"Be careful..." Kayne advised Spring before he disappeared out of sight. He lay motionless before he cautiously took off his cloak and folded it into a neat pillow. Then did he slowly replaced himself with it under Sheila's head. The girl shifted a little in her sleep but nothing else happened. The young man then stood tall and walked off to get a better view of the surroundings. His features turned far more serious but still his gentleness remained intact.

Not long did Kayne and Sheila came back, each holding a good amount of wood. Sheila dropped hers nonchalantly, making a big ruckus of it. Kayne shook his head reprovingly. The brat simply leeched too much of his energy.

The young man dropped, much more silently, the wood pieces where Sheila did, muttered an incantation in his native language creating a fire, and started cooking the fish. It didn't took long before they were ready.

"Here." Kayne motioned to Roland and Spring for them to take their share, "I also have been saving this." He took a bag half full of dried fruits. Sheila, on the other hand, eyed her fish reluctantly before taking little bites off it. She didn't complain as her hunger didn't permit so.

When they finished, the brat braced her cloak around her tighter and leaned to Kayne's side, silently watching the fire burn low. It didn't go unnoticed to him, the silence that reigned over Sheila. 'She must be really tired.' He thought. Before long did the girl fell asleep and Kayne gently placed her on his lap for better comfort.

"You should rest too. Permit me to take the watch for tonight, my lady." He told Saiyame. She needed it too.

"What capa-"

"Thank you, my lady." Kayne cut Sheila's defiant retort off as he directed his thanks to Saiyame. "Brat, could you help me gather some wood to start the fire and cook the fishes?" He told Sheila more in an imperative statement than a question. The imprudent girl did as told but not before observing the area in utter dislike including their former companions.

"Please, watch out the place for us." Kayne told Roland before disappearing out of sight.

"We would have the same advantage as the enemy. Much better than being unable to defend ourselves from the enemy when he already knows our actions by advance." Sheila told Roland, wondering how he had survived to far. "Get yourself dragged to an early death, not us."

"If anything at all, I doubt someone would be able to drag you into an early death." Kayne said in a vain attempt to smoother Sheila's last statement. She merely ignored him, bearing an indifferent expression.

(( Let's also pretend that by Kayne's miraculous capabilities he managed to get Sheila agree to stay within the group as to avoid mass spammage by me. ^^;;; It would pain me to let them part... xD ))

"We would only be stalling and I'd rather not spend any more time than needed with them." said Sheila, quickly dismissing the idea as utterly pointless. Even if her face was half shrouded by her hood, the tone of her voice made her annoyance clear.

Kayne suppressed his need to sigh. Instead, he softly squeezed the hand of the arm of Sheila's that was locked with his. The impudent girl immediately faced Kayne with an expression clearly demonstrating there was nothing wrong with what she said, even if most would think otherwise. Already used to her improper spurts, Kayne merely motioned her to remain silent.

"I agree we should rest," Kayne started, stroking some strands of hair behind his ears as the growing stronger wind kept messing with his already unkept hair. "... though it would be unwise to keep traveling during broad daylight. The closer we get to the castle, the more cautious we should be. Nighttime can provide us a good cover."

( Let's move on with the storyline. I wouldn't like this to die... D: )

((Totally forgot about the sneezing... ^^;;;))

A trail of a few insect corpses lay struck by spikes that had seemingly sprouted out from the earth in a wild and bizarre way. Further forward to them was a calm slim walking figure holding a lance trickling with blood in one hand. Suddenly the figure sneezed, completely shattering the cool and fearful air around her as her face expressed utmost surprise and her hair became disheveled by the rough motion. For a moment, she stood motionless, perplexed by it. The ones of her kind had never suffered of diseases before. Then why...?

((In case anyone was wondering, that's our quite disliked bittersweet Sheila there. Totally doesn't know why she sneezed or what it is even called. Also... I was wondering if the mass of insects has totally died already or not...))

Kayne couldn't help but raise a stoic eyebrow at Saiyame's perplexing words.

"They do not follow any moral or dignified code." He told Spring. "... sounds like a brat to me, this 'lord'. I have my own handful of bratty attitude to deal with already." he thought out loud and soon realized it as his wind slashed another insect. Goodness, he was tired.

"Good mercy the 'brat' isn't around to have heard that." Kayne said trying to sound relieved but really wasn't.

(Eeeep! sry for neglecting this rpg... been so busy I've only been able to only view while visiting Minitokyo... *uses phoenix down on rpg* nuuu dying ;_;

Now that I've read all I've missed... I'd defend Sheila but I think I'll run short of evidence to defend her good will... ^^;;;)

Kayne studiously watched everyone and their abilities quite impressed even if he did no action to prove it. Finally, he uttered alien words of an ancient language long forgotten under his breath and the wind around him became erratic. Suddenly, several insects would be neatly cut in half and end up dead before crashing to the ground. Kayne could make the wind's will his. If one would be observant enough, he or she would notice the sudden rush of air compressed to a certain degree it would act like a razor blade, successfully cutting the insect in half.

"Perhaps this lord is testing our strength." Kayne told Saiyame, "I'm not fond of silly games." he finished as his wind rushes cut through another couples of insects. He clearly disliked fighting.

Kayne observed silently the approaching mass of insects. The ever growing buzzing wasn't what bothered him, even for his strong hearing. Sheila walked off in a different direction than the creatures'. Still, she'll most likely meet some. He could not leave after her, least in the upcoming situation as he wouldn't break his word. Even though whatever the situation, Sheila would grow even more madden for his decisions. He silently sighed in resignation as he stood tall in his place. No movement whatsoever even to draw his sword at the approaching insects.

"So be it."

As if realizing for the first time Saiyame's existance, Sheila turned to face her in an annoyed manner as one would to a pesky fly. Unfortunately for Sheila, Kayne, strongly yet gently, turned her head to face him in order to prevent any foul words to come out from such lips. Kayne engaged her in a strong gaze as she responded with a defiant one. There was a brief moment of silent conflict between them as no words were muttered.

"Hands off." She coldly commanded. Kayne did likewise as he released her face but not her hand. Sheila snapped away in anger and walked off. Kayne silently sighed before turning to Saiyame.

"Even if... only faintly, I can feel this gathering darkness. It's unknown nature has been gnawing the back of my mind all along. Disrupting what's little left of the world's balance..." The end of the sentence strayed into his thoughts.

"If you are well aware of the implications of bringing us along..." Kayne paused, to strongly imply in the leaving figure, "we would do our best to aid you in all possible ways." He finished feeling more troubled than he would show.

OOC: OMG... just accidentally deleted my own post instead of editing... *smacks face* -____-;;;

merged: 06-05-2007 ~ 04:01am
OOC: *tries to remember what she typed* ..................

Kayne couldn't help but wince in pain at Ikume's cry, his elvish ears proving to be not always an advantage, taken aback by the sudden spreading darkness. Before he could react, the darkness dissipated. He stared astonished at Ikume's healed wounds.

"Ahh... do not be, lady Ikume. As long as your well-being's out of danger." He said in response to her apology. He sighed in relief. "I... expected the worse...... but how... I mean, if I'm allowed to know, how did you-?" his sentence was caught of by the voice of an approaching figure.

"Still alive." Sheila said with a taint of disappointment. She merely glanced at Ikume before resting her eyes upon Kayne. "Kayne, your canteen."

"Yours?" Kayne asked as he glanced at the distance she placed between themselves.

"Dry." Sheila replied.

Kayne silently stood up but before he could walk a step forward he was interrupted by Sheila higher tone than usual. "No! ... toss it."

"Like I hadn't picked it up already." Kayne calmly said, his tone losing its characteristic gentleness. He walked towards Sheila and took hold of her hands. Her fingernails were stained with dry blood. She had unsuccessfully tried to cleaned it off herself. Sheila instantly snapped her hands away from his touch, her apprehension more visible at the sight of Kayne's expression... or rather lack of.

"Such... foul stench...... I....... I..." Sheila softly stuttered for once in the presence of these strangers even if it was a whisper loud enough only for Kayne to hear.

"I know." Kayne said as he took hold of her hands again, deciding to wash them himself. Sheila remained silently still, as it was growing more visible the anguish in her face. She couldn't look him into his eyes.

OOC: Sry for being absent but finals have been leeching my time and life these days... Sry (again) for that huge and unnecessary spam there ^^;;; and... yeah, Kayne and Sheila are weird... and confusing.

After cleansing the wounds, Kayne bandaged them with uttermost care trying to shorten her pain any longer. He neatly folded his cloak for Ikume to rest her head on it. "You can lay her down now, lady Jasmine... thank you..." He faced Ikume now. "Forgive me for having put you through all that. Now all that's left for you is to rest." Kayne said as he placed Ikume's cloak over her. He couldn't help but wonder why blood-child wasn't properly healing. Even if she didn't seem to be a pure blood-child, the healing process would take longer... but it still worried him.

~

Sheila was a bit more impressed than she'd like to admit with Saiyame's power but soon dismissed it for more important matters such as the disgusting creature in front of her. Without further delay, Sheila charged to the demon dodging a few blows before successfully digging her lance in the demon's chest but had to jump back to dodge a blow not letting her twist it to instantly kill it. When she reached the ground, she placed a hand in it and a metal dagger materialized. For the finishing blow she lounged the blade into the demon's forehead, instantly killing it. With the adrenaline rush long gone by, she pulled the lance from the dead corpse and faced the other demon.

"Tk, worthless. I'm bored already!" Sheila shouted as she threw the lance in its direction, digging into it's throat. Taking the advantage of its shock, as it was falling down because of the lance's momentum, she lunged forward and stepped into the tip of the lance, deepening the wound on the demon's throat and consequently, killing it. When all movement had ceased, Sheila stood there contemplating the dead corpses for some time before turning her attention to her blood-splattered face and cloak. She had to take it off.

(( and what I wrote I tried to make it the least graphic.. 9__9;;; Will watch out for that.)

"Forgive me, just a little longer lady Ikume..." Kayne tried to soothe the child while taking her hands away from her bleeding chest. "Lady Jasmine, please lend me your aid here." He said, feeling a bit flustered at the place of the wound whereas it was only a child but a blood-child at that... ok, he was more than a bit flustered. (( xD ))

"Could you rise her back just enough for me to wrap some bandages around after I apply the potion?"

~

Sheila kept her course of action until the foul stench of rotting flesh smelled stronger. A couple of demons had figured her location after a few lost shots and her having a little fun of finding different ways to shoot them down. So much for her stealth advantage.

"Seriously, did you thought I wouldn't be able to shoot short-range when I've done long-range? ...Wrong." She told the one that had tried to come up from behind, aimed to his head and a small blood splatter stained her face and cloak. "... ugh, you worthless piece of crap! Now I'm gonna smell foul for Kayne!" She shouted as she kicked the dead corpse.

Suddenly she jumped aside, barely enough time to dodge a blow from the other demon she had forgotten in her anger fit. This hadn't given time for her to reload so she strapped the rifle to her back. Sheila stretched out her right arm instead and an metal lance sprouted from the earth just beneath where her open right hand was placed. Taking hold of it, she said:

"Entertain me."

With little haste, Sheila was half a mile to reach Saiyame when she made an abrupt stop and positioned herself with her newfound toy, a sniper rifle.
"Time to try you out Mel'." She glanced over the sniper's scope figuring the situation and best course of action. Finally choosing a tryout target demon, Sheila aimed for his head and pulled the trigger... but the bullet hit its jaw bringing forth a disgusting mixture of blood and saliva as the creature revolted in pain.
"Who thought you could get even more grotesque." She said out loud. ... just as I thought. There's more than the eye can meet with you, Mel'. Sheila took out a bullet and took a raw measure of it's weight, slightly changed her inclination angle, measured the distance, range, wind speed and direction between others. She frowned in slight annoyance. The wind is so erratic. Kayne would had taken care of it...
Sheila aimed again and pulled the trigger. Unfortunately, instead of hitting the head it went to the demon's hand that was grasping its jaw in pain. She silently cursed and calculated the variables again all taking a matter of seconds. She tried out the next shot which successfully hit the demon's head sprouting blood here and there before collapsing to the ground. Now aiming on the next target, Sheila used tryout shots to guess if the weak points where the same or related as humans like the brain, spinal cord and such. She grew serious and began shooting with deadly accuracy. A smirk formed in her lips, she was getting the hang of it.

(( Sry for the long posts ^___^;;; and Sheila called the sniper Mel, short for Melpomene, the name inscribed in the gun so she may actually think that's how the sniper's called. ))

"I'm called Kayne, a pleasure to meet you." He bowed to Jas before turning his attention back to Ikume. Taking out a handkerchief, embroidered with strange words, probably elvish, Kayne soaked it into the potion and applied it to one of her burnt shoulders. After he saw an improvement, he would repeat the same process onto the next wounds.
"Brat..." Kayne glanced at Sheila, no need of further words exchanged between them.
Sheila walked to the nearest building's support column, crouched, and placed her hands on the poor earth. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply. If one had paid enough attention they would had noticed the small trembling of the earth around. In little time, thick metal bars sprouted from the earth and began attaching themselves to the collapsing building's support columns acting as layers, one after the another.
"Just to ensure the building won't fall over us." Kayne told Ikume.
The building slowly straightened just enough to assure no collapse but making small debris fall everywhere. Luckily, it would prove nonthreatening to anyone inside the building. Sheila finally stood tall and dusted her hands.
"Thank you, brat." Kayne smiled to Sheila.
"Stay here, until I get back." She told Kayne in her usual emotionless tone.
Kayne was slightly taken aback with Sheila already figuring out what he had in mind. "Yes, ma'm." He responded tauntingly as Sheila walked off to Saiyame's direction.

"Thank you, my lady. Forgive me for not knowing your name." Kayne told Jasmine while taking the potion from her hands. He gave a small bow to Saiyame before turning to Ikume.
"Whatever your nature may be, none should suffer needless pain. Please, apply these to your wounds, or I could, whichever way suits your likings... Do not be sorry for such petty matters, lady Ikume. I am Kayne, a pleasure to meet you."

Meanwhile, Sheila smiled tauntingly at Saiyume's reaction.

Sheila quickly dismissed Saiyame's lame excuse for her lack of control over her telepathy. She simply loathed for people to meddle in her mind, as insignificant as it may had been. She leaned her head in Kayne's shoulder as Saiyame ran off.
"Worthless." She told Kayne. "Now foxie's off to the foolish blood-child's rescue."
Kayne began walking in Saiyame's direction. "You know it's no good to part ways in our helpless direction wise situation."
"Neither would it be any bad." Sheila replied.
"Don't hold yourself so high, brat."
"Whatever."

As soon as they reached Ikume and everyone else, Kayne quickly observed the situation and crouched near Ikume. "...Your clothing may not be enough to shun the sunlight," he took off his cloak. "It may be too big for your comfort but it will prove to be a better protection. Please, let me." Kayne said as he placed the cloak around Ikume. He examined her injuries. "The bleeding should be stopped... I'm no good in healing, does anyone knows the healing arts?" He glanced around everyone.
Sheila kept silent, her annoyance barely visible over Kayne's attention on Ikume.

Sheila was about to answer back to Ikume when Kayne fixed his dark eyes upon her. Instead, she observed Sayaime with a glint of curiosity. "We haven't introduced ourselves yet. It is rude to trespass into someone's mind without their consent." Truth to be told but she bowed nonetheless. Kayne did likewise.
"Where... exactly are we?" He said.

"And another odd one comes forth..." Sheila didn't even bother muttering it.
"Couldn't had used your elvish nose?"
"Do I look like a search dog to you? ;;;"
"Hmm~"

(( OCC: No offense to anyone. Sheila simply is the apathic type. ))

Sheila spotted to group and began waving in an unexcited way. Much like how nobility would salute peasants.
"Hello queer group of mismatched odd-looking fellows. Such a pleasant apocalyptic evening, isn't it? Would any- " she was soon caught off by Kayne's firm but gentle hand.
"Forgive her manners, or rather lack of."
"Not like I would care."
"Silence, lady."
"Oh! Isn't she (Ikume) the blood-child? Such an unpretty mess you left of the poor disfigured body missy. It would be wise to reconsider your manners."
"Hear yourself, brat." Kayne told Sheila. Her smile grew wider and he knew the reason behind it but kept it to himself. Sheila soon wore a bored look as her eyes wandered from the group to the blood-shot dusty sky.
"Forgive her again and our interruption but we are in need of direction-wise help. As you can see, we are not from this lands. If anyone could show us the way to the nearest populated city... it would be truly appreciated."
Sheila couldn't help but stifle a yawn.

Sheila tapped her weapon impatiently as she followed the blood thirsty child with her sniper's scope.
"Don't."
She raised her eyes to meet Kayne's, causing a subtle smile to form in her lips. "Hindering my entertainment, again." Sheila said as she strapped her sniper to her back. "Well, which way now?" She asked while locking arms with Kayne.
Kayne ignored her as he observed the surroundings. "Only such a foul stench can compliment this forsaken sight..."
"Basically, we will head where the air's nice and crisp for your picky nose."
Kayne sighed deeply in response. "Let's get moving."
Sheila did not object but instead carefully watched the undead child. She wasn't the only one she sensed around.

Is it okay for me to join?

Here's my shot...

Name: Sheila
Gender: Female
Age: appears in her twenties
Appearance: Platinum blonde with dark auburn highlights hair. Slightly tanned skin. Very pale blue eyes that tend to look white. Most of the time she wears a black cloak over her clothes. Multiple tattoos on her upper arms, neck and cheekbone.
Weapon of choice: Sniper rifle
Abilities: Able to shape metal with mere will between other special abilities.
Race: ? often mistaken as a daemon.
Personality: (I'll let it develop throughout the rpg...)

Name: Kayne
Gender: Male
Age: appears in his mid-twenties
Appearance: Slightly disheveled dark (almost black) blue hair that barely reaches his shoulders. Black eyes. Wears a dark red cloak with a black emblem.
Abilities: strong sword fighter, able to control all 4 elements but keener with wind.
Race: half elf, half human
Personality: (I'll let it develop throughout the rpg...)

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