There was no point in keeping his mission a secret. These people genuinely wanted to help. Being Aladria’s allies, Uther felt he could trust them.

“Aladria believes the king is in danger…from the queen herself. With Rickard gone, I feel the king may be next. I need to get him out of Bright Hedge, but I can’t get anywhere near the castle. If you can somehow contact Rickard’s allies, they can evacuate him before it’s too late. I can take him to Aladria from here, but this needs to be kept secret from the queen.”

Uther needed to convince the king to follow along with this evacuation. Under any other circumstances, this would seem like an assassination plot in and of itself. The knight was bound to regret mentioning his daughter, but there wasn’t much of a choice. He turned to Aelynn, who seemed prepared to carry out the task.

“The king will need convincing. Have the soldiers pass on a message: the king’s daughter requests his presence. Remember: the queen cannot know of this.”

Uther did not like his plan, even if it was his only option. He could easily be construed as some sort of royal kidnapper and be put to death on the spot.
 
HARRISON AND NICOLETTE a collaboration with @Elle Joyner
It was as if he was in a deep slumber, a moment of respite considering the hours of physical and mental labor he endured whilst trying to find his way home. Just as sudden as he had found himself falling, Harrison's eyes flew open. The hand that brushed away his hair had been incredibly soft but he jolted back to life all the same.

He sat upwards quickly, his body aching with the burst of movement. Harrison found his widened eyes reflected back at him by the woman and he realized he must have scared her. He opened his mouth to apologize but the what came from his throat could hardly be interpreted as so. His body's instincts kicked in and he motioned for a nearby pitcher, impossibly thirsty.

She had jumped when he woke, straightening upright so quickly she nearly tipped back her chair, but it was a short lived fear... and with haste, though cautiously, she reached for the small pitcher by the bed, pouring the water into a cup before holding it out to him. "It... it's alright. You're safe. My name is Nicolette. This is my father's home. I found you in the woods, you had... you were injured. Are... are you well?"

He took the cup graciously if desperately. Harrison threw his head back as he drank, a trail of water starting at his lips and running down the length of his body. When he finished he apologized and motioned towards his throat before asking for more. After his second glass, he spoke.

"I'm alive... in part due to you no doubt. You have my greatest thanks Nicolette." The retainer answered solemnly, his light blue eyes holding hers.

"I'm..." His voice trailed off and he winced as the throb in his head worsened. "Harrison. My name is Harrison."

Turning, as he grimaced, she reached for a small cloth and dunked it into a bowl, before turning back to him. Gently, she pressed it to his forehead, "You needn't thank me, Harrison. It's no more than anyone else might have done if they had found you..."

Squeezing out the cloth into a separate bowl, she returned to her work, "You... you're part of the queen's guard. What were you doing in the woods?"

When her hand returned to press a cloth against his head, he sat still obediently. He was in no shape to move, as eager as he may have been to report his survival to Eirlys. For a moment he let his thoughts drift off to her...was she worried that he hadn't returned?

But then Nicolette spoke and his attention shifted, along with his head. Turning to her, he pouted. It was not his place to speak of such things but whoever this woman was, she had saved his life. The least he could offer in return was the truth.

"I...was chasing someone for the queen. I failed and found myself lost." His eyes trailed downwards and examined the fruit of her efforts scattered about nearby. Discarded thorns, bandages, all of it told Harrison enough. The retainer bit the bottom of his pout as a wave of guilt washed over him. "I'm sorry to have been the cause of so much work. I'm afraid I've sullied my knightly duties."

"Nothing sullied about it..." She responded, and met him with the warmth of a smile, "Nothing but the cloth, anyway"

Ringing out the rag again, she set it in the bowl and observed her work, gingerly brushing her fingertips beneath the gash, "Out here... all we've got is work. You're a welcome change to mucking out a pen... Ah." Frowning, she met his eyes, "That's not to say I'm glad you're hurt, Sire. Can you sit? We haven't much, but there's broth... and bread."

Harrison winced lightly but the woman's touch was gentle and her words felt honest. He was grateful, among indebted, and various other feelings. He found himself chuckling, his body protesting the act with just about every ache possible.

"I'd hate to ask even more from you miss...but damn if I'm not starving." Harrison said grinning. "I'll take whatever you are willing to spare."

Nodding, Nicolette rose and moved to the stove in the corner, where she procured a bowl of broth and a small chuck of bread - it was fairly fresh, but hard, the broth warm and earthy, "You said you were chasing someone..." She began, as she held it out to him and returned to her seat, "Are they dangerous?"

"It isn't my place to decide." Harrison answered solemnly before graciously taking the food offered to him. He bit down on the bread and swallowed, shaking his head before thinking a moment.

"They were kids compared to the likes of you and me." He continued on, looking up at her. "The only one I'd consider dangerous really was the pet goose."

Frowning thoughtfully, Nicolette sat back, "What do you mean, it's not your place to decide? You aren't permitted to decide for yourself whether a person deserves to be hunted or not? That seems rather unwise..."

Blinking, she shifted and lowered her gaze, "Forgive me. I'm accustomed to speaking my mind to farmers and their kin, not knights and soldiers. I don't mean to question your judgment... It just seems odd to me, is all, that you would follow orders with such finality."

Looking up again, she managed a wary smile, "Pet goose? Yes... they sound terribly dangerous."

Harrison ate while the woman spoke, maintaining eye contact all the while so she could be certain he was listening. He cast away the notion of using a spoon--instead drinking the broth directly from the bowl.

"I'm a man with no inkling of a past, I'm afraid. I feel I'd make a poor judge." Harrison admitted, eyes drifting momentarily towards the floor before shifting upwards to his own body. He was covered in scars he'd never know the origins of. "The queen gave me purpose when the lack thereof was surely going to drive me insane."

He looked back up to Nicolette and reflected her smile with one of his own.

"Don't hold back on my behalf. I think I quite like hearing from your mind." Harrison quipped innocently, only realizing the flirtatious implications that could be drawn after the words had left his mouth. He cleared his throat quickly thereafter, cheeks warming up slightly. "Er...that is to say, I find such an open conversation a great deal refreshing compared to what I'm used to."

"Hm..." Watching him for a moment, she seemed to consider his words - consider whether or not they were perfectly honest. In many cases, people said they wanted the truth, but when it came down to it, they preferred silence, all the more. Still... as color came to his cheeks, she came to the conclusion that he was, perhaps, one of the few honest people left in the world.

"It seems a strange purpose, is all. You've indebted yourself to someone who would give you no freedom to choose for yourself. And in a position like yours, where lives are often on the line, I wonder if she might not be inclined to take advantage of that for her own benefit. It's a fairly easy line to blur..."

Running her fingers through her hair, plucking a bit of straw from one of the long, wheat-colored strands, she shrugged, "My father would have my head if he heard such talk. I'm sorry, I shouldn't speak ill of her... the queen. It's just..." Shaking her head, she rose and held out her hand, "Here... you must be half-starved, I'll get you some more."

"As strange as it may be to some, its the only purpose I've ever known. In truth I find it hard to imagine a life in which I'm not serving Eirlys..." He let his voice drift off, frowning when she remained hesitant.

Harrison thought for a moment and soon after handed her the empty bowl. Before she could step away however, the retainer brought his other hand up and cupped her's in his. Perhaps it was a forward gesture, but he needed to emphasize the importance of his next words.

"Please, speak your mind. I've dealt with enough social tiptoeing in court to last three lifetimes." He told her before chuckling lightly. Harrison let both his hands drop to his sides before continuing. "I'm not often granted leave of the castle and when I do I'm usually too focused on work to ask the people how they feel."

He perked up like a sheltered puppy--completely unaware of the gravity of his own question. "I could always stand to learn more about the people."
 
Jacob Palin
At her response, Jacob only let out a soft growl. As much as he wanted justice, he cared no longer for vengeance. He wanted a life now, and not a life of constant danger. But Wendy would never wish for such a thing until the Beast was dead. They had to find it, and they had to kill it. Only then would they have a chance.

“Brother? Slipped your mind, did it? They were my friends, Wendy. I had a right to know it wasn’t just you out there…”

For some reason, those words made Jacob feel strangely ashamed. It was obvious how the mention of his being her brother upset Merek - and no doubt it would, after what had just transpired - but suddenly Jacob felt very much at fault, as if it had been his doing that he'd been locked away for all those years and Wendy, nor Merek, got to know about it.

Merek stood up, and just as soon was shoved back into a chair by Travis, after barely being able to stand on his feet. The man surely wouldn't make it far without some food in his belly, and at that, Jacob could feel his own stomach grumble as well. But at Wendy's remark, he only gritted his teeth and pointed his gaze at the floor. He wasn't in the mood for fond memories.

At least, for all of this, she had a plan.

His eyes traveled across the room as she spoke. Merek and Travis, their new travelling companions, both of which he knew practically nothing about. And if you really wanted to go into technicalities, he barely knew Wendy either.

"Let's go, then." He muttered.

@Red Thunder @Elle Joyner
 

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NPCS: Aelynn

Frowning, Cath nodded, and reaching up, she pulled a bowl down from the shelf above the stove. Two ladles filled the bowl, before she turned and handed it off to Aelynn, who in turn handed it over to Uther.

“I will have Aelynn go… She’s smaller and can get around easier if she keeps her head down. I’ve sent her in my place before…” The challenge, of course, was knowing who to trust, and Aelynn, apparently, for one so young seemed to have a similar trail of thinking.

“What if I go to Ella?”

A brow lifted, and handing her daughter another bowl, before taking down a third, she nodded, slowly, “That’s not the worst thought…” Looking to Uther, she shrugged, “Rosie’s nursemaid. She’s honest as the day is long, and the King has a bit of a soft spot with her, if you know what to watch for…”

“I could tell her the message and she’d take it to the king, for sure…yeah?”

@Toogee

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NPCS: Declan Martel || Lilianna Gentry | Alfeus Swann
He kept a steady pace the entire time, one that was neither too slow or too fast, and so, by the time the sun began to slip into the treeline, the trio had delved far into the woods. Wiping his brow, he glanced around, remembering vividly the first time he’d gotten lost within these woods. But that was years past and he’d come to love this land of exile.

Halting for the first time in hours, he turned round and scratched the back of his head in thought. “We should make shelter for the night.” Alfeus said softly.

From within his cloak he removed a water skin canteen and took a few sips before handing it over to Lilianna. “We’ll need to find some fresh water as well, this won't last much longer.”

Lilianna didn't have time to take a sip from the water-skin, however. Just as Alfeus outstretched his hand, a sound, one that wasn't too far off, caught his attention. What followed next was a gut reaction.

He grabbed Lilianna by the hand and shot a frenzied look at Katze. Alfie knew what kind of creatures made those guttural noises... The grunts of a sounder of swine grew closer, and he tugged at Lili's arm.

"We must run. Now. Unless you'd like to be skewered to death."

Tags:@rissa & @Nav

The weight of her sword now resting in its scabbard at her side felt like a piece of a puzzle fit to complete a picture. It felt natural and needed, and as Anhlan walked through the open fields with Declan she clung to it almost instinctively. How long had it been since she felt the cold metal on her palm in such a manner? The hilt of the blade was beautifully crafted and still gleamed vibrantly in the rising sunlight denoting the care even in its hibernation. It was clear this was among her most prized possessions.

She wasn't keen on the topic of conversation Declan had chosen. It was quite personal, and while he seemed genuinely caring and trustworthy, her inner walls called for hesitancy and vague responses. Her nature was to let the conversation fall away when she had no desire to converse on the topic, but Declan was persistent and curious. His personality made it difficult for her to return so coldly as she would have before. Her time in Mulgrave had softened her compassion even further.

“Did you ever feel you deserved penance for your wrongdoings?” she asked. “You said you understood how I feel. At first I had thought my exile was mercy, but lately I've felt it is a worse punishment to live with the consequences. And I feel deserving.”

A frown creased his brow as he listened, and for a moment he said nothing, considering how he might answer, "If the punishment is intended to teach... then I say it makes sense. But if it's simply out of spite? Vengeance rarely serves anyone. What I lost for my stupidity and recklessness was punishment, enough."

His choice in wording latched onto her mind. Perhaps it was the language barrier that made the sentence sound so specific. Anhlan brushed the stray wisps of hair from her face once again to curl them around her ears and keep them from her line of sight. Gravity wanted to foil her plans, it seemed, as it kept pulling the locks from her ears as she looked down at the earth for the bow legged tracks.

"I would say I learned my lesson," Anhlan said, "but not because of my exile. It was before. I didn't take rules seriously then. The way of the land is in place for a reason. Though I am still trying to learn Mulgrave's."

"It's difficult, sometimes..." He admitted, with a small shrug, "Rules are important, indeed, but there are occasions where sometimes, they must be broken. When the consequences of breaking order are outweighed by the consequences of following it? Hmm. I suppose as Captain, I should be more diligent, but I learned my lesson, too. Just not the lesson I suppose I was meant to learn."

"How do you mean?" she asked, and looked over at the captain with slight confusion. "That does not seem like you learned."

Chuckling, he rubbed the back of his neck with a small shrug, "I suppose not, without context. It's not me... but my brother I'm speaking of. He... he was a soldier, along side myself and a friend. We were, I suppose you could say, inseparable. But my brother made a choice to help someone, and it wound him up on the wrong side of the law. He was to be executed."

Looking down at the weapon he held in grasp, he frowned in thought. It was something he had told no one... something that only two other people in the world knew, yet profoundly, he found himself saying it aloud anyhow, "I helped him escape. When it was discovered that he was gone, I had every intention of taking responsibility, but before I could, I found my friend had already done so. He was demoted..."

She had not expected any part of his story. Mulgrave seemed to enact lesser punishments for transgressions, or at least the punishment system had tiers due to social status. By the definition she was raised to believe, aiding a criminal was punishable by death, or so it is in Kyxia. There was a moment after his words drifted off where Anhlan contemplated what she would have done given the circumstance. Being an only child made the concept difficult to ascertain.

"Do you have any regrets?" she asked.

"Only that I never corrected the mistake. By the time I thought to, Alfeus had already gone on to the Grave Road." Shaking his head, he frowned, "I certainly think twice now, as captain, about my own decisions... Who I condemn to what."

"Grave Road," Anhlan repeated softly. This explained the questions she had earlier when they were confronted with the twins. "Do you think we will run into Alfeus? We are headed in that direction, yes?"

"Ah..." A brow quirked at her question... one he hadn't actually considered himself, but likely should have, "Honestly, I don't know. It's quite possible. I haven't seen him for some time. But one can hope." Looking up, Declan frowned gestured down the hill that would lead them into the Grave Road, “...Gonna get a little risky, here on out. Eyes open, Ana…”

@Effervescent

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NPCS: Remis Halifax
There was no real way of knowing, within the Teldavi Swamp, how far one went, except to judge by how much your feet hurt, after a while. It was dark, all traces of sunlight blocked out by the overwhelming canopy of trees overhead. They had moved throughout the night, on and off again, resting as long as they dared, but with every crack of a twig, every rustle of the leaves, they were off.

By morning, announced only by the subtle lightening of the miry darkness, Remis was exhausted, but he didn’t dare stop longer than but a few minutes. There was life in the Swamps, but it wasn’t life anyone particularly wanted to come up against.The faster they got through and out in the open, then better.

“How you holding up, Bri?” Remis asked, as he glanced over to his companion. For someone who seemed more accustomed to an easy life, she was managing surprisingly well… Which probably should have been some great clue to her apparently sordid past, but there wasn’t a whole lot of time to chat on it, and he had already informed her he had little intention of prying.

“Shouldn’t be much further n-- Briar! Don’t move…”Swearing softly, under his breath, he held out his arms to halt her, “...Don’t move. Not one inch. You just stepped into a swift bog… You move, and it’ll suck you down into it. Don’t worry… We’ll get you free. Just… don’t move.”
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Tags: @BearEnthusiast (Briar)

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NPCS: Merek Loren
”Guess I’ve been outvoted...” Travis noted, with a small smirk.There was no note of irritation, however, and without another word, he hoisted Merek’s pack up on his back. Merek made a face up at his brother, before he rose.

“Remind me again, which one of us is older?” Merek muttered, and straightening up fully, he looked to Wendy and Jacob,studying them for a moment. He had been so sure - they all had, that every single one of her kin was dead… that she was the only one left. It was surreal to think that he had survived…

“Your twin…” He finally remarked, shaking his head, “Alright… Let’s go.”

Moving to the door, he opened it, ushering everyone out. There was little point, decidedly, in closing up, since he was fairly certain he wouldn’t be returning. It was a strange feeling, leaving behind everything he knew, but he had become so detached as it was…

While they walked, he glanced over to Wendy with a small frown, “How did you find him, Red? You were so sure they were all gone… How did you even know to look?”

@Red Thunder, @CloudyBlueDay

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NPCS: Fiora Rimel | Nicolette Rey
Jack and Fi would breach the realm of Renloth as the sun fell, a silvery moon cresting overhead, Fool’s Mountain caught in a irridescent shield of light. As their driver slowed to a stop, and they departed, they were gifted with a loaf of bread and several apples, as well as the sound advice to ‘not do anything stupid and turn back while they could’.

Sounds advice, that, as he pulled off into the distance, was promptly ignored. Fiora knew of the rumors about the mountain, but she had little choice but to trust Jack, so far out of her element, so far from her home. He took his hand as they started forward on their own. It had been decided, though must gesturing, which eventually turned into charades for the drivers of the cart, who then relayed the message to Jack, that they would need to rest for the night and start fresh in the morning. With his family so close, Jack suggested they make for his home…

And so they did, though it took a great deal more relying on Goose than Jack, who seemed far too excited with the prospect of seeing his family, or the trees, or that gigantic moth (that he promptly chased for half an hour) or Fi, who hadn’t so much as set foot in Renloth until that very day.

Eventually, though, far later than was probably appropriate for guests, they reached the home, but as they neared the door, Fiora gave Jack’s hand a sudden jerk, pulling him to a stop. Then, gesturing to herself, she shook her head. She wasn’t generally vain, particularly since she spent most of her time alone, but after their murky swim and several hours on the back of a horse-drawn cart? She was in no shape to see his family… to meet his parents… What would they think of her?

@Doctor Jax

Looking at him for a moment, she seemed hesitant, but nodded as he concluded, "I wasn't around when Queen Eirlys came to take the throne from her mother... But my father was. He explained to me how she made all of these lofty promises to the people. The world she claimed she wanted sounded too good to be true and now? Well... It seems fair to say it might be. Under Queen Aladria's rule, it's true she thrived while others did not... But at least there was peace and the people were happy. This vision of how things were that Eirlys presented... It seems a fantasy with how things are now."

Biting her lower lip, she paused, uncertain if continuing was wise, but as she did, it was a softer, heartfelt tone, "My mother... She stood against Eirlys. Six weeks after the queen was crowned, Mother was accused of using magic. She never has... Not a day in her life. Yet she hung for it. Eirlys promised our family would not be punished as well, yet my father struggles to find work and his crops are turned away at the market stalls... You tell me how it sounds."

h the one permanently etched in his memory. Harrison thought back just a day earlier to when the queen's kiss had been the sweetest thing he had ever experienced.

He allowed himself to wonder, to question his unwavering loyalty. There had been instances when yes, his marks claimed normality but could he have possibly...?

To be in his position now, he felt unworthy to be saved by Nicolette if even an inkling of what she had said was true. He stood for justice and virtue and up until now that had been entirely synonymous with his work for the Queen. Was this why he was kept from the masses? Had he himself been a captive in a prison of satin?

There was only one person with answers for him. Eirlys. But for now, sitting where he was, she'd have to wait. Harrison forced himself to stand, and bowed down his head towards Nicolette while slightly towering over her.

"When I asked I did not mean...I did not expect..." He stood straight and his words left him. Frowning, the room quieted as Harrison searched for the right words.

"I'm sorry, truly. For the losses you've endured and in my part in having you recount them." He finally spoke. "It is only fair that seeing you saved my life nearly as much as she had...that I seek out the truth to your words."

Standing as well, Nicolette shook her head, "You... you should rest. You aren't well enough to go off on your own. I'm sorry, I... I didn't mean to upset you. I really do talk too much. Please, rest. It's been a long time since my mother's death... it will wait another few hours."

The thought of lying down now when his entire world could be ripping at the seams, it seemed impossible. But even just standing as he was, it was enough to make his head throb. He steadied himself on the nightstand before settling down on the bed, his eyes pointed towards the floor.

"I'm afraid that's something we have in common. I talk way more than I really should...I fear I have a talent for complicating matters." He looked back up at her, smiling tiredly. "But you are right...I think I'll get some more sleep now."

He laid back down but rest did not come quickly. For awhile he listened to her move about the room, but Harrison true to his word, spoke once more at the sound of the door hinges.

"You've shown me a remarkable amount of grace, Nicolette...though now more than ever I'm certain I'm deserve none."

"Those undeserving... sometimes, Harrison, they need the most grace."

@BearEnthusiast (Harrison)

Next update 7/2
 
Frowning, Cath nodded, and reaching up, she pulled a bowl down from the shelf above the stove. Two ladles filled the bowl, before she turned and handed it off to Aelynn, who in turn handed it over to Uther.

“I will have Aelynn go… She’s smaller and can get around easier if she keeps her head down. I’ve sent her in my place before…” The challenge, of course, was knowing who to trust, and Aelynn, apparently, for one so young seemed to have a similar trail of thinking.

“What if I go to Ella?”

A brow lifted, and handing her daughter another bowl, before taking down a third, she nodded, slowly, “That’s not the worst thought…” Looking to Uther, she shrugged, “Rosie’s nursemaid. She’s honest as the day is long, and the King has a bit of a soft spot with her, if you know what to watch for…”

“I could tell her the message and she’d take it to the king, for sure…yeah?”

Uther took the bowl as he contemplated their plan. He wasn't a fan of involving even more people in this plot. It was already bad enough that this girl would be entering the castle by herself. Yet with so few resources himself, the knight had no other options. If this nursemaid was as close to the king as Cath suggested, however, she would be better to break this news than himself.

"...Do it," Uther confirmed after addressing his hesitation. "But only her. Enough people have died over this. The fewer people that know, the less likely the queen will find out."

He took a sip of the stew before looking to Aelynn. He wanted to make sure the gravity of the situation was clear to everyone in the room.

"What you are about to do could be considered spycraft by those loyal to the queen. If you are caught, you will be punished as an enemy of the kingdom, the both of you. If this is too much, I will understand."
 
Jack Corville and his goose


With a happy trot, Jack was quite happy to find that they were nearing ever closer to his home at the foot of Fool's Mountain. Goose himself seemed reluctant -- perhaps remembering far too many wayward kicks in his direction -- but nevertheless continued flying towards the small town Jack had once called home. However, once up on the farmstead, it seemed Fi had her own reservations as she yanked on Jack's hand and shook her head, pointing to herself.

"What? No, no, no, you look wonderful! Why, you look better than all the girls in Gadsville! You've more of a pretty face than all of them. Hattie's got crooked teeth, and Jane has bad breath, and Marlene isn't at all very nice even if she's got a nice pair of goats at home, and then there's Babette, who sort of resembles a pig a little..." Jack said, going into detail.

However, whatever reservations Fi had were just going to have to wait. His voice had drawn a pair of curious eyes to the window, and the door was thrown open. In the thick, dense, and damp woodland, the sound didn't carry far, but Jack's mother's voice managed to cut through the air.

"Get, you foul-beaked mongrel! Get thee off mine hearthstones, twice-craven foul!" she cursed, waving a broom at Goose, who was hissing and flapping his wings as he was chased away from Mirna's pride and joy -- a cabbage patch.

"Mum!" Jack shouted joyfully as he ran towards his mother, and the woman -- scrawny, surprisingly pretty, with long straggling locks of black and bright blue eyes -- stared at the man for some seconds before exclaiming with a great whoop, "My boy! You ain't been deadened 'sides a gutterroad you scallywag-- come here to your Mum!"

The two embraced heartily, before the woman held him out at arm's length and chastised rather viciously, "What snot is in your skull that you'd bring that daft goose back?! It tears through the crops, messes in the house, does havoc to the poor chickens!"

"M-Mum, Goose led me back home because I couldn't remember how to get back..."

"Damn the thing to hell three times anyways, it's a royal terror. Now -- who's this behind you?"

Without preamble, the woman took three large steps towards the girl and took her by the hands, saying, "Please, be a dear, and say ye're marryin' my boy. This one's got wood fer brains, 'n a pair a hamhocks for feet. Ain't no one here'll touch 'im, seein' as he'll sooner take off a finger with an ax than split you firewood. M' name's Mirna Corville, 'n this is muh boy Jack, if he ain't told you yet."

"I have so told her my name...I think," Jack said, suddenly realizing he couldn't remember if he had or not.

"Ah, enough with the talkin'-- Come inside! Get the chill off your bones!" the woman said, dragging Fi by the wrists towards the tiny cottage surrounded by cabbages, beans, and corn.

"Now, Jack, I'll tell you this once and only once, we've ourselves a new cow and you're not to touch it, by the heavens... Here, have you a cuppa dearest, it'll warm you up," stated Mirna as she busied herself around the house, immediately plopping Fi down on a bench and handing her a steaming mug of some kind of hot tea.

@Elle Joyner[/hr]
 
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BRIAR ROSE AND REMI HALIFAX a collaboration with @Elle Joyner
These past few days were far from her finest. The farther they walked, the quieter she had become. It was exhausting and by the time it was morning Briar had more or less been a walking corpse. Her hair a mess of a thing and her eyes worn, she hadn't noticed what had occurred until Remi pointed it out.

And then panic set in.

"Don't just stand there!" Briar hissed with wide eyes. "Give me something to grab ahold of--a branch or something!"

To move, even a little was so detrimental, and with no branches nearby, Remi was profoundly aware that Briar's life rested in his hands... Relied on his quick thinking.

Unfortunately, his first instinct normally would have been to flee... To leave her to her troubles and run. But there was something about her... Something inside him that waged war against those instincts and made him, frankly, really really stupid.

Pulling his sword free, he pinned its tip into the mud and slipped out of his coat, wrapping it around the slick, sharp blade. This he took up in hand, tightly curling his hands around the body, he held the hilt out towards her, "As soon as you grab hold, the mud is gonna suck you in. You'll need to hold tight, and I'll pull you free. Don't panic... I won't let go. I swear it."

She raised a suspect eyebrow at his plan, her eyes trailing downwards to the hands which he wrapped firmly around the blade. "Pull from the side of the sword, Remi. If you pull too strong and I end up flying...well you'd be a lot less heroic with a sword through your gut."

Briar took a deep breath. She could feel the mud pulling at her ankles and the thought of dying now in some wretched bog made her more fearful than she cared to admit. Throwing lady like manners to the wind Briar cursed, reached out and grabbed a hold of the hilt. The woman's blue eyes met Remi's.

Grinning slyly, Remi shook his head, "You keep worrying about me Love, I'm gonna think you care." Shifting his weight, he gripped the blade and as she reached, he tugged.

The bog reacted the moment she moved, yanking her downward like a cyclone and digging his heels in, he leaned back to compensate. It was a little like fighting a bear... and through the fabric of he coat he could feel the blade slicing into his palm. With a growl he yanked harder, then all at once, he released the sword and reaching out, caught Briar by the middle, falling onto his back.

Briar's red hair trailed behind her like flames though the landing was not nearly as graceful. They landed with a thud and a grunt, her heart beating out of her chest while she tried to catch her breath. Briar hadn't even realized how close her face lied to his until after she calmed down down. She propped herself up on her arms as a knee jerk reaction but didn't get off of him as quickly. She blinked, looking down at him as a sly smirk found her lips.

"It's not so much caring about you as knowing I wouldn't last out here alone." Briar cheekily reassured, her eyes trailing downwards but stopping at the sight of his bloodied hands.

Grinning, ignoring the sting of pain on his hands and backside, he shrugged and pushed up just enough that whatever distance existed between them was nearly entirely breached, dark eyes lingering on hers. Briar refused to flinch when he moved closer, amusement playing on her lips as he steadied her. Admittedly her heartbeat quickened, but the calmness of her face did not betray what she felt.

"Whatever you need to tell yourself, Love." Hands cupping her waist, he pushed and righted her, before climbing to his feet.

What a roguish little...

"I will never enter a swamp again, I swear it." Briar cursed under her breath, dragging her foot against the path in attempt to ride her boots of what remained of the mud the moment she could stand straight. Briar looked back at her guide, the weariness in her eyes returning as the excitement died down. "How much further?"

Frowning, Remi looked down at his hands, wiping them on his pants before he sheathed his blade, slipped on his near ruined coat. "Hard to tell... A few miles, yet. Need a break?"

Briar's eyes moved pointedly towards Remi's hands and remained transfixed until he spoke. "Do you?"

Shaking his head, Remi shrugged it off, "I'd rather keep moving until it gets dark. At least get clear of the bogs. As long as you're comfortable?"

"I'm fine... though the fact that you've checked up on me for the second time now is quite worrying. At this rate I'm gonna think you care. Briar teased with a small smirk. She closed the distance between them, but turned sharply once at his side. "Come on then, let's get moving."
 

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NPCS: Aelynn

Smiling a crooked grin, Aelynn shrugged with an air of nonchalance, setting down her bowl on the small wooden table, “With a queen like Eirlys controlling everything, it’s only a matter of time before she’s got us all behind bars for one thing or another, anyway. At least this way, I can do some good…”

Frowning softly, Cath returned to her own bowl, stirring the wooden spoon in a circle as she considered her daughter’s words, “It’s a different world than it once was.”

“We’ll make it better again, Mum.” Putting a hand to her mother’s shoulder, Aelynn nodded, “I’d best be off, then… I’ll send word once Ella’s spoken to the king. Best to sit tight, until then. Mum’ll take good of you.” With a kiss to her mother’s cheek, Aelynn turned and was out the door, back into the stillness of the evening.

Her frown did not abate, as Cath set down her bowl and with a small sigh, she looked to Uther, “You must be tired. Please, rest.” She gestured to the small straw bed in the corner with a weary smile, “I’ll wake you, when Aelynn sends word.”

@Toogee

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NPCS: Declan Martel || Lilianna Gentry | Alfeus Swann

"Oh, bloody..." Katze was more inclined to complain about the events instead of actually do anything about them. His eyes visibly rolled as far back into his head as they would reach. At Alfeus' encouragement of running, they took off-- Katze knowing very well they had no chance of outrunning the beasts in their pursuit.

"Don't run holding on to her like that, ya nugget!" Katze replied, unable to see Alfeus but assuming he still clung to Lil like a little moth to a light as he had been all earlier, "It'll slow ya both down."

It was true, what Katze shouted back at them. Her back was in agony, and she could feel the weight of exhaustion tugging her down, but ge would only slow himself down, trying to drag her behind him.

"Go!" She shouted, pulling her hand free, "I'll be fine!"

He struggled with the reality of the situation at hand. He’d never, in his entire life, left anyone behind. And as he lost his grip on Lil’s hand, he felt as though a part of him had failed. The guttural sounds of swine rose alongside their cacophonous footfalls and a sense of dread filtered through Alfeus’ psyche. This definitely wasn’t how he wanted to spend his last minutes.

Stomping his way through the thick of the swamp, hopefully clearing a somewhat easy path for the woman behind him to follow, Alfie ran for his life. His eyes scanned the green and brown surrounding, searching… wondering…

Just when all hope seemed lost, a flash of silver caught his eye. He ran towards the silver tassel, tied to a branch that hung lower than it used to. Before long, Alfeus recognized an old path, mostly overgrown, and a smile came to his lips.

“Come! There might be a way to get away from this!”

The branches bit and bit away, over and over. No matter the strength or willingness of the individual, the roots and the boughs did their best to slow. Katze, light and nimble on his feet, even seemed to struggle in some lesser regard than his companion. Occasionally, a limb would hook him on the cheek or a root take him by the foot and he'd stumble.

A teardrop of blood trickled down from above his left eyebrow, where a particularly mean tree had got his hook into him.

Without hesitation, he veered his path towards the sounds of the guard's voice. A voice he never once considered following in his entire life, but sometimes, fate had a strange way about itself.

She wanted a bath. It seemed kind of a ridiculous thought, since she so rarely had much more than a creek at her service, but the desire was nearly desperate. Whether or not they were still being pursued, she couldn't tell and she didn't dare look back, following Alfeus with great care. Three times, she nearly lost her footing, and like Katze, she received a brutalizing by the branches in their way.

Idly, she considered that they might just wander forever, deeper and deeper, but with a shout, Alfeus called them towards him, and without hesitation, Lil followed.

Alfeus continued to run. His breath was labored, his face stung, and his armor felt heavier than it ever had before. But he valued his life… and the lives of the prisoners behind him. And so he ran, growing ever closer to the cabin he’d built during his first few months banished to patrolling the Grave Road. Though it had been years since his last visit, each step brought memories to the forefront of his mind.

He managed to trip and eat dirt after barreling his way through a thorny thicket. Adrenaline still sang in his blood however, so he pushed himself up and caught sight of his cabin at long last.

“Hurry!” Alfeus shouted after regaining his footing.

The cabin was across the small clearing and with ragged breaths and heavy feet, Alfie didn’t stop when he reached the threshold. The door flew open upon impact and sent him careening into the far wall. He dumped his shoulder pack and ran to the door, ready to close and brace it once his two comrades were within.

Tags:@rissa & @Nav

She was almost hesitant to continue due to the nature of the topic. There was a more comfortable air between them now after the hours spent conversing and working together where Anhlan felt compelled to continue
conversation. "I used to never consider hope," she said. "Hope was unreliable and caused bad judgement. Or so I felt. When I gave into hope is when I caused a man to die. And yet I still can't let go of it now. It's a strange feeling, hope. I hope we can find the bow legged man. I hope we can get the supplies back. I hope we won't have to do it by force."

She huffed a small laugh and shrugged. "It seems silly, yet necessary at the same time."

Chuckled, Declan nodded, and as they started down the hill into the Grave Road, he held out a hand to help her, the steep descent treacherous, even to experienced feet, "I wholeheartedly believe we are nothing with hope. Perhaps it's sentimental or naive of me, but... if we didn't hope for things, we wouldn't care if they happened or not. Hope gives us faith, and faith makes things worthwhile."

"Even then," Anhlan said as she accepted Declan's hand for stability, "anything based in faith is not exactly stable. I don't have faith you can do this job. I know you can based on what I have witnessed. Before I knew you I could only assume based on your uniform you were not only honorable but able. Even then I had skepticism. I suppose I hold a little less in faith than I do hope. Hope feels more like recognition that it may not work out..."

"But then... I suppose I've always been something of an optimist." Releasing her hand, he pulled his blade free, holding it low, but tight, "Be on guard..."
Following suit, Anhlan brought the golden sword in hand from the scabbard slung across her back. She was quiet now; ready for whatever could come from within the surrounding woods. This was unfamiliar territory despite having lived so close for over a year.

Declan fell silent as well, tension worn through his neck and shoulders, his eyes wide and alert as the skimmed the road ahead of them. Caves... They were everywhere, a veritable network, so vast it was nearly impossible to watch them all... But he tried. It was a disconcerting feeling, one which brought the hair on edge, a chill to the bones, each step carefully measured.
And if he and his companion alike had not been so focused an alert, they might easily have tread right into the path of the arrow that, with a smooth whistle, burrowed into the ground at their feet.

Pausing, Declan held out his arm to stop Anhlan, before, with a cry, a small throng of men poured from one of the crevases to their right. Ten... Maybe a solid dozen, armed with blades on bows, encircling like birds of prey.

"Welcome party... There'll be more." Declan muttered to Anhlan, and with a nod to her, he slowly lowered his blade to the ground, raising his hands even more slowly.

@Effervescent

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NPCS: Remis Halifax

The pair lapsed into silence, following the bog incident. Remis’s gaze remained alert, watchful, both on the ground before them and the area around them. There were far too many threats in the swamp, far too many things that might go wrong at any turn, and he wasn't going to be caught off guard a second time.

It wasn't like Remis to care much for strangers, but something about Briar spoke to him. Something within his base instincts, telling him to watch over her… to get her through the swamp. Maybe it was just the hope that she was well endowed enough to offer a heaping reward after he got her to safety… but he knew well enough to know that was at best only part of the reason.

It was hard going, and slow, but Remi pushed them onward until the sun sank too low for adequate vision. Stopping to rest, he found a relatively dry spot for them to sit and planting himself, he stretched out his legs, leaning back on his elbow. With a sigh, he glanced up to Briar, “You about ready to tell me your story yet, Love?”

Tags: @BearEnthusiast (Briar)

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NPCS: Merek Loren

“How did you find him, Red? You were so sure they were all gone… How did you even know to look?”

"I- I didn't."

One hatchet sheathed in its protective leather, the other held loosely in her left hand, Wendy kept one step before the group. It was easy going: the ground around the old Loren homestead had remained cleared for growing their food, and even the worn path that wound its way a good quarter mile from the house to the forest's edge had been well kept. It was a peaceful place, if one forgot for a moment the death that had just occurred within the house. One might even call it idyllic. The grass was a dark jade, bending to the gentle touch of the wind's kiss only to spring back up again. The sky was bright and clear, with nothing to obstruct it, and the warm beams felt envigorating and healthy. Yet the forest loomed on the edge of the Lorens' property, a constant haven for the dark and mysterious. For those that sought protection from the things that stalked the light. For creatures like the Beast.

Or creatures like them. It was only wise to flee the scene of their crime, lest further royal wrath descended on them. Wendy knew what leaving a home meant, and how deeply its loss could cut. She'd have to offer condolences. Eventually. But for now it seemed that Merek wanted distraction, and she couldn't blame him.

"It was by accident. I haven't just been hunting the Beast, you know. Other...Things prey on people in the woods. So I've been helping out sometimes. Found Wolfie locked up in a nasty Witch's house; she was trying to cook him." She grimaced at the memory, then laughed, shoving her thumb back at her brother. "Jacob here shoved her into her own stove. Probably didn't keep her down, of course. But it was fun to see him get a bit of his own back."

The laughter slowly faded until her face held not even a hint of the earlier levity. They reached the forest at last. Pausing, Wendy glanced at her twin, eyes mournful.

"It was good to find you, Wolfie. Good to know that at least one Palin survived that night."

Jacob kept his head down the whole walk. The question was obviously not directed at him, but it was strange to listen to them speak as if he wasn’t right behind them. There was not the tiniest hit of a smile from the man and he even flinched at her laugh. The oven bit wasn’t funny. It still made him sick to think about.

“Yeah,” He murmured, brows furrowed as he trudged along. “At least one.”

Merek’s gaze moved from Wendy to Jacob, nearly indifferent, but for a bead of concern behind his eyes. This was far from the girl who had come to his doorstep so many years ago, desperate and alone. What had transpired to bring her to such a point of violence… Frowning, he shook his head, “I'm sorry. What you must have endured. We searched… for a long we searched, hoping there might be more survivors, but…”

Shaking his head, he turned to Travis, who wore his own concern more readily, watching Wendy as one might a wild animal…

“Travis was young when it happened, but it's a hard thing for anyone to forget.”

“Maybe it's best… moving on. Maybe this trip will be good for everyone.” Travis finally said, with a small, weary smile.

Wendy nodded, not really trusting herself to speak. What could she say? Clearly the others were … uncomfortable, perhaps? around her, but she couldn’t say why precisely. And it seemed the wrong moment to ask. Was Jacob … afraid of her, somehow? Did her propensity for action put him off somehow? And what of the Lorens? To her memory, she’d never thanked them, having instead fled from this very place a few days after It, terrified that the Beast might find her there. She’d had to keep moving, Wendy recalled. Even now she felt that fear in her mind, pushing her to run for cover. For safety. But was it just the Beast her subconscious fled, or was it also the thought of what her brother and friends might think of her?

Who could say. For now they had more important things to consider. The edge of the forest was at their feet, the path upon which they’d walked running headlong into the trees without even a thought for the individuals it lead into the leafy shadow. Wendy stared ahead, eyes narrow and teeth clenched. She hated the woods, loathed the trees for what they meant. Involuntarily she lifted the other axe from its sheath, never moving her gaze.

“Come,” she stated with aplomb. “We’ve a quite a step ahead of us before we reach a good shelter for the night.”

A sigh escaped Jacob, gaze still entirely diverted from Wendy. He barely wanted to look at her. Every action she took just made her more and more estranged. He wanted to say this wasn’t the girl he remembered, but after four long years in a witch’s grasp, memories had swirled around. Things became unclear. Sometimes, he wasn’t sure if he remembered Wendy properly.

Maybe she was always like this. Maybe this was always inside her.

Instead of dealing with his own thoughts, Jacob moved closer to Travis. Too young to remember the incident, Merek had said. So the Palin tragedy was famous news, huh? Maybe someone had held a memorial for them. That’d be nice. Maybe if they ever went back.. Maybe someone buried the remains. Maybe he had a place to mourn. The thought gave him the slightest bit of peace. His eyes watered momentarily, but he shook his head and turned to Travis.

“You, uh.. Ever been to Bright Hedge?”

Looking to Jacob, Travis shook his head with a small, weary smile, “Never been outside of Elderidge, myself. Tom was the traveler. Couldn't keep him in one place. There was just this need in him… to explore and discover.”

The smile faded and he lowered his eyes for a moment, “Never thought I'd be talking about him like he wasn't here anymore.” Rubbing the back of his neck, he turned to look at Merek, “How you holding up? Wendy, was it? We should probably eat, soon…”

The young woman raised a low hanging branch, eyeing the path before them before glancing back. They hadn't traveled nearly far enough for her liking. Yet Travis was right; Merek needed food, and though it had itself become a kind of companion, the empty feeling in her stomach meant that she did, too. She nodded in response to the query, holding up a hand for the party to stop before ducking into the brush. A few moments passed before she returned.

“There's a small deer break just through here,” Wendy informed them, ushering them into the trees the way she'd come. “It'll keep us hidden well enough.”

@Red Thunder, @CloudyBlueDay

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NPCS: Fiora Rimel | Nicolette Rey

Mothers weren’t something Fiora had a lot of experience with… Not good ones, at least. It was strange, then, coming up against Jack’s and noting that, despite her disdain for Goose, she seemed genuinely glad to see her son returned. Not only that, but her welcoming nature towards Fiora... It was almost alarming, but in a way that made her feel warm to her depths.

She smiled at the woman’s comments and her cheeks colored at the suggestion that she was there to marry Jack, but before she could hope to reply, she had already been ushered inside, still colored crimson as she passed through the doors and into the small cottage, taking Jack's hand once inside, for his encouragement, as much as for her own.

It was homey and warm, with furnishing scattered her and there, a stove in the corner... The room smelled of burning wood and a briney, salty stew. Fiora’s stomach clenched and she breathed in, realizing just how hungry she was, since their last meal hours ago. Her eyes shifted to Jack and she smiled gingerly, her mouth moving around the word, ‘Nice.’

She understood why he had left home, but it was reassuring to know whatever happened, he could still come back… that he would be welcomed. It had been some time since she had been in an ordinary home, around ordinary folk… Or at least as ordinary as they came.

@Doctor Jax

The retainer was not sure how much rest he could manage to get following his conversation with Nicolette. Indeed he ended up tossing and turning for what felt like hours--his thoughts conflicting with his feelings--long after she had left. At some point Harrison did end up drifting away but when he hardly felt better.
Still, he decided he'd go crazy if he had to lie down any longer. The retainer stood, his body protesting the movement, and slid on a loose linen shirt. A blunt paint running the length of his leg, Harrison then limped out the door and slowly made his way down a staircase.
"Nicolette?" He called out.

Sheep were, decidedly, wretched creatures... Ill tempered, wooly mules. One in particular, aptly named Honey was providing Nicolette with far more exercise than she required, and with one arm looped around the creatures neck, her foot trying to boot open the pen door and her other hand braced against the rails for balance, she pushed with all her might, but Honey refused, utterly, to budge.

Harrison turned the corner at the bottom of the stairs and entered a hearth. His eyes quietly examined the room as he called out for her once more. It was only when his eyes were drawn to the window did he find Nicolette.

She was quite the sight, wrestling with a large sheep the way she was.

Harrison stepped outside and with one hand to shield his eyes, he approached her. "I'd like to offer my assistance but I have very little experience with livestock... I'm afraid."

His lips curved into a small smile and Harrison went around her so he might face her from the front. "Just tell me what to do."

"I need to get her in, but... Hmm." Kicking the pen door back again, she straightened as much as she dared, "Grab her round the back and give her a good shove..."

His brow quirked, but he moved over and around all the same. Harrison had nearly zero experience with the settler lifestyle, but he was willing to try if it meant he could start paying back Nicolette for saving him.

Pressing his hands firmly against the wooly mass of an animal, Harrison nodded and after a moment--pushed.

Watching him, Nicolette couldn't resist the smile that lifted her expression, brightening the whole of her countenance.

Honey was less enthusiastic, but with a stuttered snort, she started forward, into the pen, "Ah! Yes. Good!"

Past the opening, Nicolette released her foot from the gate, but as it swung closed, Honey bolted forward, pulling herself free, sending the young farmgirl sprawling forward with a yelp.
As injured as he may have been, Harrison's reaction time remained fully intact. One moment he had his form wrapped around the back end of a sheep and the next--he was diving to break Nicolette's fall.

Which he did, along with a great thud and a wave of pain washing over his still back. Harrison groaned lightly, before opening his eyes to the sight of the farm woman on top of him.
His cheeks flushed a shade of pink, though his beard played a part in hiding it.

"I-I'm sorry. I'm suppose I'm not the one to just watch a lady fall." He stammered.

Nicolette stared down at him, her own cheeks flushed as she moved her hand from where it had landed on his chest to the ground, to push herself upwards.

"I am so sorry, Harrison. Might have misjudged how quickly she'd move." Smiling delicately, she held out hand to help him upright, "You shouldn't have done that.. Injured like you are."

"Mmph, I'll admit that it might not have been the smartest decision...diving like I had." Harrison grunted, taking her hand and standing to his feet despite the ache that ran the length of his body. He dusted himself free of dirt and grass and laughed softly.

"Is wrangling sheep always such a difficult task?" Harrison asked, blue eyes looking up from his soiled clothes to the woman. "Or was that one a little rebel?"

Chuckling softly, she nodded, "They're far less onery than the chickens, though. Did you know they bite?" Dusting herself off, she turned to help him, reaching up to brush the dust from his shoulders.

"The most I've done with a cow is watch it graze from atop of my horse." Harrison answered truthfully, leaning his figure carefully against the fence. He rubbed his chin.

"I'm...admittedly quite hesitant, but I'd be willing to try I suppose." He laughed, cheeks flushing pink as he put his naivete knowingly on full display. "I trust its not too difficult of a task?"

Laughing softly, raking a hand through the mess of blonde curls falling into her eyes, Nicolette shook her head, "It's terrifying. They're rather large. But I'd love the company, if you don't mind watching?"

Would it be selfish to ask for the full experience? Harrison thought on it a moment, running a hand through his darkened hair as he looked off at the surrounding fields. Eventually he turned back to her and shrugged, smiling.

"It would be my pleasure--lead the way, Nicolette."

@BearEnthusiast (Harrison)

Next update the week of 7/23
 
BRIAR ROSE AND REMI HALIFAX a collaboration with @Elle Joyner
It was an answered prayer when Remi finally dropped down and settled on to the swamp floor. Now Briar was far from a dainty wallflower, but this excursion had been more than enough walking for her tastes. With as much grace as a stump of wood, she dropped down next to him--tempted to lay her wary head on his shoulder.

"Are you ready to tell me yours?" Briar responded without missing a beat.

Glancing over to her, a little surprised, but not much, by her proximity, Remi chuckled with a small shrug, "Not half as exciting, I assure you. What do you want to know?"

"Let's see here..." Briar looked over at him, smirking as she mentally went over all the possibilities. "Tell me about... your best lover, Remi. After that you may ask the next question."

His lip twitched into a matching smirk and Remi straightened up, ever so slightly, "Well, seeing as I've yet to have you, Love? I'd say Malia. She was an exotic from Bravgara. Bit wild, but not the sort you'd forget. Course, she tried to kill me the next day." He hooked a finger in his shirt and tugged it away from his neck to show a small, silvery white scar near the collarbone, "That wasn't exactly the excitement I was after. What are you running from?

"Oof... and here I was hoping you'd ask me about my best experience in bed." Briar teased, the playfulness remaining in her expression until she leaned back and sighed. It wasn't the most pleasant thing to talk about. The redhead leaned back forward, reaching out to trace the length of his scar as she spoke softly. "I'm running from my past as typical as that might seem. There are people out there who would have more than just my head because of things I've done... or the things I've allowed."

The red head pulled her hand back, blue eyes trailing upwards to meet his as she tilted her head. "My turn. Why do you want to know? Are you just that curious about me?"

"I figured as much. Nobody puts a bounty that far and wide if they're not after someone worth the catching." Looking over at her, he studied her for a moment, before nodding, "Actually, yeah. I am. Not a lot of people in the world surprise me anymore, Briar... but you did. And I guess that makes me curious."

Shifting, he turned his eyes upwards, to the dark canopy overhead, "...Do you regret what you did?"

Briar's eyes followed his up towards the sky and she exhaled. She found herself wishing that she had just told him no. "I simply did what was necessary--for my own safety and the safety of many other women." Her answer was strong, at first, but the steadiness wavered as she continued.

"But to say that I regret it? I don't know. It's just that... it's not that black and white for me." She frowned, allowing herself a moment of weakness as she leaned in to lie against him.

"...My mother died to save my brother's life." Remi started, as she curled into his side, his arm winding around her small form, gingerly, "He was sick and she was... Well, she had certain gifts that are frowned upon, back where I'm from. She was caught, and despite her motives, they killed her. I wanted to stop it, but I was a scared, stupid kid with ambitions that outweighed a conscience. A few weeks later, my brother died anyway."

Clearing his throat, he shrugged again, "Nothin's black and white, Love. But if it helps, I have regrets, too."

Briar buried her face into the nape of his neck, taking in Remi's scent with each soft breath. His warmth was a welcome respite from the evening's cold. His story was with tragedy, like her own, and that resonated with something inside of her. She wanted to offer her condolences, to express her sorrow at hearing his tragedy, but it seemed all the right words remained caught in her throat.

"You've endured a world's worth of sadness Remi..." She managed to squeak out, a small whisper against his skin.

"I've blood on my hands Remi, more blood than you could imagine possible of me. I'm afraid associating yourself with a woman like myself will only guarantee you endure even more tragedy." It was a mistake leaning in like she had... Briar knew she had closed her heart to such things a long time ago. She pulled away, breaking his hold of her with little warning while she reached to wipe the single tear she allowed herself to shed.

"Already told you, Love. I'm no good at doing what's best for me." With a small, wry chuckle, Remi shook his head, and reaching out as she pulled away, he caught her hand as it swiped at the tear, the thumb of his free hand brushing her cheek dry, Looking down at the hand he held captive, he unfolded her fingers, one at a time, and smirked, "...And they look clean as porcelain to me."

"You... you are a horrendously stubborn man, Remi." Briar breathed, surprise and exasperation alike in her voice. Perhaps it was the exhaustion clouding her mind, or maybe it was he way he made her knees weaken with each dumb smirk, but she found herself a sudden want to shut him up with her lips. "I've told you enough that I'm not a good person but I see now that it'll take more than words to convince you."

Briar's heart began to beat out of control, the thud accompanied by a warmth in her cheeks. With her fingers still intertwined with his she closed what distance remained, and settled atop of his lap ever so slowly. Finding his eyes in the dark, Briar slowly ran their hands down the length of her back. She stopped him, just at the curve, and with a smirk prompted him to stay there.

Her arms wrapped around his neck and Briar leaned in, her words a warm whisper against his ear. "After this? You won't even remember Malia's name."

If he was surprised, or startled by her sudden shift, Remi didn't show it. He stayed put, but for his hands, which cupped around her hips as though they had been made for such a spot, the smirk still easy on his lips as she watched her, the thick brow above his blue eyes giving little more than a curious tip upwards.

"I'm not even sure I remember it proper, now, to be perfect honest." He teased, then straightening upwards, he yanked her a little closer, and without hesitation, crushed her mouth to his own. It wasn't a long embrace, a flicker in time before, gingerly, hands splayed comfortably on the small of her back again, he slipped back.

"I'm no master of romance, Bri... Hell. I'm not even very nice, and I'm damn sure I'm no gentleman... But you? You're different than anyone I met before, and maybe that's good, maybe it's bad, I haven't figured it out quite yet, but what I have figured out is you're a woman who knows what she wants, probably gets it more often than not... But you sure this is really it?"

"Mossy undergrowth of a swamp, who knows what watchin' in the dark? I'd wager it's not what you want at all, and I know it's not what you deserve. Like I said, I'm no gentleman, and I got enough sense in my head not to turn you down, but only if you're sure..."

The rush of his lips against hers was nearly enough to send Briar out of her mind, there was something electric about it, something different from any other kiss she had before. She was no stranger to passion, indeed everything she knew on the subject Briar had gathered during her working years... but there was something else to Remi, something that escaped her.

But despite all that, a wave of relief washed over Briar as he pulled back.

"You're telling me you never wanted to make love under the stars?" She tried, an attempt to convince both herself and Remi, that this was what she wanted. It was apparent however, when the woman began to laugh, that that was not the case. She leaned into him but stopped as her forehead laid against his.

"Maybe I have... But not so close to a bog, next time, hm?" Straightening, he pressed an oddly gentle kiss to her forehead, before lifting his hands higher up along her spine, tugging her closer to lay back down again.

"Not a gentleman he says. I know very few gentleman who'dve stopped me the way you just did." Briar teased, an amused sort of exasperation in her breathy voice. "It seems we both still have some learning to do when it comes to affairs of the heart."

In the stillness that followed, he considered his own actions, as well as hers. Tension was a powerful motivator, but the words he had used, they should have sent him fleeing and yet the did little more than drive a shiver up the back of his neck.

Affairs of the heart, indeed, "Get some rest, Love. I'll wake you in a few hours."
 
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Smiling a crooked grin, Aelynn shrugged with an air of nonchalance, setting down her bowl on the small wooden table, “With a queen like Eirlys controlling everything, it’s only a matter of time before she’s got us all behind bars for one thing or another, anyway. At least this way, I can do some good…”

Frowning softly, Cath returned to her own bowl, stirring the wooden spoon in a circle as she considered her daughter’s words, “It’s a different world than it once was.”

“We’ll make it better again, Mum.” Putting a hand to her mother’s shoulder, Aelynn nodded, “I’d best be off, then… I’ll send word once Ella’s spoken to the king. Best to sit tight, until then. Mum’ll take good of you.” With a kiss to her mother’s cheek, Aelynn turned and was out the door, back into the stillness of the evening.

Her frown did not abate, as Cath set down her bowl and with a small sigh, she looked to Uther, “You must be tired. Please, rest.” She gestured to the small straw bed in the corner with a weary smile, “I’ll wake you, when Aelynn sends word.”

Uther balked at the idea of taking a nap while the girl was risking her life. Rather, he followed Aelynn outside, not even bothering to finish his stew. He managed to catch sight of her just before the girl disappeared into the darkness. The knight sighed and chose to go to his horse. He scrambled in his saddlebags until he pulled out a pipe. Luckily, he had it set up in case of a frustrating night, such as this one.

Uther sat on the steps, smoking his pipe while grumbling about the state of the world and himself.

"...the young die, and the old linger to watch...too young to die, too old to take action. What the hell am I?"
 
Sleepover! and fluff

a @Doctor Jax and @Elle Joyner collab

Jack's mother busied herself at the kitchen fire, quickly ladling soup into two different bowls. It was a slightly unsavory looking dinner, but by all means it smelled delicious. Whatever the case, Jack was more than eager to have it.

"Codswallow soup?" he asked with delight. "Can I have the head?"

"Y' may, dear. No, no -- you wait. You always burn your tongue, and I'll not be taking you to Witchhouse again to get it looked at. I'm setting it here on the mantle to cool for ya. Dearest, here, have a bite to warm those bones. You two looked chilled!" his mother stated, handing her a rather large helping along with a bit of bread.

"Now-- what's your name?" she asked, sitting in a rocking chair by the fire.

As she took the soup, which to Fiora could have been comprised of mud and moss and would have been easily the most delectable thing she'd ever eaten for how hungry she was, her eyes flickered over to Jack with a small lift of her brows.

He was patient with her burdensome lack of speech, but not everyone tended to be so easy on her.

Looking to his mother again, she mouthed the name as politely as possible, before tucking the bread into the broth, taking a delicate bite.

The mother looked at Fi, then at Jack, then back to Fi.

"Um... I don't think I caught that. Would you say again?"

"Oh! Mum, she can't talk."

"Why didn'tcha say that before? Clodhead! I wouldn'ta asked. Now I look a downright, impolite fool!"

"Sorry, I didn't think-- her name is Fi, by the way," Jack said with a look of chagrin, sneaking behind his mother to get his soup, only to receive a smack on the hand for trying to get at the bowl prematurely.

"Well, what're you here for? Do you need paper? Well, wouldn't have done you much good, I can't really read, but maybe you could draw."

Her eyes moved to Jack and she shook her head, as the woman apologized, her smile warm and genuine. It was easy to see, really, where Jack got his simple charm from, at least, even if she was a little more brash than her son.

Looking to Jack as she asked what their visit was for, she frowned softly. It wouldn't be impossible to draw, but it seemed impossible to explain...

With a shrug, she gave a polite nod.

Quickly, Jack's mother left to go and get the aforementioned paper, and Jack snatched the bowl of soup off the mantle. The moment he got his mouth around the spoon, true to his nature, he found it too hot and burnt his tongue. He made a face as he blew and tried to cool his burnt mouth, but it would do no good.

His mother returned with paper and a charcoal stick, only to look at Jack with disapproval. The boy shrugged his shoulders before the woman put the two down before Fi.

"I'd ask Jack, but goodness, he couldn't remember where his shoes are if he were wearing 'em," she sighed.

Jack, in the meantime, was about to protest before wondering if he did, indeed, have his shoes on. He looked down to find, why yes, yes he did.

Taking the paper with a small smile of amusement, Fiora shook her head at Jack before she turned her attention to the page. How did one draw exactly what they were planning to do?

With a frown, she bit her lip and sketched out a mountain - she was no artist, certainly, but it was clear enough, and with two dots - a third, slightly smaller, to indicate Goose's presence, she indicated that they were heading to the mountain, to meet a fourth dot.

It wasn't much, and it was crude, but it was at least better than pantomime...

Jack's mother took a hold of the paper and looked at it with a slowly growing expression of horror.

"Now, who could you possibly want to meet up there? Jack, you're not privy to this fool's errand, are you? What am I talking about -- of course you are," she sighed, rubbing her forehead. She put a hand on Fi's.

"You listen to me. There's naught up there but ill omens and bad magic. I lost one son up there already."

"Yeah... My oldest brother went up and I never found him. Goose was up there though!" Jack interjected.

Fiora flushed as she considered his mother's words. True, Jack had been the one to suggest the journey, but how did Fi explain why? How could she properly convey to the woman all that was happening. How did she convey that while conventionally Jack might have seemed a fool, he certainly wasn't to her...

Looking from the paper, to Jack, to his mother, then again to the paper. She sighed.

'We have to.' She finally mouthed, hoping Jack might relay the rest.

Realizing it may be a mite difficult to explain for Fi, Jack said, "She's for family on the mountain."

"On the mountain?!"

"Yeah. She weren't safe where she was at so her aunt or something told her to come here to stay."

Jack's mother looked skeptical, but the look on Jack's face spoke volumes. Rarely did he ever take something so seriously. This girl must be something special. Jack had already risked his life once going up the mountain.

"Well," she grumbled, "you'll have a night under my roof first. At morn, you can take the trip. Goose should be enough to scare if the bears and panthers, though I'd like it better if you stayed near."

She was glad, in the end, that she had trusted Jack to deal with explaining their mission to his mother - for where she might have thought him a fool, she at least seemed to understand he wasn't one to do something quite so foolhearty, without a good reason.

It was nice, as well, to know that they wouldn't be left wandering into the night. There was some comfort, in having a home to stay in, even if it was just for a few hours.

She smiled and bowed her head in gratefulness, then returned to her broth, but not before reaching over to give Jack's hand a gentle squeeze.

"Now, you'll understand, we've no actual room per se. Jack used to take up with me and Pa in our bed, while the other two boys slept in their own bed. Jack'll sleep in the roost, while you can have the open guest bed," his mother stated.

Jack sighed. He always got the roost, even when he was a kid. He was the smallest and lightest and didn't mind birds much...

A brow lifted at his mother's offer, and she looked to Jack with a small smile, shaking her head. She wouldn't put him out of a bed, even if it was something he was accustomed to.

Pointing to herself, she then pointed to the floor, indicating that she was more than happy to take the position she was more accustomed to, anyway.

"Are.... are you sure, lass? Well, perhaps, I could do you up a pallet on the floor I suppose, with some spare blankets...." Jack's mother said, walking back into the bedroom.

"Yeah, I don't mind, Fi. You kin have the bed. I sleep fine on the floor too," Jack offered.

Smiling, as his mother slipped out of the room, Fiora shook her head, waving away his suggestion. He had saved her... More than once, he had saved her, and she wasn't going to let him go sleeping in a roost, or on the floor, or anywhere else if she had any say in the matter.
[/hr]

 

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NPCS: Aelynn || Ella

“A good man… by any right.” Stepping outside of their small home, Cath settled on the step beside the older knight, her hands resting in her lap with a small, weary smile. Where her daughter was fair haired and pale, Cath greatly differed - olive-skinned, dark hair, streaked with delicate silver strands. She had been quite lovely, in her day, but even through use and age she had retained some of her looks.

Her eyes, in particular - a misty green - possessed a youthful glimmer, and her smile was warm and kind. Those eyes fixed on Uther, but the smile did not, as she reached out to place a hand to his arm, “I’m sorry, about Rickard. I’ve known him for some time, and he was a good man, and a fair captain. The state of things might have been considerably worse, were it not for his leadership. And I have to think if he trusted you, you can’t be anything but admirable.”

Gaze shifting to the streets, she frowned, wringing her hands together subconsciously, “More and more, it seems like the world isn’t quite ever going to go back to the way it was. It just gets darker and darker every day. Raising a child is difficult enough by oneself, but on the cusp of all that’s happened, knowing war’s just ‘round the corner? It’s hard to hold much of a hope in anything.”

Looking over to Uther again, she managed a weary smile, “But Aelynn is brighter than she seems, and eager. She’ll be alright. And Ella is easily the most good natured woman I’ve ever met. If anyone can convince King Cristoff to see you, she can. Dare say she will, in fact. Not much he wouldn’t do for Rosie’s nursemaid… and nothin’ he wouldn’t do for his daughter, for that matter.”

@Toogee

Ella moved with a swiftness that she had not thought herself capable of, as she raced along the halls to Cristoff's chambers. So much had happened that night, but all thoughts of the dramatics were gone from her mind, Aelynn's news, instead ringing true and urgently.

As she arrived outside his door she took barley a moment to catch her breath before, raising her hand, she knocked.

The knock upon his chamber door forced Cristoff out of his melancholic stupor. After a quick calming of his heart the King stood from his chair by the hearth and made his way to the door. The frenzied face of the woman before him woke something deep inside him that had slept for too long.

"Ella?" Cristoff asked worriedly, reaching out and taking hold of her arm softly. "What's wrong? Why do you look so frightened?"

Ella didn't have time to contemplate matters of propriety or her place in the palace. She couldn't consider his concern, or the weight up his hand upon her arm.

Looking up at him, she shook her head, "It's not safe to say in the hall, sire."

"Whatever do you mean?" Cristoff said with a small frown.

He intended to usher her towards the hearth but the king halted at the combination of her words and his own intuition. Cristoff cocked his head to the side and searched the face of the woman before him.

"Do you know a place that is safe, Ella?"

Frowning at his words, she shook her head, "I... I don't."

No where seemed safe. Not knowing what she did. Not knowing how swiftly things were about to change. Turning her eyes to the fire, she flinched and looking back to Cristoff, took a breath.

"I need you... I need you to come with me. I can't tell you more than that and risk anyone overhearing. I understand if you can't, but it's of utter importance... It could change everything, Sire."

He frowned but ultimately agreed. Cristoff nodded his head with a confused man's annoyance and ushered her towards the door.

"Then by all means, show me the way."

Breathing out, Ella nodded, and with the same haste, she led Cristoff down a long stretch of hall, to a small wooden door. This she opened, then down a spiral staircase. The stairs led to a second door, and these, outside the palace. It was a short length to the gates, but instead, Ella guided the king in thr direction of the small shack that stood near the stables. It wasn't used for much more than grain storage, but it was inconspicuous, and private, and entirely perfect. Pushing the door open, she waved him inside, the shut the door behind them, exhaling a quivering breath.

"Your majesty... There's a man in village. His name is Uther. He was guard under Aladria, before the Queen came to power. He's retired now, but when he was in service, his loyalty was renowned. He's come to see you about a matter of great importance. Sire, he..."

There was a small skittering sound in the corner, and with a resounding crack, a broom toppled. Ella jumped, bolting into Cristoff with a startled yelp.

"It's alright," Cristoff murmured softly, wrapping a loose arm around her shoulders. Ella was so tense... so easily frightened. "It's alright, just a mouse..."

His voice trailed off as he considered her words. A nagging feeling ate away at him, like an itch he was unable to scratch.

"What has he come to see me for, Ella? Is... Is it about Rose?"

Breathing out, she nodded, then realized in the darkness he probably wasn't even able to see her. Which was probably a good thing, considering the color her skin turned, as he arm draped around her shoulder.

Of course, a quick reminder that to be seen in such a precarious situation could very well put her away for treason was enough to sober her mind and straightening, she continued.

"...I'm told... he knows where she is. That he can help you get her back." `

"Then he must be sent to me," Cristoff replied immediately, his heart thud-thud-thudding in his chest.

He was momentarily lightheaded at the glee of discovering tangible evidence and terrified to his core of just what he was going to soon learn. Cristoff squeezed Ella's shoulder, leaning perhaps a bit more than he normally would.

"We must... We have to-- I must know, immediately." Cristoff pleaded with Ella, his voice soft and broken and full of emotion.

"He wants to meet with you, but he can't come here. He's afraid it isn't safe. He... he was friends with Rickard, and believes what happened to the captain was no accident. It's been asked that you set a meeting outside of Bright Hedge, and for me to deliver the location."

As his grip on her shoulder tightened, Ella reached up to rest her hand over his. It was purely instinctual, and had their circumstances been any different she might have moved away more swiftly, but in the darkened grain closest, he seemed less a fearsome ruler and more a man, a father, in desperate need of comfort.

"Cristoff," she murmured gently, finding his eyes in the little bit of light there was through the doorframe, "We'll get her back. Whatever it takes, we'll bring her home."

He let out a soft ragged sigh of emotion and placed his forehead against Ella's. Intimacy radiated through the small storage shack, an intimacy he lacked and yet desperately needed. Cristoff sighed again, a deep rasp that came from somewhere deep inside him. A place that hadn't been delved into for years.

"We need to bring her home... We need to bring her back home."

And then, following his instincts once more, he leaned closer and placed a soft kiss upon her lips. And then another.

"I've... been meaning to do that for awhile, I believe."

Ella didn't dare to move, even as her mind shrieked at her to do so. She didn't dare to move, to think, to breathe. Her heart slammed against her chest with such fury she was sure it was audible in that small, dark shed.

Reason seemed forfeit to need, and she could not will herself to do what was right, he leaned in, and her world was shattered by that eversoft embrace.

Tears stung her eyes, and opening them, she looked up at him, shaking her head, with a shudder of an exhalation. To speak, she knew, would send the illusion crumbling to dust, but not to...? It wasn't fair to him...

"I shouldn't have run off..." It wasn't what she meant to say, not in the least, but from the very root of her, her trembling form rebelled against logical action, and the words came of their own volition, "I should have stayed and trusted... But I was so afraid. And when you found her, I was so certain it wasn't meant to be... But I have never forgotten that night, My Lord. Not ever."

"I..."

For a moment Cristoff was at a loss for words. At a loss for everything he had been led to believe. Between the news of his daughter and now... Finding out that Ella had been the one from all those years ago, Cristoff hadn't a clue what his next step entailed.

Deep down he had always questioned, had always known his Queen wasn't the loving woman he craved. And hidden somewhere deep inside, he had known Ella was the one he should have chosen. For every time they were in the same room together his heart sped faster and he wanted nothing more than to swoop her in his arms. And when he saw the light in Rose's eyes, whenever the two were together he never felt happier...

He nuzzled into her neck, warm tears spilling from his eyes. "You should have told me sooner..."

Clearing his throat and wiping away tears, Cristoff spoke again. "I will leave at this very moment, Ella. I will meet this man anywhere, anytime. I just hope you're to come with me."

"You have to go without me" She whispered, tears stinging her own eyes at the words he murmured. How she had longed to tell him, how she had longed to reveal herself, but the moment had never felt right. It didn't, still. Desperate as she was to tell him everything, she could not ignore the importance of why they had come to that shed in the first place. Rosie. Rosie had to be their focus. Always.

"I've told Aelynn to bring Uther to my family's old home outside the city. I can tell you the way, but I... I should stay here. If anyone notices you've gone, I'll come up with an excuse. Stall. We must be careful, Cristoff." She wouldn't go so far as to suggest what Aelynn had. That Eirlyse could not be trusted. That she was somehow involved. But it was easy enough to surmise, Rosie's mother had some great stake in this affair than she led everyone to believe...

Looking up at him, raising a trembling hand to brush his cheek, her thumb running across the dampness. Clenching her jaw, she shook her head, "I imagine we have much to discuss, when you return."

As she wiped the tears from his cheeks, Cristoff laid his hand atop hers and leaned into the warm embrace. Kissing her palm, as a promise as to what had finally blossomed between them, the king took a step away to clear his head.

"I should leave now.... I-I need to know what's happened to my little Rose. Tell me, Ella dear, how do I find your family home?"

Before letting go of her hand, Cristoff kissed her knuckles and whispered both a promise and a warning. "When I return there is much we must speak of... Be safe, I'll return as quickly as I'm able."

She managed a small smile, barely visible in the darkness, as she held her hand to her heart, "Yes, my Lord. And I will await your return most ardently."

Then giving him the direct course to her former home, she moved to open the door again, "Until then, Cristoff."

After a moment or two, when Cristoff believed Ella had made it safely back into the castle, he made his way out of the storage shack and into the stables. It was quiet save the soft nickering of horses and lit by small sconces that danced with firelight. He moved to saddle his stallion, but as he reached the stall, a sleepy voice reached his ears.

"Oi! What do you think--"

Cristoff turned and listened to the sharp intake of breath from the stable boy.

"I apologize Sire, I-I-I..."

"You were just doing your duties," Cristoff murmured softly, a sad reminiscent smile gracing his face. "Would you like to help me, young one?"

The young boy, probably a few years older than his Rose, nodded with wide eyes and helped him saddle his stallion. In less time than he imagined it'd take, Cristoff was atop his horse and ready to depart.

"Sire... May I ask w-where you're going this late?"

"To clear my head," The king replied softly. "It hasn't stopped screaming since..."

"Since Rosie..." The stable boy replied when he did not. Cristoff watched as his face turned red and his eyes widened with fear. "I'm sorry, I..."

"There's no need to apologize. Now go, back to sleep with you. I'm sure your father will have plenty for you to do in the morn'."

He left the stables with a growing talisman of hope against his heart, a hope that he vowed would never end. He would find his daughter, even if it was the last thing he'd do.

Through the gates and through the city he went, keeping to the path Ella had described for him. It felt like an eternity under the stars, but finally, finally, he arrived at the location of Ella's family home, yearning for the news he was promised.

Tags: Collab with @rissa

Aelynn was gone little more than an hour, before her blonde head came bounding around the corner towards the small humble home. There was a subtle skip in her step, though it was difficult to tell if it was simply youthful excitement at being included in so clandestine an affair, or actual success.

When she finally reached the house, however, the grin that spilled across her lips was certainly one of triumph, “He’ll meet ya at Ella’s home, outside the city. It’s safer you aren’t seen together, what with the queen runnin’ a rage right now. The folks she says, what killed the Captain… they got away. Her little guard dog didn’t come back, either.”

Cath, who had been listening, quirked a brow and cleared her throat, and the smile faded as Aelynn continued, “Anyway. I got the directions, and I can take ya right quick. If ya think it’s best…”

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NPCS: Declan Martel || Lilianna Gentry | Alfeus Swann

Katze’s feet slipped outwards on the wet leaf litter as he sprung through the thickets. The cold air shocked his throat and lungs as he inhaled deeper, faster, feeling the tender organs begin to go raw with the efforts. With each footfall, a jarring pin shot ankle to knee, ankle to knee, repeatedly; perhaps jumping from that wall hadn’t been too smart. In his chest, his heart beat frantically—all or nothing. Fail, and his whole body would pay the price, run and the damage was limited mostly to his shins and knees.

Throwing himself over a fallen log, he stumbled, faltered, but quickly regained and sprinted anew, only an inch or two off Alfeus’ heels.

The cabin came into view, however blurry from his haggard breathing, like an answered prayer. His muscles ached, screamed, and threaten to give in, but he gave the exertion every last ounce he possessed. In a stride, he crossed the threshold of the flung open door and promptly tumbled to the floor in an exhausted, sweating heap. Blood drippled from his cheek where a gnarled branched had caught him particularly bad, and all the muscles in his form seemed to quiver ever so softly.

“What a nice walk through the woods.”

Relief washed over Lilianna at the sight of the cabin, but with it, a sense of confusion. The Swamp wasn't exactly a place one settled into, willingly, and considering he had known where to find it, she could only assume it belonged to Alfeus, or to someone he knew... but there were very few reasons as Mulgrave guard would choose to live in such a dangerous location.

She poured in after the two men and paused, doubling over to catch her breath, before giving it up for loss and collapsing entirely to her knees. With a hand to the stitch in her side, she looked up at Katze and smirked, before turning her eyes to Alfie, "What is this place?"

"It was home, for a stretch. " Alfeus said between ragged breaths.

His chest heaved as he leaned against the closed door. Sweat pooled at his brows and he drug a hand through his damp hair. Alfeus shrugged himself out of his cloak, his armor still heavier than it ought to be.

"Only a handful of people know this cabin exists. A couple of them have already died. We should be safe for a couple days..."

After a moment he glanced over at Katze and then Liliana. "Anyone hurt worse than they were before? There's a stream nearby... When it's safe I'll retrieve some water so we can clean our wounds."

Katze, after a moment reprieve, managed to stretch himself out. His muscles, that had contracted during the sudden burst of activity, lengthened and went supple again, allowing him first to sit, then to stand.

"A few days? Weren't we on some princess escapade of some sort? She'll probably be dead before then, mate. If she isn't already. I'd put a few pence on a princess skin lampshade by now."

A few strands of dirty blonde hair had slipped from their tie and he pushed them back behind his ears.

The smirk she had faded as Katze continued, and shaking her head, Lilianna sank back to sit down, looking at what remained of the swift bandage job that had been done on her wrists. The striation could be seen through the thin fabric, bruising and swelling around each thin scrape.

"I'll live, but I could do for some better wrappings... I don't wanna even look at my back, though..." Her eyes traveled up to Alfeus, and she shook her head, "Katze is right, though. We shouldn't stay more than a few hours."

Alfeus stood, a nasty look gracing his face as Katze finished speaking. A jest or no, he still spoke of a life... A life that belonged to a child. His upper lip curled in disgust and he snatched his bag from the far wall before sitting firmly against the door once more.

"We're not going anywhere." Alfeus said with a shrug of contempt. "Not until you tell me all you know of the princess and her whereabouts. And I mean, all that you know. I've risked enough today... We need a plan, a reliable one before we leave the cabin."

Rifling through his bag, Alfeus grabbed a clean, thin linen undershirt and tore it into usable strips. "Here," Alfie said after a moment, handing the linen over to Lil. "Your back needs to be looked at as well, that was a hard fall."

Frowning as she took the strips, she considered carefully the next words out of her mouth. Her eyes moved to Katze, wondering idly how much of what he said and did was an act... To defend himself. And maybe he had the right idea.

The Princess was a child, true... But Lil never claimed to be entirely selfless. It frightened her, the idea of going back to that place... And with no guarantee as soon as she gave away her leverage...

"The men I overheard... Their plan was to grab the princess in the middle of the night. Take her and bring her to Fool's Mountain in Renloth. They're banking on superstition keeping people away. There's a cottage... The route was mapped out pretty clear."

Pushing the old bandages off, she held her wrists out with a small frown, "I memorized it, and I can draw it. But I want your word, first, that you won't take me back there. Back to Mulgrave. There's nothing good there... Never has been, and I'm not goin' back on my wills. My dad, before he died, used to tell us... 'takes a fool to let anyone decide fate for you.' And I assure you, Alfeus... I'm a lot of things, but I'm no fool."

Frowning, her eyes downcast, she shook her head, "I want to save her, too... But I can't go back to that hellhole. I won't die in a cell..."

“What… what did you say?”

Katze hadn’t really been listening to what else she had been saying about the princess. It hadn’t really regarded the child’s rescue in any way, deciding that even if she was still alive… getting her back would be nigh impossible. By the time they made it anywhere near where she had been kept, she likely would be transported elsewhere. Hell, she probably already had—either alive or dead. His arms had folded across his chest and he looked at Lil with an intense, narrow-eyed stare.

“I knew a man who used to say that exact thing to me. He also said it to me right before he let me loose in a forest at night, by myself, as a child. Don’t you ever whisper that phrase around me again.” His snap was violent, quick, a sudden burst of anger and resentment, but it faded quickly. He turned away from the pair, paced a few times across the central room of the cabin, and relaxed back into his usual state of indifference.

Whatever emotion he had or had not felt was gone, entirely… shoved back into whatever deepest cages of his heart he could fine. His nervous pacing, however, did not quit and his eyes set affixed on anything in the room that was not living: a chair, a window, a table… anything, anything but Lil and Alfeus.

Katze's outburst had taken him completely by surprise. Absorbed in Lil's words, the sudden and violet temper displayed had him reaching for his sword. He jerked his hand back to his lap, however, as the man settled and resumed his usual apathetic demeanor. Alfeus glanced at Lil with a cocked brow, wondering silently if she knew... And perhaps even expected Katze to react in such a way.

After a minute or two of uncomfortable silence, Alfie cleared his throat and spoke with his hand held over his heart.

"Travel with me to Renloth, to Fool's Mountain... And you will have my word that you'll be free to leave and travel where you please. Let me lay eyes on the princess and I will do more; expunge your crimes... And clear your tainted names."

He hesitated before continuing. "My offer extends to you as well, Katze... Though I have no doubt you believe this mission to be a lost cause. Regardless, you do not know the swamp as I do. I'd suggest tagging along until we're free of its clutches."

Katze outburst was grossly unexpected. Her eyes widened at his words, heart giving a pounding throb as she stared after him for a moment. Until that moment he was a complaint stranger... But to think he knew he father... That her father would have left him that way didn't exactly surprise her, considering he was hardly a paragon of compassion, but why? Why would he have been around Katze to begin with?

The subject was dropped, and she turned her eyes back to Alfeus, and for a second time, she found herself surprised... But this time, at least, it was welcome.

No one had offered to help her in such a way... Not ever...

"Fair enough... I'll show you the way." She replied, gingerly, and held her arms out to him, "Could you...?"

If he noticed the widened eyes or the discomfort he had brought upon the other two, it didn't show in his face. Instead, his expression remained strained in its own, internal way. His pacing never stopped, but it did slow. His hands, which had clenched in fists, relaxed into open palms at his side.

Their words fell on mostly deaf ears until he had shaken himself out of whatever trance had possessed him.

"If the princess isn't dead, I'm sure she wishes she was."

A few more strands fell loose from their constraint, slipping over his tanned forehead and falling in front of his eyes. "It is very kind of you to invite me as your after-thought, guard, but I am not your pretty crush, now am I?"

With hard eyes he looked up at Katze, his expression neither hostile or indifferent. Truth be told he looked tired, even if the glint in his eyes bespoke of a hidden strength within. He shook his head and ran a hand through his hair once more.

"Even thieves have their usefulness, Katze. You see and interpret things differently than I. That is beneficial. Not to mention a skill set such as yours, will undoubtedly come in handy..."

He shrugged and turned to Lil, taking the linen from her hands and taking hold of her wrist softly. He was ashamed of these injuries, but he shoved it down deep, knowing there wasn't time to dwell on it. Gently, Alfeus began wrapping her wrist. "Let me know if it gets too tight..."

Tags:@rissa & @Nav

Her mind was calculating each move it would take to take on the numbers surrounding them, her hand gripping her sword tightly in her hesitancy to surrender. If they played their cards well they could thin the numbers considerably using the archers to their advantage.

But Anhlan was not an idiot despite her confidence in both of their abilities. Declan still suffered the injury to his torso and she did not fully know their opponents like he did. Above all else, he was in charge, and his lowered blade was as good as a command for her to follow suit. Her own sword slowly lowered back down to her side and then reluctantly kneeled just as carefully to set it on the ground.

The tallest member of the large and less-than-welcoming looking crew stepped forward as Anhlan lowered her blade. He was an imposing figure, towering and broad, with an oddly youthful face and a smile that might have been pleasant, if it wasn't currently fixed into so smug an expression. Toeing the hilt of her magnificent blade, he looked up and smirked at the woman.

"There's a pretty piece for ya... Not exactly standard for a soldier." His eyes trailed to Declan, and he tilted his head, "Is it, Captain. To think... You're recruiting from commoners now, and you didn't come straight to us? I'm hurt... but then, I guess I'm not so pretty as your new friend, here." His gaze flickered back to Anhlan, and he winked.

"...Ana, this is Garrick. Fancies himself a chief around these parts. I thought you got locked up, Garr..."

Grinning, Garrick laughed, shaking his head, "Those useless idiots you got in the garrison couldn't catch their own testes, mate. You doing patrols, now?"

"A mess of equipment was stolen this morning. Know anything about it?"

"Hm. That sounded dangerously close to an accusation, Dec."

"Just askin' a question..."

"...Sure you are. What do you think, Pretty Lady? You think that was an accusation?"

@Effervescent

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NPCS: Remis Halifax

It wasn’t long into their rest when Remis gave Briar a ginger nudge, urging her to wake. He knew in truth they both could have used a few more hours at least, for exhaustion was likely to creep in and would dull their focus, but the longer they stayed in one place, the more dangerous the swamp around them became.

After a quick breakfast, which proved to be little more than some berries that were recognizable, they were on their way again. The sky had brightened through the canopy of trees, but there was still no real way of knowing what time of day it was, and he was hard pressed to find their way out as quickly as possible… Yet with every passing moment, the swamp seemed only to go deeper and deeper.

It would end, eventually, but how long they could go without another rest was the real question, and with so little food and energy, he could hardly imagine they would get far, “How you holdin’ up, Love?” He asked, glancing to the woman with a small frown.

“If we can, I’ll try to find us more to eat along the route, but I’d like to move as long as you’re able. The deeper in we get, the worse it’ll get, and I’m not feeling terribly optimistic about our progress, thus far.”

Tags: @BearEnthusiast (Briar)

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NPCS: Merek Loren

Jacob nodded solemnly, letting out a sigh. “Again, I’m.. I’m sorry about Tom. Trust me when I say, I know how it feels.”

Despite his uneasiness, he still knew it was best to follow Wendy. She had survived in the forest for years, and the growing hunger in his belly meant Merek couldn’t be doing any better. He awaited Wendy’s return after she had gone to scout ahead.


“Wendy,” He said returning to her side. “After we get out of the forest.. What then? Are we supposed to barge into someplace looking for food? And .. even if we’re heading straight for shelter.. What shelter is there for us?”

“There are villages scattered along the way, but I'd prefer we move as swiftly as we can.” Merek interjected, some of the strength returning to his gruff baritone, “The way things went down back in my cabin… if it's any indication to how things are being handled, we've little time to waste.”

“What is happening, Mer?” Travis asked, a brow quirked, “What did Tom discover?”

Frowning, Merek brushed a branch out of the way, “The queen is raising an army. Several, in fact. She has agents throughout Fable, recruiting men, women… even children to her cause, or, I suppose she’s masking it as their cause. To rise against their rulers. She means to upset the rule in every kingdom possible, and it seems she’s been at it for some time. There’s been a call sent out that it’s nearly time to act.”

Swearing softly, Travis shook his head, “If this succeeds, Mer…”

“I know.” Looking to Wendy and Jacob, his frown deepened, “I’m not sure there’s much we can do to stop the motion, at this point. War could be inevitable, and we could be walking right into the center of it.”

Wendy snorted at Merek’s dour statement, her own reply to Jacob stifled by the older man’s answer. War, she mused sarcastically. That’s somebody else’s damn problem. I just want that Thing killed. She brushed aside branch after branch, ensuring someone behind her held it away before retracting her own hand. The break was far enough from the main path, perhaps seventy-five yards or so, to prevent any from seeing them or hearing them, if they kept their voices low. There would be no fire unless they moved deeper in, or at least, nothing but a small kindling.

But Jacob’s concerns did not go unheard, and neither did his oft stated / oft unstated worries about them as a family. Wendy held back a step, letting Jacob come aside her, before continuing forward.

“I'm sorry, Wolfie. Food is always scarce; probably won't come easier Outside. Shelter shouldn't be too hard, though. A bit of breaking and entering never hurt anyone.” She grinned at the thought, allowing herself a little chuckle before focusing on her brother again. “We have each other; we'll make it work. Besides, you do want to find the Beast, right? The Forest isn't even turning up clues to it anymore, and Bright Hedge is as good a place as any to continue looking.”

The queen was raising an army, the brothers said through whispers. Agents through men, women, children. He felt his gut tighten hopelessly. And what were they doing, in the midst of all this? Searching for a beast.

“I… I don't know, Wendy.” He said softly, avoiding her gaze. “Maybe it's time to.. put it to rest. Put their memory to rest.” Maybe there were better things to do then continue looking for a beast Wendy had searched for for over four years. Prepare the perhaps oncoming war? Find a stable place to live and maybe a job. Get back to life, and the one thing Jacob so desperately craved; normality.

For whatever first impressions were worth anyway, Merek’s had clearly not been fair of Jacob. The boy seemed tattered and worn by all he had seen and endured, but he wasn’t nearly the tragic figure of sullenness he had initially presented. He seemed wise, beyond his years, and far less eager than Wendy to seek after danger and bloodshed.

Wendy had changed, and it broke the older man’s heart to see it, but he understood, probably better now, the desire for revenge - Yet what did it serve? He had killed the man who murdered Tom and all he felt was empty. Empty and guilty. He wanted to explain to the girl that no matter how many beasts she slayed, figuratively or literally, she was never going to get past the pain, unless she did as Jacob suggested… unless she let it go, laid her family to rest.

As his brother dissolved into pensive silence, Travis looked between Wendy and Jacob with a soft frown, “Can’t rightly imagine the lot you’ve had in life, but… you can rest assured, most people’ll be more than willing to shelter some folks from out of town, along the way. Breaking in won’t be necessary. Though I dunno what luck you’ll have finding any beasts… If it’s the one you’re looking for, they haven’t been seen in--”

“Shh!” Holding up a hand, Merek froze, and presently, the man was considerably more alert than he had been moments before. As Travis fell silent there could be heard a rustling sound, the sound of something very large, crashing through the forest, towards them.

@Red Thunder, @CloudyBlueDay

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NPCS: Fiora Rimel | Nicolette Rey

Jack's mother had arrived quick as a flash after that, ushering the two into a tiny room that was little more than a closet. It was, after all, a rather small cottage. People near the mountain didn't need much.

"Alright, well, here's the bed. I'm afraid it's not a feather bed, but you'll have to make do. Jack, now, here's a pallet with blankets and you'd best not harass the girl with stories! I know how you used to play the lute to the early hours, and your brothers would half beat you until you went to sleep..." she warned, shaking a finger at him.

He shrugged sheepishly, promising to let her sleep. With that, he bedded down on the floor before she could get the chance, making himself comfortable. Goose, of course, was finally absent of the proceedings.

"Hope you don't mind all this. Mum's just worried 'bout treating you right," Jack fretted.

He was sneaky, and she might've scolded him, if she wasn't so amused by his insistent chivalry. Shaking her head, she crossed to the bed and sank onto it. It might not have been a feather bed, but it was certainly more comfortable than the one back in her hut, and as she pulled her knees up to her chest, she smiled faintly at Jack.

Her mouth moved, as she shook her head, looking to the door through which his mother had exited, 'She's wonderful.'

Were the words she mouthed, and looked back to jack, she blinked hard against the warmth behind her eyes, smiling a little brighter, 'Like you.'

Jack smiled with a blush, lowering his gaze.

"Oh, you wouldn't say that if you knew how hard she whipped us with a switch when we'd play in the creek... No, she's alright, Mum is," Jack said, looking back to where his mother had left. "Glad you like her. I definitely do. Do you like it here? I know not lots of people enjoy this place..."

Fool's Mountain could hardly be called an inviting locale. The forest was oft dark, the fens damp and vast. It was all too easy to get lost. Yet, Jack had called this place home for quite a while.

She bit her lip at his words and shook her head with a soft, breathy laugh. She could imagine the woman was quite a sight to see when she was whipped into a fury. And no doubt, Jack and his brothers had mightily deserved her wrath...

To his question, she nodded, her mouth moving around the silent words, 'I do...' and after a pause, 'It's quiet'...

The irony of that sentiment was not lost on her, and she smile again with a soft chuckle.

Jack rolled onto his back and stared at the ceiling overhead.

"Me and Teagan and Russ, we'd run all through these hills. We'd end up covered in ticks, and Mum would have to wash us in tobacco to get them all out," Jack sighed fondly. He suddenly became quiet.

"We don't do that no more. Teagan's got a wife. Russ had one. Then he went missing."

Frowning softly, Fiora drew her knees to her chest. How desperately she wanted to be able to talk to him, to comfort him, to explain to him that she knew what it was like to miss his siblings... to miss the way things were.

Straightening, she patted the space beside her for a moment, to indicate he should sit there.

Jack got up slowly and went to sit next to Fi, suddenly overcome with an odd feeling he couldn't quite place. The bed creaked dangerously with both upon the frame, but Jack paid it no mind. As a child he had had to pay careful attention to its groans and creaks, for it had dumped him and his brothers on the floor many a time.

"I don't think much about it, you know?" Jack muttered.

Taking hold of his hand in bith of hers, Fiora met his eyes. There was only so much she could convey, and it wasn't so easy with a simple man like Jack, upon whom certain nuances and details were lost. But she wanted him to understand, with all her heart, that she understood his plight.

Smiling gently, she gave his hand a squeeze, her mouth rolling around the word 'brothers'.

Jack looked up at Fi and nodded his head with a slight smile.

"Yeah! I bet you know a lot about that. Must stink to have your brothers turned into geese. It probably really ruined your day," Jack said seriously. "Do you think your brothers are okay? With you being here I mean."

After all, she couldn't make them those shirts out of that sharp stinging plant now while she was here. They'd be stuck as geese for a while longer yet.

She smiled brightly, nodding to his sentiment and to his question. She knew that her brothers, even in their current state, worried about how much time she spent trying to break the spell. To have a respite from that, she knew they would be pleased.

Pointing to Jack, she smiled brighter still, 'Keep me safe.' She mouthed.

Jack nodded his head vigorously, holding up her hand between both of his.

"Yes! Oh, yea, I will, most definitely! You'll not even stub a toenail against a rock while you're here! I'll carry you if you want me to! Though, I... I can't really carry you far..."

With that, the hand drooped a bit as he realized that the last time he'd tried to carry someone, Millie Danford ended up stuck on the water wheel and his mother had tried to skin his hide.

Laughing softly, Fiora shook her head, wiggling two of her fingers to indicate she was fine with walking, then, with a small sigh, she draped her arms around his shoulders and hugged him tightly.

All her life, she'd had her brothers and no one else... It felt strange, but nice, to know she wasn't alone anymore - but the more she thought about it, the more unnerving it became to think of what she stood to lose... and in that moment, it was a comfort just to know he was there, even if it meant physically holding on to him.

Jack stiffened momentarily as Fi's arms surrounded him. She had a nice warmth, a scent that reminded him of lavender and days in the fields. He'd never been close to a girl before -- not after Millie Danford and the water wheel incident -- and there was something that both discomfited and drew Jack in.

She'd been so far the only soul who'd ever shown him a full ounce of kindness.

Jack wrapped his arms around Fi and hugged her tight, resting his chin on her shoulder.

"Thanks for being so... so nice to me. I know I'm... not too bright and... I don't always get things the first time, and I got real caught up with that butterfly today, but I just want you to know you're the nicest girl I ever met," Jack said, holding her out at arm's length.

Leaning back, her cheeks tinted red, Fiora shook her head. She couldn't be the nicest girl he'd ever met... She had her moments, certainly, but the nicest?

Smiling, she pointed to him, then to herself, hoping it was clear enough she meant to return the compliment.

Jack stared at her blankly, confused. He obviously had no idea why she was pointing at him, but he nodded anyways. With that, Jack glanced at the window and his eyes widened as he saw the late hour.

"Fi, we gotta leave in the morning! We're supposed to be sleeping!" Jack stated, as if this were a grand discovery.

With a soft laugh, Fiora nodded again, then looking to the palette made up on the floor, she pointed first to it, then herself, then to Jack and the bed they currently occupied.

Jack squirmed uncomfortably. Long had he been told that his place was to sleep upon the floor when guests were around, especially pretty or "well off" guests. His mother had made it expressly clear that Jack was to give up his spot in order to bed down upon the floorboards.

"Can't we share?" Jack whined. Of course, to him, he saw no harm in it. The bed was (barely) big enough for the both of them, and it had been enough for him and his two older brothers. What was the difference, after all?

Her cheeks colored crimson at his question, and blinking, she looked to the bed, which wasn't much, but was certainly more appealing than the blankets on the floor, then to Jack again. It hardly should have mattered, and perhaps it didn't... Jack was a good soul, and surely he would never behave inappropriately.

Yet the twisting feeling in her stomach couldn't be ignored, and her heart beat steadily faster, even as she nodded. She wouldn't displace him, and he wouldn't let her take the floor, so it seemed the best solution, to share.

Jack smiled wide and said, "Okay then! I'll take the side near the wall. I like it drafty."

Without preamble, he shuffled right by her and took up the spot he'd so coveted as a boy, and, within what seemed like a few minutes, was fast asleep.

Fiora smiled at Jack as he positioned himself near to the wall and shaking her head, she curled up beside him, but she did not fall asleep immediately as he did. Instead, for a few minutes in the silence and the darkness, she watched him and listened contentedly to the soft sound of his breathing.

Eventually, she allowed it to lull her into a peaceful rest of her own.

@Doctor Jax

Beaming, she nodded and turned, leading him from the sheep pen and off towards the field.

"We don't much, Papa and I.. Certainly not enough to live in luxury, but our cow makes a decent percentage of our earnings, and that's enough to get by. Her name is Tess... and she's a bit off on strangers, but I think you'll like you. She's a thing for handsome men."

Pausing at the fence line, she pushed open the gate and held it for him, before retrieving the bucket and the stool that were leaning up against it, then continuing on, she led Harrison to the speckled brown cow, grazing a few feet in, "Here we are..." Clicking her tongue, she approached, and Tess lifted her head, enormous eyes staring in lazy disinterest, "Good girl... Come on, then. Come say hello... Tess is a proper lady, and she expects an introduction."

He'd be lying if Harrison said he didn't feel a tinge of embarrassment. It seemed that his cheek might as well have always been flushed considering how his stay was going. For a moment he stood frozen and unsure what to do.

Tess stared back at him and he did the same. God it felt childish to find himself so intimidated.

He took a deep breath and stepped closer. Harrison dropped down gracefully into a traditional low bow with his hair falling with his head and one arm tucked behind his back. The retainer rose with great fervor, dedicated to giving Tess an introduction she or her keeper would not forget.

"It's is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lady Tess." He smiled brilliantly, only able to hold his act for so long before breaking out into laughter.

That laughter was echoed, as Nicolette settled the stool beside Tess and sank down onto it, positioning the bucket beneath the utter. As she worked, her eyes trailing up Harrison and she shook her head, nearly in disbelief.

"You're not quite what I expected, you know...? For one of her soldiers. You've a good heart. Kind..." Her eyes returning to her work, she shrugged, "Better company than farm animals, any day."

"I'm not quite sure what's the proper way to respond to such descriptions." Harrison admitted out loud, a warm smile settling on his lips as he came to stand at her side. "I suppose I should begin with a thank you..."

Harrison knelt down, laying one leg flat against the floor and steadying himself with a hand. He was growing more and more tired but for some odd reason he found the notion of leaving the field now to rest displeasing.

"...Would you care to teach me? It shouldn't be too terrifying with a proper lady like Tess here right?"

Nodding, Nicolette pulled her hands free to wave him closer, "First things first... Warm up your hands. She won't thank you for freezing her udders. Then what you'll do... Hm..." Leaning back, she considered for a moment, "Put your hands over mine, a moment. It's easier just to show you."

"I...er." Harrison quirked a brow but he knew there was little point in hesitating, after all he was one who had insisted. The retainer nodded, a smile playing on his lips as he held his two calloused palms against her hands.

Smiling gingerly at his hesitancy, Nicolette resumed her work, expelling the milk into a bucket without a thought to the strangeness of her teaching methods. It was only when her work ceased that she even seemed to note his presence. Behind her, his chest pressed into her back, she could feel the steady rhythm of his heart, and without intention, her own sped up as her cheeks filled with color.

"There, now... Think you've got it?"

@BearEnthusiast (Harrison)

Next update - Week of 8/7
 
KATZE STIEFEL
Collab with @Elle Joyner

Even thieves have their usefulness, Katze.

The words sounded so demeaning, as though Katze should have been singing Alfeus' high praises for being so kind and generous, but Kazte wasn't an idiot. He knew better. He knew that Alfeus was just like everyone else and he was a sucker-- he wanted a pretty girl and Katze had just gotten in the way of that.

If he walked out the door, no one would be missing him or his 'usefulness.'

Shaking the thoughts off, he grabbed a bucket from the floor and, wordlessly, did exactly as he had promised himself internally and stepped outside. The door fell shut behind him and, pleasantly surprised at the calmness around him, followed his ears towards the river.

The sounds in the forest were plenty... From the birdsong, to the rustling of wind through the trees... Bugs and frogs and all manner of wild creature, stirring the wood ...

The stream ran, cool and clear, brakken along the shore clattering togethet, the waters rolling and splashing over rocks.

As Katze neared the shoreline, the silence that met him was definitive... Like an envelope had folded around him, into utter oblivion.

And then footsteps.

"You're a long way from home, Katze." The older woman spoke, stepping out of the treeline, "Lost in the swamp?"

There wasn't really anything in the world Katze trusted properly. People who knew his name, people who didn't-- they were all the same. They were all people and they were all terrible, himself included. Strangers he grew weary of, but people who knew his name he was immediately suspicious.

"Really?" he snapped back, not even believing the voice was outside his own head, "A long way from home? You think? I don't belong in a swamp; I don't belong anywhere."

He dunked the edge of the bucket below the water's surface, growling inwardly until the most unusual noise caused him to glance up yet again. He had assumed the voice he had heard had been the result of a tired man listening too deeply to the leaves gossiping in the wind, but the sound of footsteps was unmistakable.

He stood, his pale full of water, "Who are you?"

The woman smiled, and took a slow step forward, watching Katze with a curious, lingering gaze, a haunting grey in deep set orbs, "Who I am is inconsequential. I could be anyone... Who do you wish I was, I wonder."

The smile thinning, she paused, "Most call me the Witch of the Woods. I'm told I'm quite the legend among your people. Of course, you'll tell me they aren't your people, won't you. Poor little Katze... Lost in the forest. All alone. His daddy didn't want him. Will anyone?"

A cold laugh echoed, "I need something from you. You'll do it, because I can offer you whatever you want in return... and we both know your insatiable appetite for getting the things you want. That, and because I could kill you very easily. And I don't think you're ready to die."

"My request is simple enough. You're off on a heroic journey. I need you to bring me with you. I've some unfinished business with a dear friend and I mean to finish it. So tell me, Pretty Kitty. What is it you want in return? Gold? A companion? Your family? Do be quick about it.... We haven't got all day."

Oh, if Katze could actually hiss, he would. His tail would have fluffed up, his hackles would have raised, his back would have arched and he would have hissed. Alas, he wasn't a cat, so all he could do was stand on the opposite bank of the terrible woman-like creature and tighten his grip on the bucket rope until his knuckles grew white and his palm ached with the force of his nails digging into the flesh.

"Witch of the Woods. Yea, I've heard of ya. Never good things, either."

He swallowed hard then, listening to her rewards. What did he want? Did he even know? His entire life had revolved around stealing gold, jewels, and other precious things... but never because he had cared for them. In his mind, he had always wondered if he could steal from others, would they feel like he did? He exhaled shakily, taking a hesitant step back.

"You said you're the Witch of the Woods, yea? Well, prove it. Then we'll talk."

Another silvery laugh escaped the older woman and shaking her head, she wiggled her fingers at him, "That's a dangerous thing to ask, my dear. How shall I prove it? Hm? Turning you into a snake? Perhaps a toad...? I'm known for my toads. Oh... I once turned an entire family into swans. What say you? A swan named Katze? Now that would be something."

Shaking her head, she smiled, lowering her hand, "You ought to be very careful, the way you ask things of a witch." Her hand lifted again, raised to her face and with quietly muttered words, her features began to shift, to roil, almost as though they were boiling... then subtle at first, with more emphasis towards the close, her face changed, her hair, her shape... Younger and younger it grew, until she appeared but a few years below Katze himself, and quite fair, indeed...

As she spoke, her voice, too, took on a more youthful tone, "...Will that do?"

Katze had seen his fair share of crazy. He had seen batshit crazy, he had seen deranged crazy, he had even seen weird with crazy on top... but watching the elderly woman shape-shift into a beautiful, youthful young lady caused his hard to slam in his chest... and not because he fancied the young girl. He didn't, mind you.

"Uhh... ahaha--" a stiff laughter escaped him, glancing away. "Yea, yea that'll do."

He had really wanted to snort at the old hag and walk off unperturbed, but walking away suddenly didn't seem like much of an option. "If you're a witch, why do you need to come with? Can't you just flap your ponytail n' go anywhere you want?"

"Oh. It's not that easy, I'm afraid." Smiling coyly, she stepped forward and carefully, tiptoed across the rocks, passing over the stream until she shared a side with the thief, "I was banished to these woods. That friend I spoke of... well. Let's just say we didn't part of very good terms. Something about... ruining her family, betraying her... blah blah blah. You know how women can get. Anyway, she cursed me to walk these woods until the day I die. Or... witches love their caveats."

Holding up a finger, she smiled, "Or, until someone sees fit to free me of my binds. So far, I've not found anyone willing. Pitiful cowards... Blind with the idea of being some noble hero. Slaying the evil Witch of the Woods. I killed most of them out of boredom. A few you'll find floating about... Then again, I don't really know what the life expectancy of a fly is. But you... Oh..." Stepping closer, she reached out, and her fingertips trailed up his arm, her lip curved, "You've a different soul, Katze. You and I... we're practically kindred. You'll free me, and you'll take me with you, because you don't care what happens to anyone else... so long as you get what you need." Her eyes met his, the smile shifting to something perceptibly darker, "Tell me I'm wrong."

"Uhhhh... yea, there is probably a good reason no one has taken that deal," he replied simply, still holding his water pail but bringing it up closer to himself as she approached and subconsciously beginning to back away a bit. He wished he could have backed away fast enough to avoid her touch, but he hadn't, and her fingers made the blood in his veins run cold. In his ears, a ringing sounded and his temples pounded with discomfort of his own aching heart.

"That's-- that's not true," his voice fell into a whisper, forcing his eyes away from her terrible, but tragically beautiful, face. "That's not true. It's just... no one... no one has ever wanted me to care about them. I'm just an object-- a thief that sometimes has their usefulness. That's fine. They can go about their lives and go about mine."

"I could care about you..." She mused, her voice softening, "I've been alone, too, Katze. For a long time. I know what it's like. You think I want to be this way. I've had to become this person, this thing. Just to survive."

Frowning, she dropped her hand to her side, her eyes hollow, her voice flattening, "We're marked. Witches... All across the lands. Like carriers of some plague. Just because we were born with a gift that someone else isn't. I wanted to help people, but that opportunity was taken from me. And so this is what I became."

Looking up at him, a brow arched, "..You're more than a thief. But they'll never see that. They can't see your potential past their own prejudice. I meant it, what I said about us being alike. I can help you... If you let me. I want to. But I can't do anything, chained to these woods."

"Pppffttt," he actually snorted at the witch, shaking his head at her, "I'll take you, under one condition of my own-- if we're a lot alike, I guess that means I'll come up with conditions too, yea? You come with, but you hurt no one without my permission. I don't trust you yet."

He eyed her suspiciously, licking the corner of his lips. "No one."

He didn't exactly trust her word, either. He didn't trust that she was stuck to the woods, didn't trust that even if she agreed to his terms that she'd follow him, but what else could he do? He didn't really want to be a fly... or dead... or worse.

"But I wasn't even planning on going with the two lovebirds back there. They don't want me, anyhow."

Grinning, she nodded, "Oh, you'll go with them. You must. Everything is part of a plan, and you'll get further with a Mulgrave soldier than you ever will on your own. And you wouldn't want to abandon your sister, would you? Come now, I'm not stupid. But rest assured, my dear, no harm will come to them by my hand."

Stepping closer again, she trailed her fingertip along his collar, "So do we have a deal?"

"My sister?" he shook his head at her, "I ain't got no sister. What kinda witch are ya, anyways? I think you need to polish your crystal ball 'cause it must be a little smudgy."

A shiver trailed up his skin when she touched his collarbone. He swallowed, the apple in his throat bobbing with the effort. His chin reared back, leaning away from her and half expecting his throat to be slit in the next moment.

"I didn't mean just them. I meant everyone. You agree, we gotta deal."

"Hm..." smiling, she shook her head, "I think you know you do. I don't see the future, Katze. Only what's right in front of me. But if you wish to go on pretending, that's no concern of mine."

Stepping back, she held out her hand to him, "My hand shall not touch... one hair on the head of anyone. You've my word. Deal?"

"Why do I feel like I'm being screwed in this deal?" he asked with a sigh, "I'm sure you'll find someway to twist my words 'round and slaughter someone without touchin' a hair on their head, right? Or you'll kill 'em with magic and never actually touch 'em with your hand? Right?"

He shook his head in disapproval of her, not even bothering to revisit the sister comment. He didn't have the capacity to consider that int hat moment.

He reached out and shook her hand. "Don't screw me, Witch. It's bad luck to cross a cat."




"Don't be so paranoid, Precious. I've no need to harm anyone, so long as things go accordingly."

As he took hold of her hand, however, her expression darkened and gripping him, she pulled herself close enough that the only space between their two faces was their noses. The palm of her other hand pressed to his chest, over his heart, and from her palm, a heat radiated, nearly searing, "Deal done, and by doing, you are bound to me, Katze. You see, I can't leave the woods. But you can, and now we are tied... linked. Our fates... our lives." Pulling away, she smirked, coldly, "Witches love caveats."

Releasing, him, she hooked a finger, beckoning, "Come along, then... We'll need to discuss our plan."

"Ah great."

He knew exactly what was coming in his own way. He knew the other foot was going to drop; he knew it was going to be bad for him. Funny enough, it was. He had never been able to resist getting himself in bad situations and this seemed to be no different.

"If our lives are linked does that mean I can pinch myself and you'll feel it 'cause that'd be real useful. You seem like class A nuts."

"Don't be fresh, Darling... You won't like the consequences." Looking back at him, she smirked, "You'll tell them you found me, wandering in the woods. I'm sure I don't have to tell you it's crucial that they should believe you, so I do hope you're a decent actor. The soldier is a bleeding heart. He'd never let a poor, innocent creature suffer, but it only works if you sell it..."

Looking back at him, a brow quirked, "If you so much as hint as to who I am, you will live to regret it."

"Go ahead? Try it, witch. Ain't nothing you can do to me. Our lives and fates are linked, right? You ain't the only one with leverage, then." He pointed out casually, shaking his arm free of hers and walking forward, carrying his pail.

"Gimme one reason I should go back to em? I'm sure the guard is busy tellin her how great and kind he is and she's swoonin' over it."

"Sweetie... Don't be jealous. It's a bit odd, considering." With a laugh, she shook her head, "And you'll go back to them because you know if you don't, they'll never leave these woods alive.I won't harm them. I don't have to. But I don't have to let them leave, either. There are enough nightmares in this swamp that I won't have to do a damn thing."

"Yea, yea, my sister or whatever. I ain't jealous of that. You're pretty dumb if you think it's the romance I care about."

Without further argument, he trudged forward looking painfully unhappy, like a cat that had just been dumped in a bucket of ice cold water.

Shaking her head, the witch chuckled, a mirthless sound, cold, almost bitter, "Color me curious. What is it you care about, then? I'd have guessed you weren't even capable of caring, to be perfectly honest."

"What a vote of confidence," he muttered, the shake coming into sight through the spindles of trees. "Just cause I don't do it, doesn't mean I can't." It didn't mean he didn't want to, either.

"What's your name, anyhow, witch? Can't just call you witch. Could call you crazy, though."

"My real name is of little consequence. You'll tell them I'm called Denna. Remember, Katze..." Pausing, she turned fully to him, her smile light and airy, her eyes dark, blazing with coldness, "Their fate rests in your hands. Sell it well."

Waving a hand across her form again, incomprehensible words muttered, her appearance remained as it had been, but for the addition of smudges of mud and grime, a thin, narrow bruise across her cheek and a long, deep scratch on her arm, her dress torn and frayed at the hem, "Whenever you're ready."
 
Uther contemplated Cath’s words as they sat together on the steps. She offered kind words for Rickard and himself. Her touch brought him back to the days when knights would comfort maidens once the villain was vanquished. Indeed, a younger Uther would have taken this opportunity to court Cath. Both of them had bigger concerns, so Uther continued with his pipe. Perhaps he could take some solace knowing that he still got it.

Those bigger concerns took the form of an uncertain future. If Aelynn survived the night, she and the children throughout Ethelemar would be faced with the Queen’s War. They would be sent to die under the impression that Mulgrave acted against them. Even those who did not wield the sword could still die by them. His own future was not yet known. Uther knew as much that his mission would not end at Fool’s Mountain. Something was at work, and he would be called upon to stop it. He was very much pessimistic on how the future would turn out for all of them. Yet Cath had confidence in her daughter, while also sharing that the king perhaps had too much loyalty for the nursemaid. If the queen didn’t have a reason to kill the king before…

Time passed as the Aelynn’s form came around the corner. Uther stood from the step, putting out his pipe in preparation to hear the news. It was mostly good: the king would meet with him. Though the plot on Rickard thickened, it would have to wait. There would be little time to spare to get the king out of Bright Hedge. Uther prepared his horse to ride out.

He was not a fan of dragging Aelynn deeper into this mess, but she had proven herself capable. The city may have changed since he was last here. Someone who knew the way could prove useful.

“I can follow directions just fine,” Uther replied, turning to the girl. “Then again, an extra pair of eyes couldn’t hurt. Of course, I’m not your mother.”

He deferred the decision to Cath, his eyes turning towards the mother.
 
Help Unlooked For
a collab between @Elle Joyner @CloudyBlueDay and @Red Thunder

I don't know, Wendy.

Wendy couldn't believe her ears. Her own brother, rescued from an awful fate, didn't care to bring resolution to the death of their family. How absurd. How- No, not cowardly. She knew he was certainly not that. But he didn't want to face what needed to be done. Fine. She's lived for years alone anyway before finding him again in the witch’s house; she would be just fine by herself again. But Travis’ attempts at reassurance were nice. He maybe could understand the need for revenge.

Her ear pricked, and she paused. Something wasn't right. Her hands dropped to her axes. A moment later, Merek shushed his brother, demanding silence. A loud sound, loud and uncaring for the subtly of finesse, burst from the underbrush. Yanking her weapons free, she darted forward to investigate, entering the foliage at a small angle so as to not meet whatever it was head on.

The look in her eyes hit Jacob harder than he had expected. Immediately he cast his gaze downwards, feeling shame for going against the one thing she thought would bring her peace. Who was he to take away Wendy’s only hope? Her chance to move past it. But he just.. He didn’t want this to be the way for her. What if she spent the rest of her life looking for this beast? That hadn’t even been sighted recently? She could live a real life. He wanted that for her. A real chance. Their whole family would have wanted that for the both of them.

“W-Wendy, wait. I’m s--”

Suddenly, something was rustling in front of them. He crouched down beside the brothers, but Wendy immediately removed her weapons, charging forward. However careful she thought herself to be doing it, Jacob stood back up and rushed in after her, putting a hand on her shoulder. “Wendy, wait!” He whisper-yelled. Her eyes would meet his wide ones. Silently, he begged for her to hold off. To pause before running to battle. But he uttered no sound, terrified of the thing that moved towards them.

As Jacob pursued Wendy, Merek gave Travis an anxious look, both men only steps behind the siblings. If there was one rule those accustomed to these woods knew by heart, it was to never rush... There was no telling what dangers were ahead, and racing towards it, was a good way to wind up in a heap of trouble. But nineteen, angry and impetuous, Wendy didn't seem interested in caution, and Jacob seemed more interested in protecting his sister than considering the consequences.

In this case, a perfectly placed net, hidden beneath a blanket of flora. Like a hand, grabbing from beneath the twins, the net spung out, then upwards with a snap. Merek and Travis paused as they watched the trap unfold and swearing, Merek trained his eyes through the darkened forest to try and see where the thing originated, "It's pretty high up!" He called out to them, "Try not to move around too much, I'll see if we can find the--"

"Mer..." Travis interrupted, and Merek turned his eyes to see the source of the crashing, as it sprung from the trees. At first glance, it appeared a wolf or bear, but the distinctly flatter snout and the wiry hair spoke more to a dog. Travis, however, hadn't given pause at the animal, for it had slowed as it entered the clearing - held back by the length of rope grasped in the hands of a wire-framed man, grinning through crooked teeth, up at the net. Behind him, three others stood, all varying heights and weights, but none of them profoundly unintimidating in size.

"Probably best you don't touch the rope..." He started, his gaze flickering to the brothers, "There's a counterweight that'll bring it crashing down if it's not lowered proper. Maybe they'll live... but I wouldn't test it."

"So let 'em down." Merek growled, stepping forward. It was Travis at his side that gave him pause, a hand on his older brother's arm.

"Can't. Tresspassin' is a crime 'round here, and there's a cost for that."

"What cost?" Travis asked, as Merek's arm tensed beneath his grip.

The stranger's eyes twisted up again and he smirked, "I'll take the lass."

"Like hell you will." Travis spit, and this time it was Merek who help the younger at bay.

“Like hell you will!” Wendy’s jaw jutted out in contemplation, lips pursed and eyes darting about the net as she probed it for weakness. She doubted the old codger below would lie about the rope, but that didn't mean the trap was foolproof. The counterweights couldn't be too sensitive; if they were, any jostling by the prisoner would set it off. But if the initial weight were to change too much, that could set it off. Best to not chop through the net and send both she and her brother plummeting to the ground. The resulting sprain or fracture wouldn't be worth it.

The edge of her axe gleamed wickedly as she examined it, considering her options, good and bad. She could see it whistling through the air, burying it in the hillbilly’s head with a satisfying splortch. Yet who was to say what he'd trained the dogs to do? She could see just as vividly the beasts attacking Merek and Travis, and their insides being strewn about the forest floor. So Wendy lowered it, shrugging as she replaced both weapons in their sheaths.

“No,” she muttered before raising her voice. “No, I'll go with him.” She turned to Jacob, sweet smile hiding a wicked gleam in her eye. “It'll be fine.”

“Fine?!” He once again whisper yelled at her. The sudden catapult into the air had left his stomach twisted in fear and his stitched threatening to give way. He clutched his stomach tightly, trying to regain his bearing, but before he could even shout down to Merek and Travis, he heard the voices of others.

He had not even seen the twisted look in the man’s eyes as he announced he wanted his sister, but a feeling of disgust came over Jacob, and then very quickly after that, hatred. He stared at Wendy with a shocked look in his eye, but that sweet smile meant something else.

“W-Wendy.. You can’t possibly..” She had to have something up her sleeve. He winced in pain, touching his wounds. “...be careful.” He scolded.

“You can't actually…” Travis began, but for a second time, he was cut off by his brother.

“You know what they've been through? Those kids up there? You know the hell they endured? These are the Palin twins.” If the stranger and his crew recognized the name, it didn't appear to register, but for a flicker of eyes upwards, towards the net, “So when I tell you you and your friends have made a mistake, you may understand what I'm referring to. As for me, my name is Merek Loren, and this is my brother Travis. Later last evening, our brother Tom was murdered by soldier of Elderidge. We are on a mission to see the bitch-queen of the south, and get some answers. Travis here is a good man, never harmed another willingly… likely he never would. But me? I’m not so good, and when I tell you that nothing will stand in my way, I promise it means you.”

The man with the dog hesitated a moment, his eyes moving from the net to Merek and while the smirk was still fixed on his lip, there was an edge to it that suggested it was more for show than anything genuine, “Talk’s goin’ round that war’s comin’...”

“...Might be. That’s little concern of mine. I want answers for what happened to my brother.”

“We got no loyalty to the bitch-queen or Eldridge’s excuse for a royal family. And I lookin’ to fight anybody’s war.” The smirk returned in full and the man gestured to his partner nearest to him, who moved off towards the end of the rope, the other two following behind him, “It’s for bears… The net. We wouldn’t’ve hurt your friend. Folks wander too far in these woods, stumble around like fools and get themselves caught up. We don’t scare a little sense into ‘em, they come back lookin’ for trouble. Hell if we don’t have enough trouble keepin’ our game from gettin’ poached by the wilds. Don’t need some pretty boys from the bay draggin’ off our kill cause they’re too lazy to catch their own. Your girl, she’s lucky she didn’t trip into one of the claw traps, instead.” He arched back to look up at Wendy and grinned, “Gotta look before you leap, young miss.”

With a wave from the man with the dog, the others began to unwind the rope from the trees and slowly, the net came lower and lower, “You lot won’t get far this time of night. We got a camp not far off, food to spare. Least we can do, puttin’ you off the way we did.”

As the net touched the ground, Travis moved to help unwind the cording before pulling it away from the twins, holding out his hands to help them to their feet, “Hell of a way to scare sense into anyone…”

“You’d be surprised how quick it works. More surprised how many of these idiots actually take the deal.”

Wendy shrugged away the netting, eyes fixed on the old man in distrust. She couldn't decide whether she was angrier at the old man, for playing toying with the Palins like he had, or at herself, for making a rookie mistake. She'd even gone in at a non direct angle, which should have diverted her from the threat. But the fact of the matter was that she was experienced in fighting monsters; Man as such was a different creature altogether.

Most of them were, anyway. Merek had talked the old man down, it seemed like, and Travis had leapt to her defense. And Jacob. Well. He'd backed her play at apparently giving in to the demands. It was encouraging, and the huntress turned her gaze from the old man to her brother. It took strength to enforce your own will, but it took another kind altogether to put aside your own will to support someone else's. Perhaps it wouldn't hurt for her to do the same. Within reason. With a small smile on her face, lacking most of the sadness it usually carried, Wendy placed a hand on his shoulder and squeezed it goodnaturedly.

Then comprehension dawned.

“Idiots?” Eyes flashing, she turned back to the old man, right hand thumbing the release of the axe sheaths. “Maybe you're the idiot for assuming I was one to be taken advantage of!”

He was very grateful not to have plummeted the twenty feet to the ground, and even more grateful that Wendy had not had to axe anybody. As he lifted himself from the constraints of the rope, one arm over his stomach, he flinched at Wendy’s hand on his shoulder.

Can you believe that? Flinched. Flinched at his own sister patting him on the back. Jacob guiltily kept his gaze to the floor. He should’ve done something. Talked them down, come up with at least a backup plan. Shouldn’t have.. Edged Wendy on.

With his free hand he grabbed her arm; tightly. “Leave it.” He stated gruffly, voice low and unhappy. “No more blood, Wendy. No more.” He was tired. He was weary. He did not trust the man with the dogs or his friend but suddenly there was an offer of sanctuary in the mix; hell, Merek was barely standing on his own two feet and to be frank the brothers were beginning to grow on Jacob.

It did not occur to him he had not returned his sister’s smile. Under his breath, he echoed his own words. “No more blood.”

At Jacob’s words, Merek turned to Wendy with a frown, shaking his head, “Jacob’s right. That’s enough. I don’t know what’s happened to you over the years, Wendy, but if you can’t get ahold of yourself and learn which battles need to be fought and which don’t, all you’re going to accomplish is getting yourself killed. And those around you. Maybe you don’t care about what happens to my brother and me, but I would hope that you’ve enough heart left to care about your brother.”

Shifting back to the strangers, he nodded, “Lead the way. We’ll rest for a few hours, then continue on our path.”

Wendy left the axe where it sat sheathed, but she glared daggers at the back of Merek’s head. What did he know about it? How could he possibly understand what her life had been like the last four years? Everything was a danger; everything was a threat. You learned that when living as she had. You had to; you were dead otherwise. And allies? Hell. When you did want to make them, you didn't creep up on them, making them think you're an enemy.

At least Jacob still treated her like an equal, if maybe with a touch of fear. Merek’s words might have only served to anger her, but Jacob at least asked instead of demanded. So, still fuming at the elder Loren and not entirely appreciating being gripped by her brother like she was, Wendy pulled her arm free with a grunt. But she nodded, folding her arms in disgruntled acceptance.

The look in Jacob’s eyes softened. As she pulled himself from his grasp he took his hand back, looking at it as if it had done something dastardly, as if it had shot out to grab her on its own accord. He had felt a moment of anger, and Jacob was simply foreign to the feeling. Anger. He had given up on it so long ago, because to sit in the witch’s den and boil with rage would cook him alive before her own oven could. But watching Wendy act so.. immature like this, it just made him mad. It made him mad at her, for how close minded she seemed to be. And mad at himself, for having let their wounds get so deep.

He trudged after Merek and Travis only after Wendy had begun to move again. Jacob paused to glance at the forest surrounding them, and the path they had come from. He had nothing to go back too; he was tethered to nothing. No possessions. No relatives. No warm house with a fire ever burning and a roast always cooking, and never a minute of silence. But worst of all, looking at the back of Wendy’s sleek black hair, and her blood-soaked cloak.. their mother’s cloak… he felt as if he was tethered to no one.

Merek couldn't have cared less what Wendy was feeling or how angry she was. He had exhausted his energy that evening, and had very little left of anything to give. His brother had been murdered, and all he wanted was answered. She had insisted on tagging along, but for what? For her own self-centered, self-imposed quest for vengeance? Everyone was the enemy, it seemed… even the people who had done all they could to help her. The only person she seemed to care about was Jacob, but even that seemed superseded by her desire for violence.

And if that was really how she wanted to see the world, he couldn't help her… No one could. She'd get her beast. Someday, she would. But however much of her survived the hunt would be another story, and his hopes weren't high that the would be any of Wendy left at all.

Travis shook his head as he looked between the three. The exchange had left a sour taste in his mouth. Trauma had a strange way of either driving you forward… or holding you in place. He'd never come across so complicated a blend of both, in one person.

The stranger’s camp was barely a half mile down the path, and upon arrival, they were offered a place by the fire to sit. Rabbits and what might have been a boar were roasting over spits, and several vegetables had been tossed into the coals beneath the flames. While the men worked, Merek sat, dropping his head into his hands. Travis sank to one side of him, frowning gingerly, but both men remained silent.

Wendy stood some yards away, her physical distance from her companions of fortune mirroring her emotional distance from them. Merek and Travis needed, perhaps, time to understand what had happened to them. Their family tragedy had only just happened, and she could not reasonably expect them to recover from their grief in such a short period. She herself had only started hunting in earnest weeks after leaving the Loren farm. Or was it months? The days were as one in her mind, and the start of her days as the Red Hood went unremembered.

But the instincts developed remained. She did not trust these newcomers; it seemed too convenient. The Wood was a place of monsters and victims, and no one helped another. The fact of her own path of choice these past years, not to mention the generosity with which Merek had received her, went forgotten, though whether intentionally or not was difficult to say. Maybe he'd have been better off leaving the girl to her fate.

Maybe she would have been better off leaving Jacob to his. Wendy turned a hard gaze to her brother, who stood not quite near. Crossed arms raised and lowered in deep sigh, the frustration within her striving for release. What was his deal? Why, after living through the witch's cruelty, was he so trusting of these people? He'd been distrustful enough of the Lorens, and they'd not tried to harm or restrain them in their first meeting. But these trappers had captured and threatened them, including threatening the dignity of his sister. And it certainly seemed to her that Jacob felt at ease following them.

One way to find out.

She approached him, slowly, as if trying to not wake a sleeping bear. Sitting down beside him, she wrapped her cloak around her, finding some modicum of comfort in its warmth.

“You trust them, huh? These trappers? Despite the net?”

“No, Wendy. I don’t trust them.”

His words were dull and tired. He had not turned to face her, he had not even flinched. For all his liberation, he seemed quite lifeless. “They threatened us and they threatened you but we have no other options. Merek was barely standing on his own two feet. We needed rest, and food, and shelter. Any shelter at all.”

“Enough is enough, Wendy. I don’t know what you had to do to survive those years but I survived too. I know my limits, and I’ve reached them.” Jacob had not once turned to his sister as he spoke those words. He felt resigned. Alone. He did not want to fight but he felt as if she would make it into one. His mind begged for rest. The images of blood spattered across his mind. He ached, and it did not have to ache like this. He was supposed to be free now. He wasn’t supposed to hurt this way.

As the strangers puttered about, preparing what looked to be herbs and a skillet with some sort of flatbread, Travis looked over to the twins with a small frown. He hadn't been privy to all they had been through… really, he hadn't even been there to see Tom’s end, and he supposed then, it was this distance that gave clarity and reason. To the younger Loren brother.

The woods, nay the world was filled with men and women of detestable natures, with appetites for violence and blood the likes of which chilled a man to his core, but there were good and decent people too… a balance. Until Wendy experienced it for herself, she might not clearly comprehend as much, but what he understood and what Merek had been bold enough to suggest was if she didn't start down a different path, she ran the risk of becoming the very monsters she hunted.

The meal was prepared and each of them received a plate, and the brothers remained in stony contemplative silence while they ate. When Merek finished, he slumped closer to the fire, his cloak beneath his head as he drifted off into much needed rest. Travis, meanwhile, moved to sink down besides the twins, steepling his fingers beneath his chin as he watched the fire.

“I've never known Merek to raise his voice. Used to scare the hell out of me when were younger… how quiet he could be, even when he was angry. Tom and I… well Mum used to say we were passion in motion. Everything was absolute. Every mistake a disaster, every fight a full blown war. But Mer only ever saved his emotions for those things that were really important. I don't remember much about what happened to your family, but I remember the way Merek took it. Like it had happened to him. To his family. For months, he obsessed over it… and we hunted daily. Trying to track the thing that did it. And every time after, if we heard rumor of it… if someone caught sight of it, he'd pack up and head out without a thought. Mum half worried herself to death, thinking he'd never come home.”

Glancing over to Wendy, Travis shrugged, “Anyway… point is, when you look at the world, and all you see is your target, you tend to miss what's going on around you. Perspective can be funny that way. Hunting for so long, on your own… it's not really a wonder why you'd think you were alone. But you aren't. Never were.” Rising, Travis shrugged, “You two should rest. We'll head out at first light.”

Then why did I keep up the fight alone for so long? The thought found its way to Wendy’s eyes, which filled with bitterness and resentment as she stared at her plate in sullen silence. And why, when I did find family and friends again, did they resign themselves to being such spineless cowards?

She nodded at Travis’ sentiment, trying to drive him away with passive capitulation. Was it true, that Merek had led a hunt in revenge against the creature? Was she then still angry that he'd not done so immediately, as she felt she had done? Or was she angry that the Lorens had done so without her? That her fear of dying to the Beast drove her to-

Fear. Was she afraid, after all? Afraid of death? And now, afraid too of losing those she'd found once again. The stoneware hit the ground with a thud, Wendy having set it aside, her dinner only half finished but no longer palatable.

“Keep your philosophy to yourself, Travis,” she chided, looking up to the man with a resigned expression that undermined the tone she adopted in habit. “I didn't ask to be lectured.”

She looked over to Jacob. He was sullen and unreachable; he was tougher than he realized, though he didn't want to admit it. Tough as- well, as the Lorens.

“Thank you.” The words had to be pushed out, as if her mouth were unused to forming them, and the act of doing so felt exhausting. Her eyes went to the fire, unwilling to meet those of the men around her. “For...standing up for me back there. In your own ways.”

For the first time since Wendy had recovered Jacob, he scoffed. He could hear how hard it was for her to thank him. Well, if it was such a chore she shouldn’t have to say anything at all. He gritted his teeth and leaned back, trying to get comfy with the bare minimum. He turned on his side, away from her.

“Good night, Wendy.” He said gruffly, and inwardly sighed. He wished things could go back to the way they were all those years ago before letting himself succumb to darkness.

Shaking his head, noting Jacob’s frostiness, Travis had to wonder if she had already done too much damage in her brother's eyes. Pushed him too far away. Privately, he hoped that wasn't the case…

“Sure thing…” he nodded, to her mumbled gratitude, “Good night.” Bowing his head further, he turned back to Merek’s side, settling on the log to keep watch.
 

Anhlan Ai
a collab with @Elle Joyner

Anhlan kept her attention to Garrick as the exchange between he and Declan ensued, only to be redirected at her. She was an outsider even to such a simple interaction as this, her presence reduced to superficial ideals and assumptions. Diplomacy was not her strong suit, but she bit back her want to spit remarks back in his direction for the insults.

"Guilty men would jump to such a conclusion," she said coolly. "That is an accusation. What the captain asked was merely a question."

The laughter that echoed forth from the man was both genuine, and oddly disturbing, a few chortles resounding as well from the men nearest to him.

"I like her, Dec. Spirited lass. Better than your last partner at least. I know where your missing toys are. Your pretty lady here agrees to share a drink with us, I'll even tell ya."

The constant use of the superficial defining word denoted the superficiality of Garrick. He seemed to her a man who did not take into account anything but what he was seeing, which led to assumptions. Caution would be required to refrain from miscommunication, and so she would need to play the role of a compliant pretty lady.

Her answer came in a slight nod of her head without looking to Declan for approval. There was no better alternative at the time anyway.

Shaking his head, Declan's jaw tightened as he looked between Ana and Garrick, his lip turning down in a contemplative frown, "...Fine. But any trouble, Garrick, and you and I are gonna exchange more than words."

Reaching out, he touched Ana's elbow, nodding down to her sword, "And we're taking our blades. All due respect, which is basically slim to none, but I don't trust you and I don't like you." He plucked up his own sword, and while the men around him visibly tensed, Garrick made no move to stop him.

With the blade sheathed, Garrick gestured the pair forward, "To camp, then."

As they started off down the path, Declan kept close to Ana, the frown still present as he turned to whisper to her, "...Anything goes south, you make a run for it. Towards the swamp. They won't follow us there."

She kept her hand upon the hilt of her blade, gently but ready even as it rested in its scabbard. "As long as you run, too," she whispered back in return. "Do you suspect this to be a lie?"

His lip twitched upwards, a brow following it as he shook his head, "...I'm sure as not sticking around, Ana." The smile faded, however, as he continued, his eyes moving to the back of Garrick's head, "Hard to tell. There's no honor here, on the Grave Road, but there was no reason to leave us alive, when they had us outnumbered. I don't suspect we'll get our supplies back, but I'm not sure it Garrick and his men that took them."

"They may at least know who did take the supplies," she whispered back. "And having a drink with them may improve relations with them. There may be no honor here, but being on one's good side can still be just as useful. If you are to report back to your superiors without supplies, you should at least make it to where you do not return empty handed."

"I'm counting on it..." There was something going on in Mulgrave that he didn't entirely understand. Something big, and he needed to get to the bottom of it, even if by unconventional means, "But that doesn't mean I want you in harms way. Just be on guard. And don't mind Garrick, too much. He's mostly harmless... Just overly appreciative of a pretty face."

"I can tell," she said with a hint of disdain, her eyes flecking over to the back of Garrick's head. "As long as it is harmless. I can handle disrespect."

"If it's any consolation..." Declan murmured, with a delicate air of teasing, "He's called me pretty before, too. Though I rather thing he meant it as an insult." The smirk fading a ways, he straightened, his hand resting on the hilt, "At any rate, just be prepared for anything..."

"Declan," she whispered back as she lofted a brow and eyed him with a similar teasing air. "Calling me pretty is an insult, too."

"Is it?" Looking over at her, he smiled again, with a shrug, "I suppose if it's all they think you are. You're definitely more than that, though. And Garrick will regret it, if he underestimates you. I'm sure.."

"Even then," Anhlan said with a small shrug. "But I do not let it define my actions. It will not anger me to the point of losing myself or the purpose. After all, we can use his underestimations and assumptions to our advantage. Perhaps you should look a little pretty, too?"

Laughing, perhaps louder than he meant to, Declan shook his head, "...Somehow I don't think that'll help soften Garrick to our cause." As they neared the camp, Garrick slowed and his men began to disperse while their leader gestured Declan and Ana nearer to the large fire at the center.

"Sit... I'll get the ale." As he moved to pass by, he paused before Ana and smirked, giving her a pointed look, "If the lady can hold it... we'll see about giving you some answers." And with a wink, he continued forward as Declan shook his head, moving to take a seat.

As Garrick walked away to retrieve their drinks, Anhlan gave Declan a muted deadpan expression as she sat herself in one of the seats. Either Garrick was that shallow of a person to think her so weak, or he was a man of clever mind games. She hoped Declan could convey the answer silently, or even recognize her thoughts within the expression she gave.

Her hand still lightly rested upon the hilt of her blade as she turned her attention to the camp. She counted the numbers, assessed their visible weapons, and gauged the paths leading out of the camp. "How is your cut?" she asked quietly.

"It's fine," Looking to Ana, Declan flashed a weary smile, "It'll hold."

"Well good!" Garrick interjected, bringing with him a bottle of sloshing amber liquid. Setting the bottle before Anhlan, he smirked, "Stole a crate of this off some poor sod traveling through to Remoria from Vast. Know what it is?"

She took the bottle in hand and slowly rotated it in thought. There was no label or markings to denote its origins, and so she hadn't a clue what it was apart from being alcoholic and stolen goods. Her eyes flecked from Declan to Garrick and shook her head. "I'm afraid I do not know," she said.

Declan scowled as he looked to the bottle, then back to Garrick, "It's Demon's Brew."

"Distilled in barrels with peppers from Mog desert. Last man I challenged took one sip and couldn't stomach it." Pouring a tankard, he slid it over to Ana with a smirk, "How much is that information worth to ya, Pretty Lady?"

"I agreed to share a drink," Anhlan said as she picked up the tankard. The name of the brew was, indeed, ominous, and judging by the story it was not a typical brew designed for social affairs but a drink meant to prove one's self to others. But her lips adorned a playful smirk, almost flirtatious as she sought to seek better control of the situation. "And so I shall. With every mouth full I take you will tell us what you know. Declan will ask any questions, and I will drink. Do you agree to these terms?"

"Ana... You don't have to--"

"Let the girl decide, Dec. She thinks she's up to it, fine. We got us a deal." Lifting his own tankard, Garrick smirked, "Cheers, love."

Anhlan smiled over at Declan as he expressed his concerns, and while she wanted to express her own in a more serious fashion, she felt a more casual air would fit Garrick a little better. Her tongue rolled over her lips as she contemplated her own hydration and looked back at the gruff fellow across from her. She would need to determine just how fast she would become inebriated to hopefully prompt Declan to receive the information he needed in a timely manner.

"Cheers," she said as she raised the tankard to her lips and took a lofty swig. She swallowed the contents as quickly as she could, but it would not be quick enough to save her from the fire of the brew. Kyxia cuisine rarely implemented heated spices to such a degree, for chefs felt it took away from flavors if overused. But as Anhlan coughed from the overpowering and unexpected kick, she was almost thankful for the spice, for it muted the bitterness.

One mouth full down, and she was still holding the drink in. Her stomach did not seem to protest, and so she was left to gauge how quickly the alcohol would hit as she looked over to Declan.
 

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NPCS: Aelynn || Ella

As he addressed her, Cath seemed to consider Uther’s words for a moment, and the silence that passed was almost unheard of for either mother or daughter. Aelynn was not generally one to air on the side of caution in anything, yet she seemed to understand to utter so much as a word would certainly ensure that she wasn’t allowed to travel anywhere. And Cath could almost hinge her decision on that alone.

But Aelynn was also all she had left in the world, and she would hardly be sending her after a loaf of bread or thread to darn socks. This was a dangerous endeavor, to go against the queen, even in favor of the king, and that fact was not lost on Cath, nor, it seemed, on Uther - whose words of caution bore great meaning.

Yet to send him alone didn’t feel right, either.

“What do you want to do, Lynn?” Her mother asked, and the girl frowned softly as she looked to the older knight,, studying him for a moment. There wasn’t much wisdom in those watery blue eyes, and she certain had little over anyone in age or experience, but there was something in the expression she wore that suggested Aelynn understood a lot more about the world than perhaps most would in their lifetime.

“I want to help.” She said with a nod, and Cath returned the gesture.

“Very well. Go pack some supplies…” As Aelynn obediently returned to the house, Cath looked to Uther with a small, thoughtful frown, “I needn’t tell you… she’s all I have in the world. I won’t ask you to be responsible for her, but please, Uther… please bring her home?”

“Aw, Mom.” Aelynn stepped out of the door again wearing a much more confident smirk, “You stop with the worrying. It’s just a walk… I’ll be back in no time, at all.” Nodding to Uther, shouldering the bag she carried, she gestured with her other arm in the direction she had come, “Ready to go?”

@Toogee

Ella returned to the palace in a haze, her mind stretched to the brink as she tried to contemplate what had happened with the king. She had never intended to reveal who she was, let alone reveal her feelings for Cristoff, and yet somehow that was entirely what had transpired, and there was no going back. Her heart pounded as she moved, her vision clouded by tears.

She barely saw the guards, as she came to a halt mere feet from them, her heart plummeting to her stomach at the sight of the men, at the figure standing between them. She had only spoken to Eirlys a few times, and never pleasantly, yet the look on the woman’s face in that moment was all too clear…

“Majesty…” Ella noted, with a curtsy.

“Where is my husband, Nursemaid?” It wasn’t a question, but a command, and as Ella straightened, she noted the posture of the guards, “I have been through an ordeal, and I require his council.”

“I’m sorry, I… I don’t know. I haven’t seen him since this morning, when he visited Rosie’s room.”

“Tell me, Ella… Do you think I’m a fool?”

“...Your Majesty?”

“Do you think I’m stupid?”

“No, I… Of course not?”

“Then I will ask you again. Where is my husband?”

“...I really don’t--”

“...Guards.” Her eyes did not shift from Ella, but the men at her side did, taking a step forward, “Escort this young woman back to her room. Be sure she stays there.”

Tags: Collab with @rissa

It was a two hour walk from Bright Haven to the cottage, and Aelynn was uncharacteristically quiet along the way. Her mother’s concern, despite her attempts to brush it off, lingered with the girl, haunting her mind as she considered the possibilities that might come from her actions.

She played the part of a cynical adolescent, but in her heart she knew that it would destroy her mother if anything happened to her, and that was never something she sought to achieve. But something about the situation felt so important, so crucial, and while her part might be small, there was a place for her in it…

As the neared Ella’s home, Aelynn looked over to Uther with a small frown, “Are you frightened? About what’s happening? I ain’t I’m scared or anything, but… but would it make any sense if I was?”
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NPCS: Declan Martel || Lilianna Gentry | Alfeus Swann

As Alfeus worked, Lil watched him, her eyes trained on his face. She wanted to ask him why he was being so kind, so considerate. She had, in her mind, a fixed opinion of the Mulgrave guards, and he was just... Not following the standard by any stretch.

Her gaze flickered over to Katze, and she frowned softly. Like two sides of a coin...

Her gaze returned to Alfie and she smiled gently, "Could be a healer with those hands."

Alfeus didn't speak until Katze was out of the cabin and the pair of them were alone. In truth he hadn't meant to offend the man, but he didn't regret his words either. They were his truth.

"Aye." Alfeus said softly. "My mother... She lived in the castle and the Queen was fond of her. Taught me everything I know, including this."

He wrapped both wrists before standing and then offered a hand to Lil.

"We really ought to check your back. That was a nasty fall and we still have a ways to go."

Frowning gingerly, Lilianna considered his words. It frustrated her, having to trust anyone... Least of all a soldier, but Alfeus was right. They had too far to go for her to risk further damage.

With a sigh, she turned her back to him, pulling her hair over her shoulder, "Thank you. For believing me... I know it took a lot. And most men in your position would not have been so kind."

Alfeus chuckled and it sounded like a deep, raspy bark. The sound was cut off all too quickly, however. Lilianna revealed her back and a tangle of scarred flesh was revealed. Alfeus inhaled sharply, the sight wiping his mind of anything tangible. On top of the years-old scars, there was a fresh painting of bruising and discoloration.

"This... I." Alfeus cleared his throat. "We may need to wrap the rib-cage. It may help..."

Slowly, as all her words and actions filtered through his mind, Alfie came to realize how much more the woman made sense. No wonder she was so furious when he'd apprehended her; these scars proved the wroth she had to every soldier in Mulgrave.

"I... I was raised kind, Lil. Sometimes I forget or act too much like my father, but I was raised to be kind..."

He ran a finger, just above her skin, along a particularly nasty lash. It made him feel ashamed... Ashamed of everything he had sought after during his life.

"More soldiers ought to be kind..."

Her breath caught as he spoke, and for a long moment, she said nothing, his words resonating in her mind.

When she finally did speak, her voice was uneasy, "I never wanted to be a thief, but we are often born into our circumstances. Some rise above, some won't, some cannot. But whatever I was, I refused to become the sort who served only myself. I lived in the Severed district... And from a young age, I was very much alone. Alot of us are. Orphaned or abandoned. Left behind. I trained myself to survive, and part of that made learning to steal regrettably necessary. But I did it to help, to feed my people... Those children with no one."

Her hand rose to grip her arm, her gaze lowering, "But eventually, I got caught. I was stealing a loaf of bread for a boy named James. He lost every earthly thing he had to disease and I wanted to help. Punishment was meant to be a night in the stocks. I was brought to the center square, and tied to the stock post. They ripped my dress and I was given thirteen lashes for the theft... Another thirteen for insubordination. By the half I blacked out."

Shutting her eyes, she breathed in sharply, "When I came to, there was a crowd. One of the guards... A man who called himself Valen came forward and with a dirty knife he cut off my hair. It wasn't the worst of their torment, but I will never forget it... The shame of it."

Reaching up to brush a tear from her cheek, she shook her head, "A boy from the square came in the night. He said he took pity and... and freed me. Took me out of the city. Then, in the woods beyond the city wall, he attacked me. I stabbed him in the eye with a tree branch. And I left. For as long as I could. Yesterday, when you brought me back... That was the first time I've been in Mulgrave in years."

Shifting, she slipped her arms from the sleeves of her dress, lowering it to her middle to give him room to wkrk, "I don't expect kindness anymore, Alfeus. Men aren't kind. They're cruel and they want... they take and give nothing in return. Maybe you're an exception, but if you are... it's only because the world was cruel to you, too."

"Aye." Alfeus murmured softly. "The world has been cruel to me... To you and surely to Katze as well."

For a moment he did nothing but stare at the scarred flesh, the haunting words she spoke resonating through his mind. It wasn't the first time he felt ashamed for being a guard, a soldier, the one thing he had always strived to be. But coupled with the fact that he felt ashamed to be a man, Alfeus didn't know how to react. By no means had he lived a sheltered life, but hearing the horrors and monstrosities of life destined to those born in the Severed district, he realized just how naive he'd been.

With a soft sigh, Alfeus grabbed his only roll of bandages from the bottom of his bag. "We'll go back and forth," Alfeus said softly, unrolling the bandage and placing it against her skin, his cheeks reddening against his will. "Hand the roll back to me once you can no longer reach."

It wasn't exactly reassuring, his sentiment but somehow, it brought a small smile to Lil's lips anyway. She had learned long ago that pity was a wasted emotion, and she was glad he didn't try to coddle her for what had happened.

It almost felt good, getting it out.. saying it out loud, for once... and as she reached to help him with the wrappings, her countenance seemed to improve considerably, "You got pretty soft hands for a guard, there, Alfie... How'd you end up on the Grave Road, anyway?"


"I... It happened long ago." Alfeus murmured against his will. The reason, the real reason he'd been demoted to the Grave Road had never been spoken aloud. Not once. "I helped a lifelong friend."

Alfeus continued to help Lil wrap the bandages around her rib-cage and when the roll was near gone, he fastened the bandages and cleared his throat.

"Not too tight, is it?"

Blinking, Lil pulled up her straps again, before she glanced over her shoulder to Alfeus. It wasn't the answer she had expected, and a part of her almost wished he had said something considerably more predictable. She didn't like the feeling of being surprised, least of all by someone she was so sure she had pegged...

"...Seems like we both wasted our time then, helping people in need." She murmured, her voice soft, but broken by notes of bitterness, "Wish I could say lesson learned, but look at the mess we're in now."

Meeting his gaze, her expression yielded some, and she shook her head, smiling dryly as she patted his hand, still resting on her waist "...Bandages are fine. You could probably let me go, even. Shouldn't fall apart too badly, now."

Katze didn't knock. He bucket was empty, his task had been a failure. He pushed open the door and stepped back into the hut, barely passing a glance over the pair of inmates inside.

"Look what the cat dragged in," he mentioned off-handedly, flipping his hand back towards the woman, witch, whatever, behind him. "Found her nearly drowning by the river. Her name is Bertha. I think she's okay now." He paused and glanced back at the witch in his usual, indifferent way, realizing that if they were going to believe it, he wasn't going to have to try too hard to convince them.

"I dunno. She doesn't look dead."

The venom was all but removed from the woman's expression, and as she took a step forward, she stumbled with a definitive air of exhaustion, catching Katze's arm as she righted herself.

Lilianna had risen, her eyes widening at the sight and as she looked to Alfeus, she shook her head, "...Good Lord. Come, sit... How long have you been here?"

Releasing Katze, she moved tentatively forward, to the small chair that Lil offered and sinking into it, wrapped her arms around her, "...I... I don't know. I've lost track of time. I... I was being chased, and I had no where else to go. I thought I was going to die. If... if your friend hadn't been there? I might have."

As much as it killed the man to say, the softness of Lil's skin reminded him of a time where the world didn’t seem so cruel, where honor and brotherhood was all that he craved. And so, when he removed his calloused hands he was transported back to the present, to the mess that he himself had concocted.

He didn’t have time to brood on that fact long, however. The door slammed open and Katze strolled through. No water sloshed in the bucket and he had half a mind to chastise the kid before another figure came stumbling through the doorway. Katze explained and Lil moved to offer the woman the chair. He squinted softly, sympathetic and paranoid all the same. Alfeus reached for his water skin and walked over to the frightened woman.

“Bertha, is it? Here, have some water.” Alfie said soothingly, “What are you running from?”

As Alfie and Lilianna swarmed his so-called Bertha, Katze sat back and went quiet. He perched quietly on a small wooden stool. His eyes were averted, looking down at the ground and only listening to the conversation.

Taking the water, she drank with abandon, breathing deep as she handed the skin back to Alfeus, her eyes falling to her lap, "My... my husband. I discovered him with another woman. I was... I was going to leave, and he was angry. Afraid I might ruin his reputation."

Her fingers clenched and she looked up to Katze, "I didn't mean to come this far into the swamp, but I was so afraid and I couldn't think... I just kept running." Sniffing, she shook her head, "And then I thought... It might be better to stay here."

"You think he meant to hurt you?" Lilianna asked, her voice shadowed by an edge of fury.

"I think he meant to kill me. If... if I leave the swamp, he surely will."

His pa' used to say there were two kinds of people: idiots, and idiots who knew how to survive. As Alfeus watched the battered woman guzzle down half his water skin, he struggled with two sides of himself. His father's suspicion rose, especially when he glanced back over at Katze. So unlike him to not make some kind of snarky jab or unsavory remark. Perhaps his outburst had stirred the young man more than Alfeus realized. And yet, glancing over at Lil and Bertha, his mother’s compassion soothed the paranoia and he reached out tentatively to pat the woman on the shoulder.

“You’re alright now, ma’am.” Alfeus said encouragingly, “Everything will be okay now. Is there any place you can go? We’re... travelling, and you're welcome to come along with us. It'll be safer than being out here in the swamp all alone.”

"Oh yea, everything will be just fine," Katze replied sarcastically. "There isn't any benefit in making anyone delusional."

Nothing was okay, nothing was ever going to be okay. His eyes settled fleetingly on Lil, focusing on her face for a long moment. The stare was not an aggressive one, or even lustful in any way, but curious.

His eyes followed the structure of her bones, the colour of her eyes, the shape of her chin. She looks familiar in every way. Sister. Pfft. Even if she shared blood with him, what did it matter?

Family never did him any good before. They didn't want him, so why would Lilianna?

The woman’s gaze moved to Alfeus, lingering for a moment, as if she hadn’t anticipated such kindness, and with a soft sniffle, appearing oblivious to Katze’s sense of pessimism, she shook her head, “Truly, a godsend then, running into you. I’ve no idea how to get out of the swamp but if… if I can come with you?”

“Of course you can…” Looking to Katze, Lilianna shook her head with a small smirk, “And don’t listen to him. We got this far… We’ll get out and on our way in no time.”

Tags:@rissa & @Nav

Garrick’s laugh exploded from the man with exuberance as he watched Anhlan drink. In truth, even Declan was mildly impressed by her strength of will, by her determination and for a moment, he watched her with consideration, admiration. But as Garrick drank from his own tankard, Declan turned to him, his eyes narrowed.

“I want to know where the supplies are.”

“Hell if I know…” Garrick said with a shrug, “But you ain’t followin’ the rules. Gotta ask a question, so the lady can take another drink.”

Jaw tightening, Declan straightened up, “Who took them?”

“...Soldiers.”

“Sol-- What??”

“Ah uh…” Gesturing to Anhlan, he grinned, “Time for another drink, young miss.”

“This is ridiculous, Garrick. I’m not gonna let you humiliate her just to get answers I can figure out on my own.”

“There are rules here, Dec. You know that.”

“Damn the rules!” He rose, but as he did, the men behind Garrick shifted as well, the entertainment suddenly void from their expressions. It was a wave of his hang however, and the men sank back down again, as Garrick chuckled.

“Careful, Dec. Last time you said those words, Alfeus wound up out here with us.”

Sinking down again, Decland glared at the man, “...Who has the supplies?”

“I told you. Soldiers. But not mine Now… Does she drink? Or are we gonna have problems?”
@Effervescent

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NPCS: Merek Loren

Morning dawned upon the camp, grey and dreary, rain puckering the earth in great, heavy drops. Merek woke refreshed, having eaten and slept, his drive renewed. After a morning meal, they departed, though the weather appeared not to be the only thing slightly miserable that day.

There was a tension that seemed palpable, driving the energy down until, as they cleared the border of Elderidge forest and entered into the plains, Merek suggested they pause for food. Pheasants were all they could stir up, but with a brace, they were well fed, and afterwards, continued onwards, down towards Tornem tower.

As the near the road that would take them past the tower itself, Merek paused with a small frown, scratching his chin for a moment, “Got a choice to make, folks. It’s a dangerous route, particularly considering the rumors of the tower, but it’s also the fastest. We’d get there a day ealier, long as we don’t run into any trouble…”

@Red Thunder, @CloudyBlueDay

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NPCS: Fiora Rimel | Nicolette Rey

Jack woke in a bleary fog, eyes watering as he yawned. The young man stretched and moaned a bit, rubbing his face as he looked up and out the window. Light filtered through and --

Oh dear.

Jack looked over to Fi then to the window then to Fi again before realizing what was wrong. They should have left by now! It must be late afternoon!

"Fi... Fi! Wake up!" Jack said, shaking the girl awake.

Nearly bolting, as Jack shook her, Fi straightened, fairly certain she'd find the room filled with the queen's guards... or aflame.

Startled, but cooling quickly at the sight of the empty loft, she looked to Jack and shook her head, mouthing 'what is it?', with a curious gaze.

"We shoulda been up hours ago!" Jack wailed. "We'll be on the mountain at night time and that's....well, bad."

After all, that was how his eldest brother got lost. He'd been on the mountain over night.

Frowning, Fiora looked to the window. It was certainly later than anticipated, and that would make their journey more dangerous by far, but should they dare risk waiting?

Looking to Jack, she shook her head, unsure of what decision was best.

Jack sighed as he realized that Fi had no idea what to do about the situation. He himself was not the best to ask. After all, he had the amulet that would, apparently, keep him safe, so there should be no harm to him going up the mountain, but there was no telling what they'd encounter or if Jack could keep Fi safe.

"Well... we could go up now, but it'll be dark by the time we get near the top. And there's things out there, supposedly. Goose at least knows the way or at least that's what your auntie said..." Jack muttered as he tried to think things through.

"Mostly the things they say 'round here are legends. Just rumors, you know? But people go missin' an awful lot too," Jack warned.

Frowning, Fi looked to the window again. The sun was blistering above, but she knew enough from legend to know even on a bright, brilliant day Fool's Mountain was a dangerous place to venture.

But they had already lost so much time. So with a nod, she rose to her feet.

Seeing Fi rise to her feet lifted Jack's spirits. Surely nothing bad could happen to them! If Fi was confident, then Jack was confident. Though, first things first....

"Wait here a minute! I'm going to grab some things!" Jack stated, disappearing off into the house. There was small, muffled shouting match between him and someone else (likely his mother) as well as a bit of banging around before Jack came back about ten minutes later with a rucksack.

"Alright! I've got us some shoelaces and a paring knife and a tea kettle and some rope and a bag full of beans Mum says she got from some peddler what came through and..." Jack rambled, digging in the back as he recounted his haul.

As Jack disappeared, Fiora sat down again to put her shoes back on and by the time she'd finished, he had returned, carting with him a sack. As he spoke, a brow quirked and Fi chuckled gently, shaking her head. She wouldn't understand him, not all the time, but it didn't matter. He was charming, and she would never regret running into him...

Reaching out, she took his hand with a firm nod, signaling that she was ready to go.

"Yeah, you're right. This'll have to be enough. Oh! And..." Jack pulled up one last item he'd set near the door. "Handy dandy lute! So as not to get bored."

And, as if the gods had granted him some fell magic, he played a complicated but short ditty before slinging the lute over his back.

"All set!" Jack said with a wide smile.

Beaming back at him, Fiora shook her head and followed him out the door. It was going to be a long journey, and probably difficult, but at least they wouldn't be bored...

@Doctor Jax

Next update | Week of Sept 3rd
 
  • Bucket of Rainbows
Reactions: Red Thunder
It may have been a two hour walk, but Uther had a horse. He did not hesitate to hoist Aelynn onto his steed and set her in front of him. They had no time to waste on foot: they would get to the king at horse speed.

During the light gallop to their destination, Aelynn talked of fear. She said she wasn’t afraid, which, to Uther, meant that she actually was. He tried to comfort her with the bluntness of reality.

“Of course you should be afraid,” Uther replied. “We’re trying to prevent an assassination. If we fail, our country goes into a needless war. If someone allied with the queen finds out what we’re doing, we could be walking into a trap.”

Realizing that that might not be the frame of mind to have the girl in, the old knight tried to be a bit more positive.

“The point is to not let that fear paralyze you. Let it remind you of what’s at stake and lead you to success. Fear will keep us alive.”

Uther’s eyes kept watch along their path. Despite his brief positivity, he really was concerned of walking in a trap.
 
Family Spats
a collab between @CloudyBlueDay, @Red Thunder, and @Elle Joyner

“Hm?”

From the moment the small party had arisen with the morning light, as they prepared breakfast, and as they'd traveled, Wendy had kept to herself, remaining silent save for when it became necessary for packing camp. She'd stood apart as the men had thanked their impromptu hosts, and only joined them when they'd gotten underway. Yet even then she held back some ten steps, refusing their company. Hood up against the rain, the young woman had remained quiet and passive, apparently content to be led.

“I don't care,” she muttered in reply to Merek, eyes darting about in habitual if subconscious assessment of their surroundings. “Whatever you all think is best.”

I’ll help Merek; I owe him that. But the first sign of the Beast I find, I'm gone. That bastard takes priority.

Her mind strayed to Jacob, but she dismissed the thought with a scoff. He could make his own choices. At least now, he had someone else to focus his ingratitude on when he was pulled from danger.

Jacob’s gaze lowered. He knew Wendy was being pouty. He knew it was because of him. It reminded him of their childhood, and it was a shame that their anger at each other was the only thing so far that had made him think somewhat fondly of the past. They used to bicker, but like siblings. Now they just bickered like kids.

Pinching the bridge of his nose, Merek shook his head, “We'll keep our heading, then. Just try to run south of the tower and if you see anything odd, don't keep it to yourself.”

Clapping a hand to Jacob’s shoulder, Travis smirked, his voice a conspiratorial whisper, “Spectrals. Merek’s always had a thing about ghosts.”

As they continued forward, the forest gave way to fields. The path ran down the sloping hills of tall grasses and wildflowers, brush shrubs cropping up here and there, bluebirds and sparrows fluttering out of the way of their footfall. Overhead, the dreary morning gloom began to part and the pale orb of the sun peered through billowing clouds.

Merek pulled back away from the other two, settling up alongside Wendy, “I forget you aren't a little girl anymore. It's difficult to see what's happened to you, and not to want to help.”

With a squelch, Wendy extracted her foot from a mud puddle, eyeing it with disinterest. As she walked, her disinterest deepened to a frown; the mud refused to let go and remained clinging ever so stubbornly to her boot leather.

“I don't need help, Merek. I don't need anything.” She paused to give her boot another useless shake before sighing. “You've been- well, you've done well by me, Merek, and it was good to see you again. But I've managed just fine for several years, and without any kind of brotherly oversight.”

Her gaze strayed unconsciously ahead, glaring into Jacob’s bushy hair. She grit her teeth before looking down again.

“If you don't want me to tag along, just say so. But if you don't mind me, at least stop trying to be my big brother; I don't need one anymore. I am who I am. And that godsdamned Beast is going to die.”

Jacob flinched at Travis’ hand on his shoulder. He forced a smile onto his face at his words, but it looked horribly sad. “S..spirits?” He said with an uneasy laugh. “Oh.. I don’t know if I.. believe in that.” Well, he believed in witches, and giant wolf beasts. So why not spirits? “But.. each to their own, I suppose. Still.. Travis, I uh, meant to thank you for.. Taking care of us like this. I know we’re.. A.. a strange… p-pair.”

“If you don't want me to tag along, just say so. But if you don't mind me, at least stop trying to be my big brother; I don't need one anymore.”

Jacob dug his feet into the ground so harshly that if Travis were walking behind him the man would crash straight into him. Anger flared in his eyes; rage. He whipped his head towards Wendy. “Y-y-you d-don’t need wh-what?!” He shouted at her. “You’d rather hunt a monster than have a brother?!”

Merek frowned at Wendy’s words, not entirely surprised by Jacob’s reaction. It hurt to see the kid… someone Merek had thought for sure was dead, looking so miserable. Maybe Wendy didn't mean it. So much of her behavior seemed like a facade, covering up a great deal of pain… but he had some recent enough experience with pain and as far as he was concerned there was no excuse for being so cold.

“You know what, Wendy. Forget it. There's two people in this world I got the intention of being any sort of brother to, and in case you forgot, which apparently, you did, I just buried one of them. I'm sorry about the lot life handed you, but you wanna be miserable and alone forever, that's on you… not on any beast. I'm not tryin’ to tell you what to do. No one is… but I'm not gonna keep tryin’ to be your friend, either. Not if you're just gonna throw it back in my face, like I'm the one who took your family away.” Looking to Travis, who seemed a mix between uncomfortable and angry, he nodded, “Let's scout ahead.”

Travis gave a nod in return, patting Jacob's shoulder before following after his brother.

Wendy had pulled up hard in her tracks when Jacob made the accusation. Hood still obscuring the top half of her face against the softening mist, her mouth could be plainly seen drawn in a tight line. Not perfectly so; her bottom lip twitched uncontrollably. Merek’s chastisement went heard but ignored, as though the truth of what he spoke wasn't nearly so important to her as the assumption her brother had made. Or perhaps it was the reality of what Jacob had said that hurt her so deeply.

What brother?!” she exploded, emotion long since suppressed welling up in a torrent. “I was left alone! Alone! By everyone who should have been there for me! They all left! Every single one of them, gone! I had to take care of myself, Jacob! No food, no shelter, no friends!”

Even as she said this last, Wendy knew it wasn't true. The Loren home had welcomed her immediately and offered only care and protection. But in the face of such sudden and permanent abandonment as her family had enacted against her, Wendy couldn't bring herself to risk the Lorens doing the same. Her exile, though not initially within her own control, had been ultimately self inflicted. But her heart still ached for her own blood, for friends, though as loving as any family might be, are not family.

“You left me, Jacob. I was alone, so...so alone…” Her legs finally gave out, the strength that her furious sorrow had given her burned out quickly. She fell to her knees, the hood falling back as she did. Tears streamed down her cheeks, and she bowed her head. Her hands rested in her lap, palms up in unconscious supplication, and her voice dropped to a whisper. “I needed my Wolfie.”

Throughout her rant of self pity he was silent. His face expressionless. Jacob’s lips pursed, eyes dark. He watched her drop the ground, and his own hands balled into fists. This wasn’t what he wanted.

“Left you?” He stepped forward. “No friends, huh?” He was seething. Burning. Her tears were lost upon him. He was a ball of rage. “Do you really think I LEFT you, Wendy?!” He roared. “I was ABDUCTED! Our family was SLAUGHTERED! You’re putting this on me?! Because I killed them, right!?

“Maybe I needed you. Maybe instead of your pointless, heartless chase for the beast you could have looked for me. You could have bettered yourself, even. That’s what they would have wanted. It’s what they all would have wanted! They didn’t want this! A merciless killer, intent on murder and only murder. I’m here, Wendy. I’m standing right here in front of you and you still want to massacre the thing that made us lose each other.”

“Merek gave you a home. Shelter, food, a friend like you’re crying over but pushing away so readily. If anything, if you were never going to find me, you should have at least been grateful to the man. Who in fact just lost his brother!

“Don’t you remember how it feels? Or maybe you don’t. You just let all that rage consume you until you became...this. I won’t play this game anymore. I don’t care for revenge, and I don’t care for the person you’ve become.”

“When we get to Bright Hedge.. I’m leaving.” His words were final. He gave her one more pitying look, and trudged off in the direction Merek and Travis had gone.

Anger suddenly sprang into Wendy’s heart, and it erupted from her mouth before her could control it.

“Where to: the witch? Because she took better care of you than me?” She caught herself, halting the tirade that had crawled out on a shaky voice. She snorted. “You're not listening. Not surprising.”

That was it, then. The tears didn't stop immediately, and Wendy remained kneeling in the mud until they did. Somehow, in the short time she'd been with them, it looked like she'd managed to alienate both Lorens and her brother. A thought crossed her mind, the idea to just- leave. It wouldn't be difficult; the area was familiar enough, and it's not as though anyone would miss her. She pulled the hood up again, little good though it did against the rain that had already fallen on her head. The Beast could wait; she'd help the Lorens with bringing news to Bright Hedge. She'd keep them safe.

And Jacob? She stood up, brushing her knees off before following the others. The hell with him.

"Enough!" It erupted like a roar, deep from Merek's broad chest as he whirled around to the dark hair girl, eyes narrowed, posture rigid, "Do you even hear yourself?? You do not have some exclusive grasp on pain and anger here! What your brother went through... What horrors... How dare you suggest that was anything worth returning to! It would reason to you though, that there has to be some other reason for him wanting to leave than because you've effectively shoved him and everyone else away. Because the truth means taking responsibility for your own actions. Accepting that you have abandoned reason and judgment for some ignoble obsession with a creature you will probably never find! Accepting this person you've become is your doing! That this damnable beast is just an excuse for you to be cold and hateful to everyone around you because you're too damn scared to lose again, so why bother letting yourself get hurt. Do you know what I would give… to have Tom back??” As he spoke, the gruff baritone cracked, and his shoulders slackened, “You are not the only person here who has endured loss, but you are the only one behaving like a child about it. And if you can't pull yourself together, you will be no use to anyone on this journey... Least of all yourself. Take a minute to think about why you're here. If the answer is anything more than helping Travis and I get answers… maybe you really are better off alone.”

With a sigh, he gestured behind him, “But if you come with us… This stops. I won't watch you destroy the only good thing to come out of any of this, Wendy. I won't.”

Jacob wasn’t sure how far he would’ve gone if Merek hadn’t begun to shout. He might have marched for hours through the forest. He was enraged with Wendy, but saddened beyond belief. When had he lost her? Was it really all his fault?

“Where to: the witch? Because she took better care of you than me?”

His shoulders drooped. It was like someone had punched him in the gut.

“You’re still my sister.” He croaked. But maybe we needed more time apart then we got.

“And you're still my brother. I haven't left.” Her march had halted midstep to weather Merek’s lecture, and she'd turned to Jacob as he'd spoken. “The Beast can wait; I'm coming to Bright Hedge to help out with...whatever is going on.”

Even if Merek is being a self righteous dick about it. Wendy thought about smarting off. Restraint wasn't her strongest skill, and her words were rarely censored. Yet maybe for the sake of peace, she'd keep them to herself. Or rather, she'd say them under her breath. “Go to hell, Merek; I go where I please.”

With a grunt, she picked up her march again, pausing suddenly as she neared Jacob.

“I'm...I'm sorry I said those things, Wolfie. It's what I've felt for so long, it...it just poured out.” She looked up, eyes shining out from under the hood. There were no more tears, but her face was uncharacteristically filled with regret. “Of course you didn't leave of purpose, and of course your life has been just as hard as mine. I-” She paused, her voice cracking. “I just really missed you.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck quite suddenly, burying her face in his shoulder as more tears came.

“I'm sorry.” She kept repeating those two words. “I'm sorry.”

Shaking his head, Merek turned away as Wendy fell on Jacob, a mess of tears again. It hurt him to see the girl so unhinged, so out of control of her own emotional state, but there was little more any of them could do for her. She would either learn to let go of the past and move forward, or she would crumble, buried beneath the weight off too much bitterness and anger. He hoped for the former, but the latter seemed inevitable, given her inability, or perhaps her unwillingness to heed anyone’s word…

When they started moving again, the silence fell on the party once more, and stretched throughout the remainder of the afternoon and into early evening. It was only when the rains had opened up that Merek decided it was better to stop and rest.

Clouds swelled overhead, thick and grey, billowing thunderheads like black crowns. Rain smacked against the earth in thick, heavy drops, the scent of ozone mingling with musky wet dirt. Still, despite the darkening skies, the shadow of Tornem Tower stretched menacingly across the sodden landscape. A small overhanging stall sat a few feet from the tower entrance, once used for horses. Here, Merek suggested the set up camp.

Their meal was sparse - but neither Merek not Travis seemed particularly keen on eating, and when supper concluded, the suggestion went round that they make an early night of it. The following day would be another long one, and soon, Bright Hedge would be at their reach…
 
Don't Jump
collab with @Elle Joyner

Deep in the night, rain continued to beat the earth with merciless fury, and the party of four outside of Tornem Tower found themselves drawn into the depths of sleep, unbidden and deep. All but one. The sound which came to Jacob was like a whisper, at first, then building, louder and louder until it broke like a desperate cry - a familiar voice, splitting the stillness of slumber like the crack of an axe against wood, hands jarring the boy’s shoulder, shaking him.

“Jacob!” The call came again, “Jacob, wake up!”

Jacob flinched at the nagging of a voice that grew louder everytime it spoke. Sleep tried to keep him in but it was no use. He woke with a startled gasp, jolting upright to stare at a young, freckled face with dazzling blue eyes.

“L-L-L-e-n-a--” He managed to stutter, voice barely above a whisper. He could not tear his eyes away from the girl, and he could barely even think about those who slept beside him. “Y-you… you were…” ….dead.

Those eyes glistened in the moonlight overhead, tears brimming as the girl shook her head, “I got away, Jacob. I… I don’t know how, but I did. But she’s back, Jacob. She’s here. I… I’m so scared… I…”

There was a sound in the distance, a snap, and Lena gave a jolt and a squeal, her voice a frantic hiss, “It’s her! She’s coming. Oh, Jacob. Please don’t let her get me…”

Lena couldn't be alive, but she was right here. Right in front of him. He remembered vividly her screams as the witch roasted her alive, screams that would haunt him for the rest of his life, among so many others. But Lena was here. She was… terrified. He could feel her terror, fear a chill run down his spine.

She’s here.

Jacob went numb. He stared at Lena, eyes wide. No. He had killed the witch. The witch was dead, the witch was-

Snap.

He sprang off of the ground and grabbed Lena’s hand. He could hear twigs continue to snap under what must have been the witch's weight. He couldn't even bring himself to look back, terror gripping him so tightly. He ran like hell, grip tight on Lena’s hand, prepared to pick her up and carry her if the need arose.

There was a road ahead of them, forked. The left lead straight, the right jutting sharply up into a steep, rocky hill. As Lena, hand gripping Jacob’s, raced for the straight road, another snap crackled through the stillness, and Lena came to a halt with a screech, as vines, covered in thick, sharp thorns shot out across their path. At the same moment, behind them, the sudden heat of fire flared with a violent fury.

“Jacob!” Lena screamed, her fingers digging into his hand desperately.

He was vaguely aware of how cut off from the rest of the world he felt. There was some nagging feeling in the back of his mind. This was wrong. Something about this was so wrong. But he was so terrified, too terrified to comprehend the feeling of deja vu.

Jacob skidded to a halt as the vines grew out of nowhere, and fire appeared behind them. He could feel himself shaking, gripping Lena tightly as he bent down and pulled her into his arms. They only had one place to go. This is wrong. Wrong, Jacob. Don't go. Don’t go.

He rushed up the steep hill, refusing to allow himself to look behind him. “Were gonna be fine, Lena.” He promised.

Lena buried into his shoulder as he carried her up the hill, with great heaving sobs, hair and clothes giving off a distinct scent, like smoke, burning wood. As her tears soaked into the fabric of his shirt, her fingers gripped him like a vice, quivers of fear rolling through her form. Another snap, and her head pulled up, her eyes widening, as a squeal escaped, “Jacob! Faster! She’s coming!”

His gut wrenched as she began to sob into his shirt. He could smell fire coming off of her clothes - no. It was the smell of the fire behind them, not her. He held her tighter, determined not to fail her again. He wouldn't, not after he had failed so many of the others..

She urged him to go faster and he did. They were close to the top, and he found himself unable to comprehend where they would go once they reached it. There was only running.

The top of the hill gave way to a break in the tree line, the sound of rushing water distinct below the edge of the deeply pitched cliff. At the edge, Lena hugged her arms around his neck with another sob, staring down at the water below them, black and coursing swiftly, “We have to jump!”

He skidded to a halt at the edge of the hill. “J...jump?” He echoed. The river looked so far away. Too far away… and the harder he stared at it, the scarier it looked.

“We can't.. jump… we won't survive.” He choked out. The smell of fire would not leave him. It was as if Lena was burning in his arms.

“...I think you’re beyond survival, My dear.” The voice sounded behind them, another one familiar to Jacob, a dry, raspy sound that lend shivers to spines with ease. The woman was tall, impossibly tall, and her skin, once clear and tan, was littered with thick keloid scars, raw and red, her eyes a smokey grey, boring into the pair, “...Did you really think that you would ever get away?”

“Jakey…” Lena whispered, curling into him more so, “...Please.”

He had hoped to never hear that voice again, at least anywhere but his horrid nightmares. He was shaking like a leaf, so terrified he thought he might drop Lena.

He did not turn around to face the witch. He couldn't. He vowed, he would never see her face again, and perhaps, if he were to die, it didn't have to be the last image in his mind.

“Can't you find another slave?” Jacob croaked, pulling Lena into him, the tip of his right foot hanging on empty air. Is this how I die? I'm… I'm not ready to die.

“Precious boy… Don’t you know? You’re so special to me. You’ll always be mine. I will own you, till the day you die.” She laughed, the witch, cruel and cold, a sound like nails raking glass and Lena quivered with a whimper.

“Jump, Jacob! Jump!”
 
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