Welcome to Gaia! ::

"My companions..." Jeriel thought for a moment. He hasn't seen them since yesterday, and this worried him. His sister and the other might be in trouble, but he's also worried about leaving Moonfire... alone. But as she said, she can take care of herself. So there's no time to waste, he has to find them.

"I... I should look for them." Jeriel got up from the bed before saying back to Moonfire "Though I don't know the way around here. It will take a while for me to find them."

Though Jeriel wanted to find them alone, Moonfire knows this place better than him. He hate to say it, but he has to bring her along. The next morning, they left the cave to search for them. Climbing down the hill wasn't a shore; your surprise that Moonfire manages to work around this without to much trouble. They went through the forest afterwards. Once there, Moonfire leads Jeriel into one of the spots she mentioned.

Jeriel let out a sigh "We better keep looking." he then look around the place just in case "Maybe one of these places has to be it." He then turn to Moonfire's direction "How much do you know about this place?"

"It doesn't help much, but it will do." said Jeriel, humming a little while waiting for her. They continued searching the next area. Despite searching several times, no sign of life was present. The search proves to be challenging, as their next location had a more rough terrain with fallen trees. Traversing there was tough even for Moonfire, as it appears the place had change the last time she was there.

Jeriel notice that some of the trees were in fact cut down by someone rather than natural occurrences. Others were burn down in half, despite not causing a wildfire in the whole area. It seems it was burn not long ago, and who ever cause this might be near. As they carefully walk through the dense graveyard of trees, Moonfire smell something.

"Okay, where?" Jeriel replied, moving slightly forward. Moonfire walk to the direction before pausing. They were close, that's for sure, but it's still not clear if Jeriel's friends. They walk ever so cautious to prevent being caught. As they maneouver around some piles of rocks, all they found was nothing.

They were disappointed once more. They thought they finally found them, but it appears Moonfire's scent was faulty. Before they knew it, Moonfire was grabbed from behind. The sudden attack startle Jeriel as he point his spear at the attacker. "Hey! Drop her now!" Jeriel growled.

"How about no." said the man, while holding a knife near her chest. How they didn't smell his scent? They could had sworn no one could have jump on them. And now there in this mess.

"Oh, we have feisty talker!" said the man as he move the knife near her throat "Don't worry ma'am, knives are my specialty. Just don't ask for the special. Trust me." Jeriel tries to move closer, but it made the man shift it's knife closer to her throat "Uh-uhuh! Don't make another bold move, or she'll gets it!" He then took her farther from Jeriel, reducing the chance to save her. "Relax, I don't want to hurt her. She's not the one I'm looking for. Just another bonus in my contract."

Jeriel growl furiously "Then let her go, you fiend!!" The man then chuckles "Very well, just say please." "W-what?" Jeriel was confused "It's as simple as that, say the magic word." the man was perfectly cleared with his word, but there's something fishy about it "Sigh... fine... please, let her go." said Jeriel, hoping he keeps his word. The man then smirked at him "As you wish." Suddenly he violently throws her to the ground, receiving some damage from the fall.

"You litt-" Jeriel was soon interrupted as the mercenary throw a knife into his shoulder. Jeriel groan with pain as he remove the knife. And was soon assaulted by waves of knives. He tried to evade them all, however, some cut parts of his body, making the man laugh with pleasure. His attacks were overwhelming, when it seems to be over Jeriel charge at him in a furious manner. Resulting in a clash of spear and knife.

Without time to react, the man receive the blow, as he felt the impact almost impale his rib. "You who-" Jeriel interrupted him impaling his patella. The man scream uncontrollably, you would think this would stop him from fighting. Despite that, he grab the spear and broke it in half. "Wooo! Oh boy! Almost makes me want to regret not killing you first darling. I'm not done with you yet, come and get me!" he yell at the two, hoping to beat them without his left leg.