Uncertainty

Noah was utterly surprised, with the swift unfolding of events. Some disappeared, and some remained. A familiar quote came to his deep, brooding mind: All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players: They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts,..." Indeed, from having seen the child, and his father, Noah was reminded of his own family. He must be careful. It is not his time to go yet. He is a father and husband. It is not time for him to go yet, to abandone this life.

"Let us return to Nede."

He has had enough adventures for a day. Settling down dulled him to thrill, even though a part of him would always be nostalgic. It is time for his children's story to truly begin; Noah's gaze shifted towards Bishop. It is this man that is a key to their story. Glancing towards the one addressed as a barbarian, thick eyebrows creased. A part of him would always be curious, but he must take the other path now. It is time, alas, to return to Nede.

"Yes, he will."

His son will be ready by then, surely. Often, from what Noah knows, a father cannot truly teach a son. There is too many emotions involved. It is best to let an outsider, someone outside the close-knit family, teach his socially awkward child.

Much like the ending of some awkward ritual, those who participated in observing the situation had all together chose to stand aside, though few remained. Van noted them. What could they do? There wasn't much to be done. Infact, there was nothing they could do. The rain would pour hard for the rest of the night, its presence supreme, and its monotony undisturbed.

Van's eye lids closed in some manner of subsiding, relieving the stress of the moment into a sigh before he gazed at the woman. "Wha' abou' ye?" He said, apparently, even though there were still few, she was the center of his attention. He had seen them before. The runaway youth would have gained no less, had he been in her place. "Where does ye'r retreat take ye?"

[Since Osgoth/Zelis has been busy and will be busy for some time still, we are to assume that Osgoth is merely standing and watching events unfold now that Echo is gone. The RP will continue without him until he has a chance to return.]

Blue could only catch small portions of the conversation that Noah and Bishop were participating in as her face welcomed the gentle rain that fell from the heavens. Was God crying? She wondered, and hoped. And if he was, why was he crying this time? Was it for the atrocity that Echo had become? Oh, twisted thoughts ran through the organ residing in this young woman's cranium as raindrops traveled down her face. Now that she was forlorn, it gave her the appearance as if she were crying. But she knew no such emotion. Echo was gone. That was merely a fact. It would be a waste of time to mourn over it, even if she could. Her only priority now was to decide her next course of action. She could not remain in this forest forever. But then, where was she to go? The Leaders awaited her in Nede and would possibly eliminate her upon sight.

Her contemplation was once more interrupted by the words of the foreigner as azure oculars cast their gaze upon the individual closest to her. Where does her retreat take her? He must have been listening to the conversation the other two had been having. She did not respond immediately as she surveyed the vicinity, momentarily staring at Osgoth who was still positioned in the same area in where he had challenged Echo. What was the father thinking, she could only wonder. Was he dumbfounded by the fact that his adversary had manage to teleport to safety? Or was he merely calculating the situation? Or perhaps, he was having thoughts of his son, and of his son's safety. Blue knew not as her attention would return to the foreigner.

"No where. I have no retreat. No home."

Blue stated nonchalantly. She had no where to go but this did not seem to be the least of her concerns. She would travel where her feet would take her, if it came down to it, and accept any job offerings she could. There was no time to mourn or waste time. That was life. It could changed drastically in mere moments to prove that it was impermanent. One could only accept it and proceed forward. Try to fight against the flow of motion and you would be overpowered. It was unneeded stress, unneeded exertion of energy. Just accept and move on.

So for as time allowed it, she would enjoy the tender caress of the rain before she would seek shelter beneath a tree once the strength of the pour began to intensify. The young woman would turn and walk away from the foreigner to stand beneath a tree. She may no longer know the meaning of pain but she knew warm and cold as goosebumps ran rampant along her shivering body. She would now take notice how intimately the white dress held to her figure, and how revealing it was but it was not like any of these individuals were young enough as to not have seen a female figure. And besides, she had a bra and a pair of panties beneath.

Blue would take a seat at the bottom of the tree and draw her legs toward her chest, hugging them toward her frame to retain the warmth that remained in her vessel as she quietly observed the individuals that remained. They had obviously decided on their next course of action, while she was left floundering. The question was becoming redundant. What was she to do now? She had no one to provide her any guidance. Perhaps... perhaps she should seek out Dhizzandra once more. Offer her some services in return to remain in her home for a period of time until she could make up her mind.

Her eyes momentarily fell upon the Barbarian Prince, a calculating gaze sweeping across his figure now that she could see him from a different perspective.

"What about you? I assume you're heading home, as well."

She stated before gazing out into the distance and holding her legs tighter to her chest. Thoughts ran behind those desolate blue eyes, and yet they revealed not what those thoughts were.

"Home's where da har' is" Van replied in a casual sense that had somehow sadly demeaned the famoues phrase, as he gently reached for his sword and stabbed it into a hard surface, testing its hold with his wieght before he leaned against it. "In a sense, we both bi havin ' sumthin in common. " Van crossed his arms, givning her his own calculated gaze until he noted the state of her form and the garments that - all hail - has become see through. But he did not grow so keen as to stare, rather studied her gaze and followed it for a split second, peering to the left then back again at her. Again, back to the state of her garments. "Eh..Buggah!" His fingers croosed his scalp in a swift, gentle scratching over the surface as he disengaged from the act of leaning against the sword and turning back just to disappear beyond the tree. His most precious possesion only marked his quick return, which took only moments, having had that in her meditating state she would stay.

"How do ya even survive with'ose wearin's?" He exclaimed, just as he emergued and approached her with a pack dangling from his shoulder. Van kneeled and placed his cylinder container over his left knee, preventing it from touching the moist earth as he reached for something, quickly clinging it against his chest as he rose and bent to prevent it from getting soaked from the pouring. Atleast, before she could wear it. "This bi made for rain's, but A use this ta stay guised when A hav' tew. Sky's dark, moon's shy. Ya need it more then A do."

Van did not realize the poetic rhyme that lingered in his sentence. He never entertained much of it. Van was close, but still kept an assuring distance as he held the garment against his chest. "Ba'sides, A've got me own spare." The texture of the robes suggested that they were warm, possibly leather, though apparently comfortable. "Take'em so A can feel useful for a change."

Home was where the heart was? If that was true, then she honestly had no home for her heart did not lay in any particular place or person. She could be deemed as lost. She had no purpose for the time being. It made her reminisce about her younger teenage years when she use to roam aimlessly in the forgotten areas of Nede, scrounging around for sustenance and engaging in confrontations with other individuals to guarantee her own meager existence. That was until she came across The Leaders, or more like when The Leaders stumbled upon her. That had been the initiation as her life as an assassin and perhaps even a mercenary.

Her eyes closed momentarily before he spoke of them having a similiarity as Blue gazed quietly at the foreigner. Considering that she held no concern for the standards of society, she was oblivious to the fact that her white attire had become see-through and that it was posing a small distraction to the foreigner. So she could only observe with perplexion as he made a sudden outburst and disappeared momentarily behind a tree. This gave her a chance to examine his weapon from a distance. The type was not her preference, even if she did have the physical strength to wield such a weapon. She had to return to Dhizzandra hut to claim her belongings.

"This dress? My original clothes got wet and Dhizzandra offered me dry ones. Unfortunately, these became wet too."

She stated before she would notice he had returned with a bag with his possessions. She canted her head and watched him with curiosity as he reached into his pack and retrieved an article of clothing. She listened to what he had to say, even if it did take her a moment to decipher his words and phrases. She was unfamiliar with his accent but she could still understand him despite the difficulty. Her eyes would raise to examine the article of clothing that he offered her as he urged her to take it so that he may have the sensation of having some use. May as well, she was freezing in these wet clothes. So she reached out to accept the offer.

"Thank you."

She stated softly before she would remove her wet attire right there in front of him. As stated, she was not ashamed of her appearance and was oblivious to society's standards of modesty. She placed the wet dress aside, since she would have to return it to Dhizzandra when she would go back to retrieve her belongings. She then would place the leather robe on and was pleased to see that it was indeed comfortable and warm. She held the garment close to her body to try to gather warmth since she was already trembling horribly.

"You said we had things in common. You don't have a purpose either?"

She asked and would once more look to him.

Van's lip twitched for a moment as he continued to stare at where her eye level was at, not following her motion as she undressed. He simply froze there, his hands suspended as she took the leather robe, though eventually lowering to the sides of his waist. "Ya jus' dismissed half of da reason A got ya dat robe.." He spoke in a low voice above a whisper.

"Course A've gawt a purpose. Every'an has." Van said, hearing her question which immediatly marked a boundary that was absurd for him, though, he did not show any effusive response. Merely confidence. "Ya can look fer it or it'll find ye. At sum poin', ye can define it ye'rself. Onlay when ya dismiss da naw-shun of hope do ya really become useless. At bes', ye'll truly become a pawn. Gramp's used ta say - If ya don' plan, then be sure ye'll bi a par' ov some otha bloke's plan."

Only when he finished his speech did Van register her shivering. "Lassie, ye'r tremblin' bad. Haven' seen a rawbin flutterin' its feathers as much as ye are." Van reached with a hand. "Les take ya ta dat place where ye were at. A think A no da way. A'll tell ya some stories 'bout ma village." He said, managing a sincere grin. "Stories bi gewd in rains."

Blue felt better without the moist clothes sticking to her flesh intimately. The clothes were a lot colder on than off, which was why she had disrobed. The robe he had given her not only protected her from the elements but retained warmth a lot more effectively than the wet attire had. So she was not complaining like he was about her dismissing his initial intentions for the attire he had offered her. Not only that, they were going to return to Dhizzandra's hut, where her original clothes were still drying.

Blue continued to gaze at the foreigner quietly as he spoke, announcing that he had a purpose and so would she, in time. Blue glanced away to once more stare off into the distance, contemplating silently to herself before the foreigner took notice of her deplorable state. The woman looked down upon her trembling form before to the hand outstretched to her. Blue stared at the hand suspiciously, glanced to his face, before reaching out to take it and pull herself up onto her feet.

"Thank you, again."

She stated as she gazed upon him with perplexion. She was unaccustomed to this sort of treatment. Even Echo had not treated her with concern or compassion of any increment. Then again, Echo and Blue had never been on good terms the first time Blue had tried to stab him for an action he deemed a joke. But Echo eventually grew to accept that it was not because she was intentionally spiteful but because she did not know how to respond correctly in society or around other people. Perhaps this foreigner may one day realize this as well. It would be no surprise if her simple retaliation, not meant to initiate a confrontation, would end up being taken the wrong way which would result in combat.

"Alright. I need to get my belongings anyways."

She stated, holding herself as her body trembled to try to generate warmth.

"So anyways." Having shouldered the bag with his left, Van had adjusted his pose to the form of resting his blade over his right shoulder as they walked towards their destination. As a part of his promise, Van had initiated the tone that could only mean he was about to speak of something. "Back in da Village, we used ta git harder rains then these. Some of'em bi mild, but da rain drops oft'en smash onto ye like angered fists. Had me a stubborn, harsh and rough gramps back in da field and a fatha who looked up to'em. Bin smackin' me aroun' with errands tha' you don give ta a boy at da age of fou'h. Plowin' da field with a giant scythe. But dats anotha story."

The Barbarian sneered. "A donno wha' A had gaw'en ma self intew. A guess maybe if A cried alo' like da otha whiners dew, day'd figure day'd go easy on me. Bu' dat gramps had one helluva charisma ya jus' cant deny. Even if he's 'bout ta ask ya ta risk ye'r life. Sum speeches 'bout being a strong man, da usual examples ya give ta kids, but he had his own way. So -" He paused, before continuing. "On one fateful night, rain came ova, hardest that happened at tha' season. Father said A would stay at home, till he left. Soon as A close ma eye lids, A found ma gramps' hand around ma head and ma face hauled to da mud outside. He locks da door and A'm screwed for da night."

Van's lips began to spread out into a thin smile. "No shletah whatso ever. So had a choice. Eitha' bangin' on da door and cryin' ma nuts out to no avail, or findin' a way to survive. Walked deep into da forest and couldn' find anythin ta shelter with. Nothin bu' A pile o'rocks. Spent da entire night doin nothin but carryin dem back and fourth, till da sun rose up, kept ma nerves workin and warm. At some poit, sun rose and my wits blanked out. Woke up in bed next to Gramps,sheddin tears. And him spewin nsults on me, asking me why the hell A'd get a fever whle he grinded ma medicine and kept cooled down. Olld lunatic fawk. Sheds more tears and calls me a son of a bull."

"Heh." Van rubbed the back of his neck. "Rough, screwed up, horrible good tames.."

Blue could only listen silently as the stranger began to tell her tales of his childhood which revolved around his village and his childhood home. She quietly absorbed the information he provided her before organizing them in the back of her mind for future retrieval, if necessary. The stories did aid to fill in the void for the duration of their trip but, in her opinion, they held no significance to her other than background information. This information would not aid her if, for some untold reason, she initiated a confrontation with him. But at the moment, such a possibility was unlikely and the stories did provide entertainment as they traveled toward their destination.

"I see."

She finally responded, to announce that she had been attentive throughout his story-telling.

"I never had a home or parents or any kind of relatives that I could recall when I was a child."

She stated, honestly.

"Then again, I can't exactly recall that far back. I distinctly remember roaming the streets of Nede, in the darkest, forgotten parts of town. Everyday was a struggle for survival. Avoiding bandits and criminals, scrounging around the dumpsters for clothes and food, then worrying about shelter."

She stated with a monotone voice, as if this fact had never troubled her.

"Most people would relax once the sun went down. But not I. I had to remain alert to ensure that no mongrel would slit my throat while in my sleep to steal my belongings."

She gave a lazy shrug.

"But that's life. Nothing but a struggle for survival."

She had accepted this notion long ago which was why such trifling things no longer bothered her. She remained indifferent to most aspects of life. Blue held in her hands the wet dress, intent on returning it to Dhizzandra and then to retrieve her own possessions.

"So aye. Rough, screwed up, horrible good times."

She repeated what he said, assuming that was a good description of her own childhood and adolescent years.

"But that's life."

(ooc: sorry, was doing some moving. you know whats it like And I'm tired, so nothing special about this post. sorry ^^ )

bic:

In silence, Van regarded the girl's words with concern and analysis. Perhaps the notion of hope was irrelevant to her, an idea that held no meaning. Just a figment of imagination - or perhaps - in the shade of her past, she lost all sense of it. Regardless, Van would never understand - except one thing. This woman was too - contained. They proceeded with silence as the rain continued to pour relentlessly. Their path would eventually clear as they would stumble upon the robust Blue and her supposed friend planned to reside in.


"Life's all 'bout makin da bes' o' things." He said, just as he stopped, a couple of feet behind her. "Sam times, mournin' and grievin' be as much as importan' as makin da nex' move. Much like breathin'."

He looked over her shoulder towards the house. "Well - A don' recal bein' invited." He said with a lazy srug of his own. "Guess A'll sleep out'ere."

Blue's oculars remained facing forward, so she did not take note of the concern that expressed itself on the foreigner's face for her peculiar demeanor toward life. Perhaps it was just the way she coped with it on each passing day, knowing that the next moment could be her last. Why fret about it? Death was inevitable. Suffering was inevitable. It is better to accept this fact than to try to deny it and go against the flow of impermanence. This was the wheel of life and they were just going along for the ride. One wrong turn could send them colliding into disaster. Or out of the way of despair.

"If only I knew how to mourn."

She stated, since such emotions were irrelevant to her as well. True, respiration was second nature to her. But grieving? She could not recall a time where she would describe herself as grieving. Creatures and their emotions can be fascinating, at times. She had learned so many emotions along her blood-stained track of her career, namely fear. Fear from her victims. At least, that's what she learned from Echo's description. She could only honestly wonder what her victim's were thinking, what they were feeling, as they stared face to face with their demise. But this was always only a fleeting though before she eraticated them, for the mission was more important than her curiosity, even if it did get her into trouble a couple of times.

The young, slender woman paused and glanced back to the foreigner as she noticed he had stopped and kept himself from being uninvited.

"You could always ask Dhizzandra if you may stay. Now that Echo is gone, there should be an open spot for you."

Blue said before she headed toward the entrance of the hut.

"Come on. You can not sleep in the rain or you'll catch a cold."

Blue pushed aside what was the entrance and her eyes scanned the interior of the structure to see if the owner was present.

"Dhizzandra?"

If not, Blue would merely turn back to look at the foreigner and motion him toward the hut. If Dhizzandra was indeed not present, she saw no harm if the foreigner took the place of her previous companion. It appeared that the foreigner may become her new companion if things continued to go this way. And if Dhizzandra was present, then Blue would ask her for permission for the foreigner to take shelter in her home.

It would appear that the battle had been over for some time, or, perhaps not. Dhizzandra was in no way curious to find out, the earth told her all she needed to know. Azure optics peered at the noises that had come from outside the hut, and one voice was recognizable.

"Dhizzandra?"

The woman rose from her crouched position from the fireside, and approached the doorway with some hesitation. Pushing aside that uncertainty Dhizzandra pulled open the thin excuse for a door to peer out, gazing at Blue with a reproachful glance.

"Blue, I apologize for leaving you, but it was painfully obvious that there was little I could do to help, I cannot help you out of the forest if I am dead. Please, enter and get warm...I can warm some food for you and...your companion." A single glance was given towards Van, before a nod of acknowledgment, and the dark skinned woman stepped aside to allow them entrance.

(I apologize for the short length.)

(OOC: Ok! POsting)

BIC:

Van's sense of reassurance was somehow repelled due to the hospaility for a reason he would not be able to specify himself. Perhaps paranoia or him not being used to these sort of courtiesies from others, but he did his best not to insult it. Van came in, suppressing the urge to shrug his bag off, instead unshouldering the container, placing it down to the floor before shoving it to a corner. The only proper station Van could think of. He looked around the place and sniffed in a long breath of air before sighing in relief, contemplating the piece of the present.


He leaned against the wall, allowing himself to slide and fall down to a seated position, arms clinging the mystical blade against his chest as he surveyed the area more. "A thank ye for proposin a stay 'ere." Van said, tossing his head and shifting his eyes to stare at the ceiling before his ears perked and his slowly went shut as his soul slowly merged with the rhythym of rain tapping against the wood, enjoying it. "Mornin' oughta bi fresh. . "

In this contemplation, the Barbarian Prince would doze off and eventually - may fall asleep. . .

"There is no need to apologize. I realize my earlier companion caused you unnecessary trouble so I apologize for any inconvenience or trouble he caused you. I am willing to compensate for the trouble if so needed."

Blue offered as she entered first before watching as the foreigner soon followed. Blue observed the Barbarian momentarily and took note of his reluctance before her attention returned to Dhizzandra.

"There is no need for food. We merely ask for you offer us shelter for the rain. As for I, I'll be quick to relieve you of my presence once the rain subsides unless you are still willing to present to me the exit from this forest or if you are in need of my services to compensate for Echo's troubles."

Blue was more than willing to offer her services to Dhizzandra, for lack of anything better to do until she could leave and perhaps arrive at Nede. She knew no where else to go but Nede. Perhaps attempt to find various jobs there until she could find one suitable for permanence.

"Thank you, again, for your hospitality. It is greatly appreciated."

Blue stated, having read in a book once that it was polite to thank the one who offers you aid or else offend them. It was.. a perplexing notion but the book was about how to act correctly in society.

"Oh and here is the dress you provided me. I'm afraid it also got wet but I thought you may want it back."

Blue would offer Dhizzandra the wet white dress. Blue then searched for the Barbarian, saw that he had taken a place on the far wall, and so she took hers on the opposite. She sat down and listened quietly to the pitter-patter of the rain. The foreigner was tired and appeared to be dozing off. Dhizzandra did not appear that content to once more be housing strangers but had made herself to once more offer hospitality.

As for Blue, she had much to contemplate this evening. If Dhizzandra could find no use for her or withdrew her guidance out of the forest, then as stated earlier, Blue would leave the moment the rain died down. Whether or not the two individuals in the hut were awake to take note of her departure.

"As you wish, ..Blue." It was awkward for Dhizzandra to mention the woman's name, the shorter female wasn't sure she liked it, in fact, Dhizzandra was sure that there was a much better suited name for Blue, it just hadn't been approached yet. Despite that feeling, which was most likely, only her own, Dhizzandra merely nodded at Blue's request for shelter. A slow smile forming upon her visage.

"You are welcome to stay as long as needed, I had stated previously that I would take you to the exit, if that is still your desired destination, I would be happy to take you. I believe...it would be safest. The Earth here is not happy that there are new invaders, and scarred land. It knows that you, are not at fault, but pain often tends to override most logical thoughts, there is no saying what might happen should you choose to stay longer than a few days at most. If your destination is still...the civilization you spoke of, then I will take you safely to a pathway in the direction of, though as I said before, I have no certainty of which civilization it may take you to. I, myself, have never been outside the forest walls."

For good reason, the forest provided all she needed. Dhizzandra was linked to the forest, molded to it, mentor, pupil, and in some ways, a guardian and healer. The woman had no parents that she knew of, only memories of the trees, and their lessons. They, who taught here all she needed to know, were her parents...And this great garden, her family.

"The trip will take two candle marks at most. I have some dried meats, and fruits that you can take with you to help your journey further on, if you so wish."

Dhizzandra's optics shifted between the two as a response was awaited.

Blue listened to the dark-skinned woman quietly as Dhizzandra began to speak and respond to her offer of servitude to accommodate for the damage that her first companion may have done upon her and her home. The young woman continued to listen as Dhizzandra told her that the fault was not her own before she would nod lightly.

"Alright. And aye, I do still wish to to exit the forest as soon as possible."

She stated and listened to how long it would possibly take for Dhizzandra to guide her toward the path that led out of the forest and toward the nearest civilization.

"I would appreciate the foods. Thank you, again, for all of your help. For now, I think I might try to get some rest like the foreigner is trying to do."

She nodded toward the foreigner who was already dozing off before she would lay down on her side, pulling the cloak closer around her form.

"Good night, Dhizzandra."

With that said, she dismissed any further conversation and turned to face the wall. Blue would gaze at the flat surface quietly for an unknown duration of time before she would finally fall into the welcoming embrace of slumber. Even there, though, she was not left to her tranquility and memories out of reach from her began to accost her.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________

An image began to form, fabricating in the depths of her mind until she looked upon what appeared to be a laboratory. It was a dark room and two mysterious figures stood outside a plexiglass window which over viewed a white room on the other side of the wall. The plexiglass was shaded on one side, forbidding the occupants of the white room to gaze into the dark but allowing those in the dark room to look into the white room. Two other individuals occupied the white room while the two that were observing them began to speak.

"The specimen appears to be in perfect condition and is progressing efficiently through the tests."

-"That's good. What of her relationship with the mother?"

"The specimen and the woman appear to have formed a strong bond."

-"I see. The specimen must be weened of her soon. Do we already have plans for the woman?"

"Yes, sir. We will initiate them on your command."

The scene slowly shifted into the white room to observe the individuals within. The walls were stark white and the only color that existed were the two individuals in the center. There was a young girl, perhaps no more than the age of five, inquisitively observing an older woman read what appeared to be a bible.

"Tell me what God is like."

The girl demanded, grabbing onto the woman's arm who appeared to be an older version of herself. The woman, perhaps somewhere in her late twenties, gave the small girl a warm smile. She was a beautiful woman, with silver hair cascading about her shoulders and a slender figure. Her skin resembled ivory, though appeared fragile, and her delicate fingers gracefully turned the page. Her smile was warm but the expression in her eyes told of a life of hardship experienced at a young age. But none of this reached the small child who could make her eyes sparkle, who was eagerly awaiting an answer to her question. Now, her eyes resembled two dew drops beneath the morning sun as she gazed upon the smaller version of herself.

"How God is like, eh? Hmm, well..."

The woman inclined her head backwards to contemplate, her sparkling azure eyes looking heavenward. The small child waited impatiently, suspension looming over her as she stared with large eyes at the woman. The woman, appearing to have come to a decision, finally looked upon the child once more and smiled serenely.

"He is kind and just. You can consider him a friend, a sibling, or a lover. He is there when you need him and he listens to you. You can trust in him. Above all else, he loves you greater than anyone else ever will."

"Even greater than you?"

The girl asked and this made the woman go silent for a few moments as she carefully chose her words.

"Yes, even I."

The small girl's eyes widened as she stared at the woman who smiled to her and stroked her hair in reassurance.

"But do not worry, my love almost matches his own. And I do love you very much."

The small girl beamed and hugged the woman tightly.

"I love you too! God is indeed wonderful."

The girl exclaimed while the woman's smile dampened as she held the girl and stroked her back. The woman's eyes momentarily trailed toward the shaded window, knowing that the men behind it were observing them, calculating their next decision on what to do with the two. Concern was written on her expression but she tried not to allow it to shatter the young girl's joy as she planted a tender kiss to the girl's forehead.

"Indeed, he is. Even when no one is around and you feel like you have no one to turn to, God will be there. You'll never be alone. Even when I'm not around, you will never be alone, Fiona..."

The woman's words echoed throughout the room as the tranquil scene changed. The woman's words bounced off the walls and repeated in her mind as the small girl was seen now alone. The woman was gone and the small girl had her legs held to her chest, face buried in her knees as her shoulders shuddered. It appeared that she was crying.

Do not cry. You are not alone, Fiona...
___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Blue awoke with a start and found herself staring at the cieling. Her hand rose slowly as she felt something wet upon her cheek, touching her fingertips there and raising them to examine the glistening ends. Tears? She winced reflexively as another wet drop fell on her cheek and she rose her eyes to the ceiling which had a small leak. Rain. But it appeared that the rain had stopped as she could no longer hear the pitter-patter upon the roof.

Blue slowly sat up and observed the slumbering occupants. It was barely dawn as she examined the interior of the hut before noticing a large pot which had a shallow pool of water in it. Low on water. The woman slowly rose and silently stepped around the individuals to grab the pot and depart from the hut. The woman walked silently as she contemplated upon the fragments of the dream. That voice again. But what intrigued her was that, during the woman's and child's whole conversation, neither one of them had moved their lips.

The sun had peeked out from behind the clouds by the time Blue would return to the hut with the pot now full with clear water she had gathered from the creek. She set the pot down and glanced about, wondering if any of the two had woken up yet before she took notice that her original clothes had finally dried. Seeing as no one appeared to be about, Blue removed the cloak the foreigner had given her and proceeded to slip on her clothes consisting of a pair of blue shorts, a shirt, and a personally designed jacket.

Van's eyes flickered open, contemplating his own session of a certain dream. One that he could not remember, even though how short was yesterday. He lifted his palm and pressed it against his forehead, cringing as his hair fell over his vissage. Almost as if something of great importance had all together disappeared with tne notion of it being there in the first place. No reason to fret about it now though.

Eventually, the Barbarian Prince rised to his feet, steadying himself against the wall as the sword dangled from his hand. Still drenched from last night's rain, Van sluggishly moved to his bag back and extracted a new set of fresh clothing that did not bare any signifance from the black leather he currently wore, save the for the golden highlights. He probed with his eyes over his surroundings. One occupant asleep, the other abscent. Van would find it convenient at his disposal to change.

Even as he stepped outside, Van would still adjust his sleeves as he steped outside. As he promised, the morning was fresh. He emphasized it with gratitude, sniffing in a long trail of fresh air into his lungs and sighing in such a manner that annoucned his presence - merrily.

Seeing Blue he took few steps forward, lifting both of his hands, pushing his hair back off his face and comming it back. "Mornin'" he called out, softly. "Think A can relieve a dry throat with tha' water ye brough'? Jus' a gulp or two, least ye'll need all of it."

Blue had straightened her shirt out and erased the majority of the wrinkles it had gathered by the time the Barbarian Prince had exited the hut. Blue glanced over her shoulders at the man while she straightened out her clothes, content to no longer be wearing white. It just did not suit her. She combed her hair with her fingers swiftly before listening as the Barbarian greeted her this morning and asked for permission to drink from the clear water she had gathered from the creek.

"Go ahead."

Blue responded and gestured toward the pot she had placed upon the ground while she had taken the chance to dress. She grabbed her boots and slipped them on her feet, fastening the straps firmly before testing its grip upon her appendage. She tapped her foot on the wet ground before taking the moment to observe her surroundings. It was indeed quite moist this day and wondered if the path that led out of the forest would be safe to travel upon. Perhaps later in the day, when the sun dried the earth.

"Sleep well?"

Blue asked while she gazed out into the distance, at nothing in particular.

(ooc: after I was dismayed by the fact that the website decided that I couldn't log on for another 90 minutes, I decided to follow this forum's tradition and base my sn on the character himself, configuring my own username to a real profile. I am Eurime and the guy that plays van.)

BIC:

Having taken a gulp, Van gave himself the privellage of taking a palm's measure of water to splash over his face before he placed the pot down, still containing a considerable amount. "Slept well." he repeated the questioned, tonelessly, adjusting his hair, following the girl's gaze as he considered an answer. "A wouldn' no an answer for tha'. Ya wake up afta' a dream ye'd noe' it'd bi importan' bu' can' seem ta git yerself ta remember it no matta how hard ya attempt ta crease ye'r nerves. A can tell ye A was disappointed - but A can't tell ya why."

Van crouched to his knees, gathering strength before pushed off the air, grabbing hold of a thick branch before he lifted himself to a seat. He helt his scalpt hit something that responded in a gentler manner and ventured a glance over his shoulder. Fruits. . . And apparently edible. Gently prizing the thing, he considered the odds of it being poisonous or at all harmful. He looked down at Blue and shrugged. "Guess A'm expandible."

Without hesitation, the man took a bite, consuming it. Watery - sweet, and obviously fresh. "Tas'e like pairs." He said, venturing for another, taking hold of another before looking down at Blue, waving the fruit at her with an offering gesture. "Ye headin' anywhere special afta' this? Could always find us sum business in Nede"

Blue's azure optics probed their vicinity while the foreigner took to climbing a nearby tree. The rain had left a dazzling presentation of a sparkling forest, as if glitter had been sprinkled upon the tips of the grass and the foliage of the trees from where the dew drops reflected the rays of the sun. It was indeed a beautiful sight as Blue gazed upon the moist environment. For the time being, she was oblivious to the foreigner's activities in the trees as she contemplated upon notions unknown to the exterior environment.

An imperious ambiance resonated from her as she regarded the forest silently and a gentle breeze whispered around her form as optics momentarily flashed. The breeze momentarily appeared to gain a more solid form, fabricating tendrils of ivory that traced along the sky before it surged upward and scattered across the surface of the forest. The forest appeared to respond to the tranquil presence that caressed along its surface and intertwined amongst its branches, examining the damage caused and inconspicuously giving aid to aid with regeneration.

Meanwhile, Blue glanced upward as she heard the foreigner speak, listening to the phrases that were slowly becoming more easier to decipher. She observed him as he tested out the fruits he had discovered in the trees before she watched a he offered her one. She extended her hand, silently gesturing to him to drop it so that she may catch it and consume the sustenance he offered her.

"Nede. Nede is where I desire to return to and hope to find someone there that may hire me."

She stated and listened as it seemed perhaps he was going to the same destination.

"Well since it appears we are both heading to Nede, I suppose we can travel together until we can arrive there."

She stated, offering the prospect of being travel companions.

"Is that fine with you, Barbarian?"

Having given her the fruit, Van momentarily smirked as he turned his face away, rubbing the back of his neck at the fact that he was being called a barbarian. She was no simple drifter nor did she retain any demeanor that would be relevant to an aristocrat's. The barbarian wieghed the facts in his head. Her obvious sense of awareness, straight to the point, devotion to priority, lack of common fears and perhaps emotion. Her initial stages of life bathed with blood, and last night did not retain any manner of happenings to debate against the concept, nor the event above deck in bella. Such minds chased by chaos that have survived until this very moment...When chased by such cruelities, they often respond in kind.


He never minded this form of company, infact may sometimes grow curious in regards. "Da name's Van." He said, lifting his legs as he adjusted himself to lean against the barks of the tree, crossing his arms over his chest. "We won't bi travelin alone, tho." He grinned, looking over the distance upon the blade which he planted into the greass. "Ain' da' right, eyeball?'

The blade shimmered in response of its master's calling, a partial cleave of the metal surface as the crimson eye opened with an aura that touched the present mind's with a manner of assurance, though mayhaps not enough. "Atleast make the proper introduction if you plan to make your supposed secrecies, obvious." It spoke with clear resentiment.

Blue took a small bite of the fruit that the foreigner had plucked from one of the branches of the tree he was making himself comfortable upon. The sweet flavor that accosted her taste buds elicited a blush to blossom upon her cheeks as she silently savored the delicious fruit that the land provided. Mother nature could indeed be generous and humble. Blue examined the fruit momentarily, turning it around to study its exterior and then the indentation where her mouth had carved an orifice into it. For the foreigner's sake, it better not be dangerous to her health, even he did appear to be calculating her with the facts that he currently knew about her. Simply speaking, Blue was now a mercenary. With her lack of social skills, indeed some of her responses to his demeanor may be perplexing and dangerous to him, even if the intentions was not one of malice.

The young woman's attention was drawn back to the foreigner as it appeared he did not prefer to be called by the title that his reputation had given him, and instead preferred to be called by his actual identity. Blue merely blinked at this notion but decided that it would be proper to refer him by the identity that he preferred. Either way, it was smaller and simpler than calling him The Barbarian Prince. Though a curious brow quirked upward as he announced that they would not be traveling alone before he confessed that their third companion would be the blade. Optics fixated upon the blade that obviously held sentient as Blue regarded the weapon with a solemn countenance. She knew that she had sensed a presence from that weapon and now she had received an answer for the question that had floated within the murky depths of her splintered mind.

"I see. That is fine, Van."

She stated softly. She sensed now obvious threat from the sword and so she would not protest or deny Van the inclination to bring it with them. It was his possession and he need not her permission to carry it. The database that The Leaders harbored did hint at a companion that the barbarian had and she was now gazing upon it. In fact, the notion was familiar. His blade gave him a sense of reassurance, as hers did as she reached beneath her outfit and tenderly traced her fingers along the edge of one of her hidden daggers, gaining a twisted solace at its cold presence. If anything, her daggers were the only items that she could put her trust in, even if they were inanimate and not sentient like Van's weapon. And so she checked to see that all of them were in place, each meticulously hidden upon her form so that their presence would not be obvious, other than the three daggers tucked in the holder on the side of her hips.

"We'll leave as soon as Dhizzandra awakens and as soon as the earth dries. I would believe the path would be treacherous while the soil is soaked to the core."

Dhizzandra did not take long to awaken after the two had left the security of the hut and ventured out on their own. It was obvious by the lack of pitter patter that the rain had ceased it's assault, and within a few hours the ground would be dry enough to begin the journey. Assuming that the two would return when they were ready, Dhizzandra set herself to getting a leather pack from the corner of her small abode, and filling it full of the dried fruits and meats that adorned the farthest wall.

This, she had plenty of, and therefore could easily spare a bit for the two travelers. Filling the pack to the brim, Dhizzandra also pulled a small pouch of water down, and set it to the side of the pack. They would need both of these things if they were to travel, though she was unsure of how far the creek went, or if they would even cross the path of it once they were outside of the forest.

Considering this done, the small, dark skinned female shed out of her mud caked dress, and gathered a new one from the confines of yet another bag, placing the gently blue dyed material upon her body. Straightening out the fabric with a quick tug, Dhizzandra was then quick to pull her hair up, and tie it into a little ribbon she had found in the forest. Satisfied with this, the woman settled in wait for the two to return from their escapades.

Her figure rested near the center of the room, choosing to sit on her knees, hands resting in her lap as oceanic optics closed. Her mind opened, allowing the connections to the forest to be blown open. Within this realm of empathies, it was obvious the forest was in pain...the grief that swelled was near overwhelming. It pulsed in and out of existence, as if attempting to retract those feelings back into itself. Dhizzandra cut the connection, closing her mind and offering a frown...Her job, after escorting Blue to the pathway to civilization, would be strenuous.

(ooc: Note. Speech marks represent that Furiyen is speaking to those present. ~ is otherwise)

"A bi'of slips and trips won' bi a pro'lem. Ain't nawthin A'd concern ma self with." Van said, bending forward and stretching his arms towards the tip of his toes, stretching in his own way. "Der's been alot o' ban'it activity . Nede folks pay for info regardin' black merchan's or anay salvages from'em. Thieves tha' stole Nede propertay. Dey tend ta mewv when ya don' expect'em tew. 'spicially in yesterday's rain. Expectin ta bump into'em on ar' way out."

"And once they realise a drifter baring a mystical sword, they ought to consider to have prized themselves a bargain." Furiyen added, shifting its one eye from one angle to another, observing its surrounding along with the individuals present.

"Ah, don'cha worry." Van grinned, mocking the prospect of mortal danger. "Da lass'll scare'em away."


Furiyen blinked, now focusing its orb at Blue.