Get Her! }{ The Tradesman seems so angry..

[JxSlaughter]

Diesel successfully lured the creature out enough for his master to see what it was. But to Zhijiru's surprise it wasn't a dog at all. It was a cat. A huge cat. With huge teeth. Zhijiru's facial expression was that of surprise and hesitation. He corrected her on his back again, as if to tell the cat that he had the girl. "I'm not going to hurt it-- as long as it doesn't hurt me," he said sarcastically. He looked to his gray dog, "Besides, Diesel is a hunting partner but he acts only as the lure and bait. He wouldn't kill a fly."

Diesel was still trying to get the cat to chase him by flinching back and forth in front of it. But seemed to be getting more bored as the giant cat wasn't paying attention to him right now. "Uh... can you get your friend to return that?" Zhijiru took a step back to avoid confronting with him directly, as he wasn't sure if it was vicious. What is that thing? Zhijiru used a playful tone to his dog. "Diesel, behave yourself." The dog sat his bottom down and wagged his curled tail, panting.

[Purple Demon]

The blood dripped from her toes, painting the snow red. "I'll try to get him to return it." She said. "Veryll doesn't want to hurt anybody. He wouldn't unless they hurt me. That's why I sent him away, earlier. That's how you saw him." She explained sadly. She returned her gaze to Veryll's gleaming eyes. "We lost against the fat man," She told Veryll. "But we were saved by this man. Er, well.. In a sense." She reminded herself somberly about the slavery bit that he had mentioned. Her eyes wandered off into the distance as she pondered, but she looked back to Veryll.

"He's helped us, and the least you can do is give him the pack." It took a moment for the cat to respond to her statement. He looked at the merchant, to the dog, and then back to her. "Aren't you tired? It's okay. Give it back." She persuaded him.

Veryll slowly and doubtfully pawed the snow and dropped it in front of the merchant's feet, looking up at the merchant pitifully before backing away. "Good." She breathed out. She nibbled on the bread she had received, trying to save it, and then she dropped some to Veryll, whom examined it hungrily. He licked at it and refused to eat it, shooting her a picky look that told her with a sort of clarity, 'You expect me to eat this?'.

"It's food." She argued.

[JxSlaughter]

Zhijiru brought the girl down, setting her on the ground. He heaved a big sigh as he tore the ends of his sleeve off. He could always buy new clothes, but it wasn't like she could buy new feet. Zhijiru bandaged her cuts. He wrapped each foot. "I don't have any herbs or ointments on me, so this will have to do."

"Sorry I didn't do this sooner," he said, half ashamed because he noticed it the moment he met her. "I just wanted to get away from that man."

After he finished, he got up and swiped away the last bag. Forgetting about what he said earlier he said, "So, is it okay if I just leave you here?" He scratched his head in thought as he started to face away back to the man he owed his services to. He apologetically continued, "I'm sorry I don't have any other food on me right now..." All that was left was to give the man his goods back.

[Purple Demon]

She watched him tear at his sleeves and stared in wonder, not really knowing what he was doing because she never really talked to anyone and did not take well at all in socializing. She tilted her head to the side, not understanding what was happening. But then he wrapped her feet, and it held the cuts closed so that it wouldn't bleed as much. Some of the blood stained it, of course. "Thank you." She said as Veryll sat beside her. He was a little taller than herself when she was sitting down, which was strange to see and a little bewildering. He didn't growl anymore, though, he just stared blankly and contently at the merchant.

She passed the apologies because she felt that he had nothing to apologize for, but when he said, "So, is it okay if I just leave you here?"

Her fatigue went away and she forgot the pain in her feet and she jumped up. "So, I'm free?" She asked hopefully. Just then, Veryll got up and did a dance around the dog and merchant. He seemed to sense these things.

"Thank you!" She exclaimed. "How could you do all of this for me and not even know my name? Everyone else passes us by until we get a hold of something that's theirs." She swallowed back a happy chuckle. Now wasn't the time to laugh. "Well, I guess I could tell you my name." She said, rocking on her heels, shooting tingles of pain into her nerves. She was worried that the merchant would have probably heard her name somewhere.. Seeing that she was notorious for thievery in populated towns, sometimes even cities.. She bit her lip, but it burst from her voice box like a tidal wave.

"I'm Celania. Well, that's what the tall ones called me, anyway." Her voice was somewhat child-like. She recalled her memory of the village she once lived in. The leader of the village holding his hand out to her, saying something like, 'Hundshake...'.

She held her hand out to his and tried not to seem inadequate as an equal, so she avoided the word and said instead, "Are we friends?"

[JxSlaughter]

Zhijiru didn't feel very comfortable with the large cat sitting so close to him, but it wasn't being aggressive so he was okay with it. Though, he did get a little bit tense. He wasn't sure how tame it was, but seeing how it acted near the girl he wasn't worried about her safety at all. She was lucky to have a strong and agile buddy to protect her.

When the cat got up and prance around Diesel, he just watched him. Diesel was just a regular dog, and didn't understand much more than what was normal for one. He kind of got up and down in his spot, panting, trying to communicate something back, but was probably nothing that anyone else would understand. When Zhijiru started turning more away, Diesel got up fully and followed.

When she asked why he cared at all, Zhijiru just smiled and shrugged a shoulder. He wasn't too sure either. He just always wanted to serve people. When she told him her name, he turned to her and thought for a while. Celania... He thought he did hear about it, but when he ever saw wanted posters of kids he didn't pay much attention to those. Because he knew that they weren't as bad as people projected them to be.

"Well, that's what the tall ones called me, anyway."

The way she spoke, it wasn't like a normal person. She definitely has been away from much other human company. Because surely, she meant to say something like, 'adults', but didn't know the exact word for it.

When she held out her hand he shook it, "Just call me Jiru." When he said his name it wasn't like the sharp 'ru' sound, it was slurred. It wasn't his full name, he never gave out his full name to anyone other than family and close friends he left behind in his village. He scratched the back of his neck. "You sure are a friendly one," he chuckled. "I guess we are friends."

[Purple Demon]

She smiled at him, giggling nervously and still rocking back on her heels. "I guess that I'm friendly." She said. "I don't really know, but I'll trust you on it." She was honest. Her eyes strayed from his eyes, and she glanced at the wrap around his face, covering his left eye. "What's that for? Did someone help you?" She asked curiously, trying to get a closer look. She squinted at his bandages.

Veryll was watching at Diesel now, and they seemed to be having a staring contest.

[JxSlaughter]

Diesel nipped at Veryll's face, it was border line between territorial and greeting. After a while of pacing around Veryll he tried to approach his rear.

"Oh this?" Zhijiru put his right hand over a part of it, almost as if to feel if it was still there. He always kept it on except for when he needed new bandages or if they got dirty and needed cleaning. "I guess, my parents helped me." He recalled the first time his eye got infected.

Before he got lost in his thoughts of his childhood he realized the weight still in his hands. The pack. "I still need to return this," he explained.

[Purple Demon]

The word 'parents' confused her. She bit her lip nervously again, trying to think of what it may mean. She mouthed the word silently, trying to remember something. There was a long pause before she lifted her eyes from the ground again. She met Jiru's eye and he said something, but her mind was wandering. The thought of 'parents' abstracted her.

"I still need to return this," he said.

"Oh. I guess, you do." Celania said, after figuring out what he meant by the blurred sentence. She stepped backward, into the shadows. Veryll was pawing at Diesel, now, pouncing around him and Jiru. She began to want to talk about the fat man, the cruel merchant, but she settled on something else that was more important to her.

"So, you're leaving?" She asked him sadly.

[JxSlaughter]

It was like Diesel didn't know his own size when he was playing with Veryll, who was significantly bigger than he. At this point Jiru didn't mind the cat's company. It was just as friendly as Celania, and probably more behaved than Diesel as well.

Celania appeared to be saddened by the farewell. He didn't want to think about it, but he was probably the last nice person she would ever meet.

"I'm sure our paths will cross again sometime." Jiru said with a smile. "C'mon boy, we got to head for home. He gestured his hand in a way that Diesel would understand. After he started walking away he waved back to the young lady.

"Take care, Celania."

Diesel made the last nip at Veryll as if he wanted to win an argument, then darted off to follow his master.

[Purple Demon]

Veryll watched as Diesel ran forth, holding a paw in mid-air and positioned as if he was going to chase him.

As Jiru waved, she half-waved in response. "Goodbye, Jiru. Goodbye, Diesel." She called after them. Veryll looked back at her when she shouted to them, placing his paw firmly into the snow. "Come on, Veryll." She said, patting her thigh. "Lets go and find you some meat, you picky Snowstalker, you." She laughed and nibbled the pastry, and he followed after her. She turned away with him, walking slowly and fading away into the darkness slowly.

[JxSlaughter]

Since Veryll wasn't too far from his friend it didn't take long to find the man to return his goods. Even though Zhijiru wasn't too far from were he first met him, the man appeared very, very impatient. He most likely doubted that Zhijiru would return at all. But here he was. The man raised his arms up in praise and rushed towards the young man, clasping his hands, and smiling.

"Hah hah hah, you made it!!" The man said joyously.

"Yes, here you go." Zhijiru handed the last pack to him.

The man rummaged through the bag, making sure that everything was there and that Zhijiru didn't take anything.

The man grumbled "Fine work lad..." But then he soon started to look at Zhijiru with suspicion. "Where is that girl you had with you earlier? Did she escape from you?" He looked at the torn sleeve. Zhijiru felt over his wrist where the man was looking at.

"It's none of your concern." Jiru replied in a some-what serious tone. "You have your things back, let's go our own way." he started to become a little worried. The mood he once felt changed fast.

The man strapped his bags around himself and fixed his sagging pants. "Your a very good man," he chuckled, "A young and very rich man..." A glare graced the man's face. "But, too soft... Much too soft."

Zhijiru finally recognized the man from earlier. His name was Barnape. He was a passer by when Jiru had opened his stall in the village the day before. He recalled someone mentioning him by that name as he was yelling at some women who wouldn't get out of his way. He was rushing for... or from something. Zhijiru was much too busy selling, trading, and buying to pay much attention to the details.

Jiru didn't see why the man was talking as if he knew about him for a long time. He had only seen him yesterday. Jiru started to walk away. He didn't need another person telling him that it was wrong to help those in need. Especially if that person was someone he didn't particularly know.

A moment later quick footsteps came quick from behind him. Zhijiru looked back, already drawing his long sword. But Barnape's dagger was already drawn out and striking.

[Purple Demon]

Celania stopped in her tracks when she felt something was off. She was near a cave now, and that's where they were going to stay. A chilly wind blew and Veryll shook himself as the wind carried snowflakes through the air. He sneezed at Celania, pawing at the snow and gnawing a rabbit they caught earlier.

"Veryll, something's not right. Maybe I forgot to tell Jiru about something?" She said, hoping to be reassured. She looked over her shoulder at him, noticing his ears were perked and he was looking in the direction where they came from, to where Jiru had went.

"No, something terrible is happening. Let's go see." She said, sprinting in the direction Jiru would most likely be. She kept going on, but the darkness enveloped her, and she could only see a short distance in the dark. She became lost and waited for a noise, any noise other than Veryll's paws and teeth.

[JxSlaughter]

The man really wasn't all that stupid. He noticed that Zhijiru had a long sword, which would take him longer to wield. That short time was all that the man needed. He cut quickly into Zhijiru's right side. As the man did so, Zhijiru leaned left to lessen the injury. Zhijiru drew his blade as the man darted past him awkwardly. Barnape's balance was off due to his short and pudgy build. Zhijiru sung his blade fast towards his opponent's backside, but held short and only tore through his clothing.

Barnape started to flee, he thought that he would have the upper-hand in a surprise attack, but he didn't think much ahead after that. Diesel started to bite into the man's boots. "Rah!! Get off me you mutt!!" He kicked the dog in the face as he ran. This only agitated Diesel more.

Zhijiru didn't chase after him, and watching his short dog chase the fat man away made him laugh a little bit. But his laugh was cut short as a sharp pain seized through his side. He held his hand to his side and felt the warm, red liquid. I really need to keep my guard up more... Today wasn't going to be a good day for him.

He took one step forward and knew that he wasn't going to be going far for a while. His injuries weren't extreme, but it definitely would hinder him from traveling much. It was a clean, deep cut. You'd think that injuries like that wouldn't heal fast, but the less jagged the cut is, the quicker the bleeding stops. But if he was going to use any energy, it would be for gathering food. He sighed. This wasn't a good time to camp. He didn't have any food on him. Zhijiru started heading downhill so he could find some water.

As he walked carefully downhill he started tearing up the remainder of his one torn sleeve and wrapped it around under his robe to cover up his injury. But even though the wrap couldn't be seen, there was already a stain on the outside.

It didn't feel like long before Diesel showed up. He had a piece of dirty cloth stuck on his bottom fang. Zhijiru got down on his knees to pull it out and toss it away. He then gave Diesel a disagreeable look, but Diesel just licked Jiru's hand. Zhijiru couldn't help it, he patted Diesel on the head and sat down under a forest of trees to take a little break. He had been walking for a while now, and reached far past the bottom of the hill. "There should be some water nearby..." He said to quietly to himself as he held his right side.

[Purple Demon]

Celania picked up noise of a struggle nearby. Her hearing was as keen as her companion. She ran toward the sound as Veryll followed behind her. It wasn't too long before she saw the man again. A wicked grin trickled across her face, her position still and firm in place, watching Barnape frantically run. His clothes were torn and there were bright red splotches on his ankles indicating teeth marks and bites. He wasn't paying much attention to what was ahead of him. His head was tossed backward as if he expected something to be close behind him.

Celania took a step forward, rocking on her heels, boasting brightly about her balance. She watched him run until he was close; that's where she wanted him to be. He wasn't going to get away from her. She motioned with her hand to Veryll, a message to stay back. Her voice echoed a bit stronger in the snowfall, "So, I see you've been having difficulties, mister." Barnape stopped in his tracks, fearful of the girl now that he was out in the open and red handed.

"W-what? I don't know what you're talking about. Out of my way, you filthy--" He stuttered, the dagger glittering in his shaking hand.

"My, my. What a sharp blade you have. And is that blood I smell, blood I see?" She asked him tauntingly. "I believe it is so. And I expect Diesel got a hold of your leg, too." She told him, pointing at his ankle.

His face turned a bright red, his face curled into a snarl of aggression. Celania stopped rocking on her heels, she was expecting what would happen next. He lunged for her with the dagger toward her heart. She slyly stepped off to the side, wearing her amused smile, and then she tripped him by stooping down and kicking his feet from underneath him before he could turn. He was face down in the snow, and before he could even attempt to get up, Veryll laid over his back. She approached with a sort of pride.

"There is no doubt in my mind that the blood on your blade is Jiru's." She said solemnly. She put a foot to the back of his neck, stepping down for a moment to get the knife, but not before he sliced her hand open. She winced but pulled the dagger from his grasp.

"I don't believe you'll be needing this." She said, biting her cut hand. She looked at the packs on his back, and then tugged the straps, "Or these. No, a man like you doesn't need things like this. You don't even need your money." She said quietly. "I'm taking it all, mister. But it's not for me," She paused, taking the bags from him and sticking the dagger in a pack. She walked around him and looked him in the face before she continued. "I'm giving it to people who need it."
She shook the money at him. His eyes were wide with terror. He tried to strike her, but his arms were too short and she backed away.

She adjusted the items on her back, motioned for Veryll to come with her. She sprinted, closely following the blood in the snow that was Barnape's. She reached the end of his trail and found a larger trace of blood that was most likely Jiru's. She only looked back once in a while to see if she was being followed.

[JxSlaughter]

Jiru wondered if it was too early to settle down and make a campfire. He didn't want his blood attracting any unwanted visitors. Even though he had Diesel and his sword it might not be enough. He tried to get up after a moment of rest and a sharp pain pierced his side. He cringed and gritted his teeth, but still was able to get up. He leaned onto the tree for support and was breathing slightly more heavy than before.

It was a risk traveling through this area, and now he was paying the price.

Diesel mouthed Zhijiru's heel trying to play. The dog wanted to burn off his boundless energy, for he was a breed that did become overweight easily. Zhijiru eyed Diesel with a hint of jealousy. If Diesel got hurt he could have just carried him, but it wasn't going to be that way.

The two started walking across a relatively level plain, it was nice because it took much more effort walking down the previous hill without falling forward. The snow made walking such a hazard at times. One would never know if they were walking on a thin sheet of ice.

Diesel jumped in and out of the snow instead of just walking across it. This made big, zig-zagging prints in the snow.