Alone [Open]

[Viola Verran]

Viola sighed. She had been flying for almost two hours. Anima, her pegasus, was surely tired and needed to rest.  She directed Anima down to a small grove of trees and dismounted.  She sat down and brought her knees up to her chest wrapping her arms around them.  It had only been a week since the attack on the  merchant caravan.  She had flown back to the area a day later to check to see if anyone survived. The wagons were ransacked and burned.  If anyone else did survive, they weren't there anymore.  Now she was here in Bern. She has a few days of rations and a spare set of closthes that were in Anima's saddle.  

Viola reached up and rubbed the pegasus on the side of his neck as he ate some grass.  She rummaged through a bag and pulled out some dried meat.  As she bit into it, she grimaced at the heavy salt flavor. She knew that was to keep it from rotting, but she wished she had some water.  As she ate her small meal, she looked at the trees around her and felt a nice breeze. It flt nice, but reminded her she was alone until Anima whinnied and got her attention.  "Heh, right, I have you boy. Don't I?"  She said as she got up to brush Anima's mane. "Alright, let's find a place to sleep for the night. It's getting late."

The sky was dark by the time they touched down again ata small deserted building. She could tell it was deserted from the sky because it had almost no roof. "I guess, this is fine for the night." They walked into the structure that barely constituted as shelter. She sat down in a corner and wrapped herself up ina cloak for warmth. Anima stood nearby. "Night, Anima..."

[Grimi Locura]

Grimi decided it would be great to go for an evening stroll that day because well reasons. As she was wandering around in the outdoors she wondered if anyone else would be out during this time of day, "Yeah right," she thought to herself, "The chances of that are slim." She still wondered as she wandered thinking of how she would respond if she did run into someone eventually she heard a whinny. She stopped her day dreaming and looked around to find the source of the noise when she saw Viola with her pegasus. Noticing the green hair she thought that Viola was a Sacaen and was overly excited. She eventually calmed herself and approached Viola, "H-hello," she said shyly, "My name's Grimi and you are?"

[Viola Verran]

Viola heard a voice. She started to wake up and as she opened her eyes she saw a blond haired girl in front of her. "Grimi?" Viola wasn't used to people approaching her in the wild like this. Was this common? Maybe. "Uhm, my name is Viola. Nice to meet you." The girl seemed nice enough and Anima didn't seem to think anything was wrong with her as he trotted over and nuzzled Grimi with his nose.

Viola couldn't help but giggle. "He likes you, Grimi." Viola then remembered why she was here. "Uhm, Grimi, is there a village close to here? I don't really know this area well." Viola would look a bit sad from remembering what happened.  Anima would trot back to Viola and nuzzle her to cheer her up.  "Right, Anima, no time to feel down now. We have a guest."  She smiled.


"So why are you out here, Grimi? It's getting pretty dark out," Viola asked as she finally stood up. She blushed a little from realizing she should have stood right away to greet a new person. "Awe, s-sorry for not standing right away..." She chuckled nervously trying to shake the embarrassment off.  

[Grimi Locura]

She laughed and pet Anima as it nuzzled her. "What an adorable pegasus what's his name?" she asked as she pet Anima. She enjoyed the pegasus' company and pet it some more.

"Why I'm out here? Well... I just enjoy going on walks in the evening it's more peaceful just as the sun sets and it allows me to think more clearly about well... I don't know... Things probably..." She pet Anima more. "Oh it's fine I take a second or two to respond to people arriving and stuff too. Also quick question are you a Sacaen? I noticed that you have green hair and whenever I see green hair I think Sacaen. You don't need to tell me I'm just curious." She began to baby talk to Anima after that petting it's mane and just really enjoying the pegasus.

She then looked up into the sky as if staring off into space. "All the different colors... So well mixed it's amazing... It's like... I don't know... I can't seem to find the words to describe sunsets they just look so wonderful..." She paused for a moment then realized she was talking to someone, "Oh sorry sort of spaced out there..."

[Viola Verran]

"His name is Anima," Viola replied to Grimi. "Sacaen? No, I am from Etruria. I was traveling with some merchants before... uhm well, earlier I was traveling with merchants." She didn't want to burden her new acquaintance with her problems so she left off the bandit part. "Oh but i have met sacaens before. They're really nice most of the time. Sometimes a few can be a bit stubborn, but still they mean the best," She said trying to remember some sacaens she met. "Well, I guess I haven't met too many sacaens, but I did hear stories about this one sacean who saved Sacae from Bern! His name was... Kenda.. Kenshi, Kermin, ... Kenshin! that's what it was! He's a really strong swordsman also."

Viola trailed off and watched the final light disappear and didn't speak until she felt the chill of the night wind. "Uhm, do you have a village close to here? Or were you camping out as well?Because if so, you can stay here if you want for the night," She pulled the cloak tight around her as a harsh wind blew.

[Gavin]

Wind tugged at the wilds of Bern, blowing with a chill that felt almost to be tell-tale signs of winters approach. Darkened skies and tinted sunsets did little to actually comfort this, even if they were a splendid sight. Gavin shifted his quiver at his waist and slowly tugged at the strap keeping it bound to his waist, even while he moved through the brush laden green. His darkened olive shaded cloak was wrapped around him firmly, to shield him from the biting winds, and his hood was raised and successfully blocking the brunt of the harsh snapping cold from managing to harass his face. However one of his arms was lifted, and raised before his chest. Atop it sat his Goshawk Astor, the creature's head lowered and eyes closed in slumber. Gavin had his body positioned so that he would effectively block the winds from jostling his slumbering companion.

He had to find some form of shelter to take cover in. At-least so he could let Astor perch there for the night and he could have his arm back. His elbow was sore from the bent angle he had it at for the past thirty minutes, and he had a sneaking suspicion that he himself would be getting tired soon; or once he grew numb to the cold and it no longer bothered him. A task he imagined would take him far longer than it would turn out to, in actuality. As he quietly strode towards a small clearing save for the few jostled trees around, he noticed a run-down building. Luckily for him, it was not yet dark enough or at-least cloudy enough to deny him adequate vision with his eyes having acclimated to the lack of light. Just to be sure though that it was safe...

As he approached, he did so quietly. The young ranger was grateful at this moment that Astor was sleeping. At this point, he was faintly detecting voices over the howling of the wind. They sounded female; but with the wind blowing still he couldn't be sure. The boy felt it would be best to at-least figure out sooner than not. If they were hostile..at-least he'd know before freezing to death in cold evening winds. He turned the corner, and slowly strode in as he instantly felt a small sense of relief. Not in the people he saw; but no longer feeling the winds from all directions blasting against him. Now, it was merely the draft from above and the window like holes that were a bother. Those he could deal with at-least; and was a breeze compared to it.

The golden haired boy lifted his free hand to pull his hood back; knowing at-least it'd be best to show his face and reveal he was not a threat. With messy blonde hair, and a quiet expression lingering as he examined the two girls and the pegasus that stood in the center of the room, he couldn't help but wonder just who they were. Pegasi weren't common to Bern. In-fact, it was quite the opposite. Wyverns abound, and despite living within the wilds most of his life training to be a ranger as he was with his grandfather, he'd never once seen a Pegasus. Oh well. It was something new at-least.

The boy quietly cleared his throat, to make sure that a day or two of silence wouldn't inhibit him from speaking clearly. He lifted his free hand, tugging at his right ear which sported the single golden earring dangling as a gold small ring; just to get some feeling back in his body as he slowly warmed up. His fingers danced and wiggled a bit to keep the blood flowing in the other hand; the sleeping hawk still resting on his wrist as he spoke up. "Pardon me..but if there is room here I would like to take shelter for a time. At-least until the wind dies down or it becomes light out. I hope neither of you two would mind? "

[Grimi Locura]

"Anima? What a wonderful name! Isn't that also a name for a tome type or something? Eturia? I'll add that to my list of places to visit. Merchants? Cool where are they? Can I meet them? Yes the Sacaens are awesome I've always wanted to visit Sacae and meet a few. Kenshin? Well I guess I need to read up on him. I don't read very much due to books being long and boring," she said and asked cheerfully, "A village close by uh..." she pondered, "Well... I wandered north... then a bit east... then maybe south... I don't remember. I guess I'm lost then heh dejavu. Staying here for the night? That sounds reasonable enough. I've always wanted to sleep somewhere else besides a house."

She then looked toward Gavin, "Who are you? And why should we trust you to sleep with us? Like think about it. We're two girls and some guy shows up and asks for shelter in the middle of somewhere. Doesn't that seem a little bit suspicious? Like even the smallest bit? You know what if Viola's fine I'm fine. I'll just stay up to make sure no shenanigans happen. Viola are you alright with him hanging for the night?" She seemed rather confused and worried at the same time. She rubbed her head and kept her hand on her sword just in case something were to happen.

[Viola Verran]

"Yes, Anima is the name for the triangle of magic including Fire, Wind, and Thunder." Viola explained to Grimi. "Are you cold? Because if you are I have a spare cloak you can use for the nigh-" Viola stopped as she heard someone clear their throat. She turned towards the sound as someone started speaking.

"Pardon me..but if there is room here I would like to take shelter for a time. At-least until the wind dies down or it becomes light out. I hope neither of you two would mind? " The stranger had asked. He looked like he was freezing from the night wind. He had a bow which made Viola take a step closer to Anima out of instinct. Bows and Pegasi did not mix.

Viola then realized Grimi was asking him who he was and why he thought it was okay for him to stay here. Sure, he was a stranger, but he did not seem bad, and he had a bird on his arm who seemed to be pretty cold also. Surely, they would all be fine if they rested together for the night here. It is not like any of the three owned this house. "I think it's fine, Grimi. I don't think he's a bad person, and his bird needs shelter from the wind." Viola replied. "Also, what is your bird's name? My Pegasus' name is Anima." Viola was usually shy to new people, but she was always interested in animals, especially the ones that can fly.

[Gavin]

Distrust. Gavin couldn't blame the girl for it, but then again, he himself did not entirely understand normal social interactions. Most of his life, he'd lived away from people besides his grandparents. Even then, they seldom ventured into town. Wasn't that part of why he'd been going on this venture? Roaming the land, living off of it to adequately gauge his skill as a pathfinder and to find what ever it was his grandfather believed he was missing? The blonde haired boy quietly looked to the first outspoken girl, before tilting his head curiously as the other girl spoke up. Gavin lifted his hand and quietly gazed down at his slumbering hawk before stroking the creatures head twice and murmuring. "Come Astor. Wake up. Find a perch." The hawk stirred briefly, lifting his head and gazing around before suddenly flapping his wings and taking to a small wooden shelf that was nailed to the wall to Gavin's left, at eye level barely. Now shaking his hand to properly get blood flowing to his fingers once more, the boy spoke up a bit while he nodded to both girls before sitting at his own little corner quietly beneath the wooden plank that was a perch for Astor now.

"My name is Gavin. My partner is Astor. He helps me hunt, and travel."

Gavin blinked twice before looking to the pegasus that lingered within the room. Anima? It looked nothing like magic elemental spirits. Then again, who was he to judge a chosen name, eh? The blonde haired boy slowly pulled his bow out from his back so that he could rest his back against the wall; setting it in his lap long enough to comfortably press his shoulders in a way that eased tension. Though his fingers absently ran along the threaded drawstring, he did it out of habit and in no way displaying any aggression. He turned to look at this girl, "Grimi" as she seemed to be called if the other girl speaking to her was any indication.

"You have nothing to worry about. We'll leave as soon as the wind settles down and we warm up. Simple as that."

Idle conversation however was not entirely Gavin's strong suit, so he would simply leave them to bring up more topics; or sit there and quietly tend his bow. He was content doing either.

[Grimi Locura]

"Well if my new found friend trusts you I trust you," Grimi said removing her hand from the hilt of her sword. "It's alright if you spend the night with us I guess..." she didn't seem to hate Gavin but she kept eyeing him worried that he'll try something. "Anyway you two get some sleep I'll take watch." She said as she started pacing around the camp.

As she paced she kept mumbling to herself things. It was uncertain what she was mumbling about but everytime she mention Sacae she seemed to get excited. Everyone once in a while she glanced back at the camp to make sure everything was alright and she continued to pace. She eventually started to get tired but did her best to stay awake. Eventually unsheathing her blade to fiddle with it.

"Ugh... Night watch is so boring!" she said as she sat down on a convenient tree stump. "Why did I choose to take night watch? Like nothing is going to happen. It's not like some brigands or bandits are gonna show up out of nowhere and start attacking or something." She complained as she sat on the one tree stump looking around. Eventually she slowly began to close her eyes.

"Wait what am I doing?" she slapped herself to stay awake yawning every 10 seconds eventually mumbling about how sleepy she was and how she has to stay awake and how annoying night watch is. She looked up at the starry sky, yawned, slowly closed her eyes, and drifted to sleep.

[Viola Verran]

"Alright, Grimi," Viola replied to her friend as the Novice walked off to look around the area. She turned to Gavin and Astor, the former tending to his bow. "So, how long have you been traveling? I haven't been on my own before so I'm pretty new to this 'roughing it on my own' thing." She then realized she never formally introduced herself. "Oh right, my name is Viola by the way." She was pretty sure he had heard Grimi call her by her name, but it just seemed polite to introduce herself.

Viola hears howling in the distance. She absently wondered if Grimi would be okay. In a few minutes she would go check on her. She brushed Anima's mane to which Anima gave a soft neigh in response. Viola giggled at the pegasus's response and stroked his wings softly.

Viola heard the howls again closer this time. "I hope Grimi is okay." She looks out a window when a wolf suddenly leaps through causing Viola to stumble back and fall on her rear. The wolf snarled at the squire and hunter in the small building. Another 2 howls would be heard in the not so distant distance. Anima headbutted the wolf allowing Viola enough time to stumble up and rush to the pegasus' side. She scrambled to get up on the saddle as the wolf stood back up.

She reached out for her iron lance that was leaning against the wall next to Anima. She had grabbed it just in time to knock the wolf to the side with the butt of the lance. "I guess this wasn't the safest place after all..."

[Gavin]

Overall..things could've been worse. Instead of two girls he could have turned the corner to a bunch of brigands or angry mercenaries. That would've been a lot worse. The boy's fingers tugged at the string to ensure the tether was tight enough to offer resistance and provide enough force with his arrows, but wasn't so much so that he would be unable to actually pull on or draw arrows. His gaze continued to fixate on the draw string while he answered the girls question. Wilderness traveling was something he was used to, given most of his life was spent within the forests of Bern. "A few months now. Usually I only go out on my own for a few weeks. " He would've continued speaking, but the distant howl suddenly caught the boys attention. That was a sound he knew all too well. Drawing on the arrow string was no longer a concern of his, in light of this; standing up as he quietly whistled abruptly. The noise drew the attention of his companion, as Astor let out a sudden brief screech and flapped his wings while taking to the skies. Gavin quickly tugged an arrow from the quiver fastened to his waist and knocked it to the bow he carried. In the wilds, one couldn't take any chances. Especially with other predators.

He began to lightly draw the arrow, so the act of actually loosing it would come easier. He Looked to the girl before they found themselves staring down a sudden and new intruder. The wolf that leapt into the room was certainly not looking to share in the comfort of a cozy nighttime conversation either. As the girl's pegasus rushed forwards and forced the wolf back, Gavin found himself rushing to grab at part of the frame. Pulling hard at it, he plied one of the wooden boards free. Turning to see the girl knocking the wolf back as well with her spear. Though it recovered, Gavin threw the wooden board off to the right of the wolf so it would hit the wall behind it.

Animals perceived threats by their senses. Sudden sound behind it would likely cause it to believe itself surrounded. Cautious wolfs were dangerous none the less; but slower to act. Gavin firmly drew his arrow while he whistled loudly to Astor. The hawk let out a piercing cry while it took to the air. Gavin crouched down onto one knee so he'd have an easier time evading if he was attacked. He paused; waiting a moment before firing an arrow at the wolf.

They had to kill this one incase the others showed up. Wolves were notoriously good at hunting together.

[Grimi Locura]

Woken up by the commotion Grimi jumped to her feet, "Oh no..." she said out loud as she ran into the camp to see the group being attacked. She unsheathed her sword and looked at the wolf, tapped her shoulder with her sword three times, and leaped into the air. She came down almost hitting the wolf; she was quick but quite clumsy. The wolf avoided her attack and Grimi began to try and get her sword out of the ground. She was rather annoyed that the wolf was more capable than her but she tried to focus on getting her sword out of the ground.

"Ngh... You guys all right?" she said as she was tugging her sword out of the ground, "I'm sorry I wan't awake. I sort of dosed off." She eventually got her sword out of the ground and the wolf tackled her. Now laying on the ground pinned by a wolf with the wolfs disgusting, moist, and warm breath being blown into her face Grimi was stuck in this situation. Grimi turned her head and saw the other two wolves real close by. Grimi then decided to roll to the side. Successfully rolling with the wolf Grimi was getting bitten in the arm as she struggled to wrestle the wolf off of her.

"Hey a- ow little help here guys!?" Grimi's sword was inches away but if she stopped wrestling she would surely get killed so she kept struggling and wrestling that wolf. "This is going to be a long and painful night," she thought in her head.

[Viola Verran]

Gavin's arrow hit the wolf in the front right leg. Viola was about to stab at it from above when Grimi jumped in and brought her sword down. After Grimi was grounded again and in the process of getting her sword free, Viola tried to stab at the wolf again, but it had tackled Grimi. Viola could then hear two more howls now much closer. She had Anima to place a hoof on the wolf's back to stop the rolling duo and she slashed the now panicking wolf with her lance. It was sloppily and hastily done, but the wolf lay prostrate on the ground now unmoving.

Viola heard a sudden growl as a wolf jumped at her. As she was toppled from her hovering mount, she saw a third wolf approach Gavin from behind. She held her lance in front of her to keep the wolf's jaws occupied as the two struggled for dominance. "Gavin! Behind you!" She was finally able to yell.  As if by a stroke of luck she was able to roll the wolf into a wall. At least she could hold it here a bit easier then sprawling all over the floor.

Anima had picked up Grimi's sword with his teeth and dropped it next to her. He was nervously looking around and glancing at his master on the ground with the wolf. He neighed loudly trying to distract the wolves for their respective targets to get the upper hand.

Viola was at least able to pin her wolf's head to the wall, but it was flailing its claws and finding the unarmored parts of her body. She even got a cut on her cheek from a claw.

[Gavin]

He saw the arrow punch into the wolf. A slight subconscious flinch halted him as he felt all too well the sharp burning pain of an arrow head piercing flesh. It was more of a phantom pain, a ghostly remembrance of an old wound. There was no time for that though. The sudden screeching cry of Astor as the hawk dove downwards drew his attention above; and behind. Luckily, as he heard the pegasus rider's voice he turned.

"Gavin! Behind you!"

Gavin rolled backwards and to the right as he started to draw another arrow. The approaching wolf was already about to enter the building as the young hunter leveled his arrow. It was too close. He loosed the arrow without drawing it back all the way; injuring the wolf in the back but without enough force to drive the arrow in any significant way. As the wooden shaft now poked out over the fur of the creature's hide; the Hunter began to draw another arrow. The injury would slow it down, but not halt it entirely. He had to draw it away. At-least long enough for them to kill the other wolf. Luckily, he had this ones attention. That would do. Gavin ran near the wolf, but skirted to the side as the hound snapped at him. He felt it snag at his left arm, grabbing ahold of the leather armor that tightly wove to his skin. Thankfully, just the armor. He tugged at his arm with all his might and swung his bow to smack the wolf in the head with the wooden end; annoying it more than anything no doubt as it loosened it's jaws to snap at his bow. Freed of the lockjaw, he sprinted away and moved for the small cluster of trees. He couldn't out run a wolf normally. A wounded wolf? Maybe. Just maybe. He turned around and began stringing another arrow. If he could get enough distance he could make another shot.