Dark Thoughts }{ [Open!]

[Lujayn]

There are not many things a person can do lying on their back. Sleeping, having fun with a companion, and thinking deep thoughts are really the only useful things you can do in that position. Hence, why you shall rarely find anyone lying on their back.Especially in the middle of a dark, somewhat spooky-looking forest. So, if one were to find someone in this position, naturally one would assume there was something wrong. There are times were this assumption would be incorrect.

But in the case of Aneira, there was never a time where that assumption would be anything BUT correct.

Groggily staring at the thick mat of leaves above her, she tried to push herself upright, and merely succeeded in rolling onto her stomach. She spat out some of her black hair, then tried again; as expected, she failed miserably. Light blue eyes closed as she groaned in dismay, thudding her head on the forest floor. Nothing was going well recently, was it?

Discovered, pursued, slightly wounded- although she had healed that long back, but it was taxing on her strength-, and now lost in a forest, and growing steadily weaker as the death stream ate away at her life force. She needed to find something to replenish it, and fast. Even though it was summer, and she was overdressed in thick pants and three layers of shirts, she was shivering as if she were lying naked in the snow, skin deathly pale (although that was somewhat normal, she had to admit), lips turning blue, and splotched with red from the wracking, bloody coughs that had began to plague her a half hour previous.

"Ah.... is this the end for me?" she asked the air weakly. "It's a crummy way to die, really. Can I at least have some company? I'd like to be buried, you know..."

Sighing, she lay her head down again, and closed her eyes. A few minutes afterwords, something tiny and fuzzy was poking at her face. She cracked an eye open, and saw a small squirrel, that was quite intrigued by... something. She wasn't sure, and she didn't care. Squirrels, as small as they were, had plenty of life-force in them, and it could possibly sustain her until she reached a village- or a bigger source.

She slowly, slowly moved her hand towards it, scarcely daring to breath in case she scared it off...

With a speed far greater than one would imagine from a girl near death's door, she snatched the squirrel with her hand, ignoring the sharp pain as it bit and clawed into her hand. Those movements began to slow, until it stopped, merely moving feebly now... and then, not moving at all, as Aneira drained the last of its life-force to replenish her own.

Sitting up, she looked down at the limp form in her bloody hand, and sighed. "I wish there was an easier way... sorry, little thing, but if it were not me, it might have been some other creature."

She was still cold, but not nearly as much as before. The coughing had abated, and even though she was a bit wobbly, she could stand and walk.

"What I need," she muttered, "Is sleep, and food... but where am I supposed to find that here, hmm?"

About to continue, she heard the snapping of a small branch, and she turned to face the general direction of the noise. "Who's there?" she called unsteadily, backing away. She could NOT handle another confrontation, not in this state... not in any state, really. She wondered if there was enough time to sketch out a pentagram...Yes it's long, but it gives you plenty to work with! 8D -

[Summerchika]

((OOC: Um, if you were planning for someone else to reply, I can delete this ^^ just let me know))

Having traveled the forest a lot this week, Aintusa's only wish was to find a nice place to set up camp for a while - preferably for a looooong while. She decided she wanted to go back to a familiar clearing that she had found when she was really small. She hadn't been to that place in a very long time, and she knew she needed the feeling of normalcy of it right now. This past week had been very different and new, and now she wanted to feel at home again.

Jumping into the trees, she moved faster toward the clearing she had in mind. Before she got there, however, she passed a scene that intrigued her, and giving into her curiosity, she had no choice but to stop. There was a girl below. Alone. She looked around Ainutsa's age, which made Ainutsa even more curious. However, the girl looked - really , even to the point where Ainutsa would be very afraid for the girl's life. She made her way to the ground silently and hid herself in the shadows of the trees for better observations.

Aintusa watched as a squirrel made its way to the girl - it's curiosity almost matching Aintusa's. She watched in shock as the girl grabbed hold of the squirrel and then watched as the squirrel slowly died and fall limp in the girl's hands. The girl then sat up, looking better, but still in very poor health. The girl muttered her needs and Ainutsa knew she could help with those. Food and sleep. Easy. She had practically all the things she needed in her small, home-made pack that she carried on her back.

Taking a step forward, she hesitated just a bit, not knowing if she should approach such a stranger - one who had taken the life of the squirrel. Ainutsa knew she was silly, knowing the truth of the girl's words after she had killed the squirrel. Still, her hesitation brought her foot a little short of it's destination and a loud crack was heard as she broke the stick she had been aiming to miss. She flinched as the girl called "Who's there" in her direction. Not wanting to hesitate again so that wrong and dangerous assumptions would be made, Ainutsa revealed herself, her hands outstretched to show she did not mean to harm. It was the way she would approach a scared animal.

Approaching slowly, Ainutsa decided she should speak. "I don't want to fight." she told the girl. "I think that I can help you." She stopped just ahead of the trees she had been hiding behind, awaiting the girl's response.

[Lujayn]

Aneira watched this new person carefully, edging her way behind a tree for protection. "You didn't happen to come from a village in that direction-" she pointed "- did you?" She asked. Then she frowned. "Or... was it that direction? Or maybe that way... um... oh dear..."

The expression on her face was hilarious. "Um... well... it's close to here," she grumbled. "Anyways, if you did, I want nothing to do with you! Leave me alone! I'll not bother your little place again! And- eek!"

Aneira, being as unsteady as she was and somewhat prone to clumsiness, had tripped over a root as she was inching herself further back, sending her right back into the position she started in: flat on her back. "Ow..." She sat back up, rubbing her head. "This day is not going well..."

She glanced over to the stranger. "Um.... you didn't see that." she mumbled with a blush.Silly girl, it says open :P -

[Summerchika]

Watching the girl, Ainutsa's expression went from cautious curiosity, to alarming disbelief, and a little amusement. As the girl mumbled about village that seemed to be all different places and how she didn't want anything to do with Ainutsa if she was from this mysterious, all-around village, the corner of Ainutsa's mouth began to twitch in a smile.

“-Eek!” the girl fell over a root, trying to get away from Aintusa. Taking this chance to move closer, Ainutsa silently – this time not hesitating to step over branches on the ground – made her way to where the girl was lying face down on her back. She stopped a few feet from where she had started as the girl sat up, rubbing her head. “Um.... you didn't see that.” the girl mumbled to Aintusa.

With a smile, Ainutsa openly, and still slowly, walked the rest of the way to the girl to help her up. She spoke as she walked. “Be calm. I don't live in a village.” she informed the girl, hoping that she really would calm down and stop hurting herself. Standing over the girl now, she knelt to not seem so intimidating. “You are not in good health, please let me help you.” she said, holding a hand out to help the girl up.

[Lujayn]

Aneira watched her suspiciously for a moment, then gave up on it. If she was going to hurt her, she most likely would have done so already, and in either case there wasn't much she could do about it anyways. She was not well enough to perform any of her magic, plus the necromancy took just too much time, seeing as how she could not afford to take shortcuts as most did.

"This... is pretty normal health for me, really, I am alright," she replied, telling at once the truth and an outright lie. Sure, it was normal for her to be that ill, but she was far from being alright. "Um... well, that is... I'll survive. I have for some time now..." She got up herself, ignoring the hand offered to her in case the temptation of taking some of this stranger's life-force was just a little too strong.

It would hardly make her endearing.

She pushed some of her black hair out of her face so that she could see a little better. "As for help-"

She cut herself off when she heard an angry chattering coming from behind the stranger. "Oh, no..." she muttered, putting a hand to her face.

Once again, her magic had escaped from her and reanimated the stupid squirrel.

[Twichey]

[navy]Twichey watched the young girl face down on the ground. He had arrived just as the girl sucked the life force from the poor squirrel. This was no doubt blood necromancy. He had studied it much as a young adult. He knew that if she was truly exhausted, a squirrel would not restore her energy but he had an idea what might.

As he was about to reach out and help another young girl had stumbled upon the girl. He watched as the girl fell and murmured her joke and couldn't help but grin.

What he had once perceived as necromancy was just proved. The squirrel she had drained had risen and had began chattering unnatural patterns and tones. He leaped from his hiding place and landed his foot on the squirrel's back. An unpleasant crunch sounded from the once living then once undead squirrel. "Sorry for the crude entrance ladies, but that thing even gave me the creeps". It appears both of you are in need of a good rest and some food." He points at Aneira. "You especially look a bit pale. But i think its more natural than your letting on. I have a little hideaway not far from hear. your both welcome to come over until your fit for travel. so how about it eh"?[/navy]

[Summerchika]

((OOC: I'm sorry for my late reply. I hope to be on more now that I have gotten more used to my school routine. Sorry!))

Watching as the girl denied her unhealthy state and then ignored her offered hand, Ainutsa wondered if she had insulted the girl. However, she did not agree with the girl's statement of "being alright". In fact, the girl did not look well at all. She had dark circles under her eyes and she was too skinny. That Ainutsa could see even with the layers the girl had on. Before she could reply, however, there was a disturbance behind her and she turned quickly, alarmed that she hadn't heard or sensed anything before.

The dead squirrel was up and chattering angrily. Alarmed, a chill ran up her spine as she watched the dead squirrel chatter. Before she could take action, a little man leaped from the trees and landed on the squirrel with a sickening crunch. Ainutsa stepped back in shock and placed a hand over her mouth, trying to not be . As the man apologized for his entrance, Ainutsa slowly removed her hand from her mouth, taking on a more prepared stance, just in case the stranger was an enemy. She did not like to be startled and was not used to it either.

Listening as he spoke, Ainutsa considered what he was saying. Caution rose in her and she examined what he was saying and how he was saying it. She didn't feel any maliciousness from the stranger, but she was never good at reading people, having only started to talk to them again. Still, she didn't like his speech. Perhaps it was simply how he assumed she needed help as if she were weak. She tried to put her ill feelings aside, trying not to make an opinion of him without knowing him.

Considering his offer, Aintusa looked at the girl, then back at the little man. "I, too, have a place close by. However, I do not hunt. If you want to eat meat," she looked at the girl now, "I would go with him. However, the place to where I am bound has many healing herbs. I can heal you there, however I do not know if such herbs can be found at his hideaway." she looked to the little man as if her statement were a question. "As for me, I thank you for your kind offer." she said with a small smile to the little man. "I, though, am not in as much of a need as she is."

[Lujayn]

Slight annoyance twinged within Aneira. Both of them assumed she was a weak girl who couldn't take care of herself. It was true, to a point, but she resented it anyways. This strange man who had appeared and stepped on her squirrel irked her as well, with his attitude, pretending as if he knew her. She gritted her teeth to resist the temptation to give him a small zap with her petty magics- it would do no good for her to antagonize anyone, plus she really wasn't up to it.

But, one little misconception had to be cleared up first. Ignoring their need for a response as to where to go, she pointed to where the man had crushed the squirrel. "Sir, did you truly believe that stepping upon the undead would stop it?" She asked calmly, in a rather flat tone of voice, pale eyes staring into his. "You are foolish, then. Only total destruction or my will can bring it back to its dead status." To prove her point, she twitched her hand in some strange, obscure-looking gesture. Immediately, the squirrel dragged itself out from under the strange man's foot and scampered over to Aniera, sitting on top of her boot.

With a small sigh, she turned to the girl. "I thank you for your offer, but I really..."

She stopped as a violent bout of coughing took her by surprise, and she had to resort to leaning against the tree to avoid toppling over once again. The squirrel really hadn't helped her all that much, and she desperately needed some replenishment, either in the form of stealing more life-force or in food and rest. She preferred the latter, really.

She looked to the girl. "Um... perhaps I could use some assistance," she said weakly.

[Twichey]

[navy]"If you wish we may go to your hide away. I just need to go by my place first." Twichey looks at the girl on the ground. "It may help you in the end if you let me help." Twichey shot the girl a quizzical look. "What does Tha..." He was unable to finish his question as the squirrel crawled from under his foot."ughh even after years of carnage that was probably the most disgusting thing I've seen in a very long time."

"At any rate its up to you miss" looking at the girl with the squirrel on her foot.[/navy]

[Summerchika]

Nodding at the man's response, Ainutsa waited for the girl to let her preference known. Ainutsa knew from past experiences that she could only help the girl if the girl was willing. Either way, Aintusa was fatigued from her traveling and she wished to be in a familiar place soon. Her mind was already filling with dreams of the small clearing that she had used as home for a time. Not having been to this particular 'home' recently, she was anxious to see it again.

When the girl didn't answer her question, Aintusa perked with interest and slight confusion at what the girl has said instead. For the second time in a few minutes, Ainutsa stepped back in shock and disgust. A second chill went up her spine as the crushed squirrel came out from under the man's shoe and perched on the girl's boot. She did not know or understand this girl's magic and power over the dead, but she didn't like it. To have control over the dead was unnatural and sad. She had to admit, it intrigued her - her curiosity was strong - but she still did not like it.

Still when the girl asked for her assistance, Ainutsa could not and would not turn her down, despite this unnatural display of magic. The girl's coughing alarmed Ainutsa and she knelt down to her, trying to ignore the undead squirrel that was sitting on the girl's boot. She put a hand on the girl's shoulder, wishing she could help at this moment. However, there was some business that had to be taken care of before that.

"If we are to stop at your hideaway before reaching the final destination, I suggest we move quickly." Ainutsa told the man. "In the mean time," she rummaged in her pack, found the supplement she was looking for, and handed it to the girl. "Eat this." she instructed. "It should taste alright, and it should keep you until we arrive at my clearing." What she had handed the girl was the last of her home-made fruit leather that she had made especially for her travels. To Ainutsa, the snack was a great-tasting treat as well as an energy-booster. She took a mint leaf from a wallet-looking thing where she kept her leaf-herbs and handed this to the girl as well. "Also, if you chew on this, it should help keep your cough down." She then waited to see the girl eat, hoping that her limited supplies would help the girl, even a little bit.