Shattered Wishes

[HoudiniDerek]

Guang sat with his back to the cave and the small fire, randomly feeding it sticks when it began to die down. He had finished his soup and washed everything out with snow. At least that was easy to come by. He had folded up her dry clothes and laid them beside her so she could have them if she needed them.

The storm howled mercilessly outside the cave and Guang watched the night shadows dance off the outer wall of the mountain and swirl with snow devils. It was a beautiful sight if you were snug at home. He grunted, remembering again what had brought him up here.

He glanced back at the girl and shook off some uneasiness. He thought back to his last assignment. Was he really all that different than a God Slayer? Sure, maybe his method was different as was his overall purpose, but did the end justify the means? He wasn't sure and this girl made him fidget mentally.

Granted, it could be because she reminded him of his sister, but he had a feeling that wasn't the only thing behind his unease. Lately, he had taken less and less work, relying on his stockpile to get him by in his later years. Plus, he had bought into some businesses and they were doing well. He really had no need to work, so why did he?

He couldn't put his finger on that reason although he feared he knew the reason and didn't want to voice it...even in the confines of his mind. He shrugged against the cold and moved back into the cave. He banked the fire high with wood and lay down beside it so he could restoke it in the night if necessary.

His last thought before drifting off to sleep was of that of the Selkia in the summer.

[laraine]

Echo lied down on the cold floor. She wrapped the blanket around her body tighter, trying to warm herself as much as possible. She turned away from her new companion. She appeared to be asleep, but she had her eyes open for a couple hours. She stared at the wall, thinking of what she revealed to him.

I wonder if it was wise to tell him the truth. I suppose....at least I didn't tell him about that...

She finally closed her eyes and fell into a deep sleep. During the night she had nightmares of her past, and terrifying predictions of her future. She gripped the blanket tighter and took deep breaths.

She didn't awaken for another few hours.

[HoudiniDerek]

Guang awoke early, a slight shiver to his body. He sat up and stretched. The fire had managed to die overnight. He had rationed his kindling and he had enough for another couple of days.

He stood and walked to the entrance. The snow was still falling, but the wind was not as intense. With any luck, the snow would stop by the afternoon. By tomorrow morning, traveling should be possible.

Guang walked over to the fire and managed to stir it up enough that he did not have to waste time starting it. He added some kindling and dug around in his pack looking for something to eat.

He glanced over at the girl at times, watching her lay there. He wasn't sure she was asleep, but he didn't want to startle her either. She seemed to have been through a lot...and there was more to go. He shrugged mentally and went about preparing some breakfast for the two of them.

[laraine]

After a bit Echo finally awoke. She sat up, the blanket nearly falling off her body. Once she realized this, she quickly wrapped it around her again. She turned to Guang and smiled. "Good morning." She said in a slightly cheerful voice.

She seemed to be a bit different from last night. It was as if talking about her past never existed. "I wonder if my clothes have finished drying." She stood up and walked over to her clothes.

Only to step onto a loose piece of the blanket and topple head first into the earth. She made a squaking noise and then hit the ground with a loud BAM!

[HoudiniDerek]

Guang smiled at the girl as he finished the breakfast meal preparation. He was about to say something when she tripped and went headlong to the floor. He started to rush over, but turned around and faced the other way.

"Are you...uh...alright?" he asked nervously. Guang realized that it was pointless to be nervous around a girl of this age at his current age, but he didn't want to seem improper. She might not have realized it yet, but the blanket had come off of her and exposed her to sight. He had not seen anything of importance, but he didn't want to take that risk either.

[laraine]

"Ow...yeah I'm okay." She laughed a little and sat up, realizing that she was now exposed. She quickly grab bed the blanket and wrapped it around herself.

Echo looked over to him, who was looking away, "You can look now, I at least have something on now." she smirked. "Sorry about that, I am a little clumsy..."

It seemed as if her energy suddenly drained and her stomach growled. "Especially when I'm .." she finished.

[HoudiniDerek]

Guang turned around and nodded, smiling politely at her. She reminded him a lot of his sister. That was probably why she was making him rethink things about his life and profession. No matter. He could at least be hospitable to her.

Guang gathered up breakfast and gave her some. He settled down and picked at his, eating very little, but feeling the hunger inside. He ate some and then looked over at the young girl.

"Is there any way to talk you out of going after these bandits?" Guang asked softly. "I haven't seen what they can do, but I've heard. Wouldn't it be better to stay as far away from them as possible? Whole armies have lost to them. What are you going to be able to do to them?"

[laraine]

As usual, Echo ate as if she was starving, but when he spoke she stopped. Pulling the piece of food away from her mouth, she frowned. Looking at him, her eyes seemed colder than ice.

"No, there is no way to change my mind. They may be greater in number and have many dangerous abilities. But I am not without help either." She smiled sadly at this. "I have protection, no worries Guang."

She finished eating the food. "You really don't need to be worried about me. I am harder to kill than most girls."

She gave another grin and stood up. "I'm going to get changed. I'm sure my clothes have dried by now."

He doesn't need to know.....

She walked over to her clothes and started to pick up her clothes. Something slipped between the clothing from her pockets and hit the ground with a clang. It was a ceremonial necklace. Beautifully crafted in gold and jewels, it was only seen during ceremonies at religious places, often churches. The dark ruby surrounded by golden leaves and aquamarine tear drops made the necklace beautiful, but heavy and burdensome to wear everyday.

[HoudiniDerek]

Guang started a little when Echo gazed at him so coldly while talking about nothing stopping her. He had to admire her determination, especially with the odds being stacked against her the way they were. However, it seemed silly to go tackling all of these gang members alone.

He nodded absently as she said she had protection. He vaguely heard her say something about getting dressed and saw her go to do so. He was getting ready to turn when a necklace clanked to the floor of the cave.

It was an exquisite necklace...and it hardly looked like something she would want to carry around. He was so intently staring at it, wondering about what it symbolized, that he missed the look on the girl's face.

He shook out of his analysis of the necklace and turned so she could dress. While his back was to her, he tried again to talk to her about her situation.

"Echo, I don't mean to pry, but what kind of protection do you have? Are you a magical creature or do you have some knowledge of magic? I hear that even magic alone might not be able to save you from a group like this." He cleared his throat and continued. "Would you like some help?"

[laraine]

When Echo saw the necklace fall, she hesitated for a minute, and then went to pick it up. She started to dress as he turned his back to her.

"I have magic." She answered. "Or I guess its called a gift of the gods...you may not believe me. But that wind storm, the one that knocked back all those guys, that was me." She put her shirt over her head and fixed the sleeves.

Stepping into her pants, she pulled them up and put them on, pulling on the belt tightly. She flicked her short black hair and opened her blue eyes once more. "You can turn around now."

She sat down. "As for my protection, I can't say for sure who he is, but he is someone who is very private and saved me when I was on the brink of death. He told me he would watch over me." she grinned. "And I believe in him."

She held the necklace in her hands, staring at it. "By the way, is there any town nearby? I want to see if I can sell this for traveling money." Her words sounded hollow, but the look she held was one of pain.

[HoudiniDerek]

Guang turned around when she indicated and sat down opposite her. It had been a while since he had spoken to anyone, especially of the female persuasion, so he wasn't sure how to react to some of the things he was hearing.

He nodded as she talked about the protection of the gods. Guang knew that some cultures were very devoted to gods and the lifestyle. The Gnorash and other gnome tribes had gone to war over supposed slights to their deities, but Guang was only a marginal believer in such things.

"What god is it that protects you?" he asked softly, not wanting to appear to dismiss her, but curious as to what her religion might be. He decided not to talk about her magic just yet...if it had truly been her. He wanted to hear more about her and make his determination on that end.

"There is a town at the base of the mountain. The Blaze Moutain has a few odd people living on it, but most of the settlements are at the bottom. A good day or two of traveling and you should make it without fail." He hesitated and then went on. "I'm headed down once the storm passes. Would you like to travel with me...at least until we reach the village at the bottom?"

[laraine]

Echo closed her eyes, great he asked the one question she didn't want to answer. He will be mad about this, but it seemed as if she had no choice anymore. Might as well tell him now so he doesn't ask any more questions.

"Loki, the god of the elements." She answered simply. "That is the god who protects me. Although you might not know of him. He wasn't very popular except in my hometown." She looked away as she said this. "Anyway, when the weather clears up we can head on down. I don't mind traveling with you until the town."

[HoudiniDerek]

Guang nodded absently. "I've never heard of him. Can you tell me more about this god? Where was it you lived?" Guang thought he might learn more about the girl while they waited. Maybe she was telling the truth, although she seemed shy or uncertain as she looked away.

"If they don't buy it at the base of the mountain, you might have to travel to Tamasha. Most villages don't have the need for trinkets they don't make themselves." Guang yawned and went on. "I know some people there that might buy it."

Guang turned and looked out the cave entrance. "I think it will be better by tomorrow morning. We should make pretty good time...bandits and all." Guang smiled at her. "Are you sure you don't want some company on your venture?"

[laraine]

Echo turned away from him. "The place I lived was a prosperous town called Aeri. It was a town filled with peace and everyone there was happy." she closed her eyes. "But that was the past. Now it's nothing but ash and dirt."

She didn't want to say more about Loki if she had to. " To be honest, I don't know much about Loki." That was a lie. She knew much more about Loki than any one else. She turned to him and smiled slightly. "What about you? where are you from?"

[HoudiniDerek]

"Aeri," Guang said. "That has a nice ring to it. I'm sorry that it was destroyed. Losing a home is one of the worst things that can happen to a person."

Guang looked at Echo and smiled sadly. "I'm of the Gnorash tribe. It is a gnome tribe deep in the interiors of the Selkia. They border the bogs in the interior and are one of the major protections against Orcs expanding their territory." He looked out of the cave and back again. "I live in Tamasha currently and I travel a lot. I thought it might be useful to have someone that has been around the country a lot." He smiled again and gazed back out of the cave thoughtfully.