was about to sneak past the night watch to the entrance when his father whispered, “Wait!”

Damien looked back and saw that he was accompanied by the Farroway children who seemed a bit sleepy as though they were woken up from their slumber.

“What’re you guys doing here?” Damien asked.

Glen spoke up first saying, “We wanted to see you off before you went Damien. I can’t believe that you’re the chosen one.”
Damien’s eyebrow went up when Glen had mentioned him as the chosen one.

Willow came up next and said, “Don’t worry, we won’t tell anyone we promise.”

Sleepy little Callen then walked side to side towards Damien and reached his legs before falling over and hugging them. “We’ll miss you Damie. Please come back soon!”

Damien could feel his tears well up but he tried to stay strong and hold them back for the others seemed to be close to crying as well.

“Don’t worry Callen, I’ll be back I promise.” Damien said before clutching Callen into his arms.
Aluden then spoke up carrying more items saying, “Damien, there are a few more things you should take.”

He handed a pair of sandstorm goggles, a dark purple sash, and a rope that seemed attached to something. Damien pulled on the rope and one of the Sand Dashers came out from the shadows humming a “Hooouuhhnn.”

“If you haven’t forgotten there’s going to be a sandstorm very soon. I’m not sure if you’ll make it outside of Sageburrow by then but just in case you happen to get caught in it keep these around your neck.” Damien obeyed and Aluden continued. “The sash goes around your mark. We wouldn’t want Bandrial or anyone else catching you as the Chosen hero of the comet. Put around and wear your gloves as well as special protection. Lie that you have been slightly injured in that area and need some covering to prevent infection. Make sure you don’t reveal the mark to anyone unless they are the other heroes.” Damien wrapped the purple cloth around his hand and covered both of his hands with his black gloves. He looked nervously at his right hand remembering the pain and the mark that had been placed on him just an hour ago and then he continued to listen to his father’s instructions. “And lastly this ‘Sand Dasher’ you call it is actually something the mages have learned to tame and use in my area of work. I thought this would be useful so you can outrun the sandstorm better than on foot. Climb on it Damien.” Damien obeyed and steadied the Sand Dasher to mount on it. The Sand Dasher brayed a bit before settling down with its owner on its back. When Damien looked back at his father and the three Farroway mages, he saw them conjuring elements and aiming them towards the nightwatch. “Lastly, on my signal you make the Sand Dasher go and make a run for it! I love you son. Make us proud.” Damien told him, “I love you too,” before his father shouted, “NOW!!!” Damien used the reigns of the Sand Dasher to signal for it to run and the Sand Dasher headed for the exit. Just before the night watch could make a barrier of earth, a combination of waterballs, air blasts, rock upheavals, and flashes of fire scared it off and Damien was able to escape the Wen Lief encampment and headed straight for the exit.

---

Awakening In a New Area: Mallowpine

When Damien woke up, he realized he was somewhere new. No longer did he see sand and dust around him. There was actually luscious green grass growing all over and dirt! Brown muddy coarse dirt! Damien wondered how he made it alive out of the desert. He remembered some flashbacks to the journey. The sandstorm had actually started to come up just as he saw the exit out of Sageburrow that was given away by the two crescent rock formation that seemed to point down as though to poke any trespassers. He had urged the Sand Dasher to hurry on but it was tired and so the sandstorm got to them. He had put on his goggles and his cloth mask before the sandstorm had gone over them, but there was zero visibility. Luckily the Sand Dasher seemed adapted to the sandstorm for it still followed Damien’s order to charge on ahead, remembering that it was straight across. Somehow they had made it over but afterwards it was foggy. He did remember witnessing some sort of commotion and using his magic to conjure a water bubble to hide inside a nearby river, but he doesn’t recall how he got onto this road that he was in. More importantly, where was the Sand Dasher?

He hoped that there would be someone that he can ask for information around to at least get his bearings. Damien had no idea where to even look for such heroes of light, but he did remember nothing what kind they were. He read the passage that he noted on the seven heroes of light:



Damien noted his position as the Mage and liked his line “Will return the throne you lustfully stole.” ”So I need to find an archer, a swordsman, a shape shifter, a mind controller, a healer, and a necromancer,” Damien said to himself. This was going to take some work. He then turned and saw a beautiful girl cloaked with a dark cape and a hood that was down. She seemed to be heading towards Damien’s direction. From another direction coming his way as well was a man who seemed armored with a sword. He wondered whether these two people can help and so called out to the two, “Hey, you there girl in the cape and you swordsman, can I ask a bit of assistance? I seem to have lost my way and need help!” Little did Damien know that he was going to be meeting with the chosen Healer and Swordsman themselves.

The darkened clouds overhead continued to shift and morph cruelly, foretelling pouring rains that might come after it... And then there was a silent bolt of lightening flashing across the sky, a rumble of thunder coming after it. Elle's slightly startled face quickly shot up to the skies of heaven, her arched dainty eyebrows furrowing in slight irritation. Now all three, who were coming close, might be drenched in heavy downpours of rain. Elle didn't like getting wet while fully clothed preferring to be in the nude if ever her curved figure touched water. This will have to be somewhat of an inconvenience, at least to her, that she had to bear with and overcome until otherwise, she putting her annoyance quickly behind her.

Getting closer, the swordsman rose his left hand, in a form of peace, showing the telling comet-branded mark. Quickly as a result, Elle was really sure that he was chosen too, Ai foretelling her that a swordsman was to be a hero of light... This was really him... Another sigh of relief escaped her lips, some of the nervous edge lifting off her. Finally, all three closed the distance with one another, they getting a better peripheral look at each other. Elle's eyes widened with half fear and curiosity when she quickly studied the golden haired young man. He was covered half in blood, the distress in his wearied face easily shown. Elle knew all too well- he too had witnessed and was forced to experience the brutal bloodied events that transpired, still going on as of present.

"Hey, you there girl in the cape and you swordsman, can I ask a bit of assistance? I seem to have lost my way and need help!", the raven haired young man finally spoke, being the first. Elle turned her half tired lavender gaze to him in initial confusion. She didn't know how to respond to such a question seeing how everything was horribly unfolding around them. Did he not know what was going on? His demeanor seemed oddly calm but then again he looked innocently lost, truly naive in knowing with what was really going on. He seemed to come from a long trip from Sageburrow, judging by appearance he being a Wen Lief and the simple fact his clothes were covered in earth-tone sand.

"You're asking the wrong place for assistance. You have no idea what is going on in this town do you..", the golden blonde man finally replied, he confused and frustrated in response. Elle knew what was going on, understanding the man's plight readily. He slowly looked to Elle then back to the other man, "She does..I can see it..They are killing babies in this town..Bandrials soldiers are killing every single baby they find..and anyone who tries to stop them..we need to hide", he flushing out all his words to the both of them, specially to the man.

He was right.... Bandrial was really going out of her mind, ordering her army and secret police to rampage Aurora just so they could find and kill newborns. The reason behind her sick vile motivation was still unknown to Elle, she trying to find answers to why Bandrial was doing this. Elle agreed to hiding with the both of them knowing being out in the open wasn't safe anymore.... Another strike of lightening flashed across the sky, this time a thunder roaring above them louder. Light droplets of rain started to sprinkle on all three, the air around them oddly becoming cooler. Elle shivered slightly causing her to desperately clutch at her silver cape, pulling her hood over her head as well.

....And then her awareness sensed something, sensed a menacing presence coming closer.... Out in the dreary distance, the solider, who promised to capture her on horse, was coming near all three. Two more rounds of lightening and thunder, the dreadful solider came closer and closer to them, "You thought you could get away from me, didn't you!?!?", he shouted threateningly to Elle. Elle furrowed her brows in disgust, walking in front of both young men. The solider continued, "Ah! I see there are three more pathetic survivors!... I shall take great pleasure in slaughtering all of you!", he finished as he charged his horse readily at them.

Elle stood her ground and raised both of her arms quickly commanding her power, shield of faith. Automatically a force-field barrier like-dome spread around them. The shield was met for two but Elle made sure all three of them were inside it, exerting all the power and energy she had. This surely was going to negatively affect her soon after, knowing such a power could drain and zap the body of all energy. But she didn't care, they all needed to be protected, "Leave us alone or I'm really going to have to hurt you!", she shouted back angrily. The solider only sadistically laughed, just like Bandrial always did, highly amused that she would challenge someone of his strength and status.

"I will enjoy seeing you die first then!", he replied with promised fervor. His horse continued to race down the pathway where they all stood, his mighty evil-blessed sword on full display, ready to slain her and the young men, "Go now, you two! I'll hold him off as best I can. Run!", she shouted to the both from behind. These comet-marked heroes she needed to protect with all her life and she was not going to let them die because she couldn't protect them hard enough. "Go, I said!", she warned them again, the shield of faith power rapidly draining her. She began to weakly buckle at the knees as a cause of it, her eyes beginning to glaze over with exhaustion.

The solider just laughed at her displayed plight, taking great pleasure in her suffering just to see the others safely run away, "Challenge me instead but I will not let you lay a hand on them!", she shouted with all her might, not giving up even though her body was on the brink of giving way on it's self. This was going to be an easy kill for the solider, he smirking at that fact, rain now down pouring on everyone. "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!", Elle and the solider both shouted, the former doing it out of fear while the latter doing it as a war cry, they beginning to clash into one another....

Dawn awoke on the forest floor. She felt as though she had accidentally eaten some of the orange berries again, the ones that made your head go sort of funny and made you hallucinate. That would explain everything that happened to her the night before.

She was happy to see that despite sleeping out in the open, no one had bothered her while she slumbered. Her back was sore and it made sitting up a labored process. What had happened the night before? She tried to re-account the events.

She had left her cave because she heard the comet. It had seared something into her flesh, leaving her tired and then....

The stag. It had appeared to her, talked to her.

Dawn had never been a religious human being, and she didn't believe in Auryon, the supposed goddess of the hunt, but she knew the stag was real. She had seen it a few times in the depths of the Mallopine. It made her question her sanity. Was she so tired from the pain that she imagined the stag and the deep, majestic voice in her head?

What had it meant, that she was chosen, that the world would need her? It had never needed her before. She had been perfectly happy laying low in the depths of the woods and no one had ever come looking for her.

”Silly girl,” the voice boomed in her head. She raised her head and saw it again. The white stag. She slowly came to her feet.

”You see a deity right in front of you and still you question the gods? The world needs you, it is time to stop hiding. Get to hire ground and see how the world changed while you slumbered.” Still questioning her own mental state, Dawn obliged, climbing the trees to see what was going on outside her wood.

She could see the town on the very edge of the Mallowpine. Fairhaven, she believed it was called. Often wanders got lost in her neck of the woods from this town. Something was terribly wrong. Even from her distance she could see the buildings on fire and the corpses littering the streets. That town was in trouble, and she was sure that Bandrial was behind it.

”I told you the world would have much need of you, but you can start with Fairhaven.” Dawn wasn't sure what propelled her, especially since she wasn't sure if this Stag of her's was even really there. She hated people, and she had no idea how to communicate with them, let alone try and save them. Never the less, she was running, following her stag in the direction of Fairhaven.

She ran swiftly through the woods, following behind the Stag. They did this for what felt like hours when the Stag suddenly came to a halt. Dawn was confused, but then she heard the voices.

She heard them talk about the Evil Queen, and her slaughter of children. She agreed with the man talking.

'Why children?' She chose to stay hidden for the time, listening to their exchange when she heard the clang of a soldier on horseback. Dawn hissed.
What had her Stag gotten her into? She had not been forced to deal with soldiers in a long time. She was torn. She continued to listen. This man was after the girl, was she like her, a girl that was supposed to go into Bandrial's castle?

When it seemed that the girl would be overcome, Dawn knew what she had to do. She climbed the trees, trying her best to stay secret then, she let an arrow fly. She didn't even really have to aim, she knew her arrow would strike true. She shot him through his unarmored neck, and her barbed arrow did it's work, digging further into his muscles with the vibrations of the arrow. He fell off his horse and into the mud.

She knew that she couldn't remain hidden after that display of unmerciful spite. She jumped from the limb of the tree and in front of the three. She knew what they must think. Her hair was matted and soaked with dirt, but her hood hid most of that. Her face was streaked with mud, her clothes tattered, she smelled like an animal and the animal furs she wore didn't help.

”You are going to need these three, talk to them.” She wanted to tell the Stag that it didn't understand. She couldn't talk to anyone, let alone people as well put together as the three of them.

Instead she broke the arrow off in the man's neck, taking the end to use to mend other arrows and then looked up at them.

“I am going to Fairhaven,” She said slowly. Her voice cracked and she realized that it may have been the first time she had used it in years. “They need our help.”

“Show them the mark.”

She pulled back her hood, revealing the true nature of her head and hair, and showed them her shoulder with her brand. She was pretty sure they thought she was crazy and that the swords man would probably kill her on sight. Finally she repeated somewhat defeated...

“They need our help.”

---

---

Lilith grinned as she heard her name drip from his lips, the sound as soft as spring rain. “Lilith?” A purr nearly escaped her lips as she felt his rough hands roam over her curves and into her hair, pulling her closer. She took a deep breath of him, eyes fluttering for the moment as her senses were bathed in the ecstasy of campfire smoke and manly musk. When he pulled back, she reluctantly let him hold her at arm's length. How long had it been? She smirked to herself, placing a hand onto her hip as he walked around her. "Enjoying the view?"


“Lilyblossom,” He grinned, using her old pet name. There it was, a moment later-- that irresistible smile of his. The smile that had lured more than one milk made into his arms. As he was making his round, she pulled her hair up to strike a pose, grinning. “Gods, Lil. Who did this to you?” She frowned and dropped her hair, feeling behind her neck at her marking. "It just... showed up today. I dreamed that Mother Vera told me to pursue the comet- so that's why I'm traveling.... you have a mark as well, moon beam," she informed him, pointing to his neck. "It must be a sign from Una. You are to aid me on my journey..." She reached for her bag which she had tossed to the ground prior to tackling him and handed it to him. "I knew Una would bring you back to me," she said with a smile, her blue hues tearing up only slightly. "I have missed you, moon beam. Shall we ride, like old times?"

She couldn't help but grin at the fond memory of them as children, thieving from the locals and always getting away by the skin of their teeth. Of course as she had gotten older, the escapes became much easier-- and the stakes became much higher. She had had to leave her old life behind though, and it wasn't long after Mother Vera took her in that she was forced to say goodbye to her childhood friend. The memory of their last day together was imprinted into her. It had been the second saddest day of her life; losing her only friend, the first being the day she lost her family to the terrible fire.

Forcing herself back to reality she pretended to laugh and turned away from him, quickly wiping away the tears that threatened to fall. Just like that, though, she was over it and feeling much better. "Let me help you get packed, and then we can get moving. I want to get as far as I can before night falls. Bandrial's men are everywhere and I don't fancy trying to fight a demon in the dark." With that, she began to help him pack up all of this belongings- the tent, and everything else. When it was all in a neat pile of bags she nodded to him. "Best look away," she cautioned, recalling how pissy he was when she shifted without warning. After waiting a beat for him to cover his eyes, or turn around, she shifted back into the form of the black mare.

She turned her massive black head to look at him and let out a gentle whinnie. Let's get moving. Lilith walked over to him and laid on the ground, allowing him access to her back to put the bags and for him to climb up and ride. It'd be faster, and look a lot less strange if they came across anyone. She wasn't worried about his bareback riding skills- for they had grown up together, and she was confident that he would remember everything if he had forgotten. After he had gotten settled, Lilith slowly rose up from the ground. The weight was barely anything to her, and she mentally smiled-- it was nice to be so strong, and fast.

With a soft huff, she set off in the direction her heart was telling her to go. She trusted Una to lead her wherever she needed to go. How long they had traveled- she didn't know, but at some point she began to hear voices. “I am going to Fairhaven, they need our help.” Lilith slowed, coming from the West side of the group. It appeared to be a group of four. A man with a sword, a woman -the one speaking- who removed her hood, a raven haired male from Wen Lief -it seemed from his clothing of choice-, and another woman in a cloak though this one much more fair skinned. Lilith huffed a little, starting to turn away from the group; this was the last thing she need- a group of lost wanderers in the forest tagging along and causing drama. She started to turn away, to head around them in an arc and avoid conversation all together, when the marking on her neck began to burn again, causing her body to tense.

Seven hells! Alright, alright she hissed in her mind, walking forward and into the view of the group. She'd leave the talking to Aitan for now- partially because she was a horse, but mostly because she wanted nothing to do with the ragtag group.

---

---

Both figures came closer to him as the sky started thundering and dark clouds shadowed the road. The swordsman upon closer inspection was soiled with blood and held a hand with the mark high. Damien was a bit taken back by this gesture, wondering what the swordsman intended, but more importantly, questioning his openness in sharing the mark. He looked down at his notes and noted to himself to later add that he had indeed found the swordsman as foretold. "You're asking the wrong place for assistance. You have no idea what is going on in this town do you.." the golden blonde man said confused and a bit harsh sounding to Damien.

”As a matter of fact—“ Damien thought, ”I don’t even know what this town is…”
The cloaked woman figure whom the blonde swordsman looked at seemed a bit familiar to Damien, but he couldn’t put his mind to it. After looking back towards him, the man continued, "She does..I can see it..They are killing babies in this town..Bandrials soldiers are killing every single baby they find..and anyone who tries to stop them..we need to hide"
Damien gasped in horror. He has heard of tales concerning Bandrial’s evil deeds but he couldn’t believe she would be so low as killing innocent babies who had done no wrong towards her. He started to shiver a bit, not used to the lower temperature that came with the raindrops that started falling. Water felt a bit warmer back at his home in Sageburrow desert, unless it was the heat he was focusing more of. The water that fell along with the colder climate made Damien hold himself a bit to get warmer. He agreed with the swordsman’s decision to hide as this place didn’t seem safe at all and it would be better to get to know the two of them somewhere else that no one can hear them from.

Just as he was about to speak in agreement, a soldier had come across their path and threatened the girl. She stepped in front of Damien and the swordsman, casting some sort of magic that shielded the three of them.
Damien looked in awe at the shield and finally realized why the girl seemed familiar to him. ”She’s a healer. I’ve seen them enter the desert at times to help the wounded and the sick. They’ve kept our location hidden from Bandrial and we have formed an alliance with them. Could she be…the healer foretold in the prophecy?”Damien was thinking so much he wasn’t paying attention to the screams of the healer telling them to run away or more threats from the soldier. Only when they started screaming “AAAAAAaaaahhhh!!” and an arrow shot the soldier out of nowhere did Damien come back to reality.

The woman who had shot it came out from her hiding spot, and Damien couldn’t help but widen his eyes in utter shock at her appearance. She was muddy in the face, wore animal furs, and even smelled like some sort of animal as well. Damien wondered what happened to the poor girl or whether this was a customary special type of appearance for special occasions like a kill. He was getting more nervous as more new things came coming to him and revealing themselves, but at the same time he couldn’t help but have so many questions for them wanting to discover what has been going on in this part of Aurora. She seemed to be gathering the arrow that she had shot and mentioned something about going to a place called “Fairhaven” saying that they needed their help. When she uncovered her hood, she revealed the tangled mess her hair was and the mark upon her shoulder, the same as Damien’s and the swordsman’s. Damien could see a black mare and another young man riding towards them and wondered just how much attention they seemed to attract?

Deciding to finally speak Damien said, “Uh…I don’t know happenings around here being a civilian of Wen Lief and I especially don’t know what that Fairhaven is… However, seeing as there have been recent um casualties, people of the mark, and the impending danger of being attacked again as earlier, shouldn’t we get to somewhere safe? Oh um…are you all of the mark…as I am..?”Damien then slowly removed his black gloves and unwrapped the violet cloth around his right arm and showed them the mark. He wondered if the others had the same mark and introduced himself, “I’m Damien Vespera of the Wen Lief Mages. Who are you all? Oh…we should probably move as we talk…right?”Damien asked the others. He was still unsure of himself being an outcast amongst the others.

Kale had drawn his sword when he heard the horsemen coming. Hearing the woman telling him to run, kale only stood his ground. "I will not run!" he shouted. But before he could do a thing a arrow had come from nowhere and took the man down as easy as kale could cut the man down. Kale loosened up his stance his sword hanging limply at his side, watching the man fall from the horse gurgling his last bit of life away. "One more dead in the whore's army.."Kale spit in the dead man's direction. When he heard someone move through the brush on instinct he had sword come up in front of him ready to strike down the next soldier, instead he saw a mass of dirty furs and the smell of a animal. The smell Kale was use to and for a time he looked the same way when he was growing up with the old man, living out in the woods.


When the hood was pulled down Kale could see the features of a woman but the hair was so massed and caked in mud, it was hard to tell until she spoke. Hearing her voice crack as if she had not used it in years. "Fairhaven...this is happening in fairhaven as well.."kale took in a deep breath and sighed some using the crook of his arm to clean the blood from his sword. " I am going as well then.."Kale looked at the mark on his hand "the old man spoke of a prophecy..said others would be branded..including me, but I never believed him.."Looking at Damien and seeing that he bore the mark as well as this woman of the wood. He would make a fair assumption that the cleric woman bore the mark as well. Sheathing his sword Kale walked to Elle and taking her in a firm but gentle grip and helped her up to her feet. "Can you walk?" kale asked her and looked at Damien. "You have a lot to catch up on outsider.." Kale looked to the woodswoman and nodded to her for her to hopefully lead the way. "Talk and run..if we are to get there in time" kale said hopefully the others would come along with him and the woodswoman.

Energy on the brink of being totally drained, Elle was almost tearing apart, physically and mentally. The force-field she kept up for so long was rapidly waning, she not knowing how long she was going to last. It seemed that both young men were going to stand their ground and stand by Elle. Were they showing a little bit of kindness towards her? Elle couldn't correctly answer knowing she hadn't been shown that type of emotion for so long, thinking of it as wishful thinking. But right now was not the time to think of such foolish thoughts! All three were in danger and Elle had to protect them. "I will not run!", the golden blonde man shouted, continuing to stand his ground.

Out of nowhere, an arrow zoomed past everyone's path, instantly shooting the wild aggressive and vile solider on horse, knocking him off the horse and killing him. He fell off immediately, laying on the ground with bloody gurgling last breath, "One more dead in the whore's army..", the young man vehemently stated. Elle readily didn't react to such a disturbance, too focused with keeping her guard up and protecting the others. Who shot the arrow that went straight piercing the soldier's neck? At first, no one knew but sure enough the person who did stepped out of the earthen shadows, displaying themselves for all to see, the person jumping down from some large tree right into their path.

Right away, the person looked muddy and grimy, smelling of forest and animal; a smell that Elle would never forget. If Elle had her senses and bearing she would've automatically felt sorry for them, wanting to soothe and ease their plight and suffering. The person not announcing themselves readily just walked stealthily to the now fallen deceased solider, breaking the arrow from the man's neck, collecting the arrow as if being frugal and saving it for another foe to shoot dead next time. Then the person looked back to them, "I am going to Fairhaven...", a female voice cracked finally. This person appeared to be silent most of the time, not using their voice often, "They need our help...".

Fairhaven needed their help too? It couldn't be surprising knowing that everything was falling apart around them, absolute chaos and madness filtering the air. The person finally pulled back their hood, revealing a muddied and pale female who looked very wary of being around them or anyone else for that matter. Her dirty blond hair was matted with dirt and grime just like the rest of her tattered and worn to death furred apparel. But Elle wasn't really bothered with that, immediately spotting the comet-mark on the young woman's shoulder.... The foretold archer who also was a hero, she being the one! "Fairhaven...this is happening in fairhaven as well..", the golden blonde man sighed with much wearied stress as he cleaned his bloody sword by using the crock of his underarm, "I am going as well then..". Maybe it was best they all went there....

By now, Elle was stumbling to the ground, her knees desperately holding up her exhausted body. Her power took a toll on her causing her not to respond much to her surroundings or to others. She truly needed rest! "They need our help.", the young woman repeated, defeat lacing her every word. Elle wanted to comfort her but she couldn't, exhaustion feigned body not allowing her to do so. "The old man spoke of a prophecy..said others would be branded..including me, but I never believed him..", the man added, sheathing his sword....

Immediately hooves from a horse could be sound from the near distance. Elle rose her head in slight initial panic, caring not to see another Bandrial solider. Instead, a young man, who looked roguish, rode a raven black mare closer to the group from the west side of them. The horse huffed with displeasure seeming to not like being around other humans but the one on it's back. How odd and peculiar, Elle sensing something curiously off about the horse, almost liking to mannerisms and behaviors of a human. The horse was about to turn it's head, steering clear of the others, but as quick as it did that, it quickly turned it's head back to them, standing majestically in it's spot, it looking somewhat tensed. In that short amount of time the mare did that, Elle noticed a mark on it's back that looked eerily familiar to the rest of the others who were branded the same by the comet.

Why did this mare have a mark just like them? Elle began to think that she was just hallucinating, having seen quite a few markings already. "Uh…I don’t know happenings around here being a civilian of Wen Lief and I especially don’t know what that Fairhaven is… However, seeing as there have been recent um casualties, people of the mark, and the impending danger of being attacked again as earlier, shouldn’t we get to somewhere safe? Oh um…are you all of the mark…as I am..?", the raven haired man finally spoke up again with much questioning, trying to find out if everyone was marked by the comet as well. Elle slowly turned her head into his direction, "Wen Lief... Allies of Clerics...", out of breath and highly exhausted was all she could muster in reply to him.

Removing his black gloves and unwrapping his violet cloth around his right arm, his comet-mark was revealed for all to see.... This had to be the dark mage who was chosen as a hero by the comet! "I’m Damien Vespera of the Wen Lief Mages. Who are you all? Oh…we should probably move as we talk…right?", he introduced himself and asked everyone and then finally suggested, seeming to look out for everyone's safety while being a little unsure of himself. The golden blonde man walked by Elle's kneeling side taking her by a firm gentle grip, helping her somewhat to her feet, "Can you walk?", he asked earnestly. Elle couldn't shake her head yes or answer him, just firmly griping his muscular arm, shakily trying to keep from falling over again.

"You have a lot to catch up on outsider..", he said to Damien, looking to him and then to the woodswoman, nodding to her in a gesture to lead the way, "Talk and run..if we are to get there in time.". How ironic of him to say, knowing that was what Elle did for the last hour or two but she agreed with them, their surroundings not safe to loiter about carelessly. Elle couldn't hold herself anymore, using the golden blonde man's arm for support. So much happened in such a short amount of time for Elle and she wasn't sure if she could deal with another "surprise" if it should come their way....

Dawn looked at the horse and it's rider as they approached the group. They were silent, but to close for her liking. She rose her bow to defend herself.

”No, they are marked like you. You will need them all.” She slowly lowered her bow and followed the other three that were on their way to Fairhaven. She rolled her eyes as they talked. They were too slow for her liking, she could sprint across the treetops and be there in a third of the time.

Finally frustrated, she climbed up a tree with expert speed and soon was above the others. She was like a primate, grabbing branches with terrifying accuracy and flinging herself to the next tree. Soon she was a good distance from the others.

Dawn paused as she neared the edge of the forest. It had been at least four years since she had even been this close to the border of the Mallowpine. Leaving the safety of the trees was terrifying to her, what if Bandrial's men in town recognized her, what if they killed her family? She still had no clue if they were even still alive.

The others were getting closer now. She took a long breath and tightened her grip on her bow. She had to do this. She was chosen, she had a greater purpose than hiding in the Mallowpine for the rest of her life.

”From here you are on your own little one, you are chosen, you are powerful, you will do great things.”

Another deep breath, and then slowly she stepped from the treeline. The sun was almost blinding as she left the safety of the canopies.

“I have never left the forest before.” She said slowly, she was still getting used to having to communicate. She had indeed been out of the forest before, when she was young, when she had a family, she didn't trust them enough for all of that. She took a moment to regain her composure and took the small job into the town.

The buildings were ablaze, adult corpses lined the streets clutching their little ones. It was a massacre. She felt a rage build up inside her. Bandrial's forces, they had ripped apart enough families for a life time.

“Hey!” She screamed at a nearby soldier, her voice cracking. He turned to look at her, helmet off. He was a smug bastard. She almost smiled as she let her arrow fly straight into his throat. He fell dead. She felt no remorse, no pitty. She went further into the town, inflicting her own personal justice.

”…you have a mark as well, moon beam…”

His hand instinctively rose, rubbing the place where Lilith’s eyes had settled. While he couldn’t see his reflection, Aidan could imagine the mark as if it were mirrored to the naked woman standing before him. His brow furrowed, trying to remember the previous nights events. An ache reminded him that drink had created a haze, and even if he’d drunkenly gotten an engraving in his skin there was no hope in remembering it. Still, he could picture himself with the tribal rune and a slow smile widened.

“Badass.”

The excitement of his new rebel look, that match the smell of day old ale and dirt mixed with sweat, was short lived. His distasted for the Goddess that Lilith spoke of was hardly disguised. Flashes of the dream replayed in his mind, his eyes rolling and head dropping back as he sighed heavily. It was foolish to think that the fine, bare body being delivered to him was due to an abandonment of the beliefs that had swept her away from him. Of course the Gods had their hands in his awesome new tattoo and the reappearance of his favourite woman.

“Fucking Gods, can’t stop messing with my shit.” He mumbled, barely audible as he slung her bag over his shoulder and shielded his eyes from the awful transformation. Even the fond memories of their rides couldn’t brighten his now soured mood. Still, he had done more depraved things for lesser women. When Lilith said ride her… well, who was he to let her down?

His items were few and far; an empty bottle and a bag of coin was all he’d remembered to grab. What little clothes he had to his name were laying dormant in the Inn room he had rented for the week. It was without a second look that he swung his leg over the black mare and wrapped the long glossy mane around his fingers.

“Giddey up, woman.” He purred into her ear.

His body rose from the flattened position that let them ride with more speed as show slowed. In their not-to-distant sights was a group of four, gathered at the side of the road. Aitan could hear Lilith’s struggle. Like her, he wanted nothing to do with them. These were dangerous roads and there was no telling who or what they were. His marking did not burn, whether from still being a tad drunk or years of practice blocking out Odin’s voice he didn’t know, but he was grateful. Still, Lilith advanced.

“Hey.” He said, “Who says I want to do the talking? What if your ‘Una’ is just playing a dirty trick on you. Let’s ride, babe… see where the wind takes us… I bet we could find a few things to occupy our time.”

He was trying to reason to a horse, or so it would seem to the four as he approached. Green eyes stared warily as a hooded woman dropped her notched arrow and somewhere someone thought that they were all the same. Chosen. The word flitted through his mind like a whisper and he couldn’t help but laugh. Desperate times made people think desperate things.

“Babies dying, it’s all sad and tragic but it’s none of your business. Save yourself, that’s what I always say.” He murmured out loud, interjecting himself into the strangers conversation. Aidan had never been good at keeping to himself.

He was ready to tug on Lilith’s mane, but felt her lurch beneath him. Apparently the woman had ideas of her own, and faster than Aidan could blink they were heading towards the smoke that rose where a city once stood.

Again he sighed, exasperated as he watched the pretty blonde nearly fall from lack of strength. Yeah. That was a sure sign that they’d fair well against the Wicked Witch and her Evil Army.

“Come, let me help you. That brute is going to leave bruises on you.” He said, voice a bit softer as he reached down to help the blonde. He slid off the mare with ease. Aitan was sure that Lilith would be thrilled at his volunteer work, helping in her cause as he clung to the stranger’s small frame. His large, calloused hand slid down the black pelt in an offer of apology.

They had paused just out of the treeline n time to watch the cloaked woman fell a man with a sure shot. Impressive; the words spoken outloud resounded through his mind, mirrored in thoughts by the others as well as himself. The ‘brute’ named himself, Kale, as he charged into battle.

“Well, that was a tad dramatic.” He chuckled, while his nose cringed at the stench of ash and burning flesh. Fairhaven was no more.

---

---

Damien caught the words of the girl muttering something about Wen Lief being Allies of Clerics thinking in his head, “That’s right. I guessed correctly that you were a member of the clergy then.”

He observed the swordsman help the clergy woman to her feet and informed him that he had a lot to catch up on. Damien nodded as he heard the swordsman introduce his name to the clergy woman and lifted her up. Kale looked towards Damien and told him, "Let’s go outsider…the woodswoman already went on ahead..so keep up." “Yes, sir!” Damien nodded again and ran as fast as he could following Kale. He was a bit worried looking at the woman that was taking a ride on him but he decided to focus on keeping up and using the energy to fight. Damien felt he could trust the swordsman for information and figured he’d ask some questions when everything was calmer.

Damien admits he’s not as fast as the swordsman and definitely not as fast as the woodswoman. He huffed and puffed trying to keep an eye on Kale and feeling embarrassed at his low stamina. He did his best to catch up when he heard the outcry of a solider and Kale remarking about the woodswoman to confirm his thoughts.

After Kale charged in to help Fairhaven, he heard someone say “Well, that was a tad dramatic,” and turned around. The rider of the black mare had followed it seems, and Damien wondered about the skills of this individual.

“I apologize to you both,” Damien said to both the clergy woman and the mare rider. “I have no skills of weaponry like Kale the swordsman or the archer. However, I will do my best with my elemental prowess.”

Damien began to run a bit ahead to try and assess the area and the situation. He heard more screams as more soldiers were attacked and killed. What had caught his eye was something the other warriors had not noticed. A group of soldiers were hidden above one of the buildings with a burning flame hidden behind them. They were archers as well who lit their arrows using the flame and were burning the remaining houses adding fuel to the fire. Damien covered his hands again with the cloth and the glove and then focused on the flame that was behind them. A red spell circle glowed beneath him with ancient symbols meaning “fire”, “flame,” “burn,” and “control.” His eyes glowed red and seemed to contain a similar spell circle within them that he can’t see himself but others can. He held up his hands towards the flames trying to mold them away from the golden pot that carried it and lift it into the air. He breathed heavily as the flames danced around in a ball and the soldiers looked back and gasped at the sight. “You want to play with fire?” Damien asked. The red spell circle increased and glowed even more as Damien clenched his fists. He then unclenched them quickly letting the flames drop down quickly onto the soldiers surrounding it and burned them, increasing the heat as he heard each soldier cry out in pain. “Why don’t you burn yourselves. Burn in hell.” After he saw the soldiers blacken and fall, the building started cracking and falling to the ground in flames. Damien was shocked at first but made sure to continue focusing on the burning building, letting the flames die by spreading his hands out and making his eyes turn his normal color.

After the flames died out Damien took a step back, realizing he had just killed other people. He had only killed in Sageburrow animals that had threatened him or other children, but since no one came through Sageburrow much he never killed people. He looked at his hands wondering how many more he would have to kill and why he had to kill. He then saw more soldiers come out and try to burn other buildings as well and then Damien realized he had no choice. There was a bucket of water that was near the collapsed house and puddles from the downpour from before. He figured he easily had fire available, and he could reuse the water from the bucket to douse the flames. Damien also took note of the mud that was around and decided to use that as well if he needed to. He then turned to the other soldiers and put his hands towards the water from the bucket deciding to fight with water this time. It was going to be a long day of fighting he figured.

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Lilith hung back silently as the group rushed blindly into the burning city, each on some heroic mission to save the half burnt town. The shifter watched them boredly, standing idly back as everyone else charged in, revealing their skills and abilities openly and carelessly. The swordman, charging around comically with his large blade. The archer, dainty and childlike with her size and appearance. Arrow after arrow consistently met it's mark. The mage, who stood waving his hands around, looking like he was having a secure for a brief moment before water directed itself towards his foes. It was all very boring. What did Lilith care if children of parents she did not know were being slaughtered? Less mouths to feed. More room on the planet for Una's children. These souls were all going to burn anyway, for not following the true beliefs. These 'heroes' were just slowing the inevitable.

With a shake of her mane, the mare turned to walk around the city. This was not her battle. The queen could do whatever she wanted to these people- they were not her people. They did not follow or respect Una. They were nothing to her. Just sacks of blood that consumed the forest to build their homes and spread their ignorance. She had turned back towards the woods when her mark began to burn once more, scolding her for trying to abandon the party she had been placed into. With a dark mental growl, she walked past Aitan, muttering mentally to him. End this quickly. I want to move on. Her voice clearly indicated how annoyed and bored she was with the whole situation.

Without saying anything else, she walked into one of the allies, ignoring the flaming arrows that shot past her flanks, nearly missing her. The soldiers of the queen seemed to pay her little mind. After all- what person in their right mind would give two damns about a horse walking by when there was a necromancer, mage, swordman, and archer attacking them? None, Lilith bet, and she was correct. She slipped by them with ease, going unnoticed. Once behind the ally where none could see her, she shifted into a beautiful hawk. She sore upwards into the sky, preferring a birds-eye-view on the situation at hand. Just how many did they have? From here, she could mentally send down locations of units and soldiers to Aitan on the ground, where he could relay to everyone else, should he feel the need to share the warning.

She let out a screech into the air, flying too high for the arrows to reach, as they were aimed at those on the ground, and not at her, in the air. After all; she was just a bird... You're out numbered, she sent down mentally to Aitan, knowing that he could hear her. Their mental rage was quite impressive from years of spending time together and building the skill. More soldiers coming on on the mage's right. Men on horses coming from the west. They seem to be weak in their left flank. The street to your east is filled with more soldiers. The street to the west is empty. Flank them that way. Their enforcements are already moving to the next town. They have no idea what's happen--- I see their scout. Pardon me, won't you dear? Need to intercept that message. With that, Lilith cut their mental bond and took off with another screech, speeding through the air after the skinny, lone soldier they had sent running through the back allies to get their enforcements.

In seconds she was on him. With another screech, she descended upon him, her claws digging into his eye sockets. The boy, as he was a boy and not yet a man, screamed and thrashed around-- but there was no one to hear him. He was too far from his officers, and their enforcements. There was no one but him, and the deranged bird that was assaulting his features. Lilith landed, and in one sick, bone crunching movement she shifted into her human form, watching the lad stagger around blindly, sobbing blood tears. Lilith clicked her tongue at him, slowly walking over. "Now, now,"[color] she purred, [color=darkred]"Hush now. This will only hurt a moment. Blessed be the children of the moon." She whispered the last sentence as her hands grabbed the staggering boy, no older than 13, by the head, swiftly twisting his neck and effectively snapping his spinal cord. He was dead within seconds.

The sound of his bones snapping were familiar to Lilith, and as the blood of his eyes gushed over onto her hands she released his corpse. Remorseful? Of course not. He was not the first life she had taken. She raised her bloodied hands to the sky,"Blessed are the children of the moon. Hail, Una, the one true Goddess." She smiled and looked back to the boy once more, making a 'tsk' sound with her tongue. With a sigh, she picked up his body and dragged him into a nearby door way, hiding the body. With a small shrug, she shifted back into her hawk form and took to the skies again, searching for Aitan. No re-enforcements. I handled it. Where are you?