The Journey (EvaRose & Rage)

Her hand was on the wall as the castle shook beneath their feet, Hunin screeching from fear and looked around as his claws dug into her skin. She couldn't blame the little gryphon for acting like that. She was scared too. The elf was scared of dying in this place and for the princess whose fate would surely be sealed if the two companions were to die. She didn't notice what Haine had done until he called out to her, having felt the force of his blow to the floor but only thought it was because of the dragons again.

She had no better idea, and was she glad that he at least had one. Once he was down to the next floor she jumped through the hole, holding Hunin carefully so that the gryphon wouldn't fall to the floor. Her landing was smooth this time at least, there were no twisted ankles or broken bones, and Haine was bashing the floor with his fist yet again. The area that they fell to was the same as the one before, but the next floor was different, besides the fact that there was a large hole through the wall leading outside. It was as good a time to jump out as any.

The dragons were roaring and moving below, shaking the building as they fought in it. The castle continued to tilt as they went at it, roars of pain filling the air as the strong beasts fought one another. This was no time for questions or second thoughts, and so she jumped through the newest hole and down to the next floor of the building. Her landing was still smooth but she slid a bit this time, stumbling backwards as she tried to regain her footing. Green eyes wide with fright, the elf clung to the handle of a nearby door until she was sure that she wouldn't slid out and to the ground. By then, the fall was only two floors down and she was sure she could do it. "Come on!" She called out before letting go of the doorknob and running to the hole in the wall. As soon as she was near the edge her lips started to move as she said an incantation. Vines grew out of the ground and stretched up to get the both of them and it wasn't long before she was being pulled down to the ground safely.

Haine grit his teeth, smashing his fist into the stone floor. The entire structure was going to collapse in mere seconds, and they were going to have to do something quick. He heard Jyade call him and instantly turned to her, the metal clanking of his boots overpowered by the thundering roar of the dragons. Rubble was falling freely now, and he felt a few small rocks smash the top of his head. Determined not to let the entire floor drop on him, Haine pressed on and was now just a few strides behind the elf. He wasn't quite as fast, but he seemed to manage.

Haine almost dived out of the hole, the floor smashing into powder behind them. The spawning vines from below surprised him, and he drew his sword to strike them down. But instead of reaching out to harm him, they gently formed a small cushion that he landed in, catching his fall and absorbing all of the impact. He blinked, glancing over at Jyade who was being pulled safely to the forest floor. Was it her that cast the magic? He didn't know that she could.

After a few moments he finally dropped down, the air still filled with the quarrel of the flying beasts. The ground still quaked from their battle, rattling the leaves in the trees. Haine kept his sword in hand, looking over at Jyade. "What now?" He asked. Was the plight of Mystique over with? Something told him that it wasn't quite so.

"We should run," the elf said quickly.

"No you don't!" The scream surprised her, and so did Mystique as the sorceress moved out of the house, glaring at the two, an air of darkness surrounding her now more than ever. One didn't have to be skilled in magic to see the dark smoke that seemed to slowly move around her, wisp that floated through the air slowly and stayed forever near her. Her blue dress was torn and a bit burned as was her hair, there was dirt on her face and hands, but the look of rage in her eyes was the most stunning thing. "I will have my dark king. And you, elf, shall become dust."

Before she could utter a single word though, Jyade had moved forward and hit the other woman in her gut, strong enough to fight any female her own size. Hunin tumbled to the ground, screeching as it rose to its paws and watched its mother as she tried to fight the sorceress. The gryphon felt it first and ran toward Haine, at his feet before the battling dragons rolled out the crumbling castle and cut off the two fighting females. The red dragon was on top of the black one, looking like she was winning the fight against the darker dragon. Roars rang through the air, attracting the attention of unfriendly fellows.

While the dragons fought so did the girls, Jyade doing her best to move the female away from the man so he would be away from one of his weaknesses. Both were using magic, the elf having red something in the book she got from the shelf the night before, and Mystique knowing enough of course. The castle was coming down behind the two of them but neither were paying attention as the elf shot balls of fire and the other woman used the darkness that was at her command. Neither were hitting one another and whenever Jyade got close, Mystique allowed the darkness to gather and almost hit the elf. The green eyed woman tried her best not to be hit, knowing the effect that dark magic had on her kind, but she wasn't one to back down. The two of the dodged and launched their magical projectiles, the elf lunged forward only to back of a few minutes later. And then a horrifying screech filled the air, a sound that made Mystique froze while Jyade lunged. The elf saw the chance and reached into her skirt, drawing out a dagger as she got close, soon jamming the blade through skin and bone and into the little heart that the sorceress had left.

The red dragon won the fight, its long teeth digging into the other dragon's neck and killing the foe almost instantly. The elf was panting as she looked at the deceased sorceress, the use of magic having a draining effect on her since she rarely used it so vigorously, definitely never having used fireballs before. And then they were on her, bringing her down when she wasn't looking and more focused on Mystique than her surroundings. They were sickly looking elves with graying skin; skin that belonged to dark elves, the elves that didn't leave the land they were born in until it was too late. Her fear of men made a scream escape her, one that was soon caught off as a hand clasped over her mouth. They were all speaking too quickly in elfish, too fast for her to follow in her current state of mind. She hadn't noticed how far the two of them went until now, seeing the burnt trees of another somewhat forested area. They bound her arms and legs with ropes, gagged her with a rag that had a strange taste to it. The smell drafted up her nose, and her gaze grew blurry while a man hoisted her onto his shoulder before turning and starting to follow the others in the direction of what used to be the town. They had no need for a dead female and left her there, and didn't know of Haine since the dragons were in the way once the elves reached the area.

Like all elves, they ran quickly across the flat terrain, moving with a deadly grace that mirrored Jyade's own, neither falling nor stumbling. The town was a few miles away from the castle, a few hours away for any human to walk and even if they were on a horse it would have taken hours. It took them minutes of course, in minutes they were in the abandoned and burned town, going to where their tents were and wondering what to do with the female. They had an idea, of course, of what to do, but each man was greedy and lustful and wanted to have a turn with the female part-elf first. And she was knocked out during all of this, hands bound behind her back and unaware of anything that was going on. Both wrist were bare then, the bracelet that was once on her wrist now on the ground near Mystique's soulless body, left there to grow cold as the woman did.

There was too many things going on for Haine. The dragons were locked in vicious combat, Mystique had appeared, and the earth rumbled and trembled from the shock of the battle. Haine quickly scooped up Hunin before quickly diving to the side, avoiding a powerful tale smashing into the ground. Flecks of dirt and dust were kicked up into the air, completely blocking what little view he had of Jyade and Mystique. Giant stone blocks from the structure they were just in were falling dangerously, and Haine was constantly on the move. With the dragons fighting about, he had to find Jyade and find her fast.

"Elf-girl!" He cried out, his voice overpowered by the snarls of the dragons, the crashing of the castle, and the groans from breaking trees. With Hunin grasped tightly into his arms, Haine sprinted forth, sidestepping and jumping away from all harmful debris. He gritted his teeth, his armor clanking with small rocks and stone. A blast of fire from one of the dragons scorched the earth right in front of him, the heat almost singeing his skin and hair. The trembling of the ground sent him sprawling for balance, the fighting and screaming overbearing.

"Elf girl!" He shouted, "Where are-" Something heavy crashed into the back of his head, and everything went dark.





Something sharp snipped at his finger, and Haine achingly opened his eyes. The smell of smoke and dust were heavy, and the darkness of the night had already cast down its black shades over the world. He groaned, reaching a hand back to rub at the back of his head. He was bleeding, but it wasn't something he needed to worry about. Something chirped, and he glanced over to see Hunin sitting patiently beside his head. The knight took in a deep breath and pushed himself up, his body groaning in protest.

The broken debris from the castle was lying all about, almost looking like large tombstones that had been scattered across a battle field.. The body of the black dragon lay motionless in the midst of it, its body slightly crushed from the falling stones. Haine stumbled up stand, using his sword to keep himself steady.

"ELF-GIRL!" He called out, glancing left and right. His voice only echoed, and he was met with nothing but the still silence. Haine panted now, desperately searching for the familiar form of Jyade.

It felt like he stumbled around for hours, his exhausted body occasionally tripping over smaller piles of debris or what was left of the dragon. He searched desperately, clawing past the destroyed earth to try and find her. She had to be around here somewhere... right? Right? His icy blue eyes were now filled with worry and distraught, his emotions only moving him on and on until he spotted something lying motionless on the ground. He quickly sprinted over, only to see that it was what remained of Mystique.

"Dammit..." he growled, falling to his knees. "GODDAMMIT!" He smashed his fist into the ground, his massive strength making the earth tremble lightly.

It was then that he saw it.

Haine's eyes widened, staring blankly at the bracelet lying still in the grass. The tracks that led away were familiar... and he wished they weren't. Haine stood up, his hands tightening into thick fists.

"No...." He growled, "This can't be happening..." It was then that he started to feel it. The beckoning of the beast that lay inside of him, the incredibe rage that he had no hope of controlling.

With the next moment he was gone, sprinting off after the tracks.

"What will we do with her?"

"What else? She's a woman after all."

Jyade was starting to hear again as she came to, blinking her eyes open slowly and looking at the fire that the elves built. She tried to move her tied wrist but it was no use. They bound her good, because even her legs could not move. She couldn't move and they were talking about what to do with her, and saying that she was a woman only implied one thing. The part-elf was desperate to get away right now, to get back the safety that was away from these dark elves and with Haine. Her knives, each of them, were a few feet away from her as well as her sword. She knew that they touched her, they had to since they got each of her knives, including the ones that she hid on her person. The thought didn't sit right with her, and she started to feel a bit sick when she thought of where they must have touched her to get to each of her weapons.

Her ear was against the ground and so she heard it first, heard the sound of approaching footsteps that didn't come from her captors. There was a bit of hope then, her eyes stayed open and she didn't notice that one of the men were looking at her. The elf got up and went over to her, rolling her over onto her back using his foot. "Look at who's up," he said softly. They wouldn't stop speaking in elvish, and but speaking slowly enough for her to understand. "You look so lovely...so touchable."

She glared up at the elf as he moved down and over her, his fingers trailing over her skin slowly and making her want to crawl out of her skin. One of the others spoke up, a third voice. "You don't have to touch her. She's another elf, we can take care of her."

"Too much trouble," said the elf, smirking a bit as she wiggled and glared at him. They noticed the sound of footsteps after she did, but the elf over her didn't want to move. "It's nothing," he said as he peeled down her top slowly. "Whatever it is, it'll pass."

Haine was not in control.

He followed the trail like a hawk, with Hunin clinging desperately onto the cloak while sitting on his shoulder. The pain and exhaustion from his body were gone; the beast simply ignored it. His icy blue eyes almost reflected the light of the moon, his armor clanking loudly with each running step he took. His sword was out in his hand, shimmering in the dim light. He followed the tracks no matter where they went. He dashed through streams, jumped over bushes, climbed over logs... he was on a mission. And nothing was going to stop it.

After a long period of running, he finally slid into a stop. The trail led straight into a little camp that was filled with tents that circled around a bonfire. The beast picked up the slithering voices of the elves, their demented chuckles and horrific breathing. Haine knew that these creatures were dangerous- he barely escaped with his life that last time he fought. Running in would just be pure suicide.

But this wasn't Haine. This was the beast.

With a beastial roar, the knight dashed into the camp, his long sword spinning wildly in his hand. The elves, as quick as they were, almost had no time to react the the behemoth of a man. One unlucky elf peaked his head out of a tent just to have it severed with a swift slice of the knight's sword, cutting it clean off and sent it bouncing on the earth. Haine's battle roar quickly sent them sprawling for their weapons, and a numerous amount met their end by Haine's sword before they could reach their weapons.

As soon as the man was off of her Jyade rolled away as she tried to stay out of Haine's way. She wasn't sure if that truly was Haine, he came in so recklessly and that roar was the same one he had when was fighting the black dragon. She saw something fly off his cloak and then heard a chirp as Hunin ran over to her. In seconds, the gryphon chick was biting at the ropes that bound her wrist together, its claws tearing through the ropes until her hands were free. As soon as her hands were freed, they were up at her mouth and taking the filthy gag out of her mouth before reaching down and untying her ankles as soon as she could. Then she was pulling her top down to cover her breasts and chest as fast as she could, looking at Haine as she tried to think about what to do. She wasn't sure what to do when he was like this. The last time, he was aiming to hit only the black dragon but this time it was different in a way. It looked as though her were on a rampage of some sort, and she had no idea why or if she could even stop him.

Hunin was chirping softly as he looked up at her, Jyade bending down to pick up the gryphon chick before lifting her gaze to look at the large man again. Her eyes were on him and she was starting to get worried. All these elves didn't have to die, and who knew what might happen if they actually allowed one to live. She still didn't know the way to her homeland after all. "Haine!"

She bit her lip, unsure as to whether it was safe for even her to say something but she already did, so it would be useless for her to try and stay quiet now. Her heart pounded in her chest, blocking out as sound as she called out to him again, louder this time so that he could hear her even if he roared again. "Stop it! HAINE!" She called desperately, wanting to have the person behind that beast hear her. It wasn't good, seeing him like this. Sure, him being like that then and there saved her from an ill fate, but she didn't like seeing the thing that an evil sorceress was so intent on bringing out for herself.

The beast blocked everything out. The only thing it focused on was killing and surviving, working on tearing every one of its foes apart in a bloody mess. The elves would charge at him, swinging their crude yet elegant weapons in vicious, swift motions. But the beast was in its element, its powerful strength overpowering the superior speed that its opponents held. Haine's longsword repeatedly bashed their weapons in half, acting more like a horrific bludgeon than a razor-edged blade. This wasn't a graceful dance of death; this was a mess of a fight.

Arrows flew through the air, darting right for the knight. This would have surely been the end of Haine, but for the beast it was a different matter. The knight snarled and growled, the arrows just barely missing their mark. He constantly punched, jabbed, kicked, and bashed with his sword, knocking down and battering his opponents off of their feet. Each death felt more relieving than the last, spurring on the beast's bloodlust like fuel to a fire. He didn't see Jyade off to the side, and he didn't hear her at first... the beast's hold was too strong. At this point, there was almost nothing that could end its wrath.

"Stop it! HAINE!"

The beast paused, the desperate shout of Jyade freezing it solid. Before it could even think, Haine was back, staring down his sword that had skewered an elf right into the ground. Haine panted, his head turning to face Jyade.

"Elf-girl..." He breathed, the physical strain and mental exhaustion finally catching up to him. His muscles grew weary, his head aching and filled with the visuals of what he had just done. He collapsed onto his knee, breathing heavily and unaware of any other enemies that may still be around. Either way, he was defenseless, his body refusing to answer to his call.

The elf was glad to see that he stopped, giving a genuine smile even as she looked at the colossal man. Well, until she saw another elf approaching him, the only one he didn't cut down and he was coming towards Haine from behind. She was quick to come to that man and hit him in the neck with her elbow, his sword clattering to the ground before he fell as well. "At least I got to hit one of them," she said softly as she looked at the man again. Jyade couldn't move from where she stood for a moment, for fear that she would hug him again. Instead, she stayed where she wasand loked at the fallen elf, glad that there was at least one who she might be able to get directions from.

"You look tired, more than me," she said softly as she looked at her companion. Her green eyes were on him, her hands holding Hunin carefully as the gryphon continued to chirp excitedly, looking from one to the other and back again. The little gryphon was used to Haine by then, the same way it was when it came to the elf woman.

Her feet carried her to her weapons first, one hand holding her gryphon chick as the other picked up her daggers and slid them back into her skirt where they were hidden from sight. "Are you okay? You weren't hurt, were you?" After the dream she had earlier, the elf was certain not to seem too concerned about him, though she was truly worried underneath her calm exterior. Her sword was soon inits sheath once again and she lifted her gaze to look at him with her green eyes. So much had gone on since they left to save the captured princess, good and bad things alike it seemed.

Haine couldn't answer at first, and could only steadily take in his breaths. For how long was he running, chases after the footprints that led to this camp? Not only that, but how many did the beast have to kill before he was able to stop? Haine cast his eyes upon the ground, his limbs still trembling from the excitement and exhaustion. He swallowed and staggered to stand up, using the sheathe of his sword to steady himself. Some of the bodies didn't even look like elves anymore... it was as if the beast tore its fangs into their flesh and ripped them into tatters.

And he did it all... for her.

Haine cast a tired glance over at Jyade, her green eyes catching his glance. The thought of losing her brought it out inside of him... was that something that he could risk again? Haine ran his hands through his silver hair, sweat drizzling down his skin. She probably thought he was some kind of monster, now. And was he?

"I'm fine." Haine stated, looking over the camp. "I didn't think we were this close to the elf lands already." He panted, his muscles still aching. "Anyways, we should get out of here. I don't want to risk waiting around just to have more come... there's no way we could take them all ourselves." Haine moved over to face her, still leaning on the scabbard of his sword. "What about you? Are you alright?"

"I'm...I'm fine. But, Haine, we aren't near the elf lands yet. These ones look like nomads, wanderers." She looked at the last of the elves that were alive, watching as the man started to move. For some reason, she couldn't look Haine in the eyes when he was so close to her. Her finger couldn't wrap around what had happened, she couldn't understand why he just charged in like that. Even as she tried to think of it, her hands brought Hunin deeper into her chest until the gryphon screeched out in protest. "Anyway," she said as she loosened her grip on Hunin, "we need someone to show us the way there."

Her feet carried her away from the tired looking man and to the groaning elf as he started to wake back up. Unlike Haine, she was the one who murdered for money, and she could stand doing it after what that one elf almost did to her. With one hand she drew her sword, pressing it quickly against the back of the elf's neck before he could move. "Don't move unless you want your neck cut off," she said softly, her voice cold and her words spoken slowly and carefully. She spoke in elvish to him, wanting to make sure that her words were understood by him. "I won't kill you as long as you tell me how to get to the elf lands. Do you...understand?"

He stayed still, his hands holding him up just enough so that he could speak. "If that is all you want to know then you don't have to threaten me. Your elfish is bad, but I can still understand you enough. I have nothing to fight for now that m companions are dead and that beast-"

"Hold your tongue." She didn't know why she did it but the tip of the sword son cut into his skin, making a bead of blood run down his neck.

"Whatever you say." He sat up as soon as she moved the sword. Jyade still felt uneasy about all this, but they needed to know which way to go. "You aren't near elfish territory. The fastest way is by sea but...the other way is through the Ice Mountains, and that is as dangerous as it gets. There are people who live in villages on those mountains, but the beasts there are fierce, and I should know since I fought them."

"Don't boast, it won't do you any good." The more he spoke, the calmer she got. There was just something about hearing another elf talk that seemed to do this to her. This wasn't the one who tried to have his way with her, of that she was sure, and so her anger went away. "Is that all?" He nodded quickly though she still wasn't sure about it.

"Yes, it is."

"I don't believe him." Her green eyes went to Haine then, a bit of concern showing in them that was usually never there. She knew that he was tired, especially after she saw the look in his eyes, and he was sweating like that after all, so that meant they had to find somewhere that they could rest soon before he possibly collapsed from sheer exhaustion. Even before, when they were trapped and he uncovered that tunnel, he wasn't leaning on his scabbard this much. "What do you think? We can always tie him up and make him come with us if that's what it takes."

"The ice mountains..." Haine stated, furrowing his brow. He had been told stories of vicious monsters and people that resided there... only the strongest beings imaginable could live in such harsh conditions. It was possible to trek through it, but there was no way they could do so at the moment. Haine's armor would only freeze his own body, and Jyade would need more than a few layers herself. While it was possible, he wasn't sure how much they would have to spend to be suited up for it.

The sea indeed sounded much more possible, but he hard heard that the waters around this area were harsh, and filled with creatures that had sunk many ships. Both ways sounded dangerous and violent, as if the elf was trying to fill their heads with fear and uncertainty. He took a deep breath and stood up, his muscles still quaking from overuse.

"What he says sounds logical enough. I know the Ice Mountains are in the direction of the elf lands, and it would seem that the sea would be an obvious way. I don't think we need him, and we'd probably be safer without him. I don't want to wake up with a slit throat." Haine glared at the pale elf before glancing around, trying to listen in on anything that sounded like footsteps.

"Either kill him or knock him out. I don't think we need any extra baggage." Haine nodded, nudging his head in the direction of the woods. "We should get moving... I don't know how much longer my legs will keep me up..."

She was ready to protest but stopped, knowing very well that he might not last long on his feet. And, there was no way that she could carry him. Her body was built for speed after all, not strength. "Alright," she said softly. She tossed her sword up for a moment, catching it by the blade as it fell before swinging it, striking the elf in the back of his neck. He crumbled to the ground, and she wasn't sure whether or not he was alive. There was no time for her to check, that and she truly didn't want to. The sword was soon back in the air and flipping around before she caught it by the hilt this time. The elf sheathed her sword and turned to look at Haine. "Let's get going then."

There was nothing of his that she could carry, and so she didn't ask if she could. Instead, she turned away from him and started for the woods that he had motioned to not that long ago, feeling more grateful for his presence than she ever did before. Her heart was beating steadily and that cold look was out of her eyes again, but in the green orbs was a look of confusion instead. She didn't know what to do right now, not when she was feeling like this about someone she met not that long ago. Jyade made sure not to look back at him, instead listening for his footsteps and staying quiet as she tried to think. Going by sea would be her first choice if it weren't for one thing: sailors were without their womanly pleasures. Of course, with Haine around and her sword and daggers, she would feel less threatened. Going over the mountains wasn't a choice, not for her, not when she had so little clothes to her name. They didn't have the time to go out, buying clothes for her, and there was also Haine's armor. She knew that metal wasn't good in cold weather, though she did without either for years. But, now she had a companion and had to think about him too.

Hunin chirped in her arm, moving a bit before lifting his gaze and looking up at the green eyed elf that carried him. Her fingers stroked his head softly before she stopped at the first tree she came across, turning around slightly to look back at Haine. She would keep her own feelings out of the way. No matter what happened, she couldn't tell him how she felt. There was no telling how he would react, and it might be in the worst way.

Despite his weary legs and his emptied energy, Haine managed to drag his feet behind Jyade. He followed her as close as he could, but was thankful that she didn't break out into a run. He grit his teeth with his stride, digging in the sheath of his sword into the dirt of the forest floor to keep himself steady. The last time he was this exhausted was when he was a soldier after a battle, and even then he didn't feel like falling asleep on the spot. He knew his physical limits, and he had passed them a long time ago. With a grunt, Haine continued to press on.

After countless minutes, or maybe hours, of walking through the forest, Haine finally sat down onto a log. "This is as far as I go..." He breathed, his voice breathy and quiet. He was sure that they were a far enough distance from the camp, but it still worried him. With his arms and legs feeling like iron, there was no way he was going to fight back.

"Just give me a minute..." He stated, closing his eyes. He was hunched over, his hands still grasping the hilt of his sheathed sword for support. "I just need some time... to..." With that, he fell asleep, leaving the world of reality to mix into the dimension of dreams. His body relaxed but held that position, looking like he was just waiting instead of climbing into a deep sleep.

The elf stopped moving as soon as he did, looking back at him to watch as he slumped over and just fell asleep where he sat. She muttered softly, closing her eyes and reaching up with one hand to rub at her temples as she tried to think about what to do. It wasn't like she could stay up all night, not after nights of getting used to actually resting instead of staying up and walking for days on end. "If it were anybody else..." she said softly before starting to whisper a spell. Hunin squirmed in her grip as she moved closer to the log, the two of them watching as the trees around the area moved to form a large circle. Between each tree grew vines, encircling the area so that nothing, or anybody, dangerous could get in. The vines grew up to the sky, making what would have been a perfect rotunda if it weren't for the hole that was at the top, letting enough light in for her to feel safe.

"Here you are, dear," she said softly as she knelt down on the ground, gently setting her gryphon on the grass. She stayed a few feet away from Haine and laid down in the soft grass, not wanting anything near a repeat of the night before. Her green eyes were on him though, looking at the night who saved her from what could've been the worst experience of her life. A single tear slid down her cheeks before he turned away so that her back was to him. No, there could be no more of this from her. She could care one thing and one thing alone, and that was the gryphon chick currently climbing over her and falling to the ground near her chest. She fell asleep there, Hunin curled up with his head between her breasts, listening to the calming sound of her beating heart.

Haine was in a very deep, and very revitalizing sleep. However, it wasn't without its troubles, and familiar battles and faces flashed over and over in his mind. Jyade was among them, fighting for her life as the dragons tumbled about on the earth as they did mere hours ago. When his icy blue eyes finally opened up, the dream was no more, and he was back to reality. He felt much more lively than he did last night, but his muscles ached with every breath. His neck was also a bit stiff from his sleeping position, and he quickly nudged his head to give it a relieving crack. Satisfied, the knight took in his surroundings.

It took him by surprise at first, but than he figured that Jyade must have casted some sort of shelter-spell. It was a good idea since they were hidden from anything around them, but the fact that it was magic made him a little nervous. Gritting his teeth he slowly stood up, feeling his muscles groan in protest. He shook out his arms and legs a little to get the feeling in, and strapped his longsword onto its rightful place on his back.

Jyade wasn't too hard to find. She was lying peacefully on the ground with her back facing him. Haine took a minute to watch her, gathering up his thoughts. The beast that lurked within him had nearly gotten himself killed because of his rage... and it was because of Jyade. What did that mean? Was she starting to become something more than a comrade to him? The knight had never felt these feelings before, and all they did was confuse him.

Her right ear twitched when she heard him crack his neck, though it took a few minutes for her to clear her mind of any stray thoughts she had while she slept. Hunin was stirring as she did, moving a bit as the rate of her heart beat changed yet again, the little gryphon chirping sleepily before lifting his head. Then the elf was sitting up, rubbing her eyes and stretching her arms calmly, knowing that the only things that could in were creatures who could fly through the hole. She turned around then to look back at Haine, who was already up and on his feet and looking well. "Hey, I hope you weren't waiting for me to wake up."

Her hand ducked under Hunin, and then she got up, holding the gryphon chick with one hand as she stretched her legs out. Her lips moved quickly and the vines began to move, slowly drawing back into the ground. "Are you ready to start moving yet?" She asked, reaching down to adjust both her top and skirt before lifting her gaze to look at the knight once again. Her heart was pounding in her chest but she ignored the feelings stirring in her and forced thoughts of the mission into her mind.

"Also, do you think we should go over the mountains or by sea? We have to choose a direction before we start moving again." Jyade reached up to brush her black hair behind her hair, not moving towards him though. She was planning to thank him for what he did, but now wasn't the right time in her prideful mind. These types of things didn't happen to her. She wasn't the one who got captured, nobody came to her rescue, and there was never any need to thank people. He was the only person she ever thanked in years, and it would be hard for her to say those words again.

"Nah, I just woke up a little bit ago." Haine stated, feeling the life creep back into his tired limbs. Pushing his previous thoughts to the back of his mind, Haine did a quick check of his inventory, armor, and weapons. His armor was holding up okay with the exception of a few chinks and dents here and there, and his cloak wasn't too dirtied. His sword, on the other hand, was beginning to chip and dull... he would either have to have it repaired or replaced soon. He didn't have much food left, and his gold was starting to run out... they would probably have to visit a town soon.

"I can move fine now. And, well, I hate it say it, but the sea would probably be our best bet. I also need a little weapon maintenance." Haine strapped his sword back on its rightful place on his back. He glanced over at Jyade before looking around the strange magical shelter she had created. Where did she learn such magic? He thought it was odd that she didn't try to use any until now.

"How are you holding up?" Haine asked, taking a step to find any gashes or bruises over her. "Did they do anything to you?..." His hands balled up into loose fists, the coals of his anger still burning hot. The beast was gone for now, and it didn't have much of a reason to come out now. He hoped she wouldn't bring it up anytime soon... he hated talking about it.

A soft sigh escaped her when she heard the answer to her question, already having guessed that he would say such a thing. If there were any easier way to go then she could suggest it, but going through the mountains wasn't an easy thing, and even she knew that the way she dressed made her unfit for such weather. The way she dressed also made her unfit to be on a ship with a bunch of men who most likely hadn't been able to enjoy the presence of a woman for weeks, if not months. Her gaze shifted from him and down to her feet when she heard his question, unable to look at him because she knew what would've happened if he didn't come when he did. "No, no, they weren't able to."

A slight shiver ran down her spine at the thought, and as that happened the last bit of the vines drew back into the ground. It wasn't quiet around them either, birds were around and chirping as though they hadn't in years. She appreciated their voices too, for they brought her out of the little funk and made her think about something else. "I don't think I'm scratched anywhere. The best part about being an elf is that we don't carry wounds for long."

Her chest rose as she breathed in deeply then fell as she let it out with a sigh, letting out her frustrations in that one breath as well as her own anger. "I'm going to have to buy myself some clothes and have my sword sharpened too. I should've done that at the last town we went to but..." She trailed off and even laughed a bit, remembering how they had to rush out. It wasn't too bad to think about these things now it seemed, and it actually made her smile a bit. "I think you ought to take a bit of your armor off before we go into town, a behemoth like you might just frighten those poor people, for tales of your greatness might not have reached the ears of those by the sea," she said. Her voice was strangely light with a bit of laughter, mostly because se wanted the mood to change. She had noticed the way his fist seemed to ball before, and it made her wonder why though she would- couldn't ask.

"And before we do set sail, I think it'd be nice to spend a night somewhere without people wanting to kill either of us. I haven't had to fight so much...ever. I fought but this just seems endless for some reason, and I really think you need to rest." Hunin chirped softly, cutting her off before she could finish speaking, and her hand went up to stroke the top of his feathered head lightly. "I suppose I need some rest too though, even if I'm not a full human." It was the first time she actually said that out loud, and she truly didn’t mind. There wouldn’t be any talking about her past for some time. The elf started to walk from him and in the direction of the mountains. It bordered the sea, though at sea level there wasn’t any snow, unlike the area of snow that seemed to jut appear halfway up it.

"Lot's of things happened within the last few days... I have to say that I'm surprised we're still here." Haine followed right behind her, his armor clanking rhythmically with his steps. "I think more than anything, we need to have time to rest. Spending the night in a inn almost sounds like heaven." He wasn't too far behind her, keeping an eye out on their surroundings and making sure that he didn't fall too far behind. She was lighter and faster than he was, so he had to accustom himself to her speed. He wouldn't tell her, but he often had to put some effort into keeping up... mostly out of pride.

"My armor, besides my sword, is the last thing I'd want to leave without..." He frowned, "I'm not as adept at dodging like you, so I find myself constantly taking hits." His cloak lay over his body and armor at the moment, covering most of everything. Still, it wouldn't find the shimmering metal for too long, and for once he found himself cursing the special shiny metals that were used to make it.

"I'm not too keen on traveling by sea," Haine admitted, "I've never gotten along with sailors... they're a different breed altogether. Are you sure you would be okay with it?" He glanced over at her, understanding the loneliness that sailors would have. If they had one look at Jyade, it would be obvious what they would be thinking...

"I can think of something," she said softly. "Or I can pay the captain enough so I can have his quarters, it's the only way for a woman to travel over sea." She felt a chill run through her body then, because she realized that her words were true. If she didn't sleep there then she would have to sleep around a bunch of men or in a room that didn't lock. "Or I just won't sleep," she said quickly. "I can go without sleep for days, weeks sometimes. Anyway, we can't go up the mountain." The elf looked down at the gryphon on her arm and continued to gently stroke its head, hoping that the two of them would be able to get there soon.

She didn't notice the fact that he had a hard time keeping up with her, and started to move a little faster because of the subject that had came up. It made her nervous, thinking about being around all those men brought up a fear in her that only came out before when they were trapped together in that dark cave. She couldn't defend herself against that group of elves before, and trying to fight back sailors who were their ticket across the sea and to the elven lands just wasn't an option. Best case, she'd be kicked off the boat, and the worst was just something she couldn't fathom.

"Yeah, it's the only way we can go," she said, mostly to herself of course. The elf slowed down a bit now that this thought was in her head, having seemed to calm down. "You have to stay with me, okay?" It wasn't like her to request such a thing but right now she just couldn't help herself. She felt safe around him, and only him. In her mind, right now, he was on the same level as animals, and with the way she thought about humans and elves, it was a compliment.

It wasn't like it was a bit of a struggle, but Haine had to press a little harder to keep up behind her. His body was still running low on fuel from last night, but it wasn't anything critical. He knew that the elf would have some concerns with going by sea... he'd prefer her to never have to force herself to be around other men, but this was unavoidable. He was sure they would be safe if they stuck together... but what also mattered was making her feel safe. He hadn't forgotten about the time in the cave, and he wasn't going to anytime soon.

"Of course I'm going to stay with you." Haine answered back to her, silently glad that she slowed down her pace. "Just stay as close to me as you can when we get out to sea, alright?" A part of his said that because he knew of her fear... but a part of him said it for another reason. He scratched the back of his head before shaking it, taking in a rather deep breath. Focus, he told himself... he was starting to get confused again.

"Do you know if there's a port town nearby? I don't know these lands very well at all." He said, blocking a few stray branches and leaves from his face. The elves from last night still bothered him, and he kept a constant ear open for any footsteps or broken twigs... he wouldn't want to fight them ever again.

"I don't." The elf stopped walking and tilted her head back slightly to look up at one of the nearby trees. "I'll be back down soon, just don't look up," she said before moving to the tree. Jyade lifted her arm and Hunin got off it, clinging to the bark with his claws the way she taught him to. Her hands reached up to grasp a branch above before she began to climb up the tree. She didn't look down to check if the knight was looking because she believed that he wouldn't.

She climbed up until the tree until she stood on the last of the strong branches, Hunin still clinging tightly to the tree as she looked out and around the area. Her eyes found the mountain before she saw the open sea. The sun was setting over it, the sky was turning a series of red, yellow and orange. It was a beautiful sight really, and she loved looking at it. "In the direction the sun is setting!" She called down to Haine. "The sea is that way so there must be a town with a port!" She could see the sails of a ship around the sea and knew that there was one there at least. That was good, it meant that there had to be a port or at least a ship that could take them past the mountains.

With this in mind, the elf started to climb down the tree carefully. She looked down at the ground for a moment then jumped to ground below, bending down at the knees once her feet met the ground. "Yes, there has to be a port that way," she said softly. "If it isn't where I thought there was one then there ought to be one somewhere on the beach."

Haine internally snickered when she told him not to look up, and he put his back to the tree. "You know, if you didn't want me to see what's up there, maybe you should wear something a little more covering." He smirked a little, giving her a fun little jab. Well, it wasn't like he was complaining, but at the same time it would be indecent of him. He is a knight, after all... he can't just run around looking up women's skirts, especially if she was a deadly elfen warrior.

He waited for her to drop down, glancing left and right and making sure that nothing had been watching them. They appeared to be in the clear, but who knows? It was best to be on their guard. Haine tilted his head, feeling a series of small cracks dash up his neck. "Let's hope it's a nice port town. I haven't been this far before, and I don't know what kinds of people we'll find. Imperial knights usually never go this far since the people of these lands are a little wary of our country." He gave her a nod before starting off, walking ahead of her to hope to set the pace.

"Any chance there will be more elves we'll run into? We're definitely not in top fighting condition." He stated, moving his arms to judge their current strength and endurance. "I'd hate to say this, but if we're going to be in a fight I'm going to have to rely on you more than usual."

Jyade plucked Hunin off the tree and started to carry the gryphon again, scratch the back of his head gently as she walked after her companion. Of course, his walking ahead of her didn't set her back that much, and when she saw that he was a few feet ahead, the elf quickly hurried after him until they were walking side-by-side. "There's always a possibility," she stated matter-of-factly. "Hopefully, we won't see anymore until we get off the ship." She knew it was strange for her not to want to be near others that were... closer to her than humans, but she couldn't help it. The first time she was actually around a elf in years, and they happened to be a bunch of males that tied her up and wanted to have their way with her. It wasn't as though they would exactly welcome her, the half-elf girl who couldn't even speak in her native tongue.

Her green eyes were trained ahead, narrowed slightly as she tried to think. There wasn't much that could be thought of though, because there was no telling what would happen later. She liked to think so but, really, she didn't expect the both of them to make it back to the end of this journey, not with the way everything was going. The two of them were good at what they did, though it seemed like they were both being pushed to their limits. "Haine... did you ever see the princess before?" She wasn't sure why the question came out instead of the one she had been thinking off, but it seemed like it would be a better topic than one pertaining to death. Of course, she heard about the princess, and felt bad for the kidnapped child.