Torment

[Evoth]

"Good. You're not dead." Alix let out a sigh of relief, "I guess that you can rest for now. I must find our current location before we can leave." This was going to take some time and it didn't seem to be on their side. Reynard was always slipping into unconsciousness. Everything seemed to be going so well. "Get your strength back. Just rest." he repeated.

[hermitcrab1112]

Ooc;;
Wow, I am /so/ sorry I disappeared for, like, ever.
It was horrid not to warn you. Really sorry: my computer was buried under my Mom's friend's luggage.

[hermitcrab1112]

Wondering again how, and why, anyone would want him alive, Reynard nodded, not wishing to speak. Dumb idea. Pain shot through his body, and he abandoned the attempt, hoping the fellow had noticed the faint beginning.

Knowing he could be no help, he shut his eyes, still awake, but slightly dozing. What help could he be?
As an idea began to form, begun by the realization that he wanted to live, he stayed quiet. Maybe....Just maybe....
-d-

[Evoth]

ooc: It's okay. I understand completely. It seems that peachy isn't around anymore so we can move this along.

ic:

Alix cursed, their location was impossible to find on the map. It was as if this forest never existed in the first place. He threw the map aside, his anger getting the best of him. They needed to head north. That was the only thing Alix knew.

Turning his mind away from the matter, Alix looked to his comrad lying on the ground, "Times are hard in the kingdom. Ever since we lost you, our moral has been low. It was you who helped inspire our soldiers, our people. You were truely a god amonst men when you lead us to battle." he pulled at his leather guantlet, "I was there at the day of your capture. Our defeat was because of the numbers. It was because we lost you. That was our torment."

[hermitcrab1112]

Coughing slightly, Reynard answered, his tone light at first, but deepening into regret.
"There are better men than I. And I should have gone the southern route. We were surprised for two reasons: a scout who didn't know the area, and bad leadership. I was the leader.....and I failed them. Their numbers were large, yes, but not huge."

He stopped, eyes staying shut as he relived the battle. The flank had been overwhelmed, and he'd lost his head. He hadn't regrouped, the men ran, panic prevailed. He'd let them down, hadn't fought hard enough.....hundreds had died. Oh gods, what had he /done/?

The battle had plagued him for the first three months of his captivity. Then he'd forgotten it under the wave of pain. It was coming back-and the guilt hadn't left.

They'd pulled him off his horse, and the men panicked further...couldn't he have at least stayed on Dedan? Why had he taken the eastern road? Why hadn't he taken the other?
Oh gods.....how many had died that day?
-d-

[Evoth]

Laughter emitted from Alix's chest, "We are but mere mortals. Everyone one of us has made mistakes in our lives. Everyday we do it." He let out a sigh, "War changes us all." His tone darkened, "We become savages. Even the best of us turn into beasts. Our thoughts become cloudy and we misjudge the world around. "

Alix jumped to his feet, "Forget about the past. It will only plague your mind until you're old and gray." Dim spectra of light began to pierce through the dense foliage of the forest. Morning was approaching fast. "We must make our way back to the kingdom. Come on."

[pearlypat823]

ooc| sorry i was gone for so long. I was on a camping trip. I'm really sorry I didn't let you know ahead of time.

bic| Elana gasped. Oh no! The night was fading. She was trapped. She had to get away from here. Heart pounding wildly, she silently lowered herself into the cool water untill she was completely submerged. Surely that would cause a ripple. Kicking against the mossy wall, she swam through the glassy pool untill she reached the other side. Praying she remained unnoticed, she carefully surfaced, gratefully taking in the cool night air.

Her dress lay in a heap in the grass. Maybe she could reach it. She cautiously lifted her arm out of the water and reached for her gown. Her fingertips could barely reach the hemline. She breathed a sigh of relief before quietly pulling the dress towards her. Having no other choice, she pulled it all the way into the water. It made much more noise than she had anticipated. Too late to stop now. As quickly as she could, she awkwardly pulled the wet gown on under the water and climbed out.

She cringed at the deafening splash that followed. Her heart racing, she slowly turned back to see if the two men were still there, and if they had seen her...

[hermitcrab1112]

Knowing the man was right, Reynard tried to stop thinking about it. Unsuccesful, of course, but hey, he tried!

Smiling weakly, he addressed him, voice remorseful.
"I suppose you're right. On both counts. Can you help me up?"

Then he heard the splash. Wondering faintly what it was, and knowing he could do nothing about it, whatever it was, he turned his head anyway.
A....girl?
/That/ was a trifle odd.
-d-

[pearlypat823]

He'd seen her. Elana saw his head turn in her direction. Her heart pounding furiously, she panicked for a few moments, wildly trying to decide what to do. Run.

She was completely drenched, and the night air felt much colder and more unpleasant. Without thinking, she dashed into the trees, the moonlight shining on her wet skin. When she thought she was out of sight, she stopped, and pressed herself against a tree, breathing hard. What now? Would they come after her? Would they think she was a hallucination? Who were they? What were they doing in the forest? Her forest! One of them was hurt. The other seemed to be taking care of him. How long would they stay? What did they look like up close?

These countless questions raced through her mind and engendered within her a burning curiosity. She glanced upwards to see the fading darkness. It would be morning soon, but she still had time. Chances were, she'd never see another human again. She couldn't pass up this opportunity. She just couldn't.

Wondering if she'd gone mad, she carefully peered through the trees. They were still there. Trembling with excitement now, she lifted her wet skirt and crept around the glade, careful to stay within the shadows. She knew she stuck out like a sore thumb in the darkness. Especially now that she was wet. But she knew this forest. She would be able to stay hidden. At least...she hoped.

Finally, she was within earshot of the two men. Their voices were low and soft. Creeping even closer, she was finally able to get a good view of them. She had to stop herself from gasping aloud. The wounded man had scars all over his face, and his back was stained with blood. The worst though were his fingers. They had been mutilated beyond repair. Tears sprang to Elana's silver eyes as an overwhelming wave of pity hit her.

What had the other humans done to this man? How could those creatures be so cruel? So heartless! She wanted to help him. She knew she could. She was an extremely skilled healer, posessing many secrets and methods unknown to humankind. Then she reminded herself. She could not be seen. She could not. Still, the idea ate at the back of her mind. This poor poor man needed help. He needed her.

[Evoth]

Without reply Alix gently grabbed Reynard by the arm and pulled him to his feet. Letting loose of the man, he made sure that he could stand on his own. It seemed luck was on his side. The fallen warrior had enough will to stand. At least for now.

In the distance came a sound. Alix turned to see nothing. Perhaps his mind was playing tricks on him. Anxiety seemed to fill him. What if it was a scout who had found them. Turning back to Reynard, he could tell something had also caught his attention, "What is it? Did you hear it too?" Gripping the hilt of his blade to give himself comfort.

[hermitcrab1112]

Slightly puzzled, Reynard turned to the man, wondering how long he would be able to stand up.

"It was...a girl. She went into the trees. I do-don't think she's left."

Where had she come from? The whole business was odd; the man not being able to find their position on the map, and now this strange girl from the water.

"She got out of the water.."
-d-

[pearlypat823]

Elana's eyes widened in horror. They had heard her. How could she have been so stupid? She should have just run home when she had the chance. Now here she was, but 2 yards away from these men, and she had no way of slipping away unnoticed.
She considered her options:
She could show herself, so they would know she meant no harm...no. The consequences for that would be dreadful. Who knows what the men would do to her after that. The healthy one looked dangerous. And even if they didn't harm her, she didn't like to think of the punishment she would recieve when she returned home.

She could try and run away, hoping they wouldn't follow her... Surely she wouldn't get too far in this state. Her wet gown stuck to her legs and would make it nearly impossible to run fast.

She could stay where she was, and hope they would forget and pay her no heed... that seemed safe, but she knew she had to get away. The sky was growing lighter with each passing minute, and she would be punished severely for returning late. She knew she had to try her luck.

Trying her best to steady her breathing, so it would remain quiet, Elana slowly peered around the thick tree she had been hiding behind. To her great surprize, shock, and terror, the moment she had exposed her face, her bright, silver eyes locked with a pair of brown ones, belonging to none other than the wounded man she had been watching for so long.

[hermitcrab1112]

Just as he finished his sentence, his eyes focused....silver eyes?

A second later, his mind came into play, and provided him with information. There were two silver eyes looking at him, no, staring at him. The eyes belonged to the girl--or, he assumed so, as they were in a girlish, ethereally pretty face.

Unsurprisingly, he didn't speak for a moment, rather surprised by her appearance.
Finally:
"Er....she's actually behind....behind you."
-d-

[pearlypat823]

Elana snapped out of her trance the instant he spoke. She had been oddly mesmerized by his haunted eyes, as if she were trapped in his gaze, and unable to escape. This was all shattered when he informed the other, more dangerous-looking, man of her presence. She bolted back to her hiding place and pressed herself against the tree, mind racing. What now? What now? She had to run! She took a deep breath, turned, and began to back slowly away from the tree. Bad idea. Before she had gotten far at all, she tripped over a tree root and fell backwards, hitting the forest floor with a muffled thud.

[Evoth]

Alix turned around to quickly catch the glispe of a fleeing female. He remained for a moment. The thought of war no on his mind. A female couldn't pose a threat unless she was a spy. "Wait!" he cried out. Instict took over and Alix took chase after her.

As soon as he got close to her she fell to the ground. Alix reacted quickly, he skidded to a stop. Before him lay the strange female that had watched him from a distance.