[IC] The Light In The Darkness

[Cartwright]

Take it we will do a TS

The group moved on into the town after Jason went ahead inside, moving cautiously as the scenery changed from tree line, to field, to buildings. There, they stopped at what had used to be an inn, the Cianid who was busy straightening his hat turning to speak to the group in a hushed tone. "Seems like Jason is already getting his confidence back.. Alright I'll be heading for the church. Anyone coming with?" He said, glancing between the faces of those around him. The ex-general hoped someone would say yes, and hoped not everyone would say yes. The church wasn't the only place that needed to be checked; there was a market square, a guardhouse, and the town hall that needed to be checked as well.

Feress who had trailed a bit behind the group with the few who were slow finally caught up around that time, his hands gripping his staff and his eyes peering up at the giants that stood around him. "If need be I shall be heading towards the town hall, maybe some answers could be found in the records... If the younger ones wish to go with someone else I am fine by that, but they can not be alone, at all.

[Daemyn Sterk]

Looking up from his knees, Carden would notice the shadow armored figure standing nearby. He didn't have much knowledge of demons, so he couldn't guess what he was, but he sensed the darkness flowing across him. Even if the transparent figure in front of him wasn't sent by the cultists, surely something as dark as this had to be! Picking up his long, black knife from the ground, he stood himself up, angling the knife towards the demon confidently. He looked even shakier than before, and he'd still not stopped crying. "Please, please just leave me alone! I'm begging you!" He'd sob out, scared of the demon. "I won't go back, I won't do it! Please!"

[deadpixel101]

Alexandria only drew her eyes away for a second when the new figure appeared. A demon, she mentally prepared for a battle, but didn't move to try and keep the boy's attention on her. Little did she know that was absolutely a useless gesture. She flew into the air a bit and turned to face the armored stranger. "What do you want?" she asked coldly, her arms were spread out, as if it would help shield the boy anymore. She looked the demon up and down. He was using some sort of magical armor, which probably meant he used some sort of similar weapon, which meant he could kill, or more appropriately banish her. That wouldn't be good, she didn't wan't to turn into nothing, and she didn't want the boy to be dragged away, taken back to whatever horrible place he had managed to leave. Her magic going into effect the stone stripped up from the earth, condensing and forming into a range of different blades. More threatening due to weight instead of sharpness. A swordsmith was still a swordsmith, even in death.

Dusk had as he said, headed out a bit in front of the crowd. Looking into alleys, open houses and other small cubbyholes or coves. Looking and finding nothing. It seemed the town was for the most part quite deserted. He sighed inwardly and dropped the planks of wood he was holding up. The hatch that lead down to some basement was a fruitless endeavor, it was full to the top with stripped wood and dirt. He exited the house and saw the group coming through the mist, nodding to the fact he was staying a safe distance to them. Silently he rejoined them, coming to the edge of their group, he allowed his eyes to stray here and there, looking for anything. For a moment they settled on the small half demon, another child had joined them, and a weak looking one at that. He hoped she wouldn't be hurt, but he doubted anywhere else she could have gone would be any better.

Elaine walked along between Caroline and Feress, probably slowing her down to keep with the Kitsune's pace. She wasn't searching anymore, her eyes stayed dead ahead nearly half the time. The other half she found herself looking to the other girl. She was even smaller than she was, seemingly someone who had been through a lot. She made Elaine curious, she was something odd...Not that Elaine could point fingers, she wasn't a common breed either. When they arrived at their stop, she looked to Feress, listening intently to him speak. After hearing his consent to stay with the others, she looked to Caroline. Her eyes seemed to say it was up to her, she knew she was some level of a dead-weight, and would allow for the older girl to choose where they walked.

[JessieTargaryen]

Jason unsheated his sword. "Do not raise a blade at another unless you intend to use it. Fortunatly for you both, I'm not the bad guy." Jason said before sheating his sword again, he once again disappeared into the shadows before reappearing right next to the boy. "I sense the darkness in you, you say they took you and you don't want to be taken back, then you probably were posioned with it. You and I are alot alike. My father posioned me with every strain to test it before curing me. Then I escaped. But you don't see me bitching out. Now man up if you ever want a prayer of getting rid of your curse. If you feel like you have enough spine to do that, then follow me and join my group who seek to end this." The boy says before turning and walking back towards the center of the town. Of course, his goal with that little speech had been to piss the boy off, hopefully to get him to push his fears aside in anger. Then try to prove he was worth something. Hopefully that would mea following Jason, then the boy could probably convince Ferress or Ansen to take a look and see what they could do about the darkness on him. Jason looked at the other being present. "Another fighter cannot hurt us. If you feel like fighting darkness and possibly dying, follow me."

[Slypheed]

Caroline didn't mind walking at the Kitsune's pace, and when the Kitsune mentioned someone needing to be with the girls, Caroline immediatly looked at Sakura who nodded then looked back at the Kitsune. "I'll look after the young ones" She said before looking down at Elaine and the other girl. She had yet to learn the other girls name, but felt that she would in due time. "Hope you two don't mind me" she said as she squatted to be closer to their height "I'm Caroline, what are your names?"

[XxLyraxX]

Azure quietly trailed behind the group as they entered the town. She couldn't help but cringe closer to Ansen as she saw people; it was a knee-jerk reaction after so many people had abused her when she stepped into towns. They all seemed to know exactly what she was the moment they saw her. It was probably her wings or red eyes. At least she didn't have horns. The half-ling keep quiet when Ansen asked anyone if they wanted to go to the church with him. It would be best she stayed behind; she doubted she would welcome. Granted she was hardly welcome anywhere but a demon entering a holy place? Didn't seem like it would end well.

She heard one of the members of the group say she would stay with her and the other girl. She flinched back when Caroline crouched down to her level and peeked shyly up at her from under her bangs. She clenched the front of her dress, swallowed down her nervousness and managed to stammer out a reply. "A-Azure. M-My name i-is A-Azure." She said in an almost inaudible voice.

[Cartwright]

Ansen looked ahead into the town as the others spoke and spotted out Dusk who had approached them not too long ago. The Cianid glanced around at those around him before he stepped towards the swordsman, his left hand resting on the hilt of his blade in a casual manner. "If there would be anywhere these people would rally it would probably be the church. Will you join me in going to check it out?" He said, tipping his hat back by the rim as his eyes returned to scanning their surroundings, something didn't feel right to him.

Feress walked up behind Caroline and poked the lady when he was close, by his height he was pretty much poking her leg in order to get her attention. "Excuse me Caroline, but what are your plans with your friend? Do you wish to do it by yourselves? I can look after these two while I check the town hall, yes?" The kitsune pointed out, his ears folding and standing up straight a few times as he looked up at this person with a straight face.

[deadpixel101]

Alexandria watched as the boy drew his own blade, she readied herself, she hadn't taken too many risk as of late. All at once though, the flame of battle was extinguished, the boy had covered his blade once more and began to walk away, berating the much less viscous of the group with harsh words as he did. She watched him with cold eyes, drilling holes into his back with indifference. She let her blades fall, embracing and becoming the earth once more. She turned to the sobbing one. Curious of his feelings. "Are you alright?" she glided back a short distance, not wanting to impose on him. She didn't know how he would react to the verbal torment, but she assumed more tears would be involved.

Elaine looked to the other young girl as she spoke her name, "it's a pretty name." she commented, her big eyes reading over the girl once more. She seemed to fascinating to her. Her odd eyes and wings drew her attention in, almost making her forget to listen to Feress. Almost. She looked to Caroline as the question was presented to her, wondering who she would be staying with. She didn't mind at all if it was either of these two.

Dusk watched as the cianad approached, listening to his offer. His mask stayed indifferent the whole time. "Of course, though I hope I will not be needed." he placed his hands on his blades, already preparing for their use. He wasn't sure what this place held, but he was sure it was a threat. "After you." he added in, not wanting to seem excited anymore about battle. His lust for it had been sated, the gruesome reality of it, turning fond feelings to dark ones.

[Daemyn Sterk]

Carden kept his blade in the air, though he knew the man was right. He didn't intend to use the thing, he couldn't. As the figure in front of him melded into the shadows, Carden's eyes widened with fear. What the hell was this thing? When the man appeared next to him, Carden cried out in terror, falling onto the ground. He had no chance against this thing, if it wanted to take him it would. His mouth popped over as the figure told him about the darkness inside himself and about his father, though he didn't know what to say. He didn't know how to respond. So the man wasn't with the cultists? But how could that be, how could a being so dark not be one of their pawns? Carden grimaced, realizing that he was the same. Could it be a trick? Could he be telling him all of this just to get him to come along and capture him? It's not like it would matter either way what he did, if he stayed he'd just be captured and the same would go if he went along. But if the being was telling the truth... if this was finally a chance for true freedom, how could he pass it up? His eyes closed, a conflict against his fear occurring in his head. And shakily, the boy stood. He was terrified of what was to come, but this could be his only chance. He wiped his eyes and stepped forward, following behind the figure at a timid distance. This was it, he was either going to be captured or he was going to be set on the path of true freedom.

[JessieTargaryen]

Jason saw the group up ahead. "Ansen!" He called out. "We seem to have an interesting case here, would you or Feress be able to check out this boy. He seems ro be partially taken by the darkness. I want to know if we can fix it." He says, turning to the boy following him at a distance. "I knew you were there. Either you need to man up, or lets work on you being sneaky as hell. We could always use somebody able to confuse the enemy." He says to boy following.

[Slypheed]

Caroline looked at Faress "One is an assistant of yours, is she not? I can look after the other one while your assistant goes with you into the hall if you wish" She said as she look back to the two girls "Or me and Sakura can look after these two while you're in the hall." She looked back at Faress "But our plan is to check some of these houses for any survivors as well as check the church" She shifted a bit awkwardly "Unless you wish to take these two with you to the hall"

[Cartwright]

Feress nodded and crossed his arms, peering over at the two younger ones nearby. It was moments like this one where he wished he was a little bit taller so to look like an adult compared to these children, but some things are just impossible to achieve. "Ansen is going ahead to the church right now last I recall.. I can take these two so if you find something in those houses they'll at least be safe with m-" The Kitsune was cut off by Jason's shouting nearby and he looked over at the demon approaching, his big ears doing a few flicks as he listened to the boy. That moment the Cianid and the small one immediately stared at each other, the same thought going across their minds. It took a moment before Feress was the one who approached the two, his hands wrapping around his staff as he peered up at the two with his little bitty self. "You found someone Jason? That is a relief there are others here." He said, trying to lean to the side to look over the boy infront of him in order to get a glimpse of Carden, his tail slowly swaying left to right. "If this half demon speaks the truth.. Then you're coming with me to the hall, yes? I must look over you to see if you display the symptoms of darkness, the symbols and all."

Ansen who had frozen in his footsteps watched Jason and the newcomer from the distance, a small smirk forming on his face when Feress immediately went to confront the two. He didn't add anything to the conversation and simply nodded to Jason, then to dusk before starting down the road. "Lets be quick then. The sooner we can come to a conclusion about this place the better." He muttered, his crimson eyes being locked ahead with a sense of concern in them.

The deeper the guardian got into the town the thicker the mist surrounding them got to the point they couldn't look over their shoulder to spot out the group they had just left. Within minutes though the Cianid was first to see the church with not a soul around. He stopped for a minute, looking around the area then pressed forward towards the big door.

[JessieTargaryen]

Jason nodded at Ansen then stepped aside so Feress could check for the symptoms. "You forget Kitsune, I can see the darkness in somebody. I am half demon after all. He has it but it hasn't completely taken him yet. There was another being with him though I am unsure if that one followed us or not" he said to smaller being. "I just want to know if we can help him." Jason says, then looks around the town. The dark mist was setteling in again. This was not good, if the mist was this powerful here its entirely possible that the dead and their forces that hate the living for some reason may have pushed forward towards this town. If he was right, which the half-demon hoped like hell he wasn't, things were about to take a major slide for the worse.

(Up to you Carty-man, will Jason be right or wrong? Do ya want them undead soldiers and ghosts running around being @$$h0l3$ or nah?)

[XxLyraxX]

Azure looked between Caroline and Feress as they tried to figure out whom was staying with whom. She stood quietly beside Elaine, giving her a timid and meek smile. "T-Thank you." She said. She shivered slightly as a cool breeze blew right through her tattered dress and wrapped her tiny wings around herself for warmth. She heard the words "Half-demon" and she instinctively tensed, looking around with wide eyes. She settled on the one they call Jason, her eyes widening and a gasp escaping her as she heard him call himself a half-demon. She...She wasn't alone? She found herself padding over to him and she stopped before him, staring up at him with large red eyes. Suddenly she felt tears of relief spill down her cheeks and she sniffled. She wasn't alone anymore! She had finally found someone else like her.

[deadpixel101]

Alexandria sighed a bit sadly to herself. She had been ignored, walked through, nearly literally. "Just as well, what does anyone need to listen to the dead for?" She spun to see the backs of the two boys leaving, deciding whether or not she should follow. "They may not be helping him though..." She wasn't ready to let the situation die. She had found someone she could be useful too, some reason to keep being. She was going to follow them, though she wasn't exactly invited. "Very well." she stated to herself, floating through buildings next to the two, instead of within their sight. She watched through an open window, regarding the group of people. They didn't look bad, in fact some of them looked quite a bit too innocent. She watched as a small furry creature approached the one who was crying, and how a small girl approached the one who used magic. What an odd collection...

Dusk had followed the Cianad's pace exactly, not wanting to overstep him or keep him tethered. Dusk looked only to him as they stopped, wondering what he could sense. As of this far, nothing but eerie silence had reached his radar. Sure things were uneasy, but perhaps he was accustomed to that, nothing evil reached to his mind just yet. "Let's be careful." He commented as they went to enter the church, oddly enough Dusk felt if anything truly evil was here, it might be in that building. The world just worked that way at times. "Shall I enter first?" He had his right hand clasped around his blade handle, ready for any situation it may be useful.

[Daemyn Sterk]

Carden followed along, not saying a word. He couldn't get a word out, fear was overflowing his body and he could barely muster the strength to take another step. As they came closer to the group, confusion rippled through him. They didn't look like they were apart of the cultists, though some kind of illusion wasn't unthinkable. They didn't appear to be illustrious hunters of the dark either, there were even children with them it looked like. As Feress approached the two of them, Carden looked down at him, his eyes widening. He'd never seen a creature of that sort, and he was bewildered. Of course, he hadn't seen many people in his life. As the Kitsune addressed him, Carden stared forward with fear in his eyes. Would they help him, or would they deem him too taken by the dark to save? Would they kill him, or even worse, take him back? With a gulp, he nodded.

[JessieTargaryen]

Jason looked down at the crying one. He was obviously uncomfortable and feeling awkward. "Its. Its uh crying. What do I do?" He asked as he looked around then at the girl. He crouched down to her level. "What's ah... What's wrong? Why are you crying?" He askes her softly, still obviously confused as to what exactly he was supposed to be doing. "So your dad was a demon too. But I don't sense any darkness save for the average amount for a demon. You're lucky. Must've had an easy childhood." The boy said to her.

[XxLyraxX]

Azure sniffled as Jason crouched down to her level and asked her what was wrong. Oh, how to explain? She was crying out of happiness because she finally found another half-demon? She wiped at her tears. "I'm crying b-because I-I'm happy that I'm not t-the only h-half-demon anymore." She whispered in her normal, almost inaudible voice. She flinched back visibly when he mentioned she mus have had an easy childhood. The screams and shouts of the villagers than set fire to her home rang in her ears and her mothers pale, still face flashed before her eyes. Her tears spilled down her cheeks faster and her shoulders shook from sobs she held at bay.

[Cartwright]

Feress watched the girl run to Jason and cling to him in her relief state of not being alone, the kitsune watching the two with a smirk before walking over to the girl and placing a pawish hand on her shoulder. "I think she explained it quite well, Jason. You are in a sense her kind, something she hasn't seen in a long, long time.." He said, looking up over at the boy who had crouched down while his ears did a few flicks back and forth. "I regret saying it but.. It isn't safe. May we address this another time please?"

((A bit rushed so bear with me XD))
Ansen shook his head as he looked over at the door, his right hand reaching down to wrap around the handle of his sword as he went to the door. As soon as the bandage wrapped hand touched the door a yelp pierced through the silence as an electric current coursed through Ansen's body, one that was strong enough for the Cianid to stumble back and fall onto a knee after he managed to let go. A split second after Ansen had fallen to his knee the door flung open and a whip came lashing out at the two, aiming to grab Ansen by the leg and pull him in. The Cianid was fortunately still strong enough to challenge whoever was trying to pull him in with the whip after it wrapped around his leg, a growl escaping him as he looked over at Dusk. "Get the others and be quick about it!" He said, drawing his sword and slashing down at the whip that had tried to take him away, severing it and free him from it's grasp.

[deadpixel101]

Dusk allowed the Cianad to go first, not really being ready for what came next. The sudden outburst and his ally was on the floor, after that he was struggling away from a whip. Once it was cut Dusk let out a "Roger!" and grabbed their leader by the collar, pulling him up and back with some effort. "Stay alive!" He added as began running full tilt. Honestly he wanted to stay and help his comrade, but if the leader said to get help, he would do so, and put faith in both his combat and leader abilities. Using his odd magic to his advantage he blipped into a wisp of dark purple, coming back into existence much closer to the group. Being a bit tired, as traveling so far drew on his energy. He came heaving around a corner. "Everyone! Trouble at the church! Come quickly!" He was already turned and running back when the last words left him. He didn't want to keep their leader waiting any longer.

Elaine had just watched as the other girl immediately ran to the older boy, Jason. Curiously eyeing the situation until she broke out into tears. "Is she okay?" she asked a little frantically to Caroline. She didn't want her to be hurt, or to be crying. She had just been crying, it wasn't usually a good thing. Just as she took a step forward to inspect the situation further, and out-call from the strange masked man drew her attention away. Something about the church and he was running away. Elaine looked about confused.