[FIN] The Fallen Knight and Her Guards [Kari/Jenn]

[Vyn]

Thallak was mesmerized by Xylia the entire time they walked, unable to accept just how tiny and fragile his beautiful summoner was. She was such a kind soul and yet so very strong of will; he adored her for that determination of hers...even if Oddr was right and it'd probably get her killed.

That was just all the more reason that he would have to do everything in his power to make sure nothing like this ever happened to her. So long as he was hers, nothing would ever hurt her.

"Bloody hell, Oddie... Where are we? We couldn't have been walking this long without finding a village!"

Oddr tilted his gaze back toward Thallak, frowning briefly as his eyes briefly alighted over Xylia. He wanted just as badly to protect her from harm as Thallak did, but for the time being he was forced to play the parts his brother simply didn't have the patience for. Such as scouting and making sure they didn't cause such a ruckus that they got attacked...again.

"Keep it down, Thallak... We don't want to attract any attention... Besides, we can't be far off now --" The lithe male paused abruptly, stopping in midstep as he became away of a noise in the near distance. Oh crap. "Shh, Thal...I think I heard something..." Fearing that it was another JubJub or something even worse, Oddr drew slowly closer as he pursued the source of the noise...


...Only to be caught off guard by the pained groan Xylia abruptly let out. The dazed doe was finally rousing and experiencing the brunt of her pain without the lovely filter of adrenaline. Thallak was instantly cooing reassurances and though Xylia was slowly getting her pain under control, Oddr knew it was already too late: whatever was out there would've surely heard them by now and Xylia's injuries would only further lure in predators.

[Kari Muffin]

Rosemary was from Tulgey Wood, and had been taught to hate outsiders just like everyone else. However, she had a morbid fascination for them. With such conflicting values she couldn't help but mentally jump for joy for the sight that was right in front of her.

Hopefully none of her siblings would be around. That might be a pain. Holding back a cackle Rosemary straightened up and made herself known. Of course, they still couldn't see her.

"You know, strangers aren't welcome here. Even if you do make it to a village, they'll probably kill you unless you're with a Tulgey." She peaked around the oak tree she was hiding behind. She scanned the people before her. A high ranked card (wow it was hard to read black on black) being carried by a--wait what? Where was his marking. His shirt was open just enough it should have been right there!

That was even weird for Rosemary, and she had seen quite a few weird things in all her travels.

"All right. Who are you?" she said coming out from behind the tree. Without much thought, she summoned her weapon for self defense. She may not have hands, but she could still stab some people if she needed to.

[Vyn]

Oddr was tense, expecting the worse and...getting a girl? He backed up in one fluid motion, moving to guard his summoner once more. Regardless of how valid her points were, Oddr couldn't find it within himself to trust someone who made such comments so flippantly.

"We aren't here looking for welcome..." He would've gone on, had Xylia not reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder.

She would handle this, wounded or not... It was her quest, after all.

"Thallak, set me down." Xylia kept her town low, wishing to prepare herself before she bothered making announcements to the stranger. The stranger, however, wasn't a very patient sort it seemed and before Xylia's hooves even got a firm placement on the ground. Damn. The doe's eyes flashed as she watched the sword appear from no where... for a Club?

Her hand still laid over Oddr's shoulder, using both men as balance and for the quiet certainty that, were the girl to attack, she would have both of her weapons near at hand.

"I am Xylia, and these are my guards; Thallak and Oddr." Both males dipped their head upon acknowledgment but remained tense and wary of the rose-patterened female. "I know I am not welcome here and I will leave quite promptly...just as soon as I find what I'm looking for." "Medical attention?" Thallak quipped hopefully but Xylia ignored it as she went on. "A young Corvie/Torque mix was last seen just outside of these Woods and, I can't imagine where else he'd be. He's my half brother and, alive or dead, I intend to find him and bring him home."

This of course, was quite the speech for the doe to be making at the moment as she struggled even to stand on her own. Thallak and Oddr simply weren't happy.

Xylia's eyes traced over the odd stranger's even odder tattoos and made up her mind to continue. Maybe, just maybe, there was something she could do to turn this awkward situation to her favor. "Is there...anything at all...that I could offer for your assistance on this matter? ...You would seem tolerant to us, and a guide would be most helpful..."

[Kari Muffin]

Rosemary raised an eyebrow and sent her sword back. If things got really bad she would just teleport home. They would be lost in the woods and everything would be right in the world.

"Your guards don't have an Suit markings," Rosemary said flatly, her tail was puffed up however. She didn't like the idea of strangers in the Wood who could be potentially dangerous.

"And anyway, that guy is long gone. Lord Ghi kept him captive for a while until my Aunt Josephine came for a visit. You could check the Highlands, but my Aunt dislikes cats so... she probably kicked him out a while ago." She shrugged. "She probably fed him to the point where he wasn't skin and bones. From what I saw of him when he was here, he was pretty unhealthy."

And her Aunt always liked her playthings well fed and healthy so breaking them was all the more fun. Weird woman she was.

[Vyn]

"What??"

This was news to Xylia, of course, as she'd barely been coherent since they'd made themselves known to her. Both males looked genuinely baffled to but eventually found their gaze drifting first to Xylia's breast and then Rosemary's, noting what they lacked after a short moment. Yet why this was a big deal remained a mystery to them both. Oddr would ask Xylia later.

There was really no way to hide what they were now that Rosemary had already seen them, but Xylia determined to make sure their chests would not be seen after that evening.

"...They're summons," she murmured absently as her expression wrinkled into confusion, "like your sword, I believe. Perhaps that's why?" Briefly Xylia's hand lifted, touching the makeshift bandaging on her head. Lords, everything was still very much spinning and all the information she was absorbing was getting a bit much. Lowering her hand, Xylia attempted to refocus on Rosemary and the information being given to her.

The Highlands? Fed and released? Was she certain..? "I... The Highlands? ...Was he well taken care of here, then? I... I had assumed he'd been kidnapped, not cared for." The doe's words were growing slightly sloppier as her head and various other little wounds continued to bleed, draining away her coherence.

Thallak didn't like this. Despite the fact that they were finally getting the information they needed, they were not getting Xylia the medical help that she truly required and Xylia was apt to be silly and refuse to admit weakness.

"...Don't mean to interrupt...but Xylia needs medical attention or she won't be able to continue this conversation much longer and I'd honestly like to see us all survive to leave this place in one piece."


Oddr sighed, running his fingers through his hair. Thallak always lacked etiquette. "I think what my brother is trying to say is that we'd all be thankful if you could help us. Xylia's been rather badly injured and the blood loss is frighteningly fast."


Xylia smiled weakly. "You know, I'm afraid they're right."

[Kari Muffin]

Rosemary didn't feel particularly inclined to help. They were summons like her sword? Yeah. Right. Was she honestly going to believe that? However the chick was bleeding... what exactly was her story? Actually this would be a good exchange.

"My village is a little ways off. There's a house I can put you in so you won't get caught and killed." Of course this was assuming her brother didn't feel like hanging around their mom's old and tiny house. It wasn't really being used for anything, and no one had bought it. Currently it was unoccupied except when Rosemary broke in so she could crash.

She just had to smuggle them in. Thankfully it was in the dead of night. Again, however, she had to get past her brother. Okay, she could do this. "Of course in exchange you need to tell me your story."

[Vyn]

Despite trying to maintain a strong appearance, Xylia was beginning to lean more and more heavily against the stronger male behind her. Thallak would've been more than happy to lift the doe up and tote her wherever she needed to go... That is, if only Xylia would've allowed him to. Instead she stubbornly kept on her hooves, determined to remain strong in the face of a possible thread.

"My story?" Xylia couldn't help but smile at this exchange. She was more than willing to exchange stories for safety and health. "Done. I'll tell you my story in exchange for a night in safety...and, if what you say if true about my brother... Well then, I'll be gone once morning comes."

That is, if she was well enough to walk after her little injury. There was always Thallak to carry her, but Xylia would rather have her blade in hand...not toting her around.

"Would you want me to walk and talk? or shall I wait until we arrive?"


Both Thallak and Oddr exchanged glances, protectively looming over the darkly-hued doe. They had no intention at all of letting something happen to her, and they didn't entirely trust this strange wolf-squirrel with their summoner. It was best to be patient, though, and take what help was being offered to them.

[Kari Muffin]

Rosemary grinned. "I doubt you'll leave in the morning. You wouldn't want to get caught by angry villagers would you? It might be night but I can get you out of the Wood without a hitch." She had years of practice. "Don't waste your breathe until your head's taken care of. Wouldn't want anything terrible to happen to such a good story."

She was only half concerned about Xylia. In all honesty her injury didn't look that bad. If it was a mild concussion she would just need to be kept up for a little while. Most of the first aide Rosemary had learned would be good enough for this situation.

It wasn't a very long walk. It would have been shorter if Xylia was carried. Honestly they didn't have time to waste in the dark. Rosemary may have memorized safe paths but... there was still a chance something might pop up.

[Vyn]

Xylia hesitated slightly, taking in Rosemary's words. She didn't really seem to have a choice on the matter and if she was willing to guide them out then Xylia didn't really seem to have a choice. Surrendering gracefully, Xylia nodded and smiled.

"I would suppose you're right, I don't want to be caught by angry villagers...my night has been chaotic enough, I think." Especially now that she had Thallak and Oddr to worry about as well... Living swords... How was that even possible?

The doe was quiet for the remainder of the walk, save for the moment when impatient Thallak grew tired of Xylia's lagging pace decided he was going to carry Xylia regardless of her brief complaints.

This, however, all in all sped up the pace a great deal so Xylia wisely chose not to persist on being set back down...no matter how ridiculous she might feel.


Oddr, meanwhile, remained in the background of the situation. He preferred to observe rather than stick his nose into things, and only really interjected when he felt his opinion was needed.

[Kari Muffin]

"We're here. Keep close." Rosemary said with a lowered voice. She stood on her back legs and fiddled with the door for a moment. She had left it unlocked thankfully. Otherwise she would have had to dig up her lock picking tools. Pushing the door open it revealed the small an quaint little cabin.

"In. Quickly." Once they were all in she hastily shut the door. She gave a sigh of relief. She had got them here without a hitch. Not even Alphonse had caught her. Of course there was still a lot of night to burn so she would have to keep them hidden until the night was out... and then the day. Wow this was over complicated.

She hurried to the bedroom (which wasn't that far away, gee, Mom's old house was really small) to tear to put sheets on the windows. That way they wouldn't have to fumble in the dark.

Of course they would have to sleep on the floor, but hey, once Xylia's head was mended it shouldn't be a problem.