Ace Tyrant's Story

Oreron and Owsla Hall

The sheer reaction of blue eye's denial and outright admission of being untouched was more than enough for the large Neco to nod and return to the calm state was normally. However, before returning to deboning the meat-sack of deer, the feeling of seething hate started to to eminate from him once more.

"What is with you heathens? I hadn't expected much in form of civility from you all, but this blatant disrespect and thievery makes me wonder why I even bothered to hold you above animals in the first place!"
"I have no more reasons to deal base-court peasants anymore."

Oreron turned toward William's direction, not only his eyes full of malice and bearly contained rage, but the whites of his eyes were slowly turning black. He turned back, watching him leave, and pinched the bridge of his nose and started to mutter something. "Let him go, Wisdom comes to those who are...accepting." He growled as he literally tore the last of the bones from the deer's body, leaving nothing but a meat bag.

Owsla's face remained red, not even attempting to even look a ace for the time being. However, there was one matter that had to be dealt with.

Deer head.

It was descared to the side, antlers chopped off and thrown into some unknown wilderness somewhere. At the very least, there must have been some good pickings in the head. Without a seconds thought, She placed the head into the center of the fire as Oreron started to stretch the now boneless deer over the fire. "We're not heathens." Owsla spat as she used the tip of her knife to shovel ash onto the head and fur of the carcus to burn off the fur. "He came to us and he knew what would happen. Don't know why he's so wound up about some measly piece of sweet." She snarled, only to have a Oreron pat her on the shoulder. "Those outside the blood don't understand us as well." He said, his voice starting to grow raspy and causing him to cough again.

Ember was startled by William's outburst but couldn't help but smile. At least I'm not the only with a temper. Then Oreron and Owsla got angry. They didn't necessarily verbalize their anger, but Ember, who had felt and seen the symptoms herself, recognized their tense and calmly aggressive movements. She silently marveled at Oreron's self control, as she has been having trouble keeping her anger in check and found it difficult to rein it most of the time. Speaking of self control, where is that sugar junkie?

"Here." She wasn't speaking to Ace or the Halls, but to the black bunny-like creature that had hidden when William dusted it off his shoulder. A small and curious shuuu sound came from a small bush several feet away from Ember's foot and the creature flew from the ground onto Ember's shoulder. It's ears instantly went forward, pointing toward Champ, its eyes narrowed. It began bouncing back and forth, acting as if its soft and fluffy ears were jagged antlers. Shuuuu! Shuuuuu! The sound came out sounding aggravated and angry.

Ember began talking to Ace again, "You can't eat it..." She paused, then added, "Either of you." She glanced down at Champ then back up at Ace. "And our group of scientists call them B.O.B. C.A.T.S. or something like that. My old squad used to just call them cats." She held out her hand and the CAT jumped onto her palm. Its demeanor quickly changed when Ember held out her other hand to it for it to nuzzle. The CAT began making a relaxed and happy Shhhh sound while its ears went back to their their natural state. The sudden change revealed that it was actually very cute. "She doesn't like anyone but me." As if to agree with this statement, the creature turned its gaze on Ace and let out a harsh Shuuuu sound. "And it has a bit of a sweet tooth, hence the chocolate."

---

"What is with you heathens? I hadn't expected much in form of civility from you all, but this blatant disrespect and thievery makes me wonder why I even bothered to hold you above animals in the first place!"
"I have no more reasons to deal base-court peasants anymore."

Ace quickly pushed his fist into his mouth to halt the laughter that was about to burst out from his lungs, but he barely managed. Tears of amusement began to prickle in his eyes as he chomped down on his hand harder. It was so hilarious, he had never met a Neco like that before. Once the blonde got to his feet to leave he removed his hand and took in a big gasp of air before allowing the laughter to spill into the air. "W...who shat in his cornflakes?" He chuckled, bobbing his head and clutching his aching ribs which Champ instantly took advantage of by licking at his jaw and ear.

"Let him go, Wisdom comes to those who are...accepting."

"I personally was not planning on stopping him." Ace explained, turning towards Oreron who seemed to find the situation more offensive than funny. He tried to force down his mischievous grin out of respect but somewhat failed. "So you knew that man? Who is he? He is not like someone I have ever come across before." He said as he released his grip upon Champ who instantly began chasing the dark haired Fluffin, (IT IS NOW CALLED A FLUFFIN IN ACE'S MIND) snapping his jaws at the lowest branch on the tree but just out of reach from the creature.

"He came to us and he knew what would happen. Don't know why he's so wound up about some measly piece of sweet."
"Those outside the blood don't understand us as well."

Ace smiled at their Father-Daughter relationship, though his stomach felt uneasy thinking about where his own parents might be now. He was actually rather unsure of their status or location, and had been for many years. However the pair in front of him proved that even in a world like this there always was hope.

"You can't eat it..."
"Either of you."

BUT LADY IT MUST BE DESTROYED. Champ growled as the small animal pounced upon her shoulder and began taunting the large black canine. He then flopped his butt upon the ground at Ember's feet, hoping for her to offer the creature as a treat, of course it did not look like this was going to happen. He turned his eyes towards Owsla in a pleading way, whining softly. TELL HER SOFT FEMALE THE ENEMY MUST BE DESTROYED YES.

"And our group of scientists call them B.O.B. C.A.T.S. or something like that. My old squad used to just call them cats."
"She doesn't like anyone but me."
"And it has a bit of a sweet tooth, hence the chocolate."

"Its a Fluffin!" Ace exclaimed utterly randomly as he dragged his body to his feet to observe the small creature. He ignored the small creatures warnings and so reached out to pet behind it's large ears, earning a sharp nip on the figure tip. It was a small bite but still enough to draw some crimson. "Y...you are right it only likes you." Ace groaned as he pressed his thumb to his finger with pressure to stop the bleeding.

Oreron and Owsla Hall

Oreron sighed and sat as the ash that was placed on the side away from the fire lit ablaze and rolled his eyes. "Yes and no." He said, more annoyed now than angry. "He is the Heir to a weapons company that my clan bought weapons from. So I am familiar with him and his family. Though his family is no more, that doesn't stop the pampered from thinking they are above those that survived the war or fought in it." He said calmly, though his jagged and bestial looking teeth shown through as he plucked a still flaming piece of meat from the cooking carcass and bit into it, unfazed by the fire. "Then again it is good that you've never come across someone like him, he'd take advantage of your kindness and soon enough tear you down. Then build you up to what they want. Take it from an old general, I've been there and done it myself." He was blunt, speaking about the past as if he had made his peace with it.

He pointed toward his daughter and then back to the meek blonde. "So now that me matter of my kittens' affections is settled, how is it that you know my blood? Seeing as you can't remember the armor I wore where there was a bullet in your leg those years ago." He raised a brow at him as his finger was bitten by the cat. "It's not wise to get near it when she says it only likes one person. Those are bonded to the person they are assigned to. Then again at least they aren't the ones my clan tried to replicate. Three killed an entire squad because it was pissed off." He shrugged, continuing to manage the now smoldering and crispy skin and dripping meaty underside.

Owlsa looked over at the little fluffball, though not as...stupid as ace she did tilt her head to the side and wiggle her finger some distance away from it. However the whining of the dog caught her attention. "It's not gonna hurt anything or anyone." she said, now petting the worried canine behind the ear. "Come on! Lets stop talking about that asshole! There's cheek meat and eye just waiting for the taking!" Owsla promptly pulling the now cooked head out of the fire without a second thought until she started tossing it from hand to hand in response to the heat. "Besides, he doesn't even look like he's eat any of this so more for us anyway." Owsla laughed before noticing that the deer was gone, plucked out of the air by a metallic arm, her fathers armor enveloping his arm to protect him from the scalding heat. His other arm was soon wrapped in that familiar armor as he split the head open, the steam and smell making both Halls visibly drool.

"Its a Fluffin!" Ace exclaimed utterly randomly. Ember blinked, surprised at his sudden randomness. Ace then stretched his hand out to the Cat, and Ember was too slow to pull away. "Y...you are right it only likes you." She watched a drop of his blood fall to the ground. A feeling welled up in chest, and a brief expression of concern flitted across her face before she could look away.

"It's not wise to get near it when she says it only likes one person. Those are bonded to the person they are assigned to. Then again at least they aren't the ones my clan tried to replicate. Three killed an entire squad because it was pissed off." Ember nodded in agreement with Oreron before glancing at Ace, this time is silent thoughtfulness.

"It's not gonna hurt anything or anyone." Ember was aware of the dog begging for her Cat. "I usually don't approve of begging, but, here." She through the Cat in Champ's direction. In midair, it changed form and was now an actual domestic cat. Its ears went flat against its skull, its fur stood on edge and a snarling hiss was aimed in Champ's direction. The display of aggression and ferocity letting the dog know it wasn't going to back down.

"Come on! Lets stop talking about that asshole! There's cheek meat and eye just waiting for the taking!" Ember ignored the slightly dangerous situation her Cat was in, and instead, focused on Owsla. If she wasn't so good at hiding her emotions, the others would have probably noticed Ember's... disinterest in the food. "As for that, I also have some cake... Or at least I think its cake." She began rummaging around in her bag and pulled out a metal container. She opened it and inside was a nicely made angel cake. "Any takers?" She held it up in the direction of her... current companions.

---

"It's not wise to get near it when she says it only likes one person. Those are bonded to the person they are assigned to. Then again at least they aren't the ones my clan tried to replicate. Three killed an entire squad because it was pissed off."

Ace managed a smile as he sucked hard at his bloody finger, not so much moaning about the wound but more making a unnecessary fuss over it. He caught Ember's glance of worry and his heart melted inside; these simple emotions displayed that she had not been completely destroyed by her work and in fact was still as human as ever. That was all he needed to know to be happy. "So I guess it is kind of Ember's pet now then?" He questioned looking down at the angry Fluffin, trying to display fondness but for some reason all liking to the creature had vanished. "You need to name it then. How about Fluffin!?"

"It's not gonna hurt anything or anyone."
"I usually don't approve of begging, but, here."

As the creature was dropped before Champ, suddenly the canine froze at its change of shape. He then slowly stepped towards it, growling lowly before backing away at it's signs of aggression. Stop small enemy. I wish to destroy you yes! Stop! "I don't suggest you go near it Champ." Ace told the German Shep. Even though the two spoke a different language he seemed to take note of his words and back away defensively, tail high and stance tall. Soon enough yes. Soon enough will destroy! Once the beast had calmed down he went back to nudging his head into Owsla's hand, begging for attention and almost sulking at his recent loss.

"He is the Heir to a weapons company that my clan bought weapons from. So I am familiar with him and his family. Though his family is no more, that doesn't stop the pampered from thinking they are above those that survived the war or fought in it."

"So really, his family is somewhat to blame for the scale of the war. Of course I know it's a business, it is just I can't help but want to put the blame on someone." Ace sighed, not really sure of where he wanted to go with his words. He was not really one to have too much political opinion over the war and whether the reasons for it were logical, he just knew it caused so much terror for both races alike and so disliked the whole idea.

"Then again it is good that you've never come across someone like him, he'd take advantage of your kindness and soon enough tear you down. Then build you up to what they want. Take it from an old general, I've been there and done it myself."

The blonde male let out a quiet scowl but quickly lowered his head and fell into silence. He pressed his palms against one and other and rubbed them together awkwardly. He knew that the generals words were from personal experience but he could not help but be the slightest bit offended, but mostly it just triggered Ace into drowning in his own self pity again. "I know I am weak Oreron. Don't try to compare us cause we both know who is the stronger man here. People would take advantage of you because you are useful, unlike me. They would be more likely to put a bullet in my head than even attempt using me. You have been through a lot and still stand there proud, where as I have been through nothing of trouble and still feel pathetic. You are respectable unlike me."

"So now that me matter of my kittens' affections is settled, how is it that you know my blood? Seeing as you can't remember the armour I swore where there was a bullet in your leg those years ago."

"You know next time you should just ask Owsla instead of harassing some poor innocent boy about it!" Ace spat, though it was clearly meant to be taken in a jokey fashion as he wagged his finger in the direction of the feral female. He instantly let his jaw drop open at the sight of his armoured hand, know recognising the man opposite him. "Yes. I remember you now. It makes sense about Owsla's stories too. She always used to ask me about the metallic demon the ran through the ruins but never mentioned you were her Father. I see. " Ace explained before feeling his stomach roll over at the talk of the wound in his thigh. He tried to hold back from displaying the lump in his throat thinking about his memories of Jennifer. "I was saved by a woman named Jenn. I have not seen her in a long long time now." He answered simply, wanting to cut the conversation there.

"As for that, I also have some cake... Or at least I think its cake." "Any takers?"

Ace happily accepted the offer with a nod of the head and so headed towards her to collect the sweet treat. "Yes, thank you." He said as he was not one to turn down free food, especially if it was good food like this. It was only at that point he noticed the night sky and how it's colour had been tinted dark. He sighed deeply before calling Champ to his side. "Guy's it is getting late. I'm heading back to my cabin soon. Any of you guys want to join me? I only have a spare double bed and a sofa though but if you all wish to stay I'll sleep on the floor if needs be. What do you say? It's just like you remember Owsla." Ace offered with a polite grin, though he was not sure what exactly the response would be.

The hour grew late.

For a while, Jennifer just followed the sun, walking until it disappeared far beyond where she could reach for tonight. Then, she just stood and stared up at the moon, watching it rise and take its place proudly in the center of the sky. The moon was never afraid. The moon must have seen awful things, from the beginning of time. Wars, heartbreak, murder and sickness and worse. And the moon never faltered, just followed its path each and every night, never flinching.

But Jennifer was not the moon. Maybe once she had been, had been quiet and bright and steady, the hunter. But now she was a rabbit, the prey, the hunted, skittering everywhere and felled with one easy, well-aimed shot. The moon gave away nothing. Only stared back at the once-woman, now frightened rabbit. Watched her carefully pick her way among trees and bushes, watched her kneel at streams to drink or to cool herself, watched her find herself in a familiar clearing, watched her scan the area and see a cabin, watched her freeze.

This was a memory place. She could feel it. Could see herself standing, facing the blonde man, his hand outstretched to her cheek. Could remember the desperation with which she had pressed her face into his hand, and the relief of finding him. Him. Her Blon--

Snap.

Pain shot through her hot as a bullet, or a heated poker someone was pressing against the back of her eyes. Gasping, she knelt, heels of her hands pressing hard into her eye sockets. This was the cost of remembering him, of remembering at all. This burning, scalding pain. She didn't want to remember, not if it meant this. Not if it meant feeling loss and anger and bloodlust. Or love. Nothing was worth this. Not one single thing, not one single person. She didn't want to remember.

Fast as the pain came, though, it disappeared. Jennifer stayed crouched on her haunches a few minutes, until she was convinced that it all had passed. Slowly, shakily, she stood. It wasn't worth this. He wasn't worth this.

But what if someone else is? something whispered, what if once, there was someone worth every pain imaginable, and more? What if you had someone like that once?

She didn't remember.

She didn't want to remember.

But her feet, her traitorous feet, carried her nearer the cabin, til she could reach out and feel the walls beneath her palm. She didn't want to remember this place, or anything that could have caused so much pain. She didn't want to, she didn't want to, she didn't want to...

Noises off in the distance dragged her from her fog. Voices. A call. Growls and yips and dog noises.

A dog.

She could feel someone's hand in hers, feel warmth and laughter, feel a small tongue licking interlocked fingers, yipping and growling and panting. Someone laughs, and the hand pulls away, and she's padding towards the noises, half-hopeful. Dog. She likes dogs. Or at least, she used to.

She edges her way around trees and rocks, and comes closer to the noises. She can hear talk of cake and sleep, but no dog. Where's the dog? She wants the dog. Taking a breath, she comes down to all fours, finding enough cover to where the other people might not see her, but the dog might. With a quiet exhale, she gives an alerting, and natural

click!

with her teeth, and follows it with a low whistle. She likes dogs. Wants the dog to come to her. The dog doesn't bring her pain. The dog brought warmth.

And she wants that warmth.

Oreron and Owsla Hall

Oreron sighed before stuffing his face into the head like a man who hadn't eaten in weeks. His sharp and jagged teeth ripped through the cooked flesh with such speed that it didn't take long for him to strip it to the bone. As dignified as some stories of him made him out to be, over the years that dignity gave way to survival. And there was nothing that beat the need to fill your belly and live.

"I wasn't comparing you to that twit, Tyrant." He said between bites of meat. "If anything you would be more useful than him. Yes he builds weapons and tech. But so can I. I'd be more inclined to tear his neck open for running his mouth and thinking himself better than those trying to live out here." He took more bites, soon making the inside of the skull hollow. "It takes a stronger man to admit they are wrong or that they are not good at something than one who never admits to anything. Then again, you are in a better place than I was at your age." The large neco let out a loud blech and threw the skull aside and cracked his neck.

He looked over at Owsla, now tearing chunks off of the body of the deer happily and petting the dog as she gorged herself. A rare soft smile spread across his lips. "When I was your age, she was only five years old. But I didn't get to see that. I could only imagine what she looked like." He sighed, feeling the memories of a life we wished he could have continued come back to him.

Owsla, on the other hand, looked back at ace and smiled. "I'm not sure if the cabin's big enough for dad actually." she joked as she scritched the dog behind the ear. The night never really bothered her any, though after a long day of walking the wastes, it didn't hurt to at least slow down or sleep for the night. However something made her head turn again. Something that sounded like a low whistle. Curiosity welled up him again as she raised her arm to the side. "Zanuks. Online." A green skin started to spread over her back and down her arms. It made her fall over and writhe as the skin quickly spread and formed a suit over her her body. It only lasted no more than two minutes before she was up on all fours again and bounced around. Her words now nothing more than electric noises and growls before running off in the direction of the sound, melting into the scenery of the forest as the 'suit' started to mimic the colors of the darkened forest.

"Guy's it is getting late. I'm heading back to my cabin soon. Any of you guys want to join me? I only have a spare double bed and a sofa though but if you all wish to stay I'll sleep on the floor if needs be. What do you say? It's just like you remember Owsla." Ember glanced at the sky, and back to the faces of the others. That's right, normal people sleep when the sun goes down. How odd. She had been to Ace's cabin before, and when night fell, she had just walked the perimeter and.. wandered for a bit. She'd probably being doing that again tonight. She was about to reply when she heard a sound.

Click! Ember heard the sound, and instinctively found herself moving quickly. As it was, she found herself behind the intruder. A woman, short dark hair, and a beautiful face that was familiar to Ember. It was one trained to fake a smile, to lie about whats beneath. The stranger had no armour, and was obviously not a warrior. If Ember were alone, she would have killed this strange woman without hesitation, but she remembered Ace and how... Compassionate he was. She held back only because of him.

Her Cat perked her up and changed shape again, this time back into its rabbit like form. It bounced over to its human companion and changed shape again, this time it was a whip... and it was in Ember's hand. Control. Control. The mantra slipped into her thoughts as her fist clenched around the whip's end, just before she...

wrapped it around her own forearm, where the Cat turned into a bracelet. "Deactivate." Ember confirmed the creatures actions with a command. Now that there was no... obvious weapon in Ember's hands, she was at a loss at what to do. She never had spoken to these strangers, never tried to comfort them or even be on friendly terms with them. That was all Ace.

---

"It takes a stronger man to admit they are wrong or that they are not good at something than one who never admits to anything. Then again, you are in a better place than I was at your age."

Ace's heart began thudding hard in his chest for some reason; what Oreron had just said was actually something that touched his soul pretty deep down and to be honest it was something he certainly needed to hear at that point. He gave a wide, honest, and admirable smile before bowing his head to this man. "Thank you. That means a lot." The blonde said simply, though really no more words needed to be said, Oreron was quickly becoming the man Ace wanted to be but never could be. Still he was not envious or jealous, just rather proud to have him in his company.

"When I was your age, she was only five years old. But I didn't get to see that. I could only imagine what she looked like."

He did not really know what to say about this and so opened his mouth before closing it, wordless. He looked over to the white haired girl, remembering their memories of the life filled cabin. "When Owsla was 15 she was a right little stress nugget. Always on her toes and alert, but incredibly wonderful. She definitely has you blood. What matters now is that you have found each other." Ace said in a soft tone, greatly admiring the family.

It was at that point that everyone seemed to leap to their feet at a noise that Ace must have missed. Owsla's armour stretched across her body and Ember began pushing her body into the forest with her coordinated and quick steps. Champ too began taking the lead, his body weaving in and out of the trees with more ease with any of these human figures. He met his snout with this raven haired woman, a wet nose hitting her cheek and sniffing violently. This woman had no weapons and her poor body was frail and lacked muscle, therefore Champ had no reason to act aggressively.

Of course this did not mean that Ember would not. Champ sat patiently at the side of the woman, waiting for either of them to act in some kind of way. The canine could not make a judgment on what to do as he had not made a particular relationship with either of these females and therefore was not loyal to either, so he just sat there, waiting for whatever was to happen to unfold.

"Ember...Don't do anything rash. Ember!..." Ace yelled half heartedly trailing after the quick paced female with Owsla at his side. He knew how unpredictable she was and that his judgment did not particularly matter. He pulled Sophia, his bow, from his back and readied the weapon just in case such a thing was needed. When he approached the pair and his creature, he did not particularly pay attention to who this stranger was, it just seemed like she needed help and so Ace being Ace, dashed towards her.

Surprisingly Ember had not seemed to have acted at all to this, she just stood there, seeming at loss for ideas. The blonde stepped forward, crouching as he took a closer look at the neco. He placed a hand underneath her arm to support her which pulled her face upwards to meet with his own gaze. "Are you okay Lady? Do you need anyth-"

Those eyes. Those gorgeous blue icy eyes that had captivated his mind and heart that he always thought would remain a memory. Once upon a time they would be the eyes that shot him cold glares when he made a wrong comment or slipped up with something that they needed to survive, but now they just appeared lifeless. Ace silenced himself for a moment, wondering if he was dreaming or seeing a ghost of this woman like he had many times before, but it did not take him long to work out this was in fact real. Ace sank to his knees and soundless tears began spilling down his cheeks and his pupils grew to orbs.

He remembered when he held her as she cried the last time she met, and now she hat there with her strength seemingly sucked away.

Ace decided that his Jennifer Heathers was dying in some sense. He did not know why.

Jennifer wanted to scream.

There was movement, rushing, then suddenly a woman in front of her, and a dog's cold nose against her cheek. She was going to die. She would be slain here, before she had ever had a chance to decide if she wanted to remember who she might've once gone through pain for. She would die, here. Now.

With the blonde man she wanted to remember staring at her. Falling to his knees and tears falling down his face. She wanted to hold him, wanted to strangle him, wanted to kill him. She wanted to scream. She knew him. She knew him. He was someone she didn't want to know. She didn't want to remember why she wanted to hold him, or kill him. She wanted away from here, before the pain came. Before it ripped her to pieces.

She reached for the dog, wanting to lean against him and rest, wanting to bury her face in his neck and just feel his warmth. But the woman still watched her. And who knew what other people there were who wanted her dead. Maybe even the dog did. She tried to stand, tried to face what would inevitably be her end with something resembling dignity. But her legs were failing her, her hands were clammy, pressed flat against the ground she knelt on, mouth dry. She would die a death befitting a rabbit; frightened, hunted down, flat on the soil. The moon would see her life drip out of her without ever blinking. Her life was a game now. No reason to run, if she'd only be hunted down again. No reason to try and survive. Better to just lay still, let it end quickly.

But Jennifer wanted to be the moon.

She was able to drag herself to her feet, hands still clammy, knees still shaking, mouth still dry. Still, she stood, and raised her eyes to the woman's. She wanted to shout. She wanted to scream and kick and yell and fight. But she didn't. The woman wouldn't kill her, not right now, not immediately. Might later.

Oh, darling, came a thought, you're still just now a rabbit. It will take time for you to become the moon again.

"Please," she was able to choke, "I don't--please don't kill me. I don't want to die." The pain was beginning, blooming through her jaw, behind her eyes, ripping down her throat. "I don't want to die. I'll run away. Far away, I'll never come back, please." She looked at the dog, praying to some silent being that he would keep her pain at bay. And for a moment, it seemed to be working. She could almost find strength to smile. But not yet. Not quite yet. She reached for the dog, slowly bent til she could look into his eyes.

"I don't want to die."

Ember was at a total loss. Ace was now crying, and something about seeing a fully grown man cry made her heart grow heavy. She didn't know why he was crying but she wanted to at least attempt to comfort him, but- Danger. Her senses picked up Jennifer's... emotions that were appearing to spiral out of control. Ember moved quickly, efficiently and confident, she grabbed Ace's shoulder and yanked him away from Jennifer. "Ace!" A feeling welled up, and Ember was inserting herself between the stranger and Ace, not quite turning her back on either.

That's when Jennifer spoke up. "Please," she was able to choke, "I don't--please don't kill me. I don't want to die." Ember glared at the woman. "I don't want to die. I'll run away. Far away, I'll never come back, please." She didn't say anything. "I don't want to die." Once the woman had started talking, Ember had done nothing, but shut up emotions. The same emotions telling her to kill this woman for threatening someone she... knew. But, Ace clearly cares for. A feeling of frustration at the sudden appearance of restraint bloomed inside her. Yet, another part, something deep and primal, was telling her to kill the weaker woman. To put her out of her misery. She's weak prey. She's in pain. She's needs to be put down. It would be so easy.

Ember's fingers twitched, as if going for a knife. She almost did go for her knife, but a thought stopped her. I can't. If I kill her, Ace will hate me for as long as he lives. Her soldier's instinct was rebelling, and asked her something she was dumbfounded by. And why do you care about his opinions?

Instead of going for a weapon and slitting this woman's neck, Ember turned and put a hand on Ace's shoulder. "Ace," she forced him to look her in the eye, using her master self-control to say this with no feeling, "Stop crying and lead us to your cabin." Her words were clear, and not quite soft, but gentle and commanding. Ace obviously wasn't in the best position to make good and safe judgements and Jennifer looked... like a lost lamb. Ember gently pushed Ace forward. She then turned to Jennifer, her face stony, "I won't kill you, but please just follow us. You'll have a place to sleep and of course, the dog will be there, too." She motioned to the dog then turned and began to walk in the direction of Ace's cabin.

Owsla Hall

Owsla watched the three from the trees, melting back into view as she clicked in response to the situation. She tilted her head to the side, as she bounded around the group on all fours. The suit forced her onto all fours, looking more like a hybrid between a deer, feline and human and made her footsteps sound like nothing was even there at all. But the constant electronic noises and clicking made it sound otherwise.

It sounded like she was asking questions among all this noise, bounding and bouncing off trees along the way as she followed her new found group.

---

Oreron Hall

Oreron watched as the majority of the group left to find out the source of the noise as he stayed put. If anything his own tiredness and unwillingness to move made him stay. That and the fact that most and Owsla's gear was still there. He yawned deciding to pack up the camp while he still could and put away most of the cooked meat. He stood, beginning to stuff all kinds of pots, knives and weapons away in one of their duffel bags when he heard something himself.

A snap of a twig under steel toed boots.

His head perked up in a way all too familiar too him. His eyes moved first before his head, spying a lone male with a weapon lying in wait. Instinct welled in him as a loud snarl escaped his lips. He could feel the man's fear, he could see it in his eyes. A tense standoff between him and this intruder. "You have one second to run. Or I will gut you." He said in a deathly low tone. The man screamed before attempting to run, but it was no use as the large neco crashed down upon him like a rabid animal. The man was dressed in attire that suggested that he had lived off of claiming the life of others. A belt made of hair and the stains of blood on his clothing. Human and Neco blood.

This didn't just make him angry.

It made him hungry.

Hungry for blood.

The whites of Oreron's eyes shifted to black as he tore into the man, his screams and Oreron's roars echoing into the surrounding forest until a loud -CRUNCH- sound was heard.

Oreron had bitten into the man's spine. He was dead in an instant. Still he bit into the man, tearing out chunks of flesh and bone as if he were; no he was feasting on the body of this man. Other men fled from their hiding spots, but not to attack the man, but to run away. Far away.

Oreron did not chase these men, though he did stop finally after watching them. He said nothing as he picked the man clean of useful items and wandered back to camp. He was covered in the man's blood. His mouth and hands coated in it, but it didn't seem to faze him at all. He breathed heavily, trying to calm himself and return to his normal self. He knew this would take a while , the the coolness of the night sky was a help as he looked up at the moon. 'Nothing will take Owslanna away from me Kathleen. May you rest well in the afterlife.'

---

"Ace!"

A hand clasped his shoulder quite tightly causing him to be tugged backwards somewhat, though after regaining his balance he quickly moved back into his usual posture. The blonde glanced over his shoulder at Ember's expression but could not quite read what it exactly meant. She stepped between the pair, seeming defensive to him which normally would have pleased him greatly, but at this point enraged him. "STOP. What are you doing? E..Ember!?!" Ace pleaded, pushing past her so he could keep the raven haired woman in sight, though his companion still seemed as instinct driven as usual.

Ace's heart more or less shattered on the spot as Jennifer reached for the dog instead of him. She did not seem to even recognize his face, and being honest he barely could identify her. Where was this muscled feminine figure? Where was the cold instinct shining in her eyes? Where was the soft words of "Hello again Blondie..."? Instead of all that she was stumbling around like the elk he had clumsily shot earlier. It hurt. It probably hurt more than thinking she was dead.

"Please,"
"I don't--please don't kill me. I don't want to die."
"I don't want to die. I'll run away. Far away, I'll never come back, please."
"I don't want to die."

"JENN FOR FUCKS SAKE WHERE IS YOUR GUN?" Ace bellowed, tears now dripping from his cheeks at quite a speed. It was odd for the man to so much as raise his voice, let alone swear with such little thought. His emotions were clearly somewhere around manic depression. He did not understand. Was this even his Jenn? He was pretty sure he could not love the woman sat in front of him now, he could only pity her. "Jenn...Jenn It's Ace. Do you really think I would hurt you." He said, his words still rambling but tone somewhat softer, though this was quite forced. "I owe you after all. Remember?"

"Stop crying and lead us to your cabin."
"I won't kill you, but please just follow us. You'll have a place to sleep and of course, the dog will be there, too."

To be honest he needed to hear those words. He needed some support and instruction, and even though Ember lacked the emotional side of it she definitely started helping with the basics. "O..okay." He whispered before getting to his feet, dusting his muddy knees and clicking his fingers gently so that Champ would trot along very closely to Jennifer as he seemed to be her only sign of comfort. "Please come with us. You don't want to be out at night." He explained, now rather monotone though his eyes remained glassy. The German Shep's fur lightly dusted against her calves as he kept up with the pace of walking.

Ace once again glanced over his shoulder at Owsla, now clothed in a rather intimidating but wonderful suit. It was more astectically pleasing than her Father's atleast; it lacked the creepy grin that sometimes had often crept into nightmares. He waved his hand briefly telling her to follow at the back of the group, before pausing. "Owsla are you and your Dad staying with us tonight too? Has he headed somewhere else." He questioned in the same, unpleasant and foreign sounding monotone voice.

Ember and Ace walked ahead of the pack at a brisk pace towards his cabin. Every few seconds or so Ace would let out a pitiful sounding sob as well as dripping a few teardrops into the grass. It was pathetic really. It was just such a huge shock and a lot to take in to a simple man like himself. Slowly he found himself edging towards the girl until he placed a hand upon her arm and looked up at Ember with the most desperate expression. "Help me. I..Is it even her? I don't understand..surely..." He mumbled, mostly to himself rather than the Neco.

Dog, dog, dog, dog, Jennifer's mind rambled blankly, and she kept her focus on the canine, letting her feet follow the others. She didn't want to think about anything else. She didn't want to think about being yelled at, his crying, his pain...she didn't want to think about him at all. She just wanted to keep the pain away. "Do you really think I could hurt you?" he'd said. Yes. Yes she did. Because anyone could hurt a rabbit.

JENN FOR FUCK'S SAKE WHERE IS YOUR GUN? The thought made her flinch. She didn't care where the damn thing was, she hated it. When she held that gun, she felt awful things. She didn't want those things. She didn't want to know what it felt like to have killed people, but she did. Somewhere in her mind, she knew she did. When she held that gun, when the frozen metal bit her palm, she could feel how easy it had been for her to kill without blinking.

"The Jennifer you were was a murderer," the men told her, "you killed everyone who ever loved you, looking for one girl that never mattered. You murdered James. You murdered innocents. You murdered animals. And those you left behind couldn't love you anymore because of what you had done. You were alone, and unloved. You were an animal that needed to be put down." She was sobbing, on the floor of the metal room, crying and screaming while they tried to force the memories out of her head. "But you're not that Jennifer anymore. You're a different one, now. You're the Jennifer that James loved, and the one that James wanted you to always be. You're the right one, now, aren't you?"

Yes. She was fixed now. She wasn't a killer anymore. And because of that, she was meant to be happier, wasn't she? No more memories of killing, no more pressure to survive. No more. She could live without the stresses of her previous life. And that was what she wanted, wasn't it? Yes, of course it was. She was a different Jennifer now. And this Jennifer didn't need to have a gun, or be a fighter. So she allowed the others to lead her, keeping her eyes on the dog, wishing away the pain and any memories that could come.

Owsla and Oreron Hall

Owsla's attention was directed toward Ace, who looked less than lively than she had ever seen him before. She rubbed up against his leg as if she were champ trying to cheer him up. She tilted her head to the side when he asked if she and Oreron were coming. She nodded and stopped in her tracks. A dull pinging noise started to sound off from her as well as a blinking blue light. Every few seconds, the sound and light would blip.

If wasn't long until the sound of a man being thrown aside also rang out through the forest close to them.

"DON'T HURT ME PLE-
-SNAP-

The sound of bone crunching under teeth disturbed the air around the woods as a large male's shadow started to form from the tree line. The shadow soon gave way to a sight that was more at home on a war zone than in a forest, but all to familiar to the green clad neco. He was not only carrying their things, but bloodied items that he had taken from the bodies of nearby bandits. His mouth and hands were coated with blood, but the same ping could be heard of him as well. He was breathing heavily, as if he had just come back from a hunt.

Though in essence, he had.

Owsla bounded around him, the same metallic noises coming from her. However he looked down at her as if she were understanding what she was saying. "I might as well." he said, his voice ragged as if he were slowly coming back to reality. He hiked the bag over his shoulder again, his head perking at the new addition to the group. A meek looking woman. If he was how he was back during the war, he would have ordered his men to take her somewhere out of the area. She was unarmed, unarmored. She was a walking target for bandits or muggers at this point. He sighed.

He hoisted her up into his arms and over his shoulder without a second thought. Owsla, looking more distraught at this sight, started bounding after him as if telling her father to put her down.

Her movements were mechanical, and her face, emotionless. Her reason, for this detachment from her body was not because she was cutting herself off from her emotions, but because she was analyzing and categorizing her feelings about Ace. She had felt slightly betrayed when Ace had shouted at her frantically telling her to stop. Stop what, Ace? Stop protecting you from yourself? It had taken every ounce of discipline pounded into her to maintain her facade of indifference. To keep Ace from seeing that he had hurt her, and that she was confused and angry at him for being so... Caring, so full of emotion.

Ember was brought back from the recesses of her mind when she felt a pressure on her arm. Startled by the sudden physical contact, she felt her blood go cold at the touch and was about to say something about there being such a thing as personal space when... she saw his face... "Help me. I..Is it even her? I don't understand..surely..." He mumbled, more to himself then to her.

Ember felt some of his pain and.... The feeling was unwanted, and its mere presence made Ember angry at herself, and at Ace. She stared at his heart broken expression. Then again... She wanted to console him, maybe even off a shoulder, but then... To love is to destroy. She felt her hackles go up, her blood boiled at the sudden memory she would not share. No, I won't love Ace, I won't allow myself to. Never. She didn't notice when Oreron joined the trek, nor did she care. "Ace." His name slipped off her tongue, her tone holding hatred for herself and him, enough venom in it to kill a horse in only a few seconds.

Ember's hand flashed out, and a crack filled the air. She had slapped Ace, hard. "Get a hold of yourself." Instantly feeling guilty for slapping him, some of the indifference left her and there was a gentle look about her when she spoke again, "Acting like a whimpering child isn't going to fix things." A sudden expression of snarky humor flitted briefly across her face. "Or are you still the man-child from before?" She was intentionally trying to anger Ace, but if all she got was annoyance, so be it. An irritated person is better than a sobbing and heart broken person in her mind.

---

Jennifer was incredibly silent and the only emotion she ever displayed was fear. Champ was the only one who she would so much as pull her eyes towards. The canine continued walking alongside her, his fur and her shins brushing against one and other gently. Now and again he dared a gentle lick on her palm for reassurance. The German Shep understood that clearly this was someone his master cared about and wanted protecting, and so he would do as he was told rather than messing about on the job like usual.

It was not long before Oreron and Owsla returned and by the stench of blood and newly acquired items, Ace had got the idea of what the general had been up to. He looked behind him and narrowed his shiny eyes as he scooped the black haired woman over his shoulder to speed up the groups walking pace. "Do you really think that is the best impression!?" He spat, whole body shaking as he thought about how terrified she would be about being grasped by a crimson soaked stranger. Not only that but Ace could not help but be somewhat jealous; it was likely that Jenn would need someone more like Oreron than someone like himself.

Though despite Ace's objections, it did cause the group to arrive at his sapien woodland cabin much quicker. It was in sight now, complete with the beautiful scenery, homely and neat appearance and blissful memories. Even though it was a awfully lonely place to live, Ace adored his house and over time had grown very fond of taking care of it and improving things there. Could it be that this place would trigger Jennifer's memories? The blonde turned around to make some cheery and jokey comment to Owsla, something following the lines of 'home sweet home eh?' but when he went to open his mouth he could not force out the words. His emotions had wrecked him.

"Ace."

Ember's expression quickly changed from that of confusion, to that of complete and utter rage. Just the singular glint in her eye sent his legs shaking violently. What had he done to upset her? He did not understand?

SLAP.

"Get a hold of yourself."
"Acting like a whimpering child isn't going to fix things."
"Or are you still the man-child from before?"

Ace found his face facing the ground and his hand clutching a bright red and stinging cheek. He had never been hit like that before. It certainly shocked him out of his mood but not really into a more positive one. As Ember began to speak he rose his face to meet with her gaze and listened carefully to what she was saying before finally deciding that though a slap was not the best course of action, it had worked somewhat. "I'm not a man chil-!"

Champ was furious and instantly sprang forward on his hind legs towards Ember swiftly, fangs bared and rough angry snarls escaping his jaws. It was somewhat hard to believe that this beast was the same dozing food-begging idiot as before. He had now transformed into a full blown mauling machine and his target was currently her arm. Nobody would attack Champ's master and get away with it, nobody at all. He knew that Ace was a neco that could not provide protection for himself, and so he would provide the protection instead.

(You are able to do what you like here with Ember. Please do not kill Champ though and if he does wound her it would be a deep bite or two in the arm which would not be all that dangerous to a normal neco.)

"I'm not a man chil-!" Ember smirked at this, another insult on her lips when... Rough angry snarls made her flinch, a glazed look in her eyes, instincts commanding her to dive away from the enraged animal. Yet, she disobeyed her instincts and instead let them the animal go for her arm, her mind blank.

Teeth sunk into her forearm, and the pressure of the bite caused her Ember to come back to life. Her eyes became orbs of fire, burning brighter as she pulled her leg up, kneeing the animal in the chest. Air whooshed out of the animal's lungs and the soldier fell backwards with the animal atop her. She pulled something out of her pocket and rammed it into the dog's side. Its already loose jaws opened to let out out a yelping scream as it jumped away from the down Ember who held an object that looked a bit like a stun gun.

With the dog gone, Ember exhaled loudly and looked around at the others. Surprisingly, instead of jumping to her feet and shooting the dog or yelling at Ace for not being able to control his dog, she began to laugh. It was a slightly crazed laughter and she noticed as she began gasping, her hands crossing her chest as if trying hold back the laughter. "I'm-" laughter. Gasp. "-sorry-" laughter. She stopped trying to talk when she was able to stop laughing.

Ember looked up at Ace, a slaphappy look on her face. "I apologize for that." Then, like it was a normal occurrence, she lifted her arm over her head to look at the wound. Blood dribbled onto her cheek, but she ignored it as the bite had been a clean one, and there was no shredded flesh, so... A look of horror plastered itself to her face, as she put her finger through a newly torn hole in her leather sleeve of her jacket. "Dammit. I really liked this one, too." And with that, she sat up and held out a hand to Ace. "Its official, I'm a CAT person, now please pull me up before I turn your dog into a pair of boots."

Oreron and Owsla Hall

Oreron ignored the blond haired boy as they continued to make their way to was cabin. If anything he had a glazed look in his eye that clearly said that he wasn't in the mood for anything right now. If anything, this large neco needed some sleep after a week of being constantly on alert. If anything a shelter like this was a welcome sight. "You need to do better with your bobby traps in these woods, Ace. It's crawling with bandits at the moment." he said as he continued toward the cabin. Without a second thought, Oreron put the shell of a girl down, letting her stand on her own feet as he started to circle the cabin itself.

Owsla let her armor recicde, making her writhe on the ground as if she were in somekind of pain before popping herself back up. Only to have Champ fall on her as she did so. "OW!" She yelped as she nudged the dog off her her and stood back on her feet. The cabin did bring back memories for the young neco. It was warm, and had provided her with shelter as well as months of fun giving the blonde near heart-attacks in the mornings and head-aches. If anything, Ace proved to be a very good ambush target back then. "Wait! Do you still have my motorshell?!" she asked, excited before letting herself inside through the one way she always has. Through a window where her claw marks showed her constant entry and exit.