((Hope this isn't reserved...))

The source of the footsteps still seemed well hidden through the trees and undergrowth of Hellman's. Though a soft scent of cologne, a sort of herb or poppie smell, could be smelled, sifting around to mingle with the smell of burning tember.

Beyond the darkness, a man and his two large beasts, his life companions, had smelled the smoke, seen the flickering light from just a small distance away and had slowly minimized the space between them and the fire. Now, coming just within veiw to the figure on the ground, two looming figures, dog-like masses or black and white found their way to the outter edge of the fire light. Given that she was in a wooded and protected area, these figures were easily identified as wolves, one black and one white. Black with his teeth bared back, belly low to the ground, ears flattened to his head in a threatening manner. The White sat on her haunches, red eyes gazing in a more serene fashion.

The third figure to appear, the source of the footsteps and the only to be heared of the three approaching, was tall and thin, a humanly figure. And unlike the wolves, this figure had not hesitated to step within the circle of light, being clear to stay back the length of the sword near her hand. He stood at the dimmest edge, keeping his night-adjusted eyes averted from the fire so not to ruin his vision in the dark.

With his tall thin fram, highlighted by the loose black pants and tight black shirt in which he wore, he was abviously fairly muscled as well. Deep blue eyes gazed down at her. They seemed empty and hallow of all feelings and gave one an eerie feeling of being looked stright through. Messy, flame red hair, fell over his face, too short to be pulled back but just long enough to be a nussence.

"You should have your hand cleaned before you find sleep again." His voice was rasp and deep. "Predators such as wolves will smell the blood a mile off." He remained just far enough back to show he was no threat...or to avoid any threat she may offer.

((Heh, nope. No reservations here ...))


Arcaine stood up quickly, taking hold of her sword with uninjured hand. But her posture was simply one of caution. And she was definitely uncertain about the three. Though Arcaine believed that if need be, she could have gaurded herself against one of the canines. But two and a man alongside them? There was no way that would work out well for her ...

"I probably should. But as it just happened I haven't had time yet."

She replied dryly, almost devoid of emotion. It didn't really matter to her, as she doubted she'd be able to sleep again on this night. Her gaze shifted from the man, to each wolf, and back again. Arcaine wasn't totally at ease, what with the black wolf in his threatening posture and all.

"Not going to attack me is it?"

Not asked out of fear, it almost seemed queried with a morbid sense of curiousity. She gave a nod to the black one, barely inclining her head; not wanting to startle it into action.

Dazzling, still compeltly empty eyes roamed through the darkness to his great black. The beast was larger then the white, though she seemed more supreame and held herself more trained and far superior. The beasts muzzle was crinkled with his snarl and his teeth, unlike wild animals, were clean and white. Though when the woman had picked up the sword her body, muscles visably, did tense.

"Verkur, stodva pessie' hemiska." His voice was strong, still raspy, and comanding. The beasts belly-low-to-ground stanse dropped to belly-aginst-ground, and his tail dropped as well, lips rolling down to cover the bared fangs and eyes averted to the red-head. Whimpers. Thewhite watched, and somehow looked authoritive.

"No. He shall not attack you." He observed her sword with no interest. He stood with his hands folded in front of him, to keep the visable maybe, but at his own waist was strapped to a fine leather belt, a knife, blade made of granite stone, hilt of what looked to be a deers antler or a bone of sorts. He made no atempt to remove it.

"Will you be needing fresh water for your wound?" His eyes, hollow and dead, on her hand now. "Or do you have such already?" His eyes had already, before seen or heard, taken in that she was one, not taller then himself, and two, not a man. Therefore illiminating any threat he could have been to her. His job was to kill Raven. Not a young woman in the woods.

Arcaine relaxed slightly, seeing that she was no longer being threatened anymore. She placed her weapon aside for the time being. Arcaine left it standing vertical, the blade dug into the earth with hilt still within easy reach. She often did so, and yet again did this without a second thought.

"Thats a bit more reassuring ..."

She held out her hand and looked at it for a moment. The blood was already beginning to dry and her hand stopped bleeding for the moment. Arcaine didn't feel all too intelligent at the moment. With her cutting her own hand and whatnot.

"No ... I'm fine. Just fine ..."

She muttered, as she tore off a scrap of denim from her pants leg; and wrapped it around her hand. Arcaine still wasn't really concered with that, though it'd probably hurt worse in the morning.

"Erm ... Who are you anyways?"

Though Arcaine wasn't quite sure if she'd get an answer or not.

He had nodded slightly when she said she was fine, offered a word "very well," and had unfolded his hands and turned to leave, the wolves turning as well without comand. But as she had asked who he was he had paused and turned halfway, back towards the lit cirle of fire, observing the sword standing in such a way and her wraping her wound. It would get infected being treated as such. He knew this well, wounds being his experties.

Empty eyes on her for a long silent moment. The red-head did not often lie about his name, in fact...he never lied about his name. Though in his line of work he probably should have. But then, as he saw it, a dead man can't identify a man by his name, knowing it or not. Dead men...most dead men...could not speak. But she had asked him who he was, not what his name was...so for the immediate moment, this did not matter.

Finally, dead eyes bli8nked, then body turned the rest of the way to face the woman. He looked her over for the first time. By the size of her, and the shape to her body and appearance of her face, she was a youth. No doubt younger then eighteen years. Why would a child be in the woods alone? Note to self, ask.

"A simple man. An explorer at the moment, though what I will be tomorrow is still undecided." Was the reply she eventually received from the empty eyed red-head. "And you child. Who are you and what may I call you?"

"Name's Arcaine ... Heh ... Wolff actually."

She was suddenly amused by the coincidence of her last name and the creatures that man traveled with.

"Suppose I'm an explorer. But I'm also searching for someone. Someone that I don't even know what he looks like. But still, I made a vow that I'd find the guy. So I have to at least try ..."

Arcaine was never one to give up. She was a bit on the stubborn side, though she'd rather die trying than to surrender to anything.

"And what should I call you?"

For some reason, she felt like he was avoiding that question. But if he didn't answer this time then Arcaine wouldn't worry about it. Arcaine never worried much about anything, actually.

She didn't know what else to say to the man, whoever he was. But she was now also curious about him. Arcaine was sometimes a bit childish that way, and usually had a lighthearted and rather sarcastic way of going about things. But she also understood the ways of this world much more than her peers. She'd been taught well, both by the world around her and when she was younger, her parents. But Arcaine didn't think upon that now, didn't want to.

Amused smile on his lips, empty eyed, a ompletly vaccant gaze. It did give the sense that he was looking directly through her. More stray red hairs in his eyes but he didn't bother to push it back, accustomed to the strands that never stayed back.

"My name is Degla." Offered no last name. As far as he was concerned, he owned no one last name. He turned his hand back towards the beasts in the outter rim of the fire light. "The great black, snarling creature is Verkur, the great white serene one is Drepa."

"And why, may I ask," have you chossen to stop in the middle of a wood to night?" He asked, his empty eyes still on her cut hand. He couldn't help stop thinking that it was going to be infected.

Arcaine shifted her feet for a moment, her gaze roaming to each wolf as they were "introduced". She did feel like this Degla fellow was staring straight through her, but she wasn't bothered by it, much.

Arcaine hesitated for a moment, before giving her answer.

"I've stopped in these woods because I just happened to be travelling through here this evening. Night fell and I came across this old campsite and decided to rest up for the next day's journey. And the reason I'm in the woods in the first place is because I have nowhere else to go."

Arcaine had planned on stopping there, but with that dream ... nightmare still freshly imprinted in her mind. She continued.

"Guess I'm sorta an orphan or something. My mother died when I was much younger, and my father just died a few months back. So now I'm searching for a brother ... half really. ... Because I vowed to do so, it was my father's dying wish that I couldn't ignore."

She finished with a shrug, all she could think of to do. Arcaine didn't recall these events with sadness, only spoke them matter-of-factly. Though she wouldn't go into detail about her mother's murder all those years ago.

He nodded. "I see." He acknowleged that, like all teens he really knew, she talked, revealing more about herself then was necissary, and in a city as large as this one, that was never a good idea. He watched her as she spoke, guessing at her age. Too young to be eighteen, to old to be fourteen or fifteen. She had too be around age sixteen or seventeen.

"Your hand will be infected by morning." he said simply and bluntly. Drepa, the great white wolf had stepped up next to him, coming to his waist in a giant beast twice the size of any average German shepard dog. He absently rubbed her head behinde her ears.

"Have you any money? There are many safer places to sleep, a hotel." He offered her this peie of information. "If the ranger of the conservation finds you here with this fire he's sure to have your ass. It's suposed to be protected area."

Arcaine didn't have anything to say about Degla's commenting on the condition of Arcaine's hand. She simply gave another shrug.

"This place was more convinent for me than a hotel. To stay at a hotel I'd have to find it first, and hope that someone would let me have a room. Without me having to show any sort of ID, of course."

Arcaine took hold of her sword and yanked it from the ground. As she put it to her back again she commented upon the mentioning of a conservation ranger.

"I'd just tell them I found the fire here and was ... trying to contain it. Act all good-samaritan like ... its worked for me before."

The only part of her sword now visible was the hilt seen to the back of Arcaine's neck; and perhaps a small bit of the crimson blade past Arcaine's lower back.

"'Sides, this place doesn't seem to be protected enough, considering the fact that there'd been a fire here once; long before I arrived.
And I don't believe such people would give me much trouble. ... And if they tried ...

Well, she wouldn't go into that. ... Arcaine may have been a bit overconfident with herself, and the truth of the matter is that she's practically nothing without the sword. But she never lost sight of the weapon, so she never worried about what might happen if she were forced to fight without it. Arcaine never really worried about the future much, generally preferring to live simply in the present.

He nodded . "Yes. But that fire belonged to a young blind man, called Emrys I believe it was." He replied, "and they pardon him from the crime because he was handicapped."

He watched with emotionless gaze, as she placed the sword on her back, shook his head. She would certinally regret not cleaning her hand come morning. Infection spreads easy, especially if the wound was dirtied like hers was. Oh well. You tried to be kind, dosn't seem to mater. Just stick to being an assassin and drop the helpful crap.

"At any rate, it's winter. Snowbirds leave the snowy areas and head for warmer climate this time of the year. It would not be hard to find a hotel. And with the bussiness slow down, It's not likely they'll bother carding you."

"Oh, really? ...

Arcaine thought upon that for a while. It would be better to visit one of those hotels he spoke of. Get cleaned up, sleep in an actual bed for once, be warmer (though she wasn't much bothered by the cold). She crossed her arms and leaned back on her heels, slightly. Perhaps her brother might even be there ... though she doubted it.

"I dunno ... Maybe I ought to ..."

Arcaine wasn't sure why she felt so uncertain about that. But she did and couldn't stop that feeling. And it wasn't often anyone tried to help Arcaine, (though its not really certain why). So this was a rarity for her, and she wasn't sure whether to thank him for this helpful information; follow his advice.

She closed her eyes for a moment, fatigue setting in. Arcaine straightened, opened her eyes now.

"Alright then ... you've got a point ... I'll try it, couldn't really hurt ..."


She idly ran the fingers of one hand over the cut on her other. She winced, slightly; and pulled her hands away from each other.

He nodded, eyes on the cut on her throat. The perfect way to silance someone if they see you before you've had a chance to do your job. Degla idely wandered what man or woman had tried to silance her, and probably had gotten the worst end of that sword on her back. That was probably infected as well. He let his hand rest on the hand-crafted dagger at his side. It was not a threatening guesture but rather a relaxing comfortable position this man often took.

When he was not out to kill you, he was a rather sweet man, inless of course, his mind started to fuck with him. His mind was an odd thing, anyone who tried to probe around in his thoughts was likely to go insane themselves. Degla did not apear to be insane, infact he looked perfectly sane and stable.

"Do you wish me to lead you to one?" he asked her, his posture looking very relaxed. The black wolf finally risked getting up from his groveling position and was now standing tall and firm.

There were many coincidences in Arcaine's life, most of which happened to be rather unsavory occurrences. But Arcaine was also never one to be silenced easily.

"As long as I'm not distracting you from some previous engagement ..."

Arcaine observed the wolf warily, and seeing as it wasn't doing any harm she turned her gaze from it.

"I'd much appreciate it."

She added, more at ease now. Though she never dropped her guard completely. After all, Arcaine never was one to do so.

He shook his head. "No. Certinly no previous engagment." He replied. He'd been looking for Raven, tracking him. But in order to track someone, you had to have somewhere to start. So technically he hadn't yet been traing Raven, but rather searching for proper signs for the man.

He walked into her camp and kicked piles of dirt into the fire pit, smothering the flames under moisture of earth with a heavy boot. Then he dropped his foot on the dirt pile paking the dirt down to be sure he had extinguished the flame entirly. Then he turned his back to her, faceing the darkness of the woods again.

"Follow me then."

Without further explanation, he stepped through the wooded area into complete darkness. The two great wolves turned with him and began to walk silently along side eaither side of him.

"Thanks ..."

Arcaine moved to follow, waited for a second before walking into the complete darkness.

How ... inconvenient. No light whatsoever. Better be careful, with my luck I'll probably fall into a giant hole in the ground or something.

Random thoughts running through her head. Oh, well. ... At least they were better than the memory.

Must be clouded or something. No stars, no moon lighting to way. Eeesh ... kinda creepy. Hmmm .... At least I've got the sword ... and I've been in worse situations than this.

Arcaine knew she should have been paying more attention to where she was going, so she let her mind clear for the time being. It would be rather embarrassing if she were to get lost.

Well, no more worrying about things I can't control.

Degla offered no answer her thanks. Instead he nodded just slightly, hardly even a recognizable nod. His figure loomed in front of her, pace steady and not slow but not fast eaither. His eyes were more adjusted to the dark then hers were. He breifly slowed to his pace, allowing her to catch up to him.

This man, red hair, blue empty eyes, and strong build seemed to be a solitary figure. One of no (or at the very least not many) friends or family. On his face was the constant impression that he was looking for something...or someone...that would have a great impact to his life...or maybe greater if he did not find it.

((Sorry so short. Sister needs the phone))

((S'all right.))

Searching for someone who'd have a great impact if found. That was something these two travellers had in common. Though Arcaine didn't understand a thing like that. The only reason Arcaine had for why she searching was simply because she never could break a vow.

I've met anyone like this guy before. ... There's something different about him ... And its just those wolves alongside. ... Like he's more than he appears to be ...

Arcaine was in thought again, her gaze straight ahead. Though she didn't notice it, she looked to be studying Degla . Arcaine wasn't "grown-up" yet, so she had a rather inquistive mind. But still, she knew what question were appropriate and which were not. Not wanting to seem rude or childish. She didn't ask any questions concerning as to why the other seemed so unique. But there was question she felt she could ask.

"I don't want to sound ungrateful or anything ... But why are helping me out?"

Arcaine wasn't used to aid of any sort. Though there was no real reason for it. Just simply the way things were for her.

A low, rumbling chuckle was her first answer.

I do not trust her, Deg. She smells too urious.

Hush up Verkur. You do not trust anyone.

The white wolf accompanied her words (in the language of the wolves) with a snap at the black ones heels. A small growl came from her throat, and thought the Black was larger, he yelped and pinned his ears aginst his head, lowering, even as they walked, closer to the ground in submission.

Degla had made due to ignor, both the wolves coments andDrepa snipping Verkur's heels. Instead, he was forming an answer in his head that really didn't need thought of.

"Becuase. You are not Raven." Was one reply, though it was always quetioned further the red-head never clarified that coment. "And you," he continued, looking over at her. "Are far too young to sleep in a damp forest, and far to far from home to be caught by law inforcments for a honest mistake of sleeping on protected land." His answers were honest.

He kept his walk steady as they went, his posture tending to be straight but he did move with a slight roll to his shoulders that could only be found in a sailor or a long time hiker.

((Everything in bold is obviously Verk and underlined is Drepa. She can't understand them, Degla can, and I really only added that for your benifit of thought.))

Raven? ... Seems like I'm not the only person searching for someone ...

Arcaine was thinking of his answer. But she stopped walking for a moment, soon as Degla looked at her.

"I see ..."

Degla's answer was something Arcaine had heard once before. And she couldn't think of anything to say as a reply to that.

"But I've slept in worse places than this forest. Caught by people worse than law enforcement."

Arcaine sometimes gave either too much information about herself or information that did't really make any sense. But she was relucatant to change her ways. For no reason other than change took too much time. But it was true that Arcaine was still young, and so mistakes were always to be made. If not, then she never would have learned the things she had.

"But like I said ... I'm still thankful for your help in any case."

Her temporary guide continued to walk wordlessly and solitary. He did not seem to care much for their conversation, nor for her thanks. When she did thank him he simply shrugged and gave a little grunt as if to say big deal. His red hair remained in his fae, annoying to other people but he did not brush it back. It was in such a way that it made other people when they looked at it, want to reach up and push their own hair back even if their hair was away from their face.

His eyes, which remained focused on the path, or really the underbrush, in front of him, were a piercing blue color that seemed completely void of any emotion. They seemd to belong to that of a dead body, or maybe to a body still full of life but possessing a dead spirit.

His body was tall and wrapped with strappy tendon and muscles, this was mostly because he often traveled between this city and that of Newcaster, but he did not travel by machine. He walked. It was no wonder he did not gain any weigt or lose his muscles.

He lead on in complete silance.

Arcaine fell silent, she understood that who she was following wasn't much for conversation. And Arcaine didn't want to become any sort of annoyance. So she fell to her own thoughts again.

How old was I then? Ten ... Eleven? But most importantly, why did he kill her? She did nothing wrong that I know of, we were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Arcaine mentally shook herself. She didn't want to think of these things, because all it simply confused her more. Though now she simply played a memory over in her head.

All I have is this faded photo, and its so old. That guy looks only ... the same age I was when Mom ....

Arcaine visibly shook her head this time, as another memory came to mind.

As he lay there dying ... how could I have said no? ... I promised, vowed; even went so far as to say I'd sign a paper with my own blood to prove it to him. ... But why did Dad want me to find the guy anyways?

The last was thought as a sort of complaint. The plain and simple truth was, that ARcaine didn't care about finding the brother she'd never met. Never knew existed until recently. ... But Arcaine couldn't break a vow.

The silent red headed man saw her shake her head. He didn't care. He didn't even bother to ask. Why should he? All he was doing right now was leading her out of the forest. His real intents were hidden beneath an excuse of the kind, every day good cimeratin. Truthfully, he did not want lurking audiance in case he did find Raven Jest. It would not be good on eaither his behalf or his temporary employeer.

As he saw it, Degla was not here to converse with any young girl about her history or his present. Nor his history for that matter. He wasn't here to chat with a child about her long lost brother or about his soon-to-be-another assassination job.

Why are you guiding her Deg? Why waist your time?

Drepa snapped at the black wolfs heels again, it was a more patient and trying snap this time.

A child should not wander the forest alone with park rangers popping up every few minutes. They are not the most honorable of men.

It's a waist of time! I will go track ahead! With that the black wolf dispersed from the group. The white waited a moment, the lopped after.

Arcaine looked up, saw the wolves go. She was curious about it, but didn't say anything. So memories resumed, thoughts ran rampant.

Maybe I should just quit. After all, he is dead. He can't know if I break the vow or not .... can he?

Sometimes she thought herself selfish for feeling that way. Arcaine was too young to be worrying about such things, but it couldn't be helped.

If only they could see me now. Both of them. I wonder what they'd think. Dad ... might be proud of me, but Mom would probably only be angry at him for raising me the way he did.

Arcaine gave a yawn, hid it behind her hand. She hadn't felt the wearyness of her travels yet. Now walking more caused her to realize how tired she really was. But she shook it off, for the time being.

Degla rather enjoyed this silent company, if enjoying any company at all. He didn't often enjoy any company at all....but then, the next best company to no company was obviously the silent sort. His eyes swirled around to watch the fading shadow of the pair of wolves.

Then his eyes turned to the follower he was guiding. He wandered at a small girl carrying such a large sword, and at exactly what had made the child stop in the middle of the woods and sleep instead of venturing just a bit further into a hotel. He knew she was young from his earlier observations of her young figure and still growing body.

"How old are you child?"

Arcaine stopped walking for a moment, surprised that he had spoken, and especially since he'd asked such a question.

"Sixteen."

Arcaine usually gave either too much information or just enough. But which was best, the latter or the former? Arcaine sure didn't know.

"Why do you ask?"

Arcaine was obviously curious as to why Degla asked her age.

And the reason why Arcaine stopped in the middle of the woods, was simply because she didn't know a hotel was so close by. But the reason for why Arcaine carried the sword was a bit more complicated; a longer story to tell.

Degla chose not to answer her question. He never truely answered anyones questions. He'd rather leave them with their own guesses as to why he did things the way he did. As for her age, he didn't give any sign of really careing. In his mind however, he thought about Katie. He had first lay eyes on the beautiful youth when she was sixteen. He was sure that blonde knew exactly where Raven was.

"And tell me child," he inquired further, "why does such a small body haul around such a large sword?"

"First of all, its not as heavy as it looks. Quite the opposite actually. And the reason I carry it is ..."

Arcaine thought of how she'd found the thing in the first place. How strange it was for that kind of weapon to be laying around in the middle of no where. And it was espcially the fact that when Arcaine tried to put it back in its rightful place. That place no longer existed as far as she could tell.

"It may be a blessing, it may be a curse. I don't know. But I can't seem to get rid of it. I tried getting rid of this blade once and it just appeared at my feet the next morning. And besides that ... Its helped me out more than once."

Arcaine had a question or two she wanted to ask him, but she knew he wouldn't answer. She could already sense that from their earlier conversation. But Arcaine didn't mind answering any inquiries.

"So I guess I'm destined to travel in search of a certain someone, and carry the sword along as well."

She finished with a shrug, not really knowing how else to explain it.

He nodded. He truely did not understand this whole magic thing, which was exactly what was going on with her sword. He did know about magic, he just never cared about it. What was the point in asking questions that most likely can't get answered anyways.

So instead of asking further about her sword and it's (as he saw it) curse, he asked her different questions. He was slowly and obviously (since he was not trying to hide it) probing his way through her, getting to know her even if he was not going to see the child again.

"Where did you come from, where were you when you made that promise to your old man?"

Arcaine knew a little about such magics, though never fully understood it. But she just continued on her way, with or without it.

Now, she was growing tired of the questions. She didn't want to disclose too much information about herself.

"Well, it took me about three and a half months to get here by foot .... "

She stopped, wondering what the point to all this was. Arcaine idly scratched the back of her head,

"...Why do you care anyways?"

She really didn't want to tell anyone where she was from.

Well that was an easy answer. I want to know if by chance you know Raven or Katie or Griffin. You are griffin's age after all. But of course he did not speak these words. Rather, he produced a true and acurate, but only half-way answer for her.

"I wish to know if you are friend or foe, if you can be trusted."

He shrugged simply as the trees began to thin out light from the stars began to break through the thick anopy of tree branchs and leaves. The red head looked upward, then returned blue eyes on the route in front of him.

I don't really think thats all .... eh, whatever ....

Arcaine laughed softly, and boredly shoved her hands in her jacket pocket.

"Well ... out of those two choices, I'd rather be a friend ..."

Not knowing what else to say to that, she continued walking. Quickening her pace only a little.

"I like to think I'm trustworthy ..."

Not sure if that was the right thing to say or not. Arcaine knew that those who usually said "you can trust me", weren't really all that trustworthy. Even though Arcaine was different, she was still uncertain as to whether she should have said such or not.

"I mean ... you are helping me out after all. I don't forget kindness other's have shown me."

Not like Arcaine had anyone to tell things to anyways. ...

Degla nodded. He didn't trust anyone unless he knew them well. But children, such as she was in his eyes, were trustworthy enough if they showed enough signs to be such.

He went on in silance for a few moments. "Do you have any family?"

Probably not, other then this little unknown half brother of hers. I doubt that any family in their right mind would allow a sixteen year old run around alone. He certianaly would not let his own sister run around alone so far from home (even if she were sixteen not thirteen)...but then, Degla wasn't exactly in his right mind. He hadn't been right for a long time.

Arcaine shook her head, remembering the nightmare she'd had not too long ago.

"No ..."

What else was there to tell? Arcaine wasn't sure, didn't know if she wanted to say anything else about it. Finally, she said more. Only a little more, though it was still something she very rarely told anyone.

"I think I said before that my father died not too long ago, leaving me to wander about like this. But my mother died years ago, murdered actually. So now I'm alone, and since I'd rather travel than be stuck in some place with a bunch of kids ... I choose this route instead."

That was alot for her to say, and Arcaine wasn't usually this open.

"Well ... I guess that explains myself abit ..."

She ended with another soft laugh, though this one was a bit half-heartedly.

He nodded. "I guess so." He agreed, though whether or not she knew, there were many more questions he could ask her, many more things to find out. Through the entire conversation his tone had not changed, nor had his expression. His face had remained impassable, empty of all emotion.

"My sister was like you. More then I would admit." He ventured. A little information about himself. He didn't often give too much. In fact, no one knew even his last name except those who his sister had told. "Our parents...died while she was away at a friends, when she returnedd she came and searched me out." The word died had been paused at but it hadn't been a sorrowful pause but rather hesitant.

Arcaine kicked a rock that was in her path, sending it flying into the darkness. No sound was made as it landed in the brush, and Arcaine didn't think anything of it.

For now, she said nothing; only listened. But a question soon came to mind, so of course she asked it.

"Where is she now? Your sister, I mean."

Arcaine wasn't sure if it was appropriate to ask. She was just tired of the awkward silence that kept coming about. She was only trying to make conversation.

He'd listened to the rocks...unsound of hitting underbrush and unlike her he did think soemthing of it. That could mean anything from a pit in the ground (perhapes an animal trap, which would be ilegal here in this conservation) to a person lying on the ground and the body padding the sound of the rock.

"She is at home, asleep." He shrugged. "The only time I ever believe Ronnie to be safe is when shes tucked under her covers." ...she isn't even safe with me anymore...

"Thats good. I mean, its always good to know where your family is and that they're safe."

For no reason whatsoever, Arcaine took the knife from her pocket. But since she'd cut herself with it earlier, she didn't unfold it. Instead she just held it in palm.

-Better than the alternative ...-

She thought, but didn't say aloud.




((Sorry it took so long for a reply. I had a massive writer's block with this character...))