Lost and Alone }{ Very Open!

[renkhal]

There was a light drizzle dampening the forest as Renkhal was walking through the trees. He had a cloak on, which had caused him to move his longsword from his back to under his arm; it was too uncomfortable to wear it under or over the cloak so that it could be drawn over his shoulder. Not that wearing the nearly five foot sword - fifty-four inches, exactly - was exactly comfortable under the arm either. He had to keep his hand on it it so that it wasn't dragging along the floor. The blade was only forty-five inches, and the hilt was nine if you included the pommel and shorter-than-usual crossguard.

Sighing, Renkhal pulled the hood of his cloak a little further forward. He needed to concentrate; the damp forest floor served as a muffler for noise, making it even more difficult to hear anyone walking nearby. He needed to be careful as he journeyed forward. There could be various types of characters in these trees, and not all of them would be willing to ignore someone walking alone.

He paused for a moment and looked around, trying to see through the annoying moisture, and seeing nothing he started walking again. It really was quiet today, with all the animals most likely taking their own shelter in their tree holes and ground burrows. It made him wish he too could find shelter in this muck.

Looking ahead, he could see a rock overhand that would have enough space underneath for him to sit comfortably, and was deep enough that his feet wouldn't be too far out in the rain. And it looked like he could "hook" his cloak up around it and create a make-shift shelter out of it. It was better than wandering the forest, and he could rest a little until the rain cleared up and he wouldn't need his cloak anymore.

After setting up his little shelter, Renkhal pulled his sword to it's normal position and unpacked a small lunch from his small pack. He ate a little dried jerky and flatbread, and drank a little water, before he sat back and contemplated his next move. He had a general map of the area, but it wasn't anywhere near close to scale if he was still in these trees and not close to the mountains yet. He should be able to see some sign of them by this time, were his map to scale. That, or he had managed to get off track again. Without being able to see any sign of the sun or stars with this weather, that was entirely possible.

Checking his pack, he couldn't help but sigh. There wasn't much left, by now. He would have to hunt and dry more meat, and that didn't seem very appealing to him. Especially when he was in a foreign forest with wet wood all around him. And, the rain didn't show any sign of letting up anytime soon either.

"Great," Renkhal mumbled. "Just great."

<<OOC: I know it's really long, but I wanted to make sure I developed the character well for this, so you had something to work with... whoever decides to work with this. >>

[laraine]

< OOC: Heyyy Can I join?>

Huff, huff..

She ran through the forest, trying to escape the demonic beast that raged behind her.

She chanced a glance back and looked ahead of her again, still panting. "Just....great!" She growled, looking back and forth for a place to hide.

Pink hair tangled into the foliage from a low branch of tree and Raine squeaked, trying to free her hair from its entanglement.

Not only that, but her boots were beginning to sink into the muddy ground.

"This is not a good day." Raine sighed, turning and meeting the eyes of the demon. With a cry, Raine yanked her hair painfully from the branch and stumbled away. Trees and bushes broke her fall but the beast loomed above her, its jaws and fangs dripping with venom.

Afraid of the demon, Raine had no time to grab her wand that rested against her waist. Instead, she scrambled away, getting to her feet and running full speed... right into someone else's camp.

Raine barely glanced at the man, who seemed to be eating lunch, before her boot got stuck in the mud and she fell face first into the muck.

She pulled herself free and managed a smile to the confused man, before turning around to face the demon as it rampaged into the area.

"This is not good."

[renkhal]

<<OOC: Yeah, sure! I'd be happy to play with you. >>

Renkhal started eating, and then thought he heard something and looked up. It didn't seem like anything he needed to worry about, so he shrugged and let it go. He was probably hearing things, anyway. That happens sometimes when you've been left alone for a while; you start hearing and seeing things because, subconsciously, you want to see or hear something.

Thus, he was surprised when all of a sudden a woman ran right into his make-shift camp and face-planted. He then heard the demon and understood a little more.

"This is not good."

Renkhal stood quickly and unsheathed his sword.

"Relax for a bit and catch your breath," he told the woman before charging the demon. His sword connected with the demon's arm, cutting into it but not stopping it; the monster was clearly angry about something. Renkhal figured it must have gotten up on the wrong side of the, well, whatever demons slept on. Maybe it fell out of a tree or something. That would certainly put a damper on anyone else's day, that was for sure.

The attack drew the attention of the demon so that it was now focusing on Renkhal and not the young woman. The battle continued from there.

[laraine]

Raine blinked as the man charged into battle with the demon, turning the attention from her to the man. Raine took a couple deep breaths then grasped her wand at her belt and ran towards the two, her wand sparking with magic.

"Don't worry Ill take care of him now!" Magic erupted from her wand, hitting the demon and wounding it badly. It roared in pain and as Raine reached it, it knocked her into a tree. Still, it was wounded badly.

Raine hit the tree hard and groaned, struggling to stand back up but having difficultly even moving.

[renkhal]

Taking advantage of Raine's attack, Renkhal charged forward and thrust his sword into it's abdomen and pulled it up with all the force he could muster. The demon fell, lifeless, and Renkhal immediately rushed to the woman's side.

"Are you all right?" he asked her, giving her a quick once-over and helping her stand. "Here, come sit down over here. You need to rest and take it easy. Taking a blow like that would take a toll on anyone."

Renkhal wrapped an arm around her waist and put her arm over his shoulders, lifting her and walking her over to his camp as he spoke. Once she was seated again, he searched his back and pulled out some jerky and trying to find an herbal painkiller but could only find powdered willow bark. He didn't have a fire, and didn't know where any water was that he can boil so he could make a tea out of it.

"I don't have anything readily available for the pain, so you'll just have to relax. I have half a waterbag that you're welcome too, and a little jerky and maybe a slab of flatbread," he told her.

[laraine]

Raine smiled through the pain. "Hehe, its fine. I'd had much worse than this. Don't worry I heal fast. Thanks for the help. Especially since I'm a strange girl you barely met." She snickered at this. "I'm Raine, my real name is Laraine, but only my family calls me that. May I ask your name?"

[renkhal]

Renkhal stopped what he was doing and grinned a little sheepishly. Setting his pack aside, he sat and looked at the girl. She did seem to be doing better.

"I guess I still need to work on my manners," he joked a little. "I'm Renkhal. It's nice to meet you Raine."

Settling down, he put the longsword on his lap and pulled out a rag from his pack so he could wipe it down and get it clean.

"So what brings you out this way, being chased by demons?"

[laraine]

At this, Raine looked distant, thinking of how to explain the situation to him. She bit her lip and looked nervously over to him.

"Actually, I'm being pursued by demons." She said with a twinge of pain. "That was one of them." She sighed, looking out into the forest as the rain continued to pour down.

She wondered if he would ask more questions. She should tell him who she was. But she was scared of him turning on her, or of abandoning her to her fate all together.

I should tell him, I owe him the truth...no matter what he does.. Ill just have to accept it. I'm used to the pain.

She took a deep breath. "The people who are chasing me, the demons...are my family." She brushed a hand through her pink hair gently. "I'm a half demon." She looked over to him, to see his reaction, a sad smile on her face.

[renkhal]

He could tell she was waiting for his rejection, or disapproval. However, how could one refuse a person's blood? It's not like she chose this for herself; those before her, her parents, they are the one's who chose for her.

"If you're waiting for me to run screaming all the way to Tamasha, then don't hold your breath; you're liable to pass out," he joked. Smiling gently, Renkhal settled in beside her and relaxed.

"If they are family, why are you running from them? Or, even more importantly, why are they chasing after you like that? That demon didn't look like he was playing tag," he said, trying to be light but serious. She was obviously concerned with this bloodline issue, but he didn't want to be overly serious about it. So long as she didn't try to harm him, what did it matter?

[laraine]

"Its because I am this half breed that they are after me." Raine sighed, trying to keep up her smiling face, but it fractured a bit.

"I'm half demon, and half witch." She paused, as if thinking how to say what she was going to say next. "My family, the demon side anyway, believes I should die. Because it was foretold when I turned 21 I would destroy everything in my path, leaving nothing."

She hid her face when she said this. "I am a wanted person. They want me dead." She smiled sadly at this. "Apparently I'm something that should never have been born according to both sides of my family."

[renkhal]

Frowning a little, Renkhal let this all sink in. She was wanted dead because she was going to destroy everything?

"Well, then," he started, and then paused. He didn't really know what to say. She was between a rock and a hard place; either risk destroying everything or be hunted and killed.

"Nothing can change the fact that you were born, and only you can change that foresight prophecy thing. I've never been good with fate and that sort of thing. Sometimes, situations in life make changes in fate, I think, because you can't foresee everthing. So, I guess it's all up to you."

He smiled at Raine, making sure she knew he didn't care one way or the other. Life was important to him, no matter the circumstances.

[laraine]

Raine was shocked at him remaining by her side.

By this point people usually run away screaming.

She smiled gently at him and nodded. "Thank you. Its been a long time since someone has known me kindness like yours." She thought for a second.

"Is there anything I can do for you? You did save my life after all. I at least owe you something. Name it and I shall do it." she nodded.

[renkhal]

<<OOC: Totally woke up at 9:30 yesterday morning and haven't fallen asleep yet, and it's been almost 24 hours now. So, I apologize if it's a little weird. I was near a computer at the moment, and I just felt like posting... >>

Grinning a little sheepishly, Renkhal chuckled and looked around. How should he put this, he wondered. He was a man, he should be able to find his way, but he really needed to make it to some village near the ridge, where there was supposed to another survivor from his own village. If it was true, then he ought to look into it at least. It could be someone he knew.

"Do you know you're way around here?" he asked, mumbling a little. "See, I'm pretty sure I'm lost, and I need to get to this village just south of the ridge."

He didn't like the fact that he openly admitted that fact, but he had always been a little directionally challenged and without the sun it was even more difficult than ever. The light rain from earlier had passed finally, but it was still overcast and blocking the sun.

[laraine]

<<OOC: I feel ya, I went to bed around 5 a.m. last night. A new record!! I only had about 7 hours or sleep and just had a nap for an hour or so...Im kinda dazed now..zzzz>>

Raine blinked at this and nodded. "Sure, I'll show you how to get out of the forest no problem." She smiled and went to stand up, only for the pain in her body to return. She winced and sat back down. "Though I think Ill wait a bit until the pain numbs."

She laughed. "By the way what are you doing way out here in this forest? You've been sitting here listening to my problems after all. If you want to talk about anything, I'll listen."

[renkhal]

Renkhal grinned. He was quite happy to be able to continue without getting any more lost than he already was.

"I didn't think we would continue immediately, anyway," he said lightly.

"By the way what are you doing way out here in this forest? You've been sitting here listening to my problems after all. If you want to talk about anything, I'll listen."

He frowned, not quite sure how to answer. It wasn't really like there was one, if he was honest with himself. But, in a way, that would also be a bit of a lie.

"I'm trying to find my place. My home was more or less destroyed when I was young, and I've been traveling to grow and find someplace to, well, settle I guess," he answered. "I've come close to staying several places, but certain situations have pushed me to moving on."

Renkhal put away his sword, finally noticing that he had finished cleaning it and it was now just sitting there on his lap for no reason. It served as a way to busy himself, because he was surprised with himself for adding that last bit of information.