The Dead Forest (Increased Orc activity due to skirmish)

[Fuin Mir]

Fuin blinked as she was grabbed and let out a little squeal. Partly in shock of being hauled back onto Eien's lap and partly in shock of the sharp stinging burn the fire had left on the side of her hand. She pouted unhappily that her little expedition had been called off and pouted even more when Eien shook her finger at her.

Fuin examined her burnt hand tentively, watching the shadows bubble around the wound before sealing and healing it, leaving no mark where the red scortch had been.

She blinked and caught hold of the finger Eien had shaken at her, pulling the hand into her view and examining it carefully with a sniff, looking for a burn like she had recieved, kicking her legs to and fro gently.  

[Tenma Keigou]

Tenma stood in the clearing eyes closed. He was bored and a bit tired of doing nothing. He was weak still much weaker than he should be.

Slowly he drew his moonblade, the metal gleaming slightly as it began to move.

The blade whirred through the ari, slowly it began to blur into a silver wave of motion in the air. Every now and then it would shine as it came within a beam of sunlight. His eyes still closed he began to step. Moving with the blade his lithe body began to flow. His movements quick and fluid he looked almost serpentine. His entire body flowing with the blade.  

[Ho Shin]

He pulled himself away from her and stood up. He looked semi-worried.

"I-I'm sorry..." He stammered.

He knew she was alright. He knew he shoulden't worry. The whole combination of events that had happened though was a lot to think about and he needed some time alone. He backed away slowly from her body and turned torwards the encampment.

"Find me later..." He said to her.

With that, he turned sharply and leapt forward. His image flickered softly and then dissappeared without a trace, heading back torwards the camp.  

[Moonduster]

Reaper slowly pushed herself up in a sitting position watching as Shin stepped away from her. Before she could do or say anything she found him disappearing once more. Sitting there and sighed her head hanging down for several moments. Reaching over and unlocking the gauntlets letting them drop to the ground before hooking them back onto her belt.

Man..she was tired. Reaper climbed onto her feet even slowly nearly losing her balance but managed to stay standing upon her feet. Then started walking away from the encampment instead of towards it. Having to lean on any tree she came upon to make sure she wouldn't stumble and fall. How far she walked? Reaper didn't have a clue. How long had she walked? Again it was a mystery to her.

Only till she came to one of the biggest trees she had seen in this entire forest did she finally come to a stop. Back pressed against the trunk of the tree sliding down till she came to a sitting position. Laying completely against the tree. man....she was tired..it took nearly all her energy to just bloody walk. Her breathing slowed and deepened till she feel unconscious in a nightmare slumber.  

[Tenma Keigou]

He slowed his moves as a thin sheen of sweet covered his body. He sheathed the blade with a sharp click and looked around as he sat with his back against a tree. He sat there silent except for his slightly elevated breathing.  

[Moonduster]

Reaper found herself standing within a church. White plastered walls in every direction nearly blinding her. The most beautiful and colorful windows she had ever seen letting all the light from the sun enter the churche giving it a warm feeling. Recognizing this place immediately this was where the ancient bell rang. THe oldest place in all of her village a sacred place.

Ears perking up hearing child's laughter from behind her. Spinning around expecting an attack. Hands diving down to her sword only to find it gone along with the rest of her weapons. That laughter came again drawing her single eye towards it. Her facial features soften greatly finally recognizing that laughter. Seeing three figures in the far distance.

A younger verison of herself standing in the middle as her brother cling to her right arm and her sister to her left arm. All three standing before the wisest and oldest of the Shadow Dwellers in her village. It was her little brother and little sister that were laughing with such happiness.

"..brother? Sister?" Reaper asked taking a step towards them.

That single step made the beautiful glass windows shatter into millions of pieces. Creating a blizzard of miniture and deadly daggers fall upon any that were within its walls. White walls being smeared with fresh warm blood. Reaper turned finding her siblings gone.

"No!!!" Reaper exlaimed as she darted out of the church.

Only to be drawn back to that night three years ago. Feeling the lush grass and rough ground come crashing against her body while she was thrown to the ground hard. Knocking the wind out of her. The man's boot slamming between her shoulder blades to keep her pinned down. His rough hand reaching down grabbing a fistful of her thick hair lifting her head up.

Catching sight of her little brother and sister huddled together in the dead center of the knights. One came up from behind her brother grabbing hold of his red hair yanking him back hard while the man pulled out a dagger. While her little sister screamed trying to reach him and her she got kicked to the ground rolling over her eyes widening.

"NO! Please wait!!" Reaper begged struggling beneath the man's grip.

Both of her younger siblings suddenly started to scream as the weapons neared.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!" Reaper screamed on the top of her lungs tears falling from her eyes.

Reaper shot up from her sleeping place breathing heavily and hard. Eyes darting around expecting to see one of the knights but only finding trees. She leaned back against the tree trying to calm down her nerves.  

[Moonduster]

It was time to get back to the camp. Before the sun would set Reaper sighed and pushed herself onto her feet. Turning and heading directly back from where she came from. Man..she wished she would stop having so many bloody nightmares.

Guess nothing came to her so easily anymore. Her hands rubbed her upper arms to keep herself warm as she walked. Nearing the camp hearing movements within it as she got closer and closer. Reaper was going to take a break from doing any shadow magic. After that experience with Shin she was terrified of shadow magic.  

[Ho Shin]

Something flickered in midst of camp as Shin appeared. He landed softly on the ground and looked around at the somewhat peaceful camp. Aside from a few individuals, it looked remotely empty.

He noticed a man he had talked with once before. Tenma he believed... He decided to walk over to him and talk. Actually, he decided to limp over and talk to him while he attempted to heal himself. Upon reaching Tenma, he said a pleasent hello, accompinied by a groan as he sat down on the ground.

Once again, the soft glowing red light came from him. Not from his hands as before, but from his entire body. This version was not to warm or dry, but instead to heal.  

[Tenma Keigou]

He looked at the man as he limped up to him. As the man groaned and shone slightly tenma looked at him curiosly through his mask

"Have a bit of trouble?"

He asked smoothly. Sounded slightly bored. By now he had caught his breath quite easily and was simply relazing until he coulld do something productive.  

[Ho Shin]

He snickered softly, peering up at him with only one eye as he healed.

"You could say that... Just doing a little training with someone I agreed to teach."

He winced slightly as the remainder of him body was healed. He opened his other eye and pushed himself off the ground to a standing position. Never had he thought his own ability would turn on him...but then again, he never spent that much time there. He turned to face the man and bowed slightly, not to far...after all, he had his position. It was customary of the Kyonuske to bow to one another to show respect. Generally, Kyonuske of lesser rank bowed lower than the ones of higher status to show the status. He lifted his head after a few moments and comenced speech.

"Would you care to have a small spar with me and the pupil I am training. I figured I should stop teaching her techniques for now and focus on battle tactics. A three-way spar would be an excellent way to train her as well as sharpening our own skills. We are Kyonuske after all."  

[Moonduster]

Reaper slowly entered the camp. Not really paying attention to anything that was around her at the moment. Heading straight for Shin's tent wanting to lay down and regain her lost energy. The memory of the kiss running through her mind. She shouldn't have responded back to it. Seeing the way he acted when she did didn't exactly help her much.

This was why she perferred being a bloody loner. So things like this wouldn't bloody happen. Heh...she just proved her old teacher right. She did perfer being alone then being with anyone. Seeing the way things were going....she sighed deeply and started to flip back the opening of the tent to climb in.  

[Tenma Keigou]

He stood as well bowing lower than Shin had. He stood straight and stretched replying in a strained voice every time he made a stretch

"Sure why not"

He said as he stretched. He soon stood straight up palm on the pommel of his moonblade.

"It would be fun"  

[Ho Shin]

He smiled at Tenma's reply.

"Good, well then, loosen up. I know she will show up sooner or later. I did however tell her before I left to meet me soon."

He looked around before sitting down to meditate slightly. He closed his eyes and put himself in a trance, waiting for her to show up so that he could introduce her, tell her that they were going to spar, and comence the actual battle.  

[Moonduster]

Reaper pushed back the flap and found it empty. Sighing again. Shin wasn't there. Turning her eyes scanning the place and slowly started to make her way through the encampment. Hoping no one would throw her out or take her as an enemy because no one knew who she was.

That thought made her move a bit quicker. Then she came to a pause spotting Shin not too far off. Turning she headed towards his position. Her steps growing slower and slower as she noticed someone else there as well. Her boots making soft crunches on the lush green grass as she approached.  

[Tenma Keigou]

As he began to relax again he heard soft footsteps approaching from the camp. He didn't turn, nor did he react he simply spoke to shin

"I take it that would be the person you were speaking of?"

He asked gently, his voice soft and low as not to offend the person approaching. He grinned slightly in anticipation behind his mask as he heard the person approach. A fight was somethign to take his mind of the plight of the Kyonuske clan. Something to get him stronger. It would be something new to do for once.