[IC] The Light In The Darkness

[Slypheed]

Venessa woke up to a shock. Something hit her, and once her eyes were open, she saw it was a rock, and heard someone mumbling nearby. She immediately popped out of the and looked at Lyari "I was sleeping ya know" she said as she rubbed where the rock had landed.

Once Elaine's hand landed in Caroline's hand, she smiled a little and closed her hand around Elaine's and gave her nod "You've gone through a lot, you're probably tired too aren't ya?" she asked Elaine "If ya want, you can ride on my shoulders" Caroline was trying to cheer the girl up as best she could. She had never really had much interaction with kids before, so had no idea if what she was saying was good enough, but knew it was worth a shot to try.

[XxLyraxX]

There was a slight rustling and a tiny figure slowly stumbled out from the undergrowth. The small child rubbed her eyes sleepily as she trekked forward. Her small bat wings were wrapped around her in hopes of keeping herself warm but dressed only in a tattered white dress and being barefoot made it hard to preserve warmth as it was. Azure continued forward, hoping to find a place to hide before it got dark. Suddenly she heard voices in the distance. She froze mid-step and listened carefully. Her instincts screamed at her to turn and run but her human side grew curious. She stood there having an internal war before curiosity won out and she cautiously crept forward. She soon reached the place where the voices were coming from and she quietly climbed a tree and peered out from between the leaves. Two men (Jason and Ansen) stood in a clearing. Well, one of them looked like a man, the other had fur and looked more animal-ish so she wasn't sure about him. She turned her attention to the man and frowned. There was something about him that felt off. She leaned forward to get a better look but with her hand slipped and she tumbled from the tree, landing hard on the ground with a yelp.

She laid there dazed for a moment before she scrambled to her knees and backwards, pressing against the tree she had just fallen out of as she stared with wide crimson eyes at the two males before her; not even daring to breath as she waited for them to start yelling or attack her or something.

[JessieTargaryen]

Jason looked at Ansen and took a deep breath. "You're right. I can be who I want. I just, I won't pretend lije I am normal, something is loose in my head and I know it. I try to do whats right." The boy says before he sighs again. "Look my presence among the group is putting a target on all of your heads. I haven't been completley honest with you. I told you I escaped torture, but on top of that, I am the enemy of state for the entire demon empire. I cap thier most wanted list. With Vanessa being a close second. You may have heard talk from the demon diplomats or those who are traders of the Heretic that they want killed for being the evil incarnate of their religion. That's me. Its a story my father spun to justify my arrest when the prophecy was issued. There are demon headhunters who's only rule of engagement is to ensure that I and my kin or friends do not survive. At all costs including the destruction of innocents. I am most wanted by the angels because of who my father is. If the Templars learned the Heretic was me, then they'd kill you and me because you protected me. They want me dead due to the belief that I'm the anti-christ or something. I put all of you at risk, I understand if you want me to leave the group but I want to stay. I just felt I better come clean with you." He says.

Jason looked at the small the figure. "What is that thing? It has wings and its small and its looking at me funny!" The boy demands, of course this had a simple reason; the boy wasn't used to other children. He also wasn't used to other half demons, due to his long imprisonment at the hands of his father.

[deadpixel101]

Elaine sniffed once more, some stray sobs still forcing their way out despite her best efforts. She looked up to the girl with her big eyes, many emotions and thoughts racing behind them. She thought for a moment and answered all of Caroline's questions and queries with just six words. "I can stand on my own." She squeezed her hand ever so lightly. She looked up hesitantly, the body presenting itself, (or at least what was left of it.) She felt some heaving echo out from her chest but she looked away and muffled them as quickly as possible.

[SnowAngel]

Lyari shrugged. "So I should have just left you there?" He started walking towards the rest. "Come on lets go."
The elf looked up at the sky. The sun was already going down. They should set up camp soon. Who knows what creatures lurked about at night...

[Cartwright]

Ansen only smiled as he listened to Jason, clearing his throat and putting his hat on before he spoke. "They knew you are of the demon kind. You were bound to be killed either way. It is still the same circumstances if they were to discover anything about you. If we fail in guiding you onto the right path, then our lives will forfeit. You will say, child. Now lets go ba-" The Cianid was cut off when the there was a shuffle in the leaves and then a thump that followed a yelp, leaving behind a child that had her back against a tree nearby. He looked over at the girl as Jason started blurting out a rather panicked array of questions and walked over to her, his eyes peering into her crimson red fear struck pupils for a long quiet minute before the guardian held out one of his bandage wrapped hands to the girl, palm (or paws) up. "Jason.. Perhaps you would like to go back to the group while I look into this matter?"

Feress only nodded with a smile when he observed people recovering from their first fight. He had expected this kind of thing for a long time ever since the idea of leaving the castle walls was brought up in the discussions. All he could do was take up his floating staff, and turn to face those were around Elaine, his big (Cute as fuck dawg) eyes glancing over each person. "We'll have to wait for the others before we go, then it's off to the village just ahead. I fear for we are already too late to save anyone... So be on guard for any survivors and entities of darkness when we get there. That goes for all of you.. " He said, twirling around slowly to take note of every group member as he added them to this statement. "Be careful. I do not wish to regret my decision of leaving the walls... Not because of my safety, but because of the safety of the few who are brave enough to stand up against this enemy."

[JessieTargaryen]

Jason nodded at Ansen. "Just know the further into demon lands we go, the more we will be attack by vicious enemies steadily getting stronger. I'll be a beacon." Jason says before he turns and begins the trek back to the group, upon reaching it, he walks straight over to where Elaine was. "I'm sorry for the actions that me, or my friend may have done that scared you, little one. You have no need to fear, a great group of compainions is around, I imagine they won't let anything hurt you." He says to her before looking at the others. Then to Feress, waiting for thier next move to be made known to him.

[XxLyraxX]

Azure pressed back, seeming to try and become one with the tree behind her as one of the mans pointed a finger at her and panicky shot questions at the other male. She watched with wary eyes as the furry male told the other one to go and rejoin the group as he 'looked into the matter'. Azure tensed as he approached, prepared to be driven off or worse. It was always the same. She would approach someone, they would panic and hit her, throw things her and curse her. She expected the same treatment and prepared to flee. However, she was thrown for a loop when the male simply held out a hand to her, posture nonthreatening. She eyed him warily. Was it a trap? A plot for her to let her guard down and then he would strike?

A few moments passed by before the child slowly and carefully placed her small hand in the males, body taunt like a bowstring. She stared up at him through her dirty white hair with guarded eyes, not sure what was going to happen but expecting the worst.

[deadpixel101]

Elaine looked as Jason approached, instinctively going a bit closer to Caroline. He arrived close and she tensed the tiniest bit, forcing herself to not cower or show signs of fear whatsoever. After hearing his thoughts, she nodded, making the smallest smile to him. "Don't worry about me." she said with a voice somewhat dry from crying. "I can take on anything that comes to hurt you." She added in to prove she was okay. Her heart was still frightened, and she doubted she could go back to her starting confidence, but she knew that was alright, it would help her be ready for the future.

Dusk watched as the group interacted, not exactly enjoying some treatment given to certain people. The demon girl had a rock thrown at her head which seemed unjustified, depending on your outlook, and the girl was coddled. Dusk didn't find it wrong to treat a child softly, in fact he thought it was right to keep them safe and innocent. But this adventure was not for a child, and if she chose to come along perhaps it was best she wasn't treated as one. Dusk realized they were still a member short on their party, and looked back to the direction Jason and Ansen had gone to, wondering where the latter was currently.

[Daemyn Sterk]

Carden stood alone, a length of rope extending from his hands. He stood beside a small tree tucked into a small alley at the edge of the town. His gloved hands fumbled with the rough rope, unable to get the knot correct. Come on, you know this! As he looked down at the rope in his hands, he began to shake violently, realizing something. He was about to die. Tears ran down his face and his resolve began to disintegrate. No, he couldn't lose his courage now! As he finished the hangman's noose, he began to think back on all that he'd gone through. It wasn't until now that the horror of it all seemed to hit him, he'd endured countless instances of torture, starvation, and unthinkable terrors, and now he was about to die?

The thought hit him like a boulder, and he lost his breath, falling to his knees. No, how dare he try to give up now? Every second that he wasted meant another person's life in danger! He was a freak, a monster, and he needed to die! It was selfish even to think otherwise! He began to sob now, his clothing getting soaked through by his own tears and he fought to keep in the oncoming darkness. He couldn't lose control now! As he stood up and began to climb the tree to fasten on the rope, he stopped. He had heard something. Not just the rustle of a wild animal, he had heard a voice. His blood ran cold. Could it be them? Could the cultists be back to haul him back into his life of endless terror? He was free now, would that end so swiftly?

That's when he realized something. He couldn't die now, he couldn't force himself to do that! Freedom was just in his grasp, there was no way he could give that up. He fell to his knees, weakened by the thought. If the cultists were here, that could only mean one thing. They knew where he was. A soft moan of terror escaped his lips and he covered his mouth. Anyone out there would of heard that for sure. What was he supposed to do? They could be on him any second, he had to act fast. He thought back to how he had escaped the cultists in the first place. The darkness. Would he have to embrace the darkness to use his powers and escape this mess? He sure couldn't fix anything by cowering here and whining, that's for sure.

[Cartwright]

Ansen's hand slowly and carefully wrapped around the girl's hand when she placed her palm ontop of his, the beast man kneeling down a bit to try and match her height as he spoke in a soft voice. "If you have not tried to kill me then you are no enemy to me." The Cianid told the girl, his ears doing a flick before he continued. "Relax, find peace behind all that fear, child..." It was then his eyes were looking over the girl, taking in every detail to mind. "... You are a half-demon, are you not? What is your name?"

Feress took another step back to get a better look of the group when Jason walked in, his eyes scanning over them once more before he nodded and sighed quietly. It was as if nobody had listened to him and if they did there really wasn't any response to his proposition. Thankfully, Jason's appearance was a good excuse for him to repeat what he had just said. "Like I said.. We're going to look deeper into this village. If there are any survivors bring them to me for I can inspect them. I hope I do not have to emphasize my earlier statement of taking great care of yourselves and those around you..."

[XxLyraxX]

Azure flinched slightly when he knelt down to her level but she remained fixed in place. Of course she wasn't his enemy, she hasn't hurt him and as long as he didn't try to harm her she saw no reason to try to do anything to him. Her red eyes trailed up to his ears and she grasped the front of her dirty dress, resisting the urge to reach up and touch his ears; she didn't think he would appreciate that very much. Her eyes widened when he hit the nail on the head about what she was. She flinched back violently, back pressing against the tree as she gazed at him with terrified eyes. Now that he knew what she was, would he try to kill her? Rid the world of the abomination that she was?

[Cartwright]

XxLyraxX said
Azure flinched slightly when he knelt down to her level but she remained fixed in place. Of course she wasn't his enemy, she hasn't hurt him and as long as he didn't try to harm her she saw no reason to try to do anything to him. Her red eyes trailed up to his ears and she grasped the front of her dirty dress, resisting the urge to reach up and touch his ears; she didn't think he would appreciate that very much. Her eyes widened when he hit the nail on the head about what she was. She flinched back violently, back pressing against the tree as she gazed at him with terrified eyes. Now that he knew what she was, would he try to kill her? Rid the world of the abomination that she was?

XxLyraxX said
Azure flinched slightly when he knelt down to her level but she remained fixed in place. Of course she wasn't his enemy, she hasn't hurt him and as long as he didn't try to harm her she saw no reason to try to do anything to him. Her red eyes trailed up to his ears and she grasped the front of her dirty dress, resisting the urge to reach up and touch his ears; she didn't think he would appreciate that very much. Her eyes widened when he hit the nail on the head about what she was. She flinched back violently, back pressing against the tree as she gazed at him with terrified eyes. Now that he knew what she was, would he try to kill her? Rid the world of the abomination that she was?

Ansen simply chuckled quietly when the girl flinched away, his smile still evident even though he began standing back up. "Do not worry yourself.. I only strike those who strike those I have promised to protect. Now, it seems to me I already have one demon to watch over.. What about you? Do you have family with you? Friends?" The Cianid said, his hand breaking it's hold on her as he peered around their quiet surroundings before continuing. "We can't be a foster family.. Taking random kids along for a journey that could get us all killed.. I hope you understand that, child." With that the guardian took a few steps back and held out his hand again, giving the girl a choice to either walk away or come with him. "IF unspeakable night terrors do not scare you away then take my hand. I can not promise your safety, but I can promise you a life that is not full of anger and fear."

[deadpixel101]

Elaine nodded to Feress, she didn't expect to be going far from the group, so finding a person was probably not going to happen for her, but she would take note nonetheless. She looked up to Caroline, wondering if she would be doing much searching, maybe going along with her for now would be best, If she was near to Feress of course, unless he gave consent she wouldn't be leaving his side just yet. It was her job to stay near him, and she should at least do one thing right she thought.

Dusk listened to the small furry creature, he didn't think much about survivors, it didn't look like there could have been any... "Aye sir" was all he commented to show he had listened, he began scanning the immediate area, looking for any moving bodies that weren't of their group. If there was chance that anyone could be saved, he wanted to make sure they were. "I will be scouting ahead once we take off, I feel as though splitting up, yet staying within safe distance, is a good way to find people." He didn't want to make it sound like he was separating from them. It was his job to make sure they all survived, to watch their backs as they would his, and he wasn't going to give up that aspect for the rescuing one. His mask had shifted once more to one of thought, if anyone had made it through what happened here was there even a small chance of them not being infected? Sadly, Dusk thought that was unlikely.

A wispy figure floated through the air, the swirling purple haze didn't seem to affect them, so little so in fact that is literally passed through them. The girl was dark, a black tint seeming to cover her whole. She had raven black hair and grayish looking...skin, if there was any actually there that is. The girl was somewhat transparent, noticeable if you looked for her, but hard to see otherwise, the world behind her shining through like she didn't exist. Her eyes were the only noticeable feature, red orbs of slightly glowing sentience. They carried sadness and knowledge, they told of something long ago that shadowed her existence to this day. This was Alexandria, her arms were bandaged, her hair was unkempt, and she was dead. She floated along not terribly high above the ground, he feet being able to 'touch' it if she really stretched. She was wandering, looking for something to do, people to help or hinder. She had been haunting thieves for a long while now, driven a few insane here and there, but she didn't know what to do anymore, the world was falling apart around her and she didn't know if she could stop it, even if she was dead this was her home. A sound broke her from her thought, something that sounded like a sob in the distance. A cry in the fog somewhere to her right, she looked to it blankly, and after long seconds of thought, began approaching it. Eventually finding it's source, a young man on his knees, with a noose hanging near him. "...That would be waste." she was floating high now, above him so that she would remain undetected until she wanted, which was apparently now. "Life is valuable." she added as she lowered to be 'standing' on the floor, her bare feet not making sound as they phased through the earth the tinniest amount. "Even yours." She had no idea who this person was, he could have been a child raper, she didn't care, she knew better than most what a life was worth.

[XxLyraxX]

Azure shook her head slightly when he asked about her family. She had no one but herself. She tilted her slightly. He had a demon to watch over? What did that mean? She watched as he took a few steps back and offered her his hand again. She stared at him with wide eyes, his offer sinking in. No anger? No fear? Did such a life exist? She took a few timid steps toward him before placing her hand in his once again. "I-I'm Azure." She whispered, voice slightly hoarse from disuse.

[Cartwright]

"Ansen." The wolfman replied with a warm smile, looking down at the girl before he began walking away with their hands interlocked. "Come, lets get to the group." As she trailed behind or beside the Cianid, she would notice there was some movement under the man's cloak, possibly being caused by his tail. There wasn't much of a conversation to come from the Guardian before they reached the group in the village, that's where Ansen began to speak again. "Feress? Do you have a moment?"

Feress nodded to those who addressed him, the fox giving Elaine a glance until he heard his name, the voice belonging to Ansen. He immediately went over to the approaching Cianid and looked down at the child who came with him, his ears flicking back and forth. "You found someone out there?" He asked, a smile growing on his face as he knelt down infront of the girl, the kneeling almost making him shorter than the child before him. The Cianid only nodded in return, his hand letting go of Azure so to give her more freedom.

"She was out in the woods. Have you started searching the village?"

[Daemyn Sterk]

deadpixel101 said
A sound broke her from her thought, something that sounded like a sob in the distance. A cry in the fog somewhere to her right, she looked to it blankly, and after long seconds of thought, began approaching it. Eventually finding it's source, a young man on his knees, with a noose hanging near him. "...That would be waste." she was floating high now, above him so that she would remain undetected until she wanted, which was apparently now. "Life is valuable." she added as she lowered to be 'standing' on the floor, her bare feet not making sound as they phased through the earth the tinniest amount. "Even yours." She had no idea who this person was, he could have been a child raper, she didn't care, she knew better than most what a life was worth.

Seeing the wispy figure above him only ended up scaring him even more, missing the kind words entirely. He fell back, squeaking in horror. His hood fell back, revealing the darkness spiraling across half of his face, and the tears flowing down his face. He pretty much entirely broke down right then, he was so overwhelmed and he couldn't bring himself to handle it anymore. If he succumbed to the dark right now, he knew that he could escape but in the condition that he was in now, it was highly unlikely that he'd be able to put it back under control for a long time. He could end up hurting an innocent person, and he couldn't do that. Still sobbing, you reached down to his belt with shaking hands and pulled a long, black knife out of a sheath. He held it up halfheartedly, obviously having no idea how to use it, and his shaking hands threatened to drop it every second. There wasn't much else he could do, he didn't know what it was that standing over him, but it was obviously some kind of dark creature sent by the cultists.

[deadpixel101]

Alexandria watched as the boy drew a blade, and un-confidently pointed it at her. She sighed inwardly and looked him over once or twice. He was a sad sight, he had been or actually, still was crying quite a bit. He looked tired and hurt, physically mentally and emotionally. He made Alexandria sick. Knowing people could be so cruel, and fate so unfair that a person could end in such a state, seemed unjust. She looked to his blade, then to him, her eyes trying to connect with his, trying to tell him something, 'don't be afraid'. She took a slow "step" forward, coming closer to him. She inched closer and closer very slowly, and very submissively. Her face didn't change the whole time, her small monotone frown remained, her eyes locked onto his, not saying much other than, 'don't be afraid.' She arrived within very close proximity of the knifes tip. She had a few questions for him, who are you? What happened? Why are you here? Yet she chose the one she felt mattered most. "Are you alright?" she asked softly, her voice was hushed and empty, it came with years of doing little speaking, and from a person who had said little even before then. She stood there, waiting silently for his response, not giving any judgment to his tears, or to his hostility.

[Daemyn Sterk]

Carden looked forward at the oncoming figure, obviously horrified, thinking it was going to take him back to where he came from. As she came directly up to the tip of the blade, he finally heard what she was trying to say to him. He obviously never would of used the knife in the first place, but now his hand began to shake so much that he dropped it completely, falling onto the dirt beneath him. He looked up into the supposed eyes of the ghost before him. Had it just asked him if he was...alright? No one had ever asked him that before...would it leave if he said yes? But no, the truth was that he wasn't alright and he never had been, but he hardly could explain that to the figure in the condition that he was in right now. "I.. I..." Carden started to sputter out, trying to talk, but he couldn't get the words out. The attempt at talking only brought out a fresh wave of tears. Dropping his gaze to the ground, he slowly shook his head, hugging his knees to his chest and hiding his face. He just wanted it all to end, he just wanted to live without fear.

[JessieTargaryen]

Jason simply nodded and walked into a nearby shadow, shadow travelling into a town where he spotted the boy uneasily shaking a knife at some other being. Jason approached slowly, unsure of the situation. His dark energy armor appeared around him, save for the helmet. The armor was always a dead giveaway of a demon, because any others would be killed by the dark energy the armor is made out of if they tried to wear it. Jason knew that he would be identified as a demon, but figured the need for protection was important as well.