The devil roams.

[boomdeboom]

It was about midday. The spring sun was high in the clear blue sky now, basking everything in its glow. A chilly breeze was rolling, reminding everyone that it was still only spring and not yet summer, where the breeze would usually be warm and kind.

Gliding in the skies, her feathers taking in the warmth of the sun, Slyvia looked down below. She had traveled far, and now her wings were beginning to ache. Needing to rest somewhere safe, she was careful as to where to land, as she didn't want a repeat of last time she was careless. Sometimes she could still see the blood on her hands.

After half an hour, she decided on a spot beside a river. It had a good view of the area and a constant supply of water, a rare treat for her. Using her acute sense of sight just to make sure no enemies lurked in the shadows of the trees a few yards away, she then tilted her wings forward, causing her to go into a steep descent, her long black hair whipping her face and arms as the rushing air made it go crazy. To anyone looking from above, she must have been a frightful sight.

Landing gently on her feet, she stretched her numb arms and legs before folding in her feathered wings. Brushing off any loose feathers which had fallen onto her shoulders and hair, which she picked out, she then made her way to the river. Giving a backwards glance to the forest, she thought she heard footsteps. But, deciding that it was her imagination, she stripped herself on her clothing which consisted of a cotton shirt and loose beige trousers and went into the river. It was cold, but very refreshing. Emerging her body in the river water, she gave a soft sigh as she leant against the water bank, smoothing back her hair with her wet hand. It had been a while since she had had a wash, so her skin felt clean, which made her dark mood lighten.

Washing the black feathers on her wings, she then paused. Footsteps, again. Perhaps it wasn't her imagination. Raising her head over her arched wing which she was cleaning, her blue irises gave yet another sweep of the trees. The difference this time was that she did sense someone there, someone she had not picked up on before. Great, just when she was getting comfortable in the water someone had to come and ruin all the fun. Even if she was nicknamed as the 'devil', she was a girl first, and she enjoyed her pampering moments. This person was not going to be let off easily. However, because it was still light out, she knew it would be a bit of a struggle if she were to engage in a fight, but that didn't stop herself from getting out of the river and going into a threating stance, preparing herself for a fight, regardless if she did appear vulnerable because she wore no clothing and so anyone would have a clean shot if they were to shoot any weapon out at her.

Spreading out her large wings, she raised her scrawny pale hand and pointed towards the darkness, her irritation clear in the voice she used as she yelled to the unknown person.

"Oi, person in the darkness, show yourself."

[Red]

Red had been walking toward the lake for a few days now, passing through towns and villages along the way. He had taken a trail off the main path down toward, what he heard as a river. As he was walking he saw in the trees a few hundred meters away, what he thought as something being attacked and dragged out of the trees. He was shocked when he saw it was a woman with wings. He was even more shocked when he realized she was taking her clothes off. Red quickly jumped into some bushes behind a tree and didn't dare look again, just hoping that she wasn't hostile, he didn't think so as she was naked, but didn't want to tempt fate all the same. Shivers ran up his spine as he heard an angry voice from behind the tree. He looked, and found a very angry looking girl pointing straight at him.

The bush beneath made lots of little cracking noises as Red slowly stood up from his very haggard position. He walked out from behind the tree and remembered the girl was wearing little or nothing, he had not had time to check. All the same he immediately turned his back to her.

"Sorry miss. Didn't mean to scare ya, I just wasn't expecting anything like this on my way for a drink is all."

[boomdeboom]

"Anything like this ey?" Baring her teeth, she said this in a snarl, obviously annoyed that he had just pointed out how odd she was, something we she had come to terms with long ago but still pissed her off. Again, not embarrassed at the fact that she was bare, she placed her outstretched hand on her hip, staring at the unknown man with her vibrant blue eyes. Again, it made her even more irritated as she liked to look any person she met in the eyes to make sure if they were an enemy or not. Looking at the back wasn't going to do anything for her.

With one swift gentle beat of her large wings, she easily crossed the few yards that were between and soon was again facing his back. Of course, not for long. Grabbing his shoulder with her small hand, she turned his body around to face her, at the same time saying.

"Do you know how annoying it is to talk to someone when they aren't even looking at you? Learn some basic manners, idiot." Saying this in a soft tone, although it was dripping with her irritation, she leant forward as she stared into the eyes of this stranger. For a good few moments, she stared silently, not saying a word, only moving her wing slightly as it began to get numb. Then, letting go of his shoulder which she had a grip on, she sighed. Closing her eyes and rubbing her temples with both of her hands as a headache began to make itself noticed in her head, she said.

"Sorry about that overreaction there, you caught me at a bad time." Then, opening her eyes and giving a final stare towards the man, she turned out and again with another swift beat of her wings carried herself over the distance until she was once more beside the river. As if the previous few moments had never happened, she calmly slipped back into the river, obviously wanting to ignore him and return to the relaxing moments she was having beforehand.

[Red]

It had taken Red a few moments even after the girl was back by the river, to realize what had happened, and that he had even turned around. He stood for a few moments before he picked up that she was back in the water. He took his boots off and walked over to the bank, sat down and dipped his feet in.

"A bad time eh... I see that. I'm sorry I hid, I just wasn't all too sure how it'd go, you seeing me, seeing you. Sorry if I startled you... Beautiful Lake. I've heard many tales of it on my travels, but never believed such beauty existed."

A few minutes passed, Red turned to look at the girl beside him. Young, he noted. He broke the calm silence they shared, asking the girl,
"Whats your name by the way? I'm Red." He added with a smile.

[boomdeboom]

Once in the water, she picked up where she left off, and was deeply engrossed with washing her black feathers with her fingers before giving a quick glance over at the unknown man. Why was he still here? With many options, many she did not like, she cast her free wing over her naked body slightly, as if it were a curtain. Then, returning back to her cleaning job, she added with obvious distaste that he was still here and not running off so she could be left with her own thoughts.

"Well, there's loads of these lakes around here. It has been a while since I've found one so peaceful though, especially one with no annoying little fish that keep biting your toes." Giving her toes a wriggle as she said this, as if a fish had bitten one at that moment, she then sighed as she found that a big lump of dirt had somehow made its way into her feathers, causing a sticky substance to cling to her fingertips. Bending downwards, washing away the dirt away, she gave another glance, her bright baby blue eyes narrowed warily. She always was like this with strangers. Then, turning her glance downwards at her now clean feathers, she replied.

"Slyvia." Straightening herself up against the bank, throwing her arms over her wings in order to stretch out comfortably, she raised an eyebrow as she met his gaze. Why was he smiling? So odd. Pursing her lips into a thoughtful pout, she then said with obvious curiosity.

"I'm surprised you haven't asked about my wings yet. Usually everyone I meet goes mental when they see my wings, calling me 'creepy winged girl' or 'the devil', or some new nickname that the idiots suddenly came up with which I have yet to hear." Ending with a sour note, her feathers rustling uneasily, she brought her eyes away and began to stare up at the sky, which was beginning to turn a very light orange as the sun began its descent.

[Red]

Red chuckled when Slyvia questioned his reaction to her wings. He also wondered how the hell she ever got feathers clean as she pulled clumps of sticky mud out of her wings. He had put his boots back on and was admiring the lake.

"I've seen a lot on my travels miss, and you certainly aint no devil. Nor creepy... To some extent." He said, standing up.
"Your wings, are well... Magnificent if anything. Birds have wings, dragons have wings. The way I see it, unimaginable adventures are only possible with wings. I can't insult you because you have wings, because you probably have lived a much more adventurous life than I have, even at a young age. Sure even on all my travels I have never seen a person with wings, but that don't make you strange. Unique, I'd call it. Don't beat yourself up over it..." He tried to re-assure her, doubtful of success, due to her obvious annoyance that he was even there.

"Especially with those eyes, I'm surprised all the guys aren't dying to talk to you." He smiled, looking in the direction she was, at the sky. Through the huge, dark green canopy above he could see a few tiny tiny little sparkling dots.
"Tell me miss, you weren't going to sleep out here tonight were you?" Noting the lack of a backpack she carried.

[boomdeboom]

Needless to say, she was more then surprised to find that he didn't find her wings weird. Even more surprised that he found them magnificent. Scrunching her eyebrows, she wondered why he wasn't reacting like most people did. She would say it was just her area, but she always got the same reaction, no matter where she went. This man, Red was it?, was one of the first to actually compliment her beastly wings. Giving a soft laugh, waving her finger back and forth, she gave a playful wink as she said.

"Ah, you don't think I'm that creepy? You certainly don't know me then." Again with another laugh, her face suddenly turned somewhat sad as she continued to stare at the sky. Yes, as she was told many a time, she was as scary as if evil had taken a human form. A dark spirit laid rest in her body, a 'demon' in some aspects, and when that took over, even when she looked at someone, it made their blood go cold. From the rare time in which she remembered the demon taking, her heart would usually falter, not able to believe that she had done so much damage to people. She didn't want such a hateful creature inside of her, she just wanted to be normal. But, alas, she realized that that was near impossible. She was cursed, and nothing would release her, unless she died, which she refused to do. However, she had learned to keep her demon under lock and chain, so unless it was in dire circumstances, it wouldn't whisper honey dripping words at her.

Blinking, giving a glance over at Red, her cheeks went a very light but rather noticeable pink. With a scowl, she looked away, her lips pressed into a frown as she glared at the water.

"Guys would never talk to me." Saying with no doubt at all, knowing for a fact that it was true, she sighed, rubbing the back of her neck. Then, looking at him with her blue irises, she said with a slight tang of curiosity.

"Of course, you're an exception. You must be mental in the head or something." Acting as if she didn't care, she gave a yawn and began to sort out the knots which were in her long black locks, again another trouble which would take a while. With her gaze locked onto her fingers, which were busy working away at a small knot on the tips of her hair, she still raised her eyebrows and said.

"Of course I am stupid, I always do, and tonight's no exception." Not having slept in a bed since god knows when, it became a habit to sleep outdoors. With usually nothing being stupid enough to bother her, she was safe. And if anything did bother her, well it usually ended up as a meal.

[Red]

Red had waited a few minutes to think about what Slyvia had said to him. He watched as she fumbled around with knots in her hair, almost fruitlessly, he thought. He crossed the few feet that were between himself and the girl, and sat down beside her again marveling at just how amazingly blue her eyes were, contrasted with her hair anyway. Creepy... He echoed in his head. Creepy?

"Creepy... Creepy, does not take baths." He laughed. What he was never quite sure of was wether she was scowling because of her hair, or because she knew he was sat beside her. He was not quite sure yet if she enjoyed his company or not, which Red thought somewhat dismaying because he liked the idea of knowing someone with wings, someone that could actually fly. He saw her retract a little at the thought that he was mental, and he didn't want to give her any reason other that she was normal, as to why he was talking to her, or didn't react in a bad way to her wings. So he didn't mention that again.

Red wanted to comfort her in some way, since he sensed that last part of the conversation made her somewhat sad. He would have offered his jacket, he did wonder how she wasn't freezing, being not completely dried yet, but he thought she'd've just been angry had he'd tried. He had the feeling she was not used to warm custom.

A few more minutes passed, and the sky was getting darker. Red pulled his eyes away from the feathers on her wings. Stood up, stretched. Gave a sigh toward the lake, once more being amazed by its calm waters, reflecting the colours of the sky, oranges and yellows. The trees waved slightly in the breeze, and the air was turning somewhat crisper. Red glanced at the girl, still fumbling with her hair.

"Personally, I don't like the idea of being alone out here at night. I can't imagine that any person would choose it. I'm going to head to a town close by, only a short walk along this path." Hinting at the earth he had walked earlier, and the footprints still in the ground.
"Im going to head back, to find a tavern for the night. You can join my if you want, I can buy you a proper meal maybe? Must be better than eating.. Shrubs or whatever you eat out here. You can come if you want, warm room, real food. I don't mind, its your choice whether you stay or come with me... Though, company might be nice." He smiled back at Slyvia

Red turned his head, and his body followed. Sighed, and slowly started to walk. His chainmail vest clinking as he went, and his cape wagging from side to side with each stride as he carried along the path toward town.

[boomdeboom]

Cursing as she found a rather large knot, she narrowed her eyes as she attempted to break it apart with her fingers, and after a good few moments, she finally got it free. Once this was done, and making sure no other knots laid hidden, she was pleased to feel her hair so nice and straight again and sighed with triumph. However, not noticing it until now, she noted that Red wasn't able to stop looking at her wings. Whether it was with amazement, or with shock, or with just plain disgust she wasn't sure, as she didn't meet his gaze. She just pretended she didn't notice, it was less trouble. Although her cheeks did turn a darker pink, but she hid it by throwing her locks over the sides of her face, which covered her cheeks. She wasn't used to being watched.

Sblack personing, scratching her arm with her small yet sharp nails, she replied.

"Hey, even the most horrible person in the world has to take a bath. Plus, I know it's so hard to believe, but a girl enjoys getting pampered, winged or not." Saying the end with a slight bit of sarcasm, she gave a slight smile towards the water, still not looking at him.

Being half avian, her blood circulation was better then most, and so prevented her to feel the cold too much. However, even she noticed that she was beginning to get the chills as the night began to set in and the temperature of the air dropped. So, with swift and graceful movements, she stepped out of the water and threw on her clothes, regardless if she was dripping wet. Wringing out the water from her long hair, she looked towards Red, her brow raised. He was offering her a place to stay? She was automatically cautious, since anyone who had ever offered her a place to stay usually had a secret meaning to the offer, and usually it involved her being tied down and killed.

Wrapping her small body in her wings, a source of warmth, she stared at Red as he began to make his way around. Pressing her pale lips together, she rubbed the back of her neck, and while he was still near, she asked, an pure look of confusion on her face, her blue irises narrowed slightly, almost threateningly. Again, it was the first time in years since someone gave a damn whether she died or not, so it was only natural of her to be cautious.

". . .Why are you being so kind to me?"

[Red]

Red stopped, and turned to find Slyvia's confused face, fixed on his own. He then smiled simply at her, looked up and said.

"Well, it isn't every day you meet someone so young forced to sleep outside. Maybe it's that I don't want you to be... Upset, with the world. Maybe its who I am or maybe its just because I'd like the company. Going into new towns on your own is always, much easier with someone. Im not quite sure of the answer myself, but if you were wondering. I'm not going to hurt you, personally I fear that would be rather hard to do. Even so, I don't want to hear word that anyone dies in this forest anytime soon, especially... One with such, amazing wings." he smiled and gave a small bow.

"My offer still stands Miss, you can come with me or not." With that, Red turned again from the girl, and carried on slowly down the path.

[boomdeboom]

How odd. Listening to his answer, she still remained standing. It had been so long since she had slept in a town. Surely people would recognize her though, her face always did attract unwanted attention. She had a feeling that something was going to go wrong, and so it made her hesitate. But, slowly, she folded her wings back and with a low grunt made her wings disappear in a explosion of feathers. Now, she would look normal enough that she wouldn't cause too much trouble.

Catching up to him with quick strides, she eventually arrived by his side, although she didn't look at him. Her gaze was fixed entirely on the path. Rubbing the back of her neck, she said with a soft smirk.

"You'll probably regret inviting me, I'll have you know I eat like a horse." Usually not getting enough calories each day because of the lack of food because of winter and all that, she wasn't going to pass up this opportunity to eat.

With a shiver, she rolled her shoulders to try and get used to her wings being gone. She had them on consistently for a good few weeks, and so she felt slightly vulnerable, although she knew she could summon them back in an instance if the time arose, which for some odd reason she felt would happen. Someone in the village which they were heading to would surely recognize her, even if she had been going into hiding for a few years and whispers about her existence were merely put into a category of myth and that she had died long ago. Still, she didn't feel comforted by that. Perhaps someone in her past would be there. . .

Shaking her head, as if to rid herself of the horrible thoughts, she gave a soft sigh as she placed her hands behind her back and began to bounce slightly in her step as she began to hum under her breath.

[Red]

Red didn't look back, or acknowledge Slyvia from then. Though a faint smile did touch the corners of his mouth as he heard footsteps from behind, get louder and louder, until they reached a gentle pattern that matched his own. They continued to walk in silence, and without looking at each other. But out the corner of his eye, Red got the sense that this person beside was not Slyvia. Though he was shocked. He threw a quick glace toward her, and realised she didn't have wings! It took him a few seconds to pick up on this fact, and a he did a double take to make sure. He was now left very confused, as to whether she really had wings, or if he was imagining things. He finally came to the conclusion that she did have wings, and she was able to hide them or something.

They walked along the path for a while, a lot longer than Red remembered it took to walk the other way. He watched as the leaves up in the canopy went from orange and yellow, to red and then almost black as they walked. Red had long since heard the last trickle of the river since he saw something, far, far in the distance. The town was not much further, much to his relief. He started to see the soft glow of lights from small, open fires around, and saw tiny clouds of black smoke from tiny sticks that were chimneys.

Red was unsure about this town, something seemed almost scary. Whether it was because it was a new town, or the new friend who strolled along side. He wasn't sure, but it didn't all seem as friendly than most town.

[boomdeboom]

Although she didn't look at Red, she could still see from the corner of her eye, and she saw that he appeared quite surprised. Probably from her wings. Letting a soft laugh, she said in a sort of wistful way, as if she was merely saying it out loud and wasn't directing it at him.

"I can make my wings go away, they aren't like a bone attached to my spine or anything." Then, remaining silent for the rest of the journey, she too looked up at the leaves which began to darken as the sun began to set. Already she could feel a small amount of power become noticeable in her veins, as what usually happened as once the dark set in, she was at her most powerful, hence why most creatures didn't bother attacking her at night because they knew they stood no chance.

Also noticing the town, her heart began to beat faster. It was weird why she was becoming nervous just for going into the town, but perhaps it was the feel of which it gave off. The people there didn't seem to friendly, and also the fire. Most people wouldn't have noticed it, but something in the way it shimmered and moved. It was not like most fires. But, not wanting to appear suspicious at all, she took a deep breath while walking and strode into town, her black locks swishing in beat with her movement. The locals whom were walking around looked at her with narrowed eyes, but she just thought that it was because of her still dripping hair and wet clothes, she must have looked a right mess. But wanting to appear normal, even though her heart was beating as fast as a mouse, she went up to an old woman and asked.

"Excuse me, do you know where there's a inn in this town." Staring with squinted baggy eyes, she lifted her wrinkled hand and pointed towards a tall building with bright yellow doors. Giving her thanks, she then turned around, wiping her forehead with her hand. Then, giving a brief glance at Red, she waved towards the building, saying in somewhat a bored tone, again contrasting with her insides which were panicking.

"Over here."

[Red]

Red wasn't quite sure how Slyvia would react being in town again, probably in a long time he thought. But Red noted she was probably calmer than he had seen her at all so far. He didn't know if it was because she was or tired from the walk, he didn't know. He would have thought she would have be really scared, around people again, from what she said about preferring to be away from people. He remembered then she didn't have her wings out, or on... Or however the hell she used them, this thought made Red scrunch his face up and get really confused about the whole thing. He then noticed Slyvia beckoning him over, and he smiled again.

Red opened the door to the tavern, they both peered in. They both looked into the dingy pub, filled with people laughing and shouting. People were stood around the bar, drinking and eating what looked like rats, skewered and burnt. Over the other side of the room, groups were gathered around, placing bets on arm wrestles or knife games, people were leant against wooden support beams seeming to know everything about what was happening. The dark windows dotted around the walls of the tavern were barely see through, rather, It'd be easier to see through the brickwork that sat along side. Random lanterns and candles covered most surfaces and sides, giving off strange dark yellow glows and casting shadows eerily onto the walls. Even though there was lots of candles, it still felt dark and gloomy. Music could be heard faintly coming from the back of the room, though it could not be seen where it was coming from, or who was making it because of all the bodies in the way.

Red worried about the girl, so stuck close to her side as they both walked in. They sat at a table, brown, but covered in bits of food and other rubbish, which they both just wiped onto the floor, as is the custom with most taverns.

"Lemme go and get a few drinks, lets see how this place gets before we stay too long." Red told Slyvia, he was pretty sure Slyvia could take care of herself if anything bad happened, though he was not sure how she felt about the place, but figured if there was food anytime soon she didn't matter too much. Just as he stood up, the door swung open, making a huge sound as it hit the wall at the end of it's travel. There, someone stood...

[boomdeboom]

Following behind Red, as they entered the tavern, she couldn't help but realize how. . .filthy humans were. Perhaps it was just the tavern, but she just couldn't help but notice how rough and rugged the humans were in this place. Oh how she missed the outside already, how it was all so free and the air was clean, not like in here, where the air was full of smoke, making her cough every now and again.

Nodding to Red as he stood up and began to make his way over to the what she thought was the counter, she couldn't help but notice that some of the men on the opposite table were looking at her. And not in a friendly way. This of course made her fidget slightly, but she keep her face straight as she casually looked at her fingernails, pretending to examine them. Of course, a few moments later she could feel an arm draped around her shoulders and the breath of someone drunk whom whispered into her ear.

"Now, what's a fine beaut like you doin' in a place like this?"

"I'm just passing through actually, would you please take your arm away?"

"Heh, I like a girl with spunk, hey how about you 'n me go get a room and hav' som' fun yeah?" Feeling a shiver running down her spine, she was struggling to keep her short temper under control as she said viciously.

"Please take your hand off me."

"Now, sweetie, don't be like that~" As the man attempted to kiss her neck, well she finally lost her cool. In one swift graceful movement, she stood up and gave one strong punch in his jaw, causing him to finally take his arm away and fall onto the ground, obviously shocked by the fact that a girl had just punched him. His friends began to laugh and jeer, and while she was still fuming, she said in a hiss.

"Don't ever touch me again, pig!" Just as he was about to get up again, he went silent as a slam echoed through the pub from the door, which almost seemed to fall from its hinges. Turning her body around, she almost lost her breath as she immediately recognized the man whom stood in the doorway and entered the tavern. A man from her past, whom has caused her some grief. And, she knew that if he recognized her, there would be trouble.

So, quickly sitting back down, using her hair to shroud most of her face, especially her eyes, she turned her gaze downwards as she once more began to pick at her nails, just praying that the man would walk past her table. He did stop in front of her for a moment, although she didn't dare look up, but he walked on towards the counter. And once he was out of ear range, she let out a long sigh of relief, scratching the back of her neck. This was certainly going to be interesting.