!PRIVATE! Marchen: The Journey

[Freyr Leofric]

"You say that this was the most recent spot that evidence was found, Lt. Morgan?"

"Y-yes, my Lord. A spirit exorcism was performed here... Considering the manner in which the job was done, there's no mistake that it was her."

"Heh. Excellent."

The voices that were faint at first now grew much louder to those in the shady inn. Without so much as a knock, a tall dark figure cloaked in black armor and a black helmet to hide his face stepped into the tavern. A dozen men dressed similarly followed him. A hundred more waited outside.

"I wish to speak with a man called Gahrroe." The first figure said. The tone of his voice yielded no argument.

[Aki Ameko]

Aki shed more tears from the frustration of Ryuunosuke not letting her take command. "Suke! Come on, let's go!" She pleaded with the Horgon. But then she realized that something was definitely wrong. It was as if Suke was trying to flee, but was blocked in every direction. It was then that Aki felt the eerie aura. "Suke... Suke, what is it? What's out there?" She hoped that the horgon would know what was going on, what to do, and would simply let her know through a visual image as he had done before. But something seemed to be horribly wrong.

[SilverDragonetsu]

From behind the bar stood a lone old man, wipping down the bar top with a moist rag. His motions slow and wary. Eyes holding worried concern as his name was called out. The sight of these men reminded him of days long past and stories from other countries. Kings invading and high taxes bleeding them dry. Warbringers and fighters invading towns for their own greedy need.

He wet his dry, cracked, and discolored lips. Swallowed his imaginations that brewed nastly in his mind. And called out. "Oyo. Young man. I am Gahrroe. Keeper of this tavern. Mind...that you make no trouble here. We are but simple folk...who ask for no bother." Gahrroe shifted from one foot to another, facing the man clad in black armour at the entrance of his tavern. He could only assume trouble was ammidst. Not often did someone come in garb of full plate as such. Only in dark times, he feared...

"What can I offer you and your party? Eats and shelter, perhaps?" He wipped down his hands with the rag, before stuffing it in his apron pocket.

~

Ryuunosuke came to a juttering stop. He stood still, and slowly began to walk backwards, as though being stalked at his front. And the sence of danger quickly filled the air. A high pitched scream came from above, completely inhuman. A Dark creature, one of those from the two that had chased Ryuu in the images Ryuunosuke had shared with Aki, appeared from the trees above and dove at her with it's calws at the ready.

It not reach her though. The creature cried out in pain as a silver light flashed through the air over Aki's head, pummling the demon creature in it's side. Sending it soaring into the tree's. It slammed against one of the forest behemoths, pinned to the tree by a long curved blade, a chain attached to one end for easy retrival. So the master of the weapon could never loose it.

The length of the chain feel slack in Aki and Ryuunosuke's path, the horgan jumping back startled by it's sound. turnign swiftly, the horgon faced the keeper of the weapon. It was a cloaked being, like that of the three whom had taken Ryuu. The strange miniture being stepped from the foliage he had been hidden among, gathering up the slack chain as he did.

Approching the writhing and lashing demon pinned to the tree, The stranger showed no fear. For as they approched, The demon slowly died, becoming twisted and stiff like a mummy, before crumbling into dust. Leaving behind only a black pile of material, which the stranger pointed at. The pile burst into flames. He would claim it, but it was too putrid adn wreaking of evil.

Turning at last to Aki, after having retrived his weapon from the tree it were imbedded in, the creature stare at her giving a nod of respect. Turning it's head at the sound of a near whistle, the creature replied with it's own whistle. More beings clad the very same as the one that stood before Aki began to appear from the foliage and forest. Five, plus the one before Aki. One of the new arrivals approched and began to speek in a soft voice with Aki's 'savoir'. Their words strange and unknown.

[Bones McCoy]

Despite the anger brewing within him, the vampire did enjoy the fall, the slide most of all. Childish still. The vampire grunted though when the pleasant ride would end as he landed on his rear. Vent was never one for graceful falls.

Glancing upwards, he grinned. Typical vanishing holes. Taking in his new surroundings, the vampire hissed. He couldn’t smell Ryuu, only a strange odor he couldn’t quite place yet.
Shutting his eyes briefly, the vampire opened his mind, searching for his master. ‘Where are you?’ he snapped in thought as his gaze lingered around the room.

The vampire would stay put for the present time being. He remembered the last time he roamed around a room despite the warnings plastered on the walls. “Well, where have you placed me mangy creatures?”

~

‘Inuki? Who the hell was that?’ Daniel couldn’t recall being told of anyone named Inuki, and well, he didn’t want to meet him, “Sorry? Dear child, no need to be…Vent is the one that shouldn’t have fed you blood…and he really shouldn’t have either…” The priest’s voice trailed off when he heard a noise…or rather felt the change.

“Well Usa, seems we have unwanted guest…and this is why I didn’t want you to be left with me…I can’t walk…” Daniel stated sighing heavily. He’d beat the crap out of Vent the next time he saw him.

Daniel knew he couldn’t use his human strength to bring about a shield, another reason he wanted to murder the vampire, and perhaps glare at Ryuu. He’d been expended at his handy trick back at that town.
Closing his eyes, as he didn’t want the glow of his eyes to scare Usa, or let be known to what he was. Daniel raised his hand, palm facing the heavens above, “Lartsecna srats tnarg noitcetorp rof sa gnol sa siht ydob nac niatsus ti.”

A faint glow of green domed around Daniel and Usa, making a shield against any creature that should attack.
The ex-priest fell back, still clutching onto the child. He would have a limit amount of time, before the shield would wear off and he’d be dead. The shield will only last as long as Daniel breathed air.

[Aki Ameko]

Aki tried to remain calm as Ryuunosuke reared unsteadily back and forth. "Woa, boy! Steady! STEADY!" And then she saw the danger flying in from above. With a sharp intake of breath, Aki stared up at the creature, shock clogging all conprehension of what might happen.

But as quickly as the creature descended, it was put to a stop by a flying, chained blade. Aki looked around wildly to see the identity of her 'savior'. But one look at the creature, and it's comrades that soon followed, made anger rise in Aki's chest.

"YOU!! Who are you?!! What have you done with Ryuu??!!" Aki's tone was demanding, and surprisingly authoritive. She somehow felt that the creatures might listen to her, despite having no idea who or what they were.

[SilverDragonetsu]

In the midsts of their...conversation, the short beings pasued and looked up to the Curess, googles showing naught a wink of emotion or expression. It was obvious they were shocked she had yelled at them, though. Each looked at one another, whispering in a form of decisive urgency.

Seeming to come upon a decision, the leader of the group approched the horgon and offered up his blade-claw baring hand, seeming to request something from the Curess.

Ryuunosuke reared his head as the creature approched, weary of it's appearence. Suke felt these creatures a familiar presence. But he could not be sure weather they were of trustable alliances or not.

The creature reached up, trying to grasp a lead reign, to guide the Curess and the Horgon. Though beingas short as he were, he could not quite grasp the reign. His claws jabbed towards the reign, up out of his reach, making him appear as a small child asking for sweets on a high counter. His company beyond him made comment of this in their tongue, bring a physical sweat drop and anger mark appear at the beings temple.

[Aki Ameko]

Aki listened in annoyance to the strange chatter. Garrgh, how she wished she knew a language other than Elvish and Common!

"STAND BACK!" She yelled as the being approached her and Ryuunosuke. "EXPLAIN, OR BE CURSED!" More quickly than the creatures would have seen, Aki had reached into her pouch and grabbed a dark red amulet that she was holding out at them in a threatening manner. It seemed they would not win her trust easily.

[Freyr Leofric]

"Show the proper respect, filthy human." There was a slight tone of anger and annoyance in Freyr's voice, laced with a snobbish sneer. "I am much older than than the likes of you."

Freyr took a few steps forward, while some of his men spread themselves out in the tavern, watching all within it sharply and hands ready on their blades.

"Tell me the whereabouts of a Curess called Aki Ameko."

[SilverDragonetsu]

Gahrroe stepped back sharply, startled by the 'young mans' tone. His eyes darted to shaking and clinking bottles behind him, tempted into falling whence coliding withthe shelves behind him. He eased foreward a hair of an inch, but no more, to keep the bottles stady, but without taking his eyes too long from the being befoe him and envoking harm to himself or the guests of his tavern.

"A..C--cur-ress?" his eyes averted as in thought, whilest really to hide the wary glaze in his eyes. Oh, he knew of a Curess. How could he forget the young woman who'd saved his tavern and the lazy villiage from eternal sleep not but quater moon ago? Her pure image plante ditself in his mind, and he debated swiftly what sort of trouble followed the young woman? Surely she were no trouble maker herself?

"I-I...Ha-haven't the....the slightest mind w-what you mean...good sir." Aged hands shook of little more than natural reason as Gahrroe fumbled with his hand in his apron, trying to keep a game face and cool complextion.

~~~~

All bu the one creature nearest Aki and Ryuunosuke swiftly backed away some ten paces each, showing a mysterious respect as they muttered what could be taken in as apologies. The leader of the group, though, held his ground. Unphased by her threats to be cursed. He merely stepped back to look up at Aki, without having to crane his neck so much. And tilted his head to the side in an, 'Oh, Really?' sort of manner.

The creature began to chatter at Aki, his words almost undertsandable to an extent, by means of his tone. He was trying to explain something to her. Among his words were the name 'Ryuu Kai', spoken with dificulty due to his natural dialect and racial lingual.

As the Creature began to make hand gestures, one of which was directed at the ground, Ryuunosuke lifted his head high with a nod. It seemed the horgon was understanding, and only hoped that Aki did as well. Craning his head around, Ryuunosuke nibbled at the reigns near Aki's hand, bobbing his head as he made a grip upon them, before pulling them from her hands. The horgon lowered his neck to offer the reigns to the short being before them, scrapping his claws in the soft earthen ground, nodding and snorting as the creature took the reigns.

[Freyr Leofric]

He figured the man would deny everything. Nobody ever seemed to want to give out info about Aki. But he decided to hold off on harsh means for a little longer.

"Aki Ameko. Curess by profession, but I daresay she'd be quite rich if someone payed her for her temper. But none the less she seems to make enough use of her charming wit to get by. No taller than my shoulders, with fluffy red hair. Are you telling me you have not seen this woman?"

Freyr held out one hand into an open fist, and made a gesture like we was squeezing something invisible between his fingers. At the same time, a cold, agonizing tightness formed around Gahrroe's neck. "Because I think you have."

[Aki Ameko]

Aki gave the strange creatures a stubborn and confused stare as they chattered away. She got a sense that they felt justified in their acts, and that they might remedy the issue at her request.

"Suke--?!" Aki was startled as Ryuunosuke tugged the reigns from her, and watched in shock as he handed them to the leader, feeling betrayed. "Suke!!" She pleaded with the horgon, but it seemed that he had somehow gotten converted to their side.

Aki looked around on all sides, feeling quite stuck. It seemed she had no choice but to comply. She had no idea what these creatures might do to her should she resist--the leader didn't seem to take her cursing seriously, anyway. Reluctantly, Aki lowered her arm and gave a nod that she would let them lead her. But she kept her amulet in her hand, and tucked under her skirt--she still didn't trust them.

[SilverDragonetsu]

Something about this man before him left Gahrroe nervous. A growing stillness in the air. The words spoken only made him feel more sheepish. If only he had been born inhuman, he might feel less terrified in this magical beings presence.

"I assure you...sire...," Gahrroe began quickly, watching the blue haired lads hand gesture. "I...know no...suc--!!!" His words were swiftly cut off. His breath, once warm and wheezing, turned cold and stopped almost all at once. Feeble fingers swept to his thin elderly neck, nail scraping and clawing at the invisiable force that threatened to suffocate him. To no avail though, he found only his flesh. His weak and aged heart raced in panic, eye wide in terror as he serch the room for someone...something. His patrons were all too terrified themselves, though, to take a stand or even step forth. His eyes then came to The man whos hand mimed a crushing motion towards him. A pleading to spare him, and for another, surely far away by now, to forgive him.

Gahrroe's lips slowly formed silent whisps in a struggle to create words in his lack of air or breath. His wind pipes crushed like hallow stems.

~

For many hundreds of yards the miniture strangers led the way through the wood, each standing in an escorting manner. Constanly watching and listening like gaurds dogs. Some hour later, traversed deep into the wood, they stopped. Directly before a single tree that appeared quite apart from all the rest. It was short, unlike the rest of the tree's in the wood. Though also much more round in width, and it's bark more rough and ragged in appearal. What seemed to show most significant about this tree, though, were how it's roots appeared to have naturally grown a makeshift stair way.

The beings gathered for a moment, uttering their usual prattle, as they moved onward up the great set of stairs. As one grew closer to the surface of the short giant, a person could see a most unusual aspect of the tree. At the top of the stairs were a great door, smooth with a dial in it's center, littered in many shapes and notches and grooves that also individually turned. Again, natural in appearence. As if the tree had grown itself a door right into it's side. Only problem was there were no handle.

A simple perk to keep unwanted guests out, t'was all. Two of Aki's 'escorts' hurried to the front of the group. And with a team effort, guided the dial into postion, turning it this way, then than, and shifting it's notches, adn grooves just so. A heeve. A ho. And the dial as a whole shifted inward into the tree a whole foot.

The earth hummed like the sound one hears while their ears are plugged or ready to pop. Then died gradually as the door in the tree swung open, reveiling the tree to be completely hallow inside.

Ryuunosuke bobbed his head and stamped his foot, taking a willful step foreward as he followed the creatures into the dark hallowed tree.

[Bones McCoy]

( -insert post- >> cause I don't know what to do)

[SilverDragonetsu]

(Ah, sorry about that. After Daniel put his shield up, my mind had gone absolutely blank for what to do anymore, despite having had things planned out ahead of time! @o@;; Though I've regrouped the monkeys in my head and have come up with a solution to fix the broken exercise wheel they've been complaining about and shall now post! BD)


Squeezing her eyes shut, Usagi clasped one tiny hand over her mouth. Her stomach locked uncomfortably as a dark aura wafted through the air and evaded her sences. Even Daniels sheild could not protect her sencitive stomach from such an evil smell.

Thoughts of becoming ill nulified, as the child noted the Preistly man laying down, and her eye lids parted swiftly in worry. 'No...His life force is still quite lively...but...even in these states... This sheild couldn't possibly last long and I wouldn't stand a chance in my condition!'

Her heart raced at the sound of a snap; twings in the near vasinity. They were here. The smell, the presence even was so powerful, she could very well feel their hot ransid breaths upon the back of her neck.

Whole body shivering, the child flinched wearily against Daniel. Though she had disliked him from the beginning, and somewhat still did, The holy man was her only protection right now.


The forest was deathly silent now, and darker than seemed proper for the time of day(I think it's getting to evening? Correct me if I'm wrong]. It was a fog, dark adn thick. Unnatural, as it drifted inwood around the protective sheild. And with it came shadows belonging to enemies.

B-bmp-B-bmp-B-bmp-B-bmp-B-bmp! Usagi squeezed her eyes shut tightly as her heart thundered in her ears, while dark and ominous invaders surrounded the thing erie sheild that sepperated the Outsiders from herself and Daniels. The only thing.

Her coughing, briefly silent, began again. Adn abandoning her mouth for her ears, usagi attempted to stiffle the loud noise in her ears, though she knew it was noise within herself, not beyond. B-bmp-B-bmp-B-bmp!

"Loud...So loud...I'm scared...Make it...go away...", the tiny child murmured in a shakey voice. "Stop...it..." The shadows advandced through the dark fog. Closer, adn closer yet. Their smell intoxicating. Their presence suffocating. They were so close now, if one dared to open their eyes, you could see the glow of the enemies eyes.

Usagi curled into herself. Her heart beat growing louder and more thunderous in her ears. So loud, so noisey, the child thought in growing panic in the proximity of the enemy she dare not gaze upon. "I'm scared...It's too loud..." Usagi flinched inwardly, able to feel the vibration as the first blade was drawn upon the glowing sheild. She almost yelped, but bit her tongue.

"Stop it...stop it...go away..please..." More blades and maces and weaponry were brougth upon the sheild created by Daniels. And it wavered not. Only vibrated loudly and remained. but the ringing, the ringing. It made it all the more noisey, along with growing battle cries and wavering weapons. It was so loud, it seemed silent.

"Please...Stop..stop...stop..."Her heart raced faster. Louder. So loud, it may very well erupt from her chest. So loud, that Daniel may very well here it. So loud, the very wood seemed to pulsate with her heart. "...!" Usagi's hands crushed her ears as she screamed in pure terror. Adding to the noise surrounding. So loud now was it that all was but the defeaning roar like water crashing down a raggid fall.

And then all together, all was silent. And the forest was quiet. Sanct. No fog, no outsiders, no darkness, no noise....No Usagi and Daniel. Only the quaint chirping and babbling the the wood and it's enhabitants.

[SilverDragonetsu]

"My, My. Haven't seen you for decades, little moon flower. Hmmhmhm..."

A smooth mellow voice cooed. Dark fingers curled vibrant crimson waves between his digets, adoring the lively color, and how it appeared like blood upon his fingers. A sadistic little smile crossed his lips at the very thought of such likeliness. Catching a stir of the steady rise and fall of the females chest, his hand cautiously withdrew back into his cloak.

"Amazing how harmless you can appear when unconcious..." Lifting the females head carefully, the figure slipped out from beneath the red head, and settled her head from his lap onto the stone table she'd been lain on.

Hoovering breifly over her, he pulled a heavy cotton blanket up over her shoulders and left reluctantly to tend to a small fire. That of which kept warm the small cavern in which He and the woman had been camped in for the past while.