[IC] The Rise of the Guardian

[MegaraFoxfire]

Ash frowned as he left and muttered “I hope I didn’t upset him…” scarlet said “I’m sure his fine. Want me to go with him?” Ash shook her head and said “no…I’m sure he wants to be alone…”

[Jazz]

Maltoran shook his head. "Maybe that is just what he needs. Someone whom may lend an ear." He looks to his companion for confirmation only for Altoron to be gone. Maltoran could only sigh and shake his head. He should have known Altoron would sneak away.

[MegaraFoxfire]

Scarlet nodded and got up carefully, minding her injury and went to follow Carth. Ash looked at the last assassin and asked “so you have been following me? Or just the monsters?”

[Jazz]

Maltoran gave his attention to Ash when asking her questions. It didn't seem harmful to tell her for their missions aligned. "The last town. We were taking care of a contract at the time already having the overall task to watch and observe the monsters. Overall we were a dayaways from you when we sought to follow after hearing some news about monsters making their way in certain directions. Like they were ordered to somehow." He explains.

[MegaraFoxfire]

Ash frowned and said “so with your reports…” she moved over and pulled her map out and laid it out. She showed him her last locations and said “do the monster spots and attacks line up with my path?”

[Jazz]

Maltoran leaned closer as he studied the map. Upon what he could figure and when they started following into the reports and missions that were assigned to them he nodded. "Indeed. From what our intelligence has reported there have been many sightings and they are everywhere with many combinations of animals that seemed merged. We have not located the source as of yet."

[MegaraFoxfire]

Ash cursed softly and rubbed her face. “That means they are following me…I was hoping I was wrong…what could they want with me…” she sighed and lowered her head.

Scarlet was watching Carth training from the doorway tunnel, not wanting him alone but also wanting to give him his space. She was feeling better now and she hoped the doctor would join them. With how things were going this mission needed a healer.

[Jazz]

"That is something I am sure we all would like to learn as well. Even I'd they were after a town, learning their intent in crucial." Maltoran explained. "My brothers and I will do what it takes to help learn their intentions. Our brothers and sister within the Brotherhood are learning from them as we speak. If we can get ahold of them, we can learn what they have learned and piece the puzzle."

Carth was training his stances, his movements of the blade. Though before long it became letting his frustrations out on the dummy. After hacking away at the poor defenseless dummy that he lets his sword drop with a clank. He hangs his head before lifting it to look directly up at the ceiling of the fort's rock like barrier.

Letting out a sigh and sagged his shoulders. "You wouldn't be bothering me if you came closer. Unless you were just about to leave." He closed his eyes and looked down again, he walked to what was left of the dummy before turning around and sitting, leaning against it.

[MegaraFoxfire]

Ash looked at him and nodded. “Thank you…maybe there’s something later you could help me with…” she rested a hand on her shoulder where her markings were. “When we on the road…that’s a better time…”

Scarlet sighed and walked over, a slightly limp as she said “I didn’t want to bug you…but since your saying it with your blade what’s bugging you so much?”

[Jazz]

With the nod of his head, Maltoran bows his head. "Of course. If it is within my power I can do what I can to be of help."

Carth sighed, patting the ground next to him to invite her to sit. "I just...I haven't felt right since I changed. I can hear too much, senses heightened to an intolerable degree.....stupid of me to think I could beat my frustrations out on a dummy to solve my problems..." giving a small bitter laugh near the end of his venting. He winced and held his head for a moment, feeling a headache coming on. "I feel....so conflicted about this change that happened to me."

[MegaraFoxfire]

Ash looked at him then looked around the room, seeing it was mostly empty. She moved to put her back to him and lowered her upper shirt, showing her markings the others saw the other night. The markings of wings with runes. “Have you seen anything like this?”

Scarlet sat down and listened then said “you took the form I think…was yours to begin with…I think your senses are staying the same and you will grow into them. Why do you feel conflicted?”

[Jazz]

Maltoran studied the runes with care. He was going throught his knowledge of languages the Brotherhood studied and though while he knew many and could speak many. These runes puzzled him. "These runes I am unable to read. However we could ask the Brotherhood for help. We learn to read and speak many languages to aid us in our profession. Though these runes are before me and my generation. I am sorry I was not more helpful for this."

Carth let his head go, felling the pain subside. Picks up his sword and places it on his lap. "It's because I don't know what will happen now. I tried to hold a positive light on things. Be a bit goofy to lighten the mood....but now...if feels hard to. I dont....I don't know what or when this change will happen again. Who I might hurt in the process. I guess I'm.....I'm afraid....what the next day may give. Even the next few hours..." explaining all he could with that he felt or even understand himself.

Carth could hardly feel any spunk he brought to the day without now seeing the chaos he added to the fight the other day. What could happen if he changed again a wreaked havoc just to try and protect his newfound friends...what his friends even thought of him now and might never say to him. Carth felt so much doubt and fear that he could feel this skin crawl, his body reacting as he curled up into himself. His arms trying to cover his head and make his whole body small.

Though all the while he was going through the change again. His skin starting to darken as it hardened and scaled pierced his skin. His arms trying to become wings.

[MegaraFoxfire]

Ash smiled and moved her shirt back up. “It’s okay. I haven’t gotten anywhere with them since my captain told me about them. The dragon wings and runes are a mystery to everyone I guess…”

Scarlet moved and rested a hand on his shoulder, no drop of fear in her eyes. “Take a deep breath Carth and listen to me. You saved us yesterday. I would be dead if you hadn’t shifted. The city would be gone by now. Other may fear you but I know at least for me and Ash…we are happy to be with you and we aren’t going anywhere. Ash wasn’t scared when she came to your aid. She seemed…herself. Like she was finally where she belonged. Now I’m not sure what that means but I think you have nothing to worry about. When you shift again, we will be there to keep you safe and others…have the same faith in us that we have in you…okay?”

[Jazz]

"We will find the solution. This I will make certain. I will send a eagle to see if we have a translation book. I have memorized the runes so using one as reference should help find what we are looking for." Maltoran told her with excitement.

Carth relaxed as he listened to Scarlet. Her words were processing within his mind as he was taking deep breaths. While breathing and listening, scales receding, skin going back to normal as well as his arms. He believed her. Both of them had never sent him astray and vice versa. He peaks through his arms, a sheen to his eyes from the tears that were threatening to spill. With few sniffles he moves his arms and a hint of a smile on his face as he nods. Carth rubs his eyes with his arm. "Okay. Thank you. For being a voice of reason. You both have been my first few friends I've had." He admits.

[MegaraFoxfire]

Ash smiled at him but it didnt reach her eyes. “Thank you…” she got up and said “I should go check in with our doctor friend…”

Scarlet smiled then said “why have you been alone for so long?”

[Jazz]

"Alright. I shall check in my brother." Maltoran stated. As he stood he bowed his head before leaving.

Carth looked down at his sword. "I mean if you count my horse, I haven't really been alone. But I had lived in an orphanage. When I was of age I left and trained in the ways of the sword. After that I traveled around. Honestly I lost track. Didn't really have anyone to call friend." Carth tells.

[MegaraFoxfire]

Ash sighed and rubbed her face then left to find the doctor. Which took a while cause she kept getting lost. She finally ended up two blocks away and had no idea where she was and sighed, sitting down on the crib and cursing softly.

Scarlet frowned and said “that’s no way to live…I’m sorry…well now we will make sure your never alone again. I have a feeling ash is in the same boat as you…”

[Jazz]

Carth looked to Scarlet with surprise. He thought animals would be his only friend. But to have a human as a friend made him feel lighter. Made him feel whole. A true smile formed on his lips, happy to hear what she said. "You're right." Moving his sword he gets onto his feet, and offers Scarlet a hand.

"Lost I take it? It does get confusing sometimes to you get use to using landmarks here as to where you are." A familiar voice says a few feet from her. It was the healer. "Come. I'll make some tea."

[MegaraFoxfire]

Scarlet took it and stood up then said “I think you need to tell ash the truth. Your truth. I think your linked to her past, especially after what Orion told us she was saying in her fever state…”

Ash looked up and sighed “Orion thank the heavens. This place is a maze out of stone rock.” She got up and followed him back to his place. She shut the door behind him and asked “Orion…what did I say yesterday? I’ve been told when I’m sick like that that I talk in that state…” she was pulling out a small note book, a pencil attached. Seemed she was used to learning about herself from others.

[Jazz]

Carth seemed to think about it, where would he start? What would he say? Either way he had to try. To figure out how they were tied together. What it all meant. "I will do my best." He then makes his way into the forts town.

Orion had begun making his way toward the stove as he grabbed his kettle of water and placed it over the fire before grabbing a couple mugs and a jar from a cupboard. He sat down at the table and sighed. "You asked about Carth and Scarlet. Then you asked about the dragons that they were in danger. A young one you were trying to protect. That your sister was mad, wanted you to stop, that she lost something but didn't tell me what it was as you fell asleep." He explains.