The sun begins to set, as I journey into the woodland, trying to find a place to rest for a while. I see a clearing, with a tall tree I can nest in. Thankfully, I am glad for the training I received before my father passing away. I gather up twigs and dead wood from around the area, and begin to make a fire, and while that's happening I spot a lone rabbit behind a rock a few feet from me, probably noticed the fire and wanted to get warm.
I draw my dagger from the sheath against my leg, and launch it towards the rabbit, pinning it to the rock. I walk over to him, and put him quickly to death, fixing him so I can put him against the fire, I stick a long twig through him, and roast him.
It's dark now, the fire crackles a bit as it dies down, I finish building my nest from the leaves I picked from the tree. It's uncomfortable, but at least I'll be safe from other, more dangerous animals out at night. I lay there, looking at the sky, thinking about what happened in the crypt. So I'm just like that thing now? I refuse to believe that. I'll make my own path..
I hear someone running through the woods, I keep my eyes shut and be quiet to listen. As they run towards my camp, I hear other footsteps, closing in behind. The figure runs out from the bushes, right under the tree I'm in, but cannot see me. I open my eyes to get a better look, and see it's a woman.
She's dressed in extremely odd clothes, a silk I've never seen before covers her chest beautifully, while her legs are revealed from rips and tears in the fabric, probably from the bushes. She backs against the tree, breathing hard, I hear panic in her breathing as two other figures pop out from the shadows.
"Look miss, you ought not have told the Captain off like that.." A man with a dark cloth wrapped over his face, said with a sour tone.
"You guys are thugs, bandits who only take what you want, and damn the rest. Of course I'm going to tell that Captain of yours to screw himself, he smells like a pig's den." The woman said with a soft but firm, threatening voice.
The other figure reached for something on his back, a crossbow. Taking the tip between his fingers, he licked his lips and said, "Don't insult us wrench, we don't take kindly to insults."
I could see her slowly reach for something concealed in her dress, but could not make out what it was, does she intend to fight these two? I'd rather not get involved in this, but.. I'd lose whatever humanity I had left if I let these two brutes attack her.
I drop from the tree, with a thud, all three of them jump with surprise, the woman sees me first, but isn't sure if I'm a new threat or an ally. I show her my intentions secretly by giving her a well known sign throughout these lands by winking twice, once means I am an ally, twice means I will defend you comrade. She gets the message.
"You looking for trouble too mud licker? I suggest clearing off." The man with the crossbow was positioning his bolt, and the other one with the mask was pulling out a jagged dagger from his shoe.
I stare at each one of them, I'm confident I can take them on, but.. I don't want this girl hurt.. I loosen the grip on my blade, and hold up my hands for them to see. I really hope I can get this to work.
"Eh, what are you doing? You going to surrender? Well, see that's not going to happen, we don't want you running off for help do we, Brendal?" He smiled, crazily at me, drawing his bow he raised it quickly for me, I cried out for my magic to work, and luckily it came through. I melted his crossbow and turned it to ash in his hands. He stared blankly at his hands, then at me, wondering what happened, as the other one charges blindly at me, but before he gets to me, the woman jumps on him and begins pounding him with her hands, the man cries out for her to get off, but she continues to beat him, as the other bandit races towards her, I grab him by the throat and toss him aside, the woman finally stops and gets off the bandit, looking at me.
"Why help me sir?" She stares into my eyes, seeing that they are different, she backs away for a moment, then tries to get closer, but I grab her hand firmly.
"I couldn't let them gang up on you, that's all." I say with a little regret in my voice, wishing I had said something different, but, I cannot let her know about me.. what what I am..
"Hmp, I can take them both on.." She folds her arms in annoyance, as the other one I threw drags the other one away, cursing at us, she yells, "Tell your Captain he'll be next if he tries to come after me, you pigs!"
For a moment, I smile, then I realize that I still am, what I am.... But maybe, it won't be so bad, maybe..
"My name is Sofie.. and, thank you, I was a little ungrateful before, but I probably couldn't have done that without your aid. May I stay here for just the night? I promise to not bother you, I'll even sleep on the ground here by the fire, just I'd rather not go back to the Inn." She sounds tired, and her voice is so charming and soft though, like the dress she wears.
I sigh, and nod, as she jumps up with a grin, I hold my hand up to the tree, "But you're sleeping up there, I'll sleep down here, I'd feel better that way." I say with a firm tone
As she climbs the tree, and instantly falls asleep in the nest I made, I smile for a moment more, hoping it lasts through the night.
(Wow, hope this wasn't terrible... xD)
