It took a considerable amount of effort for Zaino to pause just before the blade of his sword would've cut the red-haired woman's hands into two, glaring malevolently down at her frightened face. [i]Another Shepherd? But I'm the last one...[/i] He squinted hard, trying to push himself to ignore those words and kill her, only to fall to his knees from the emotional scarring that the massacre did to him. The sword dropped out of his hands and landed beside his knees as his back recoiled, writhing in the torment that all of his wounds and suffering from that night brought.

[b]"Liar,"[/b] Zaino croaked as the rest of his body hit the ground, directly taking a face full of the hard ground. He couldn't move an inch, for every movement only served to generate more despair. Failing his duty as the lone survivor of the Shepherds, considered the protectors of the realm and dealers of justice, he couldn't struggle any longer. His body had given in, and as much as an energy lingered within his soul, it couldn't do much. He was done for, and this woman knew. She would kill him now, just like they tried, but the difference between her and them, is that she would succeed. [b]"Make it quick, witch. I've yet to join my fellow Shepherds in the afterlife.."[/b]

---

[b]"Ah, that time of month. Bummer."[/b] Xerxes teased his friend, though maintaining his stone-cold expression. He was never the type of person who smiled a lot, and only very few times had Darrian witnessed the corners of his lips curve to create such an odd formation. He was a bit shocked to see his friend frown, as if he seemed tense about something, but he paid no mind to it. It was a first for him to see Darrian look like that, but he knew it wouldn't have lasted long.

It was, until Darrian mentioned his 'failure', that Xerxes felt a hint of anger seep inside him. He balled up a fist, scoffing. [b]"Me? I did my job. Killed an entire army on my own before I even brought my men in,"[/b] he sighed, turning to the feminine sword-thing that joined the two. He stiffed a light laugh from its appearance, turning back to Darrian as he blinked at his statement about entrusting him in concluding the hunt. [i]Why did he just say you twice?[/i] [b]"Anyway, even if some got away, they'll only die tired. I doubt there are still any out there, at least, from my end."[/b]