Midnight

He then went back to rain and Reshel.
"Its ok now, she will be ok"
"Oh! and we part tomorrow, at first light so be sure you are prepared."
He went outside and back to his house.
There he laid on his bed and slept the night.
At first light in the morning, he stripped onh is armor, seathed his katana and grabbed a bacpack. Then he walked to Reshel's home.
"It is time now" He said knocking on the door.Reshel opened the foor, and then he asked "did you find out anything about this girl?"
Then Dalmar stepped in the house and sat own a while waiting them to be prepared for the journey.

[Rain Lil]

Rain sat next to the window all night, half watching the sun go down and the other half watching if anyone would walk by. She felt around her pockets in her dirty, ragged pants. She put her hand in her left pocket and found what she was looking for; the stone. She put it in the palm of her hand and studied it. Was it lucky? When she was attacked and when she was staying with Dalmar, she was sure that she was close to death. If she hadn't found the little blue pebble, she would probably be dead right now. Tired of thinking, her eyelids slowly closed. She drifted off into a comfortable sleep, being carried off into her dreams and forgetting that she was asleep in a chair. But it felt like only ten or fifteen minutes that she slept. She awoke when Dalmar entered Reshel's home.

Rain rubbed her eyes and stood, stretching out a knot on her neck. She twisted her arm back and forth, trying to get blood going through her veins. Then she walked over to Dalmar and Reshel.
"I think I will go out for a few. I need to get my thoughts and beings together," she said, nodding and walking passed them both, and grabbed her worn leathered bag. She pulled the straps to her shoulders and walked passed them both, and out into the dawn of light. She didn't look back to them, or look at them when she closed the front door of the house. She walked down the cobblestoned road and passed some people who were sitting outside their homes or stores and restuarants sipping their coffee.

Everyone seemed to stare at her ragged clothes, still bloody and trying to hold on to her body. But she wore a coat, trying her hardest to cover her withering clothes. Then she reached the outskirts of the town, and not before long, she heard a short, screechy neigh. Rist! She began to jog to the sound, getting lost in tangled bushes and tree branches. Then she seen a faint white and gray horse among the bushes. She stopped and started to walk slow, trying to catch her breath.

"Rist!" she yelled. The old skinny horse neighed, the long strands of her mane flying in the wind as she swung her head. Rain grabbed the reins of the old horse and pulled her to a nearby cottage. She pulled the horse with her, as she continued her search for a clothes shop. But now she had an old friend to help her and she wasn't as lonely. Rain had started to believe that old Rist had starved or been captured. After at least five minutes of searching for a shop, she stopped in front of one. She took a rope from a bag attached to the horse's saddle and tied the reins to a wooden gate. She patted Rist's nose and walked into the shop. She walked through the old wooden door and shut it behind her.

She glanced around her. Everyone's eyes were on her ragged clothes. She pulled her coat tighter and began to walk through the small aisles. She found a pair of black jeans. She put it up to her waist and saw that they were close to perfect. She took the jeans in her right arm and began to search for a blouse of some sort. She walked down another aisle and found what she was looking for. She took the red dress shirt in her hands. There were buttons running down the front; which meant that you could also wear a shirt underneath, and a thin collar ran around the neck. Fine with me... Rain thought, as she took the red shirt and the jeans into her right hand. With her other hand, she clutched her coat around her shoulders. She walked to a wooden counter and put the clothes on top of it.

"That will be five dollars," the plain lady with a plump face spoke. Rain fumbled with her pack, searching for coins and dollars. She put down four dollars, two quarters and five dimes on the counter. The lady nodded and Rain pulled the straps on her shoulders once again.

"Excuse me, but do you have a bathroom?" asked Rain. The lady nodded once again and pointed to the door behind her. Rain walked around the lady and into the bathroom. It smelled terribly, but she ignored it and dressed quickly. She practically threw her head in the sink and began to wash her hair with a spare bar of soap. She dried her hair and face with her old clothes. She stuffed the bloody clothes into her pack and pulled out two rubber bands. She tied her hair into a pony tail, and then began to braid her hair. She then tied the end with the other rubber band, and began to straighten out her clothes. She walked out of the bathroom looking like a totally different person. Her face was clean, her clothes were clean, and she looked beautiful. Short bangs hung on the side of her face, her cheeks were a soft creamy color and her eyes glowed a brown. Her hair was tied perfectly and looked silky even with it tied up.

She smiled at the lady who stared back at her, stunned. She walked out of the shop and to her horse Rist. She untied the rope, and walked beside the horse to Reshel's house. She walked down the road, listening to Rist's familiar clop, clop, clop and smelling tasty fresh baked bread. Finally, she reached Reshel's house. She stopped her horse and tied her to a nearby post. She opened the door and stepped into the house. She wasn't sure if they were stunned or were just staring. She dropped her backpack to a small table and stared back at them.

"What?"

Dalmar looked at Rain as she stod in and told her.
"Well its sure a change, heh"
He then began to laugh quietly.
"You look good, and I really mean it"
He then added.
"Is that horse yours? it looks as if he's been treated kindly. And aslo he will come in handy, If you lady are tired you can ride on its back,
so if you are ready, Care to start on the journey ahead?"
He took a glance at Rain and then to Reshel. And then he stood up.

The room was dim, the sun almost up and painting the sky with a warning. A small wooded tray sat untouched next to the sleeping girl. Reshel had made breakfast early and left it for her.
After the sun had gone down and the candles had withered, Reshel retired to her room, although she couldn't sleep. She'd spent the night packing for the journey that was to begin the next morning. Finally, the sun had lit the sky from within and torn through to begin another day.
She just wished she could get something out of the girl. They couldn't leave her in either of their houses, but she was in no condition to come with them either.
The floorboards creaked as she stood to leave, the girl's fair face remaining unchanged.
"It is time now" Came a call from the door, followed by a knock. Reshel closed the door behind her so as not to wake the girl, finding Rain just waking up from the chair by the window. She opened the door and let Dalmar in.
"Did you find out anything about this girl?" He asked
"Good morning to you too!" She smiled, handing him some breakfast.
Rain streched out from an uncomfortable sleep, took a few bites, then walked out with a few words of apology.
A warm breeze blew in with her, the sun outside was shining with startling enthusiasm for an autumn day.

After they'd eaten, Rain returned with clean clothes, braided hair and a horse.
" Looks like you're feeling better!" Reshel followed Dalmar's compliments.
"Do you want me to redo your bandage? I'm not sure that it's healed..." She asked, examining Rain's face where the wound had been. She smiled but shook her head...

"Well, I guess we should probably wake her up!" Reshel stood, smoothing the front of her pants, then looking doubtfully towards the bedroom. "We should be leaving soon."

He went also to the girls room and the n spoke.
"Hi mi'lady, Are you better know?"
"Its ok, if you don't remember anything, don't worry, it will come back in time"
"You see were starting a journey here, will you be ok on your own or do you want to come with us, and at least give us a name to call you"
He smiled at her and then sat waiting fo her answer.
"Reshel, are you ready?" and then turning to Rain
"are you ready also?"
"come on sit down a while"
"Maybe you want to come with us, we are going to meet a sage, maybe he can help you out"
"If you want I will carry you in my back"
He then sat waiting for an answer

Where am I? Am I in a world of no return? A world where complete and utter blackness overtakes my thriving being and conquers my very own soul? Or am I in a place where I can be free, run from all the pain and hurt - just to be myself?

A delicate hand reached up, in one fluid movement, and brushed the locks of golden blonde hair away from her porcelain doll like face. Her pretty crystal blue eyes peered out, looming in the darkness, not unlike at cats'. A male voice could be heard - it was that boy who had saved her before. Yes, she was thankful, very thankful, as she owed him her life. She vaguely heard what he was asking of her - a name. But was a name? These thoughts ran through her hair like wildfire, confusing her.

"I don't know a name.... I need some time alone, please." The girl whispered quietly, looking down at the floor. She heard echoing footsteps and the click of the door as Dalmar left.

Numb, the unknown girl picked herself up from her position on the wooden floor, crouched by the cupboard nearby. She unfolded her long legs and brought herself to an upright position. Her eyes quickly scanned the room and noticed an attractive dress laying on the bed. She picked it up, wondering if it was there, meant for her. Her shoulders moved up and down in a shrug. In a flash, the girl was wearing a plain tan cordouroy dress, which fell to her knees. It had bits of brown rope sewn into the neckline and length line. A thin belt hung around her slim waist - in colours of red and green. Red and green bows were tied around her arms. A pair of brown boots had been slipped on her feet. Checking herself out in the mirror, she decided she looked good. Now she needed a name.

"Shinrai."

Back at the room wher Reshel and Rain were.
"She can't remember her name, this getting serious, we need to go with Althemas but we can't leave her alone here in that state"
"I no longer know what to do."
He started pacing back and forth, waiting for the girl to get out of the room.
"Well we can't wait a few hours, even though I will loose more life, the more we stay, but I can't leave her here alone"

They hadn't been waiting for long but Dalmar was anxious. He didn't look good, he was pale and looked as though he hadn't slept. Fatigue was etched into his face even when he forced a smile.

"I'l go talk to her." Reshel said, walking down the hall and around a pile of books supporting an oil lamp.
The look in the girl's clear blue eyes haunted her as she approached the room. She wondered what they must have been through, to make such wild anguish in one's eyes. What horrors they'd seen, how many tears they'd cried.
Her footfalls sounded hollow on the uneven wooden floor. She paused outside the door for a moment.
"Shinrai" The voice whispered with determination and awe. It came from behind the door as Reshel's hand reached to knock.
"Shinrai.." Reshel whispered quietly in return before she knocked. "It's a good name..."

She knocked and the door opened. The girl stood, clothed in the dress Reshel had left for her. It was a bit big on her skinny frame but it would have to do.
"You're alright now?" Reshel asked, the girl's clear blue eyes confused but confident, now tame of whatever she had seen there earlier.

A rapping noise could be heard from outside the chipped wooden door - a knock. The girl, who had named herself Shinrai only moments earlier, watched as the door opened slowly, the creaking of it echoing through her hollow room loudly. An older female entered, a look of worry on her face. She was beautiful - flawless. Shinrai immediately liked her. "You're alright now?" She asked calmly.

"Yes, I am, thank you." Shinrai tugged on the belt hanging from her waist. It tightened, causing her dress not to be as loose around her skinny frame. Shinrai's eyes scanned the room past the girl, noticing Dalmar and another girl standing outside, packing bags beside them. "Where are you going?" She asked. "You'd have to ask Dalmar, he knows all the details." The unknown female replied, a small smirk crossing her face.

"What is your name?"

"Reshel."

"ok Rain, is everything ready?"
"It is, I think" she replied."well we must wait for Reshel"
He took a look where reshel went and saw her speaking with the young lady.
"I think.. they are getting along well quickly, heh."
He sat in chair, he was a bit exhausted, being there doing nothing with his armor stripped on had made him feel sleepy and tired.
"Damn, not now" He began to cough roughly.
"Dalmar!!" Reshel cried out.
"its ok, rain, it will pass soon"
He coughd again putting his hand in his mouth, when he pulle it down he was again bleeding in the mouth, his glove full of blood.
"rain, there is another reason I am hunting the darkness for, not only for revenge, but when it took my parents I was cursed with this sickness, If I am able to destroy that darkness, the sickness will cease, but I don't have too much time."He then just sat staring at the floor.

The sun came through the curtains in the back of the small room like rays of swollen moonlight. Lighter, but an eerie glow still clung to their edges. The dust swirled in the pale beams, like faeries dancing before dawn.
As the girl spoke her body moved to follow the words. Reshel nodded without realizing, deciding that the name fit well, far better then the girl's dress at least. They spoke for a moment, their words dimmed by the silent morning beyond the curtained window. It was the only thing lighting the small room. She smiled at the girl, but the pleasant feeling was cut short by the harsh sound of Dalmar's coughing. It was strained and painful, and Reshel noticed it had gotten worse.

"Dalmar..." She called, walking from the room and hurrying to him. Shinrai followed indefinitely. She had noticed that not only Dalmar, but Rain too, had been coughing. It was a hard, grating cough that many people had after winter's long, unrelenting months of cold, but Reshel still wondered...
Dalmar told her of his parents and the sickness he'd been cursed with. He was a survivor of The Darkness, and she hadn't known they existed! Now there were two others who had survived. Rain had already come down with the sickness, she could only wait for Shinrai to. It was like The Darkness had taken a piece of each of them and left a menacing piece of itself in every one. Far from a fair trade..
Reshel turned back towards Shinrai.

"Shinrai, this is Dalmar and Rain. They are survivors of The Darkness. We are leaving on a journey soon. We're going to avenge the blood spilled that no one sees, the bodies that no one mourns, and the lives that this godforsaken town will never have again. We need to leave soon, but we cannot leave you here. Tell us you can find someone to stay with, or come with us. You're choice, but we have to go..."

Anger had unknowingly crept into her voice. She ended with a bitter tone and swept the room with a look of apology. She hadn't meant to be so harsh or demanding, but the lives lost had always made her insides writh with hatred for such a thing. With that said she left the room and came back within moments, her bag in hand.
"But have some breakfast first, please." She said calmly, smiling now. She placed a plate of fruit and pancakes on the table and motioned for Shinrai to sit.

Dalmar stood up, and finally said.
"Well, its time, we can't afford to loose more time"
He glanced at reshel and Rain making a sign to let them know he was going outside. Shinrai, its up to you if you want to come this will not be a pleasure trip, this will be dark,l ong and full of danger journey."
He opened the door and goto ut.
The sun shone bright in his eyes, he took adeep breath.
"It all begins here, my revenge, my cure and life."
He started to walk sout.

Once Shinrai had collected herself and Rain had packed, Dalmar's companions began their journey. They caught up with him in twenty minutes, taking the south road, the only road out of town.
The sun was shining brightly, high up in the sky. The trees above them patterned the forest floor with dark leaves and the sky around them. The quiet walking was hesitant and full of expectation as their feet fell upon the soft ground. The pony gave snorts of content as her hooves made their way over the logs and brambles of the forest floor.
"So, where does this Althemas live?" Reshel asked Dalmar as she rearranged her pack.

((Althemas...sorry!!))

[Rain Lil]

(OoC: Sorry that I haven't been much active. My internet was having problems--it always freezes the computer -.- )

Rain rode on top of her old white horse, the horse's mane flowing in the breeze like blonde ocean waves. Rain studied the surroundings around her. The trees loomed over the group and left dark shadows around them. She looked ahead and saw a line of dirt that traced a leftover trail. Bushes poked out from behind trees and sometimes got in the way. The sky was light blue, with clouds that made a big, fluffy-white pillow.

Rain shook her head and rubbed her eyes. Everything looked so beautiful today.
"So, where does this alchemist live?" she heard Reshel say.
She was also wondering where the "alchemist" lived. She imagined him to live in a small cave off to the side of the forest, hidden behind darkened and tall dead trees. Or maybe he would live in a small cabin next to the river, where he spent his days..

(OoC: It's too short.. noo~ Oh well. I'll make a better reply next time.)