『Reincarnated』|Lagertha x Vinaein|

[Lagertha]

There was no rhyme or reason on how Revalia had fallen into madness. Only stories remained of how it once was; a land overpopulated by humans and some form of magic had overcast the world. That magic had brought corpses back to life, altered the molecular structure of inanimate objects, created beasts from the animals of the land, and twisted some humans into monsters. That was all the history that remained before the Spark, or that had been passed down by oral traditions.


There were tales, long tales, about the great Spark that had ignited the flames of the Delirium (madness) into its crescendo of events. Those tales were what they were, mad talkings of what might have caused the Spark and where it had occurred. Scholars, what was left of them, had tried to discern where the great Spark had happened. There was a general idea of the area but no particular pinpoint.

Directly after the Spark, some scholars had tried to save the souls of the damned. Trapping some of them in sculptures to bring them back to life. It was better this way than them becoming part of the undead. Or being born directly into the state of the world. So they had thought. The idea had been to save as many souls as they could. Hundreds of thousands of statues had been sculpted from hand and placed safely underground. The rituals had been cast. Stones had glowed but…nothing had happened.

Those dang scholars had done their best, hoping the spells they had crafted would infuse souls with the sculptures and make them human once more. What they hadn't realized was it would take time to incubate before the souls could regain the strength to become human, and those poor bastards that had cast the spells wouldn't be human anymore when the spell was done. It was a sacrifice they hadn't realized they were making. Giving their own sanity, their own body, to bring these people back. In turn, it wasn't just enough for the scholars to be corrupted by the magic they had cast. The spells had hungered for more. It had eaten away at each person's soul, sometimes fully consuming them into nothing, sometimes just removing all traces of their original life. Sometimes. Sometimes. There were some that would have appearances closely related to their original life, and others that would be more monstrous. Then, there were just the unlucky few whose souls had died between the spell being cast, and before we move into present times. Those souls had intermingled with the others, often taking over and casting the original souls out. Or, in some circumstances, infusing with parts of themselves they hadn't realized they had lost. A splintered soul, regaining a shard. This wasn't to say this was the only way humans were made. They were still the occasional born in a regular manner, but this was one of the less unpleasant means no one fully understood anymore or acknowledged (being a clay human). Often, these clay humans had become completely insane from the realization of what had happened to them.

About a millennium had passed since the Spark. Kingdoms had collapsed, reformed, been overtaken, or outright remade. The Spark had forever changed Revalia, shoving it further into the darkness that the madness brought. Humans were still around, in some form or another, but Delirium had taken its roots and spoiled their minds. Monsters had erected their own kingdoms, and mainly those were the ones that ruled. There were various types of creatures throughout the lands, some more coherent than others. All in all, everyone was a bit mad to some degree. Some beings had glimpses of the past lives they had once lived, before the Spark. Some had visions of the future overlapping with the present. That was how the Spark had affected the residents in Revelia. Some become more insane than others. Some pretend to not be insane at all.

---

Night had overcast on the town of Bizibech. Lanterns hung from windows, above the doors, in a dull warm orange glow. For the most part, the town was silent and dark. People walked on the streets but didn't move outside of the tilted metal gates. They stayed inside, as wolves howled in the distance. Bizibech was one of the last human towns. Only humans were allowed in or around the lands, and monsters were shot on sight. An old warped sign hung off the metal gates, wood painted over with mercury to spell out the words "Humans Only". It wasn't an inviting sign if one wasn't human.

There was a hate that was always thick in the air in places like this. Dark bending buildings that overcast on the cobblestones. People laughing behind closed doors. Silhouettes danced in the windows. The people that were moving around on the darkened streets at night were often the most pretentious of sorts. To her, places like this were the most amusing. Assholes like this often had the best things to steal and made the funniest noises when their peaceful place got blown up by another human. Or a human thing. Was she actually human? Was she a monster? She couldn't remember anymore.

"There! I want to go in there!" Vitzky pointed her small pale hand forward. Gloves covered her hands but exposed her fingers. Nails that had been chipped with a mixture of mud and blood caked beneath. Had she been digging? She wore a loose chainmail top that she had broken off to make a crop top of sorts, below were leather belts she had wrapped around her chest to 'protect her goodies'. Her pale stomach was exposed, her breasts poking through the top of her makeshift tope of belts but hidden below the chainmail. There were leather pants that clung to her love-handles, and sagged around her thighs and knees, the pants were a dirty moss color and were pushed under metal boots which were strapped in place with multiple belts. There was a bag wrapped around her waist which jingled as she swayed her hips, and her long red hair had been pulled up into a ponytail to the right side of her head, though the ends were as black as the night.

'That's a terrible idea!' Vitzky's dark red eyes looked down at her pouch that carried her 'supplies'. Taking a deep breath, she stomped her right foot, before her lips pulled into a smile again.

"Oh no no no! It'll be so much fun! Look at all the things inside!" The tavern in front of her glowed, but the windows were impossible to see inside. The glass was tempered in such a way it obscured anyone from peeping in. After all, most people wanted to drink in peace.

"Little girl…" The male voice cleared their throat behind her. Vitzky narrowed her eyes as she stared forward into the tempered glass watching the dark figures move on the inside. She bawled her fists.

'Calm down Vitzky!' There was that voice, trying to calm her down, but a voice she often ignored.

"You do seem lost! Shall I help you find your family?" There was the voice again. A man who had been patrolling the streets with a companion had stopped when he saw her, staring and talking to herself. He reached a hand forward tapping her shoulder. While people were still dirty in Bizibech, Vitzky looked like she had just been out in the wilds, which wasn't far from the truth. "Miss?"

Vitzky turned on her heels placing her hands together and under her left cheek, she leaned into it as she looked up at the man. Fluttering her eyes the man took a step back as she smiled. "I'm so sorry sir! I was just debating on getting a drink, is all! A proper meal as well!" The soldier stumbled back; he held a musket in his hand before putting it over his shoulder and nodding, though looking at Vitzky from the front he now knew she was no child. Her height had eluded him to the thought, she wasn't very tall in her boots, only standing around five feet and three inches.

"A proper meal you will get inside there!" From behind the soldier in front of her, another one called from the streets. Here, where the tavern was, the hill sloped down.

"Great! Thanks! Bye!" Vitzky waved her hand high above her head, she twisted dashing into the tavern doors as the first guard had opened his mouth to say something. All that was left in the wind was a mudder 'What a strange woman' before they went on their way.

The wood door creaked behind her as it slammed shut. For a moment there was a silence that floated in the air as people stared at her. "Hi! How are you? What a great night it is!" The patrons grumbled, ignoring her and going back to their meals and drinks. Vitzky whistled as she placed her hands behind her back and marched in through the people. The barkeep ignored her as she passed, too busy listening to someone ordering a drink. Drinks and different liquors lined the walls behind the bar, mostly clear for the most part, but bugs crawled over some of the glasses and scurried over the wooden floor. Inside, the colors were brighter here, browns, mostly candles lit up each table and…Vitzky ignored the looks of the place for the most part as she pushed down into the dark hall.


"OOOOOO! Look at all the shinnies!" It had taken her some time to find the room, knocking on the wood hallway until she had found a hollow echo. She had moved the boards away before stepping inside and finding what she was looking for, a damn treasure trove. After removing the sheets over the items, the silvers and metals had been exposed. Goblets, some coins that some humans used for trading, silverware, and some interesting weapons. Vitzky found the only weapons she had been looking for, bombs, and opened her bag stuffing them inside. A snicker had left her as she found a pistol hanging on the wall with some gunpowder and a poker nearby. She placed the bag of gunpowder inside her pouch with the poker that was used for stuffing the gun, though Vitzky had made sure to prep the gun before taking it off the shelf and placing it on top of her pouch as well. Then, came the fun part! With a giggle, and ignoring the voice in her head telling her not to steal anything else, she tried to stuff beads and coins down her cleavage and in her pockets. When she was a bit weight down, she gathered up an abundance of things that spilled out of her arms, she gathered metal slaps of various colors, and a goblet or two before stepping out of the hidden room.

"Hey! Did Mistress Opi tell you to gather those for the furnace?" Vitzky was trying to straighten herself when she turned to the right. A woman towered over her holding a lantern forward illuminating (and sort of blinding) Vitzky's face. The woman was dressed in torn clothing from head to toe, dirty.

'See? This is exactly why you shouldn't be stealing from others! Busted again!' Vitzky smiled, giggling and stepping back away from the woman.

"O-Of! That's what I was doing just grabbing some stuff for the furnace!" Vitzky lied as the woman tailed her.

"The furnace is this way girl!" The woman pointed behind her into the darkened hallway, but Vitzky kept moving back into the lit-up tavern.

"Is that so? I coulda sworn it was this way- Okay bye!" She turned on her heels dashing into the lit open floor of the tavern.

"Grab that thief! She's stealing our materials!" The woman shouted from behind her.

"Guards!" A waiter had dropped his platter shattering it on the floor, he moved to a window breaking it with his hand as he shouted into the streets. Patreons moved to get up as Vitzky moved narrowly avoiding someone grabbing at her. One woman stood up, putting a bolt in her crossbow and aiming it at her. Vitzky yipped ducking as the bolt flew and cut through some of her long hair. Baring her teeth she glared at the people moving to get her, and the sound of guards sounding their horns. Then, to her pleasure, she saw someone seemingly out of sorts and just entering. Vitzsky threw what she was holding towards them.

"Here! Catch!" Ingots, goblets, coins, pearls, and gems flew through the air towards the man and she turned. Her boots shrieked against the wooden floor as she moved to slow down her momentum. She drew out the pistol, raising it before firing at a man at the bar struggling to free his sword from its hilt, right between the eyes. "This fuckers with me!" Vitzky pointed to the man holding her stuff now. She got to her feet laughing as she swirled the pistol and moved to grab something else inside of her pouch. Guards weren't too far off. Vitzsky grabbed the man's arm, dragging him out of the tavern. "Come on!" she shouted, shoving her pistol into the band of her pants before she found what she wanted, a small bomb. She let go of him as she twisted back around, jumping up to hit a passing lantern and lit the rope of the round bomb. A smile forever plastered on her round face. "Hey, fuckers! Catch this!" Vitzky brought the bomb up over her right shoulder before launching it forward with all her weight as guards came down the hill. The bomb whipped through the air curving to the right and knocked into a group of soldiers (at least six of them), one tried to hold up a shield but it was no use as the bomb went off shrapnel splintering out and cutting into the ground of soldiers, buildings, onlookers, and killing most of them. Bodies hung from the windows. Fire started to consume the buildings and people's clothing from where the bomb had landed. Shrieks of terror filled her ears and…Vitzky clasped her hands together leaning over in a laughing fit.

 

[Vinaein]

Above the land of Revalia, the sun hung low and hungry. Its light had been long since dimmed, serving only the barest functions of keeping the populace below alive. Flickering, golden tendrils of a dying disc, whose origins had been long since forgotten.

It was under that dying sun, with the remnants of memory from his origins in the dark and shadowy forests, out of the lands of Zedonia, the man who had once been a knight had walked. His booted feet had trampled down upon the ancient dirt, throwing up light motes of dust as he walked. Cailan Silantius once of the Order of the Forgotten, had kept his eyes focused ahead as he forged ahead, an unreadable expressipon remaining upon his face as his heart beat within his chest. The man wanted nothing more than a warm bed. He wanted security. HE wanted to get back to the comfort of civilization and off this gods damned road, haunted by ghosts and monsters.

He threw a hand up at a branch, the mailed glove snapping aside the low-hanging wood to the side. A light shower of leaves formed a portal to him to bypass. He reminded himself what he might expect at the crossroads he would find himself. His dark eyes narrowed, his face bearing the mark of several days without shaving. His rough, handsome features gazed ahead, his body wrapped in a spun black cloak that gave the impression of a crouching bat with furled wings. Upon his back, the hilt of a great sword poked through. The hilt was wrapped in a dark leather, ending in a dark pommel set with a red stone.

It was a memento, he supposed, of better days. Of days when he had a place to belong. Of days when he had a purpose. Of days when he felt he had direction.

It was a reasonably decent day, he supposed. But then he had seen a number of decent days in his many years upon the earth. What had the old grandmaster of the order used to say? Ah, that was right. "Never forget to cherish the day you find yourself in, sweet little Lucian. You never know whence may be your last."

Sage advice, even in this day and age. The great and grand scholars called it the "Age of Delirium." When madness passed from human to human s an infection. When the dead refused to remain and lie still in their graves. When they arose in teaming, decaying hordes to wander the land and consume the flesh of the living. Or others, more ancient still, who fed upon the blood of the living.

Once there had been conflict between human kings as his father had told him then. When humanity had battled among one another, so many storied bloodlines ceasing to exist. The Houses of Night had ruled the night even before that, but the victories had solidfied their supremacy when the undead had risen and rampaged across, overthrowing human governments beneath rotting tides. The ancient ones had ruled unchallenged for centuries in this hidden fraternity. Now human kingdoms persisted along with those of the dead.

Cailan preferred to stay away from politics, undead vampiric, human or otherwise, as government among humanity looked to one day drift to extinction.He had been told of each territory, some with councils, some with their own lords and defense forces. Some were friendly to the struggles of vagabonds, others needed to be watched closely. From the northern houses in the lands of endless winter night, to the far east and west, to the great planes of the deserts, and the lush forests of the south, to the withered and barren lands undead. Some terrorized the humans within their borders, others tried to rule justly.

All for the might of the Spark itself. And all with the legacy of the madness and folly of scholars. Now it all stood, a testament to hubris. Revalia was a tale of madness and mysticism.

And Cailan had the dubious honor of knighthood there. He had been a knight, for what little it was worth. He had fought. He had killed the deserving and the undeserving. He had been branded long ago, for his refusal to cross some of the only moral lines he had left. Now he was a mercenary, for what little he could afford. Striving for killing monsters for coin.

Now he was approaching Bizibech. Cailan liked cities. He preferred them to the wilderness. He liked the feel of hard cobblestone under his feet, liked the hustle and chaos of people all about him. There were women heading about with wares to sell, bundles of clothing, carrying along children, men working at stalls to sell their wares, a smith working his forge in the corner of the nearby square with a great hammer cracking down upon some unfortunate hunk of metal to beat and bend it into shape with the scent of smoke thick within the former knight's nose.

The bounties he carried had fetched a few crowns, but such was the lot of a mercenary and monster hunter. Everyone thought it was a glamorous life, full of adventure and danger and glorious combat, where knights faced legendary beasts on the regular schedule and squared off against world-ending madmen, winning the love of beautiful warrior women and sorceresses...the reality was most of it was spent on cheap contracts, nasty bloodsuckers or wolves. Maybe the odd ghoulish, shambling wreck here and then.

It was like exterminating rats, Cailan thought. You went in, killed a bunch of undead, got paid a few cois for the privilege and bought food and lodgings. Rinse and repeat. The damn things were plentiful, dangerous enough to a hunter careless enough to be caught by them, but he had never been the careless type. Now, with the proof of the kill, his purse bore enough to purchase a meal and a bed before the next contract. He would have time to remain here. He could drink. He could relax. Signs of 'HUMANS ONLY' outside were indeed a good sign there.

It meant he'd not be interrupted.

There was a tavern and by the gods, he wanted a tavern. He was thirsty. He could've gotten to more work, but he was hungry, tired and needed information. He stopped by a stall and purchased a pair of new boots, trying not to think how it emptied his purse, asking where he would go if he wanted a good stew.


This was the mark of civilization: The chaos, the endless droning of individuals about him, the chattering and cheerfulness. There was the air of hostility about them of course, that much never changed. He was a Hunter, a former knight. He was a branded man, marked long ago, barely tolerated until they needed monsters exterminated, then paid and driven off when they no longer required his services. Hell, there was a familiarity to that though, a sort of comforting reminder that the world still turned in all the proper ways. He'd have to be quite surprised if he wasn't being insulted for being what he was at some point

The name of "Cailan, Butcher of Korvagard" might have made its way even this far to Bizibech if he was unfortunate. But nobody watched him with any recognition. He could keep his blades with him. With the wolves howling out in the distance, that seemed a good idea, no less.

The tavern he found was warm and homey. It was hardly a big place, yet populated sparsely throughout with those enjoying their drinks and stews. He paid several coins for a bowl of food and for a good ale, lowering himself at the corner. A big man, muscled like him stood out, and people could tell a warrior when they saw one.

He took a moment to step outside with food and drink being prepared, staring up at a sky the color of ink, Little stars dotted the tapestry of night, the spine of the sky linked by flaring nebulas and the blaze of the moon. But at least the town was peaceful.

At least-

He turned to go back into the tavern, ready for drinks. Ready for a meal. Ready for a bed. Ready to figure out what the hell life had in store for him next time.

" "Grab that thief! She's stealing our materials!"

Wait, what? Cailan looked up, confusion twisting his face into knots. What the hell was going on? The tavern was erupting into a chaotic mess. He was just walking back in when he saw the hurried rush of bodies, heard the click of a snapping crossbow, followed by the buzz of a bolt that slammed nearby. The woman was smaller than he, with hair the color of a blood tide, with ends as black as the sky outside.

"Here! Catch!"

The woman was throwing something at him. Lucian yelped out, a growl of shock and surprise. Instinctively, he reached out his hands and ingots, goblets, coins, pearls, and gems fell into his hands. He dropped most of them, dimly aware of a gunshot, from what the bizarre woman was holding.

"This fucker's with me!"

"I am NOT with her!" He shouted, in complete vain. The others were moving and he was dropping priceless stones on the floor like rain. The woman, the damned cause of all this was seizing his wrist, shouting for him to go with her and he was positively ready to throttle her at that exact moment. He was back outside, too stunned to resist and she was holding...

Oh, FUCK him.

"IS THAT A BOMB?!" He shouted. Before she answered that question by throwing it. The city was in chaos, with fire and explosions, Cailan's eyes wide as he realized his life was now likely forfeit.

"You. Insane. Fucking." He started at the laughing woman, reaching to seize and shaker her. "What the HELL did you just do!?" He stopped, reaching for his sword as guards were approaching. "Grrr....COME ON!" he said as he began to rush down for the alleyways. It did not seem anyone would give them a chance to explain.

"What the hell are you up to here?! What is this all about?" Not that it even mattered, but he rather wanted an explanation. One thing was for certain?

The city was no longer a place to relax and take it easy. It would go even worse if the guards found out he had a price on his head for the northern kingdoms. For better or worse, he had to flee with this madwoman now.

Fuck his life.

 

[Lagertha]

"IS THAT A BOMB?!"

Vitzky was cackling madly, hair falling over her shoulders as she wrapped her arms around herself. Madness. Chaos. Watching the cluster of chicken fucks leave their homes in a flurry of shrieks was always the best. She had ignored the man's surprised yelp of the bomb, too amused and ready to see the inferno it would bring. The sound of metal dropping to the ground behind her turned her attention back to her unwilling accomplice.

"What the HELL did you just do!?"

Vitzky laughed as he shook her. "I blew up the place! Ka-BOOM!" She placed her hands together before spreading them out in front of his face motioning the explosion as she giggled, proud of herself.

"Don't forget the gold! Gold! Gold! Gold!" Vitzky moved, dipping to scoop up some of the ingots he had abandoned in his surprise. Tucking them under her arm just in the nick of time as he pulled on the back of her chainmail. People stumbled out of the tavern, shock flooding their faces. One turned to the pair as Vitzky held up a hand and waved with a giggle as she was tugged away. The man struggled to load a new bolt into his crossbow, he readied only to be pushed aside as more people tried to escape the burning tavern. The man holding the crossbow pulled them aside and fired, barely missing her foot as she jumped. "That wasn't very nice!" Vitzky raised her right hand in a fist.

Stumbling to catch up to his long strides, she shoved his arm away and waved her arm rapidly in the air. "Chill out old man! I got what I needed, you can go now, okay? Byyyyeee!" Vitzky moved, dashing down a dark hallway. She tried to reach around to fumble into her sack and get out another bomb, but the attempt made jewelry fall out of her pockets. Grunting, she stopped trying to pick up the pieces she had lost but one rolled into the crack of a building. "Gahhh!" Vitzky shoved her boot against the wood, kicking it. Dust floated in the air from her kick, but the wood didn't budge.

A horn bellowed in the distance, announcing the chase would start for the thief and her accomplice. Vitzky looked up into the sky, back bending backward so her chest was upwards, crows fluttered above the tall buildings dashing away from the nose. "Time to go!"

Puddles splashed under her feet as she ran twisting through alleyway to alleyway. Guards shouted in the distance, the horn continuing to blow. People were gathering, a light blazing from behind. No doubt villagers had started to gather to participate in the chase.

"Cold, cold! Ohhh that's fucking cold!" Vitzky was shoving the ingots under the front of her pants, a leg in the air as she hopped from the cold. Shaking her hands, she leaned down when she heard footsteps and shouting up ahead. A group of villagers passed with a soldier leading the way, a torch in what weapons they could scrounge up in hand, a pitchfork, a butcher knife. The group went to the left, up the hill.

"Think they went this way!" A woman said.

"Right we should get some buckets to put out the fire. Hurry now!" A lanky man stated as they disappeared around a building. Vitzsky looked around the edge of the alleyway, she fumbled in her sack again twisting around until she pulled out some small clusters of black orbs. With a toss-up the hill after she shook them, she turned around to run down the hill and to an opening in the gate. As she dashed away, the little clusters went off more shrapnel, but smaller more condensed ones that only extended a foot into the air. Where the shrapnel hit, wires, thin and hard to see, linked making sure no one would follow.

A whisper left her lips as she sailed over the break in the wall, a happy strut until she turned around to see the man still following her. Her brows rose, surprised to see him. "What's wrong puppy? Lost your way? Go on then! Shu! Shu!" Vitzky made the motion for him to go back to town, as she turned going off the road and walking towards the nearby forest.

 

[Vinaein]

Cailan was not having a very good evening. Perhaps that was a touch redundant to say at the moment, with bombs exploding and a madwoman laughing about him. This strange woman with tresses the color of blood and shadow was embracing herself, as though she gained an intense thrill from the destruction. That was not something, by contrat, that Cailan enjoyed. He liked low profiles. Good food. Keeping to himself and getting his job done. Now his job and his life had been dramatically complicated, much to his annoyance and his anger.

"I blew up the place! KA-BOOM!" complete with...a visual demonstration. Cailan sucked in a breath through his teeth. In and out, in and out. Ask a stupid and obvious question, you get a stupid and obvious answer, he supposed. Not that it made this any better. And she was shrieking about gold, scooping it up, while he tried to regain his dignity.

"Is that REALLY so important right now?!" He shouted at her, people staggering out to see everything. To see him there. "I...I am not with her!" He tried to protect. It did about as good as trying to stop a ballista bolt with a sheet of parchment. Crossbows were being loaded, swords were being drawn and they were attacking, while Cailan was figuring it might be in his best interest to leave this crazy woman to her fate.

"That wasn't very nice!"

"I don't care at all what's nice right now! We're going to die if you don't run!" His own gloved and mailed fists were balled. He'd lost his own pack back there, leaving him with his weaponry but precious few other possessions in the world and it was all her fault, while they rushed down an alley, the crazy woman scattering things everywhere around...

And with one coin lost between cracks. "Seriously? Seriously? You're really doing this?!" He could have slammed his foot through the wood, but it would have created noise. And he didn't want noise anymore now.

"Time to go!"

Did she switch her damned personality and focus at the drop of a hat? He didn't want to answer that. No, right now, he wanted his life to be less exciting, all while he was rushing after her, through the puddles. "Just shut up about the cold!" He snarled back. "The fires back there are warmer, probably whatever the cells they use! And I get an executioner's hood is good and snug if you want to go back for one! Everyone in this place is going to be on us!"

Down the twisting maze they went, into an urban labyrinth, through the hill, to the gate, he ran. He managed to catch his breath, panting ragged and furious as he glowered.

"Puppy. What did. You just. CALL me?" He growled and folded his arms, glaring at her. "You have officially made it impossible for me to return!" He threw his hands up. "If I go back there, they'll bloody well hang me!" His voice rose, angry now. "Who are you?! What are you doing, where are you from?! What is your name?!" He was yelling now, jabbing a finger at her chest.

"I am a knight, I'll have you know! A professional hunter and now I'm a fugitive! You could have killed people back there!" He glanced back at the town. "....And now we might be vulnerable to undead with my damn luck in running into you! Who. Are. YOU!?"

 

[Lagertha]

Vitzky laughed when he got upset about her calling him a puppy. Wasn't he though? He had followed her the whole way out of Bizibech complaining while he was along for the ride.

"You have officially made it impossible for me to return!"

"Not my problem!" Vitzky turned on her heels, whistling as she pulled the ingots out of the front of her pants and grinned. She tossed the heavy metal in her hands enjoying the weight of them as she skipped happily away. Then the bickering puppy kept raising his voice disrupting her groove.

"If I go back there, they'll bloody well hang me!" "Who are you?! What are you doing, where are you from?! What is your name?!"

She had barely turned around to face him when he started jabbing hard at her chest. The motion was enough to stagger her backward. Vitzky's playful demeanor was diminishing, both ingots were in her right hand as she used her left index finger to scratch the inside of her left ear. "Gods! Puppies are so annoying!" Rolling her eyes she exhaled, exasperated. "I don't answer to you! You annoying little Puppy! Go away! Bother someone else!" Vitzsky placed a hand on her chest as if offended, she turned back on her heels moving deeper into the thicker grass.

The moon was beaming overhead, the howls growing louder the more she walked. Dew clung to the plants around them. The grass went from grazing her heels, to her thighs. Twisted trees started to become visible, a glowing light beyond their branches. There was something sinister about the sight, as if the branches were posed to strike and attack at any moment. Seemingly ignoring his remark about him asking her name and announcing he was a knight, she went closer to the forest. 'Are you seriously going to ignore him? Isn't it your fault he's stuck in this situation?' Another roll of her eyes as she exhaled sharply.

"No one asked you!" It was a harsh whisper not meant for him but the voice in her head, not easily heard over the sounds of cicadas around them. There was a glowing orange light through the branches, and a horse making sounds in the nearby distance. It didn't seem like she was much frightened of the things that went bump in the night as she pushed through the twigs. Branches bounced bounding back in place. Thick steel boots crunching leaves under the weight of her stride. Softly, a hum returned to her lips. A clearing formed in front of them, big enough and far enough in the forest no one from Bizibech could see or would dare to enter. Fabric has been placed over a low hanging branch, the corners tied down in the dirt with large stakes. There was a dim lit fire pit in the center of the clearing, some metal sticks had been placed together and bound at the top with some wire to make a tripod, there was a pot boiling with some water hanging from the tripod. There were some jugs hanging around the tent, and looked like there might have been a bed inside, another larger bag had opened spilling over with more of her spoils, or what had remained from the previous town. A horse came into view through as she stopped with her hands. "Look here Precious! I got us some more goodies!" With the shadow obsurcing it's face, the horse chewed on some hay, it's large brown eyes looked between her and the stranger, snorting the horse banged a holve against the ground before stepping into the light of the forest. There in the light, it's right side was exposed, some of the skeleton was exposed below, no eye in it's right socket, no rotting flesh, muscle exposed, and it's ribcage showing through torn flesh. Unphased by it's grizzly appearance, she stepped forward to brush between it's eyes with her left hand letting the horse sniff her ignots. No doubt this horse had been something reanimated. Precious beckoneded to the stranger and Vitzky glared at the man.

"Just ignore him. He's a sad puppy without a pack." Vitzky had moved over to the opened sack on the ground, stuffing the ignots and rest of the stuff she had stolen into the bag, mainly jewlery and coins. "We can sell of this in the next town and get you a nice harness, okay?" Precious glared at him before huffing as it nayed moving over to her, it placed it's chin on her shoulder as she stayed croched down going through her bags.

'I don't like company.' Vitzky looked up at the horse staring in it's one brown eye as she sighed. A conversation only for the two of them, but was she really hearing the horse in her head? Or was it more delusions?

"Are you ever going to leave Puppy? The act is getting sort of old!" A smile was on her face, mischeivous as she rummaged through a different bag. With her back to him she had slipped her pistol out, filling it with gunpowder and stuff it down. Though it wasn't clear if she intended to use it to get rid of him or not. There wouldn't be enough food for two people, not for long, Vitzky never enjoyed company.

 

[Vinaein]

He did not like her laughing at his misfortunes. He did not like having misfortunes. He especially did not appreciate at her laughing at the misfortunes she had created. She had indeed made it wholly impossible for him to go back, more problems for him at the moment. "Not my problem!" Was her carefree response, bringing a furious scowl to his face.

"Not your- " he started, cutting his voice off. He shut his eyes, counted to three the best he could to still the raging hammering in his chest and fighting the overwhelming urge to seize her by that red and black hair and put his hand around her throat with a lesson she'd not soon forget. "I could make it your problem," he muttered under his breath, a sullen fury rising within him, almost impossible to stop. He was getting the idea she saw him less as a person and more as a lost little puppy.

He stabbed his finger, like a thrusting rapier, glaring daggers at her, relieved he could at least have this level of control at the moment. "Did you just call me a puppy?" He said furiously. "I have a name, woman. It's Cailan!" He seized her shoulder, suddenly aware of the howls about them. "And..." he trailed off. Suddenly quite aware of an intense amount of danger for the moment. He released her, the moon shining overhead.

Silvery rays of moonlight hung down upon them, the moon peeking out through an array of heavy, thick clouds that still masked the stars, the grass swaying in the breeze with gnarled and bent trees all around them. "....Woman, where did you bring us?" He hissed to her, his eyes narrowed to dark slits, the brand on his back positively throbbing.

It was never a good sign. The brand could detect things. Things hungry and dark, things powerful and ancient. Things that had a detrimental effect on one's long term health... "I don't care if you asked me or not. We may have a problem here!" He said. They could not go back, that was one thing that was out of the question. Certain death lurked behind them, but forward was really not too much better. In fact...

Well, there was nothing particularly comforting about this whole experience, now was there? "You have a name or don't you, she wolf?" It seemed a better nickname than "puppy" at least, he thought as he walked alongside her, looking at the trees. Several bore deep gouges, furrows of claws. That worried him even more than he had thought.

This land was infested. Monsters roamed the wilderness and preyed upon them at will. But still, he followed this strange and mad woman, evn as much as he hated every second of it. All the way to a horse. A horse who remained safe. A horse evidently named "Precious" By what the crazy woman said.

Because of course it was.

But then....wait, he thought. He blinked, realizing something. "The horse is undead. Are you a necromancer?" He asked. His tone was curious, but lacking in judgments, his fingers brushing to his chin. "No wonder nothing would touch your horse here. I was just wondering, but nothing wants dead meat." It also appeared affectionate, neighing and huffing.

""Are you ever going to leave Puppy? The act is getting sort of old!"

"What act, woman?" He shot back at her. "I can't go back, and wandering off alone might be a death sentence. The way I figure, you owe me some coin at the very least!" He folded his arms across his chest, glowering at her. "And you still haven't told me your name in between ruining my entire damned life."

 

[Lagertha]

Vitzky groaned. All this man, what was his name again? Call, Cali am, Caliber? It didn't matter. He was driving her up the wall following her blaming her for his issues, which it was true she had caused the most recent ones. Now he was annoyed she was calling him puppy? Obnoxious.

'I am bored.' Precious neighed noisily, huffing as he stared at Calian before shaking his head and walking away. He moved, disappearing behind trees in the forest.

"Precious! Get your fuzzy butt back here and help me with dinner!" Vitzky was on her feet, stomping them as the horse whipped it's tail before disappearing into the darkness. Now, it was just her and this damn angry man barking at her. "Quiet down Puppy! I can't think!" The pistol bounced against her thigh as she whirled around barring her teeth at Calian. Gunpowder rolled out of the barrel painting the ground by her feet, but she held up the gun casually pointing at him. "Neco-whatsabob?" A confused look struck her face, and she rubbed her temple with the side of the gun before tossing it down on the ground. No bullets inside as the gun bounced before stilling by her bags.

"I can't go back, and wandering off alone might be a death sentence. The way I figure, you owe me some coin at the very least!"

"Coin will get rid of you then? Hmph!" Annoyed she twisted around again rummaging through her bags. She flung things wildly out of the bag, bottles, some mixed with liquid some empty, some clean, some not. There were a few bags she gently placed down by her, small groupings of something special she left out. With everything she had stolen one might have thought it'd be easy for her to share, but Vitzky was a greedy fucker. "Here's a coin then." She found one, bent, gold coin and as she stood back up facing him she tossed it to him.

"And you still haven't told me your name in between ruining my entire damned life."

Vizky broke out in laughter, holding her sides again. He was so bent on knowing her name! What a hilarious thing at that. "You want my name? My name is so important to you? Here's my name!" Vitzky had casually strolled over mocking him, with a jump she swung her hand smacking him hard on the jaw. As her feet hit the ground, she shook her hand wildly. Was his damn jaw made of stone? "Ow! Ow! Ow!" She twirled back around, but that was his answer, she seemed unwilling to care to give him the decency of her name.

 

[Vinaein]

The woman really had a way about her. A very, very special way that was fast proving to grate on Cailan's nerves. What was more? She was a necromancer. Presumably a powerful one as well. The way the horse stood was simply too good, for a creature that had been dead so long. It functioned like it had in life, perhaps even better than that, he thought as he began to scout out behind the trees, leaving behind the woman's shouts for the horse to...

Help her with dinner. Yep, there was an odd one alright. The knight contained himself, quelling his anger. He had been called many things over the course of his life. Traitor, assassin, murderer, butcher. But puppy was a new one, admittedly. "Necromancer," he said, forcing himself to a calm state of sheer serenity. He'd probably gotten so angry that there was little to be gained by explosive rage. Rather, he had reached a state of abject tranquility. "Necromancer, those who dabble with the dead and raise up bodies and souls. You did that with your horse...Precious, no?" He would have been just thrilled to leave now, to accept the coin-

The coin. The one coin. The single. One and only. Bent. Fucking. Coin. Cailan reached a state beyond that. :I- " he was cut off by her hit to his face. The blow was more surprising than anything, doing more to hurt her than him. "Serves you right," he grumbled to her, "Fine, be that way." Like he needed to know her name. "Keep your bloody coin, too." He tossed it back at her, not caring if she caught it or not.

"You've made a fine mess of it, though. Explosions, destruction. Miracle if nobody was killed back there, which mean people will be- "

He stopped. Quieting down, he glanced to and fro, all about. Something was in the forest.

Something was beyond the trees. Moving closer. A twig snapped, loudly, something brushing through the underbrush with no rgard for stealth. Cailan forgot the mad woman for a moment, forgot everything except survival as shambling things brushed past them, possessing only the most rudimentary form of knowledge and coordination. But they banded together as well, coming in a unit.

Walking corpses. Hungry for flesh. After them. And there were a good few of them, too. Cailan pulled his sword free, ready to fight. "Hey, crazy woman. You able to help!?"

 

[Lagertha]

He gave the definition of a necromancer, as if she cared. Vitkzy grunted, annoyed he was still talking and around. Had giving him a coin not been enough? Had slapping the fucker also not been enough? Well, she still had a few bombs around but blowing up her campsite wouldn't be the best of options. Plus the dismayed look Precious would give her with his one good eye would be enough to upset her for a while. No. She could just....


"Keep your bloody coin, too." She looked over her shoulder as he tossed it back. Effortlessly she caught it before bouncing it in her left hand. That was fine with her, the more shiny things the better! Tossing the coin back into the bags she started to put things away but left two neatly wrapped packages out.

"I'm sure a few people died! It's no fun if someone lives!" Vitkzy giggled as she started to unwrap one of the packages. Inside was some meat she had scavenged from a previous forest. It wasn't the easiest thing to find fresh meat. Most of the creatures were monsters anymore and ate the wildlife. Farms were always under attack for their livestock. What animals could be found in hearts or abundance were so thick in the forest or places crawling with monsters it wasn't an easy feat to do alone. There was enough in the package to last her a month, if she took care of it well and dried it. If he stayed? There would only be enough for about a week, maybe two. Two would be stretching it with a man his size he likely ate three times the amount of protein she did. Besides, Vitkzy already had one fussy companion, she didn't need another.

Lowly humming she unraveled the second package, this would only last a week at least two days for two people, but it was easier to find herbs and edible plants in abundance. Vegetables and herbs of various colors and shapes, smells were in the bag. As the water began to boil over, a twig snapping in the distance, she placed some of the herbs and vegetables in the pot along with some of the meat. With a stick, she stirred everything together as he drew his weapon. Lazily she looked up at him rolling her eyes as the hollow sound of the undead sounded nearby.

"Oh, Mister Puppy knight! I'm sure you can protect such a defenseless thing like me from such terrible creatures!" Vitkzy placed her hands under her chin fluttering her eyes as she sat in front of the fire. It seemed she was also unwilling to help him fight this battle. Rather, she was busy making food. Another snap of the twigs getting closer, her head jerked to look over her left shoulder as the sluggish movement came. A thing pulling itself against the ground, only the top of its torso still in tack, severed above the hips, what was left of their insides had dried and withered away long ago, only dust left a trail behind it. If this was any indication, there were more behind it in the distance.

"Welp! You got this right? That's right a noble knight knows exactly what he is doing!" Vitkzy was on her feet, she scooped up the bag with her food and some jewels. Just as two skeletons emerged, one dragging a long sword on the ground, another with an ax. "Okay byyyyeee!" With that, she jumped up a tree, scaling it above her tent, she went up the branches until she was barely visible above the flames. Enough he could likely tell she was still there. The branch was thick and sturdy and she placed her bags down before leaning against it and stretching out. Hands behind her back, with a smile on her face and staring up at the sky with his impending doom below, she chuckled before closing her eyes. Well, this was one way to get rid of someone trying to tag along.