Forest Child

[Blakie13]

Surrana grunted as she cleaned the rabbits that Calindrien had caught that morning. She didn't know whether to be amused or annoyed that she was on food duty as she had been back in the orphanage. Of course the nymph, who Surrana had learned was named Vorinia, helped with preparations for the group's meal. Official duties, chores, and assignments had yet to have been decided by the Drow who acted as their leader, but Surrana was hoping she'd be working more with the nymph. The nature spirit was a neutral party so far, neither too kind nor too cruel. Simply efficient. The mid-morning sun filtered through the leaves above the camp, bringing to life the vivid greens and golds of early autumn. Surrana wasn't looking forward to adjusting her sleep for different times, but the Drow had made an executive decision.


Being that the Drow and vampire were nocturnal, and the group had lanterns (Surrana was rather proud for thinking to pack some, and some oil), travel would be best on what was referred as the "Elven Cycle" of travel. They would travel from late afternoon, near sunset, until about two or three hours after midnight. It was a strategy the elves had developed in their wars with the Drow and later used to fight invading humans. Travel was apparently safer during those hours, as most dangerous woodland denizens were diurnal, save vampires, werewolves, and a select few others. Plus, a campfire didn't give away your location if you only lit it during the day. They'd change to a more normal schedule when they were farther from the village and the nights became too cold, but Surrana still disliked it.


She watched as the others worked. They'd have to find materials for tents soon, with the season growing colder. Winter was bitter in this part of the continent. For now, sleeping mats and blankets would do. Surrana thought back to the hasty journey from the village:


Azreal was a feather light weight as she leaned against Surrana, the blonde girl making sure her companion didn't trip over any roots or branches. The brunette seemed to be still quite out of it, only muttering every now and then. Usually something calling Toma stupid, to which her cousin grinned sheepishly with a slightly guilty expression. The Drow and the elf led the way, with the nymph close behind. Demetrius followed, having been relegated to group pack mule for his size. Toma was much the same, although he kept back with his cousin and Surrana. A little behind them, Aurelius helped guide a dazed looking Asher. That boy needed sleep as soon as they set up camp, Surrana would make sure of that. Behind those two, the Tiefling carried up the rear. For some reason, that made Surrana a tad nervous. Just ahead of Surrana, Azreal, and Toma, the vampire strode with ease. Without even moving out of the way, he dodged every branch, stepped gracefully over obstacles, and carried himself with a finesse that reminded Surrana why vampires were dangerous. They were a very quiet party, travelling late into the night and up to a few hours before sunrise. The relief Surrana felt as she collapsed into a thin sleeping mat was astounding.





___


Demetrius gazed disinterestedly at his brother as he fished in the creek not but a few feet from camp. The elder twin was organising all the supplies, rather bored with the task. Azreal was sleeping still, as was Asher. It had taken Surrana and Demetrius both with their medical experience to convince Toma that it was safe for her to sleep after they used the right herbs and salves. The vampire would warn them if he heard or smelt any irregularities in her system, and she was woken up for a quick reprieve every hour. Bastien himself was leaning against a massive oak tree, "sleeping." Demetrius had been surprised when that really meant the vampire just entered a restful trance. He looked like a pretty marble statue, perfectly still beneath the leaves, eyes closed to the bright light around them. Demetrius and his brother were both guilty of staring at the creature.


The elf, from what Demetrius could see, was resting peacefully in the boughs of a willow, although he didn't trust the lack of apparent alertness. Calindrien would wake in a heartbeat if any of the orphans went out of line.

 

[cataleerc]

Asher woke with a start, sucking in a deep breath as he pushed himself to a half-seated position. He looked around wildly, his surroundings strange. No walls, no beds, but instead a campfire and trees. It took him a moment to register this information, but once he had the unmistakable look of guilt settled on his face. Their home was now nothing more than ashes because of him. Their lives were now controlled by a testy Drow and her band of misfit creatures because of him. It was all his fault. He desperately wished to go back a day, do things over properly, but it was too late. And instead of accepting the blame that was rightfully his, he'd dissolved into a state of pure hysteria, become a burden on the rest through the night as his loud laughter echoed through the dark trees. It was shameful.


He sat up completely, hollow eyes casting out for his small bag of belongings, shaking fingers pushing his hair back. He needed to be alone with his writings. He needed to regain some semblance of the Asher everyone knew. Not the one present last night, but the one who kept a level head and quiet disposition. The one who wore apathy like a mask, even if his insides were melting under the pressure of a dangerous situation. Solitude would help.


_______


Toma and Daneel had set out from camp some time ago, armed with a staff and knives, respectively. They had decided that both the task of hunting larger game and gatehring sufficient firewood required going beyond the range of the camp, and it might be beneficial to go together. The Tiefling had had a good laugh at Toma's choice of weapon, dying to know how the man hoped to bring down even a squirrel with a wooden stick. And if luck was on their side, Daneel would learn soon enough. Toma had quickly found traces of a wolf pack that had passed through not long before, and they had been tracking the pack for a few hours, and Toma held out hope that they were closing in on the animals as the track became fresher.

 

[Blakie13]

Demetrius turned at the sound of Asher waking up, while Aurelius stayed oblivious in his own duties, just far enough away from camp to not hear Asher's deep breath. The elder twin watched as Asher sat up and began looking around himself, almost panicky in his movements. The poor boy probably was coming back to the world of the sane and was unpleasantly surprised by a new environment. Demetrius thought it looked as though Asher was looking for something, although he wasn't sure. Then Demetrius' eyes landed on the journals poking out of Asher's bag, lying with the rest of the supplies that Demetrius was sorting. Demetrius was well aware of Asher's habit of going off by himself with one of his journals. It wouldn't be a smart idea right now.


"Asher?" Demetrius called gently. "If you're looking for your things, they're over here with the rest of the supplies and such," he continued, frowning slightly as Azreal stirred from the motion next to her from Asher as well as Demetrius' voice. The twin was really not looking forward to when Azreal was fully cognizant of her surroundings and situation, and it wouldn't be long now. Please, God, grant me at least another hour of peace...





Demetrius motioned for Asher to come over. "I know you usually go off on your own with your writing, but please stay in camp. Find a secluded corner, if you must, but I don't recommend leaving," the young man said gently. He felt a penetrating glare on the back of his neck, and he would bet his mother's shield that it was the elf.


___


Surrana watched the exchange from where she and Vorinia had set up a temporary kitchen. The camp wasn't large enough to pretend she hadn't seen or heard anything, so she merely smiled at Asher with kindness, hiding the anger she felt towards him for later. The nymph continued to hum to herself, so Surrana turned back to her work as Demetrius urged Asher to stay in camp.


___


Calindrien stared coldly at the two humans from his perch in the tree, an arrow ready on his bow as a warning shot should the white haired human ignore the advice of the tall brunette male. The other twin, Aurelius, had only turned for a moment to see why his brother was talking before glancing at the elf up in the tree. Calindrien glared in return, causing the human to shrug. Aurelius took a last glance at the elf and then a somewhat longing glance at the vampire, and returned to fishing, having caught a decent bounty already.


___


Bastien's ears had perked at the sound of Asher's heart speeding up in wakefulness, but otherwise remained still, pretending to still be resting. He listened to the exchange between the two humans, somewhat worried that Asher wouldn't listen to Demetrius. Bastien heard the bow being drawn in the tree by the creek, and he didn't want to deal with any trouble that might cause. He also listened as Azreal began to stir, her heart starting to speed up and her breathing becoming quicker. Another concern.


Bastien could sense nearly everything around him in camp, and could even hear the faraway hunt Toma and Daneel were performing. Toma was hot on the wolves' track, although Bastien knew the human probably didn't realise just how close he was to his quarry, the Tiefling not far behind him. Surrana and Vorinia were still at work with food, and the Drow was sleeping, albeit with one eye open as it were, given the alertness Bastien could sense in her. The vampire was tempted to open his eyes to fill in the blanks smell and sound could provide, but that might mean revealing he himself was awake, and where was the fun in that.

 

[cataleerc]

Asher looked to Demetrius with a sort of pleading look. He needed to be alone, and that did not mean sitting on the verge of camp where everyone could see him and peer over his shoulder whenever they wanted. The things in his journals were meant for his eyes only, and even the fact they they could be seen peeking out from his bag made the boy uneasy. Anyone could have looked in them, figured out how much of a mess he actually was (although they likely had an accurate idea based off of his actions last night).


"I need to be alone," he said, voice hoarse and cracked. He slowly pushed himself to his feet, moving to retrieve his bag. "I won't go far. I promise I... I just can't be around anyone right now." Of course he would stay in camp if their captors could not be reasoned with--he didn't fancy causing any more trouble for his friends--but such notions tied his stomach in knots.


____


Azrael turned on her side, murmuring soft nothings in her sleep. Although, it couldn't really be called sleep. She was trapped in the hazy state between wakefulness and dreams, where reality influenced the mind's visions but could not be fully comprehended. She would have to open her eyes soon, but for now she lingered, drifting in an altered perception of the world around her.


____


Daneel's ears perked, catching the rustling of underbrush not far ahead, only two or three leagues ahead of their current position. They had guessed it was a small pack, but now the Tiefling could confidently say that there were six wolves total. He told Toma as much as the human's senses could not pick up on sounds from such distances. Toma responded with a curt nod and quickened his pace while keeping just as quiet.


They were sure to keep upwind, so when they finally caught sight of the beasts lounging under an overhanging slab of rock, they had the advantage. The two exchanged glances, readying their weapons before bursting from the line of trees swiftly and silently. Wolves are not easily taken by surprise, and Daneel anticipated at least a minor scuffle.

 

[Blakie13]

Demetrius moved to say something before he was interrupted by a quick twang and thud. In between Asher's feet, still vibrating, was an arrow.


"No humans will be leaving the camp without supervision, captain's orders," a voice called out in a monotone. Demetrius turned so he could see the silhouette of the elf, notching another arrow to his bow as he strode calmly on a thick branch, eyes locked on Asher. The twin sighed. The Drow had been pretty explicit with her instructions: no humans without supervision. Demetrius had been hoping to subtly hint at that for Asher, without scaring the boy, but Calindrien clearly had no such qualms.


Demetirus sighed in frustration. "We know the rules, Cal, he just needs some space is all," the young man said, using the nickname Vorinia had coined. It annoyed the elf to no end. "Can't you at least let him out of sight? You can still hear him."


"Nope," the elf said, popping the p. A smirk, almost a grin, graced the elf's handsome features. He had been enjoying the small battle of wills he and Demetrius had been having in the short span of time they had been camped. Surrana was sarcastic but kind, Aurelius was laid back, Azreal had been unconscious, and Toma was agreeable so long as his cousin was safe, and the elf could only find entertainment in arguing with Demetrius so far. He smirked once again at the annoyed expression on Demetrius' face and disappeared back into the boughs of the tree before Demetrius or Asher could react.


___


Vorinia giggled, glancing at Surrana as the girl wrung her hands in worry over the exchange. The nymph leaned into whisper. "Elves are so over dramatic, you should see elven theatre performances, they're absolutely hilarious," Vorinia muttered to Surrana. The girl nodded, a slight smile on her lips before worry overtook her expression again. This was probably not the best thing for Asher to wake up to.


Then she glanced at the vampire, having noticed the boy was sitting up, eyes on the situation. Bastien's expression was blank, but his eyes betrayed a strange mixture of playfulness and worry. If Surrana had to guess, the vampire was amused by the exchange, but wasn't sure how it might go down.


___


Bastien watched the two humans standing before the elf. Aurelius was watching as well, amusement on his features. The vampire almost laughed over the entertained nonchalance the younger twin was displaying, as if his brother and Asher weren't in danger from an armed elf. However, he didn't want to draw attention to himself. He would rather just observe, his head tilted slightly like a dog's as he listened to both events in the camp and the hunt going on just a little bit away.


Demetrius glanced at the rest of the camp nervously, hoping Asher wouldn't have another meltdown and to see if anyone else was watching. Everyone was watching, including the vampire Demetrius had thought was still sleeping. He had to keep his expression worried and annoyed, else betray his emotions in reaction to the almost overbearingly cute way the vampire was tilting his head, watching the camp with curiosity. Demetrius swallowed, turning away and back to Asher. He was so screwed...

 

[cataleerc]

Asher stared at the arrow between his feet, eyes wide in disbelief. He hadn't done anything, hadn't even tried to leave camp, but there was the arrow, dangerously close to his left foot. He wanted to shout, take the arrow and throw it back. But he held his tongue, took a few steps back. There was no point in defiance, no point in even trying to seek solitude. It wasn't going to happen, so why even try? The blonde mumbled an apology, took a seat under the tree. He would not be writing, so the next best thing would be to meditate. He crossed his legs beneath him, hand on knees, and closed his eyes once more, focusing on his breathing.


____


Azrael's eyes flicked open, gaze immediately slipping past the heels in front of her face to the arrow, still trembling, far too close to her face even if the arrow was meant as a warning for the idiot boy in front of her. She sat up perhaps a little too quickly as the world tilted and her vision was dominated by black spots. She was going to kill Toma, wherever he was.


She tried the blink the spots away, but when they would not vanish she let out an impatient sigh and jumped to her feet, again too quickly as she stumbled forward a few steps, trying to keep her balance, aware of all the eyes shifting from Asher to the spectacle she was creating. "What," she snapped, her glare directed at Demetrius for no particular reason other than he was the one she disliked the most.

 

[Blakie13]

Demetrius flitted his eyes between the angry young girl and the retreating blonde boy. He had thought things would be better away from the orphanage, not confined to one room. He was wrong, and at this rate someone might end up dead. He rolled his eyes at the girl's attitude. "You would think after that concussion you sustained, you would be at least a little kinder to one of the two people who spent most of the night keeping you from slipping into a coma," he deadpanned, not in the mood for her irritation. Surrana had almost instantly surrendered to sleep after mats were set up and the Tiefling lit a fire, so Demetrius had spent hours keeping Azreal in good care while Toma worried at the side, Surrana slumbered, and the vampire watched anxiously. He hadn't had a break in taking care of the girl until Surrana woke up shortly after sunrise.


__


Calindrien, satisfied that none of the humans would be leaving the camp, settled back into his position. He was almost back to sleep when he noticed the human that had started all the trouble began meditating. The elf sniffed in disgust. That was a sloppy technique if he ever saw one, probably human in origin. Elves and Drow had long ago mastered meditation, and for the ancients of their kind, meditation replaced sleep and could sometimes last centuries. The elf was tempted for a moment to go correct the boy's technique before he shook his head in disgust at such thoughts as helping humans.


__


Aurelius picked up the fish he had caught and carried it over to where Surrana and the nymph were preparing food. He did his best to step around Demetrius and Azreal's confrontation, they tended to not end well. All this ruckus would wake the Drow or irritate the animals of the forest if they didn't calm down. He dropped off his catch, and nodded to Surrana. She nodded absently in return, busy watching both Azreal and Demetrius, as well as starting on cleaning the fish. Vorinia winked at the younger twin before carrying on in her preparation of the roots and berries. They would need to stop at a village or something to load up on cooking supplies, but Aurelius doubted they would be near one for at least a week or two, and the odds of their new masters letting the humans into a village to shop were pretty slim, not that they themselves could go into a human village.


Aurelius felt a slight blush in reaction to the nymph's playfulness before he went to stand by Bastien.


Bastien tried to hide his sharp intake of breath as he smelled the flush in the human's face, and lucky for him Aurelius didn't seem to notice.


"So... Bastien, enjoying the show?" Aurelius asked jokingly, a grin lighting up his features. The vampire let out a small laugh. From Aurelius' tone, this interaction between Demetrius and Azreal must be normal, and Bastien felt relief flow through him.


"Oh, you know me, I'm always down for a good show," the vampire replied, grinning.


"Actually... I don't know you. Although I'm curious to learn," the human replied, tone serious but eyes playful. The vampire didn't quite know how to reply, but he gave a playful wink and a laugh. He didn't miss how it caused the human's heart rate to speed up.


"In due time, I suppose. Should we interfere with them?" The vampire asked.


"Nah, this is pretty usual," Aurelius said, leaning back against the tree they were standing under. It took him a moment to realise that the two of them were right next to a meditating Asher, and they might very well be bothering him.

 

[cataleerc]

Azrael sneered at the elder twin, here gaze holding nothing but contempt. "And I'm sure Toma put you up to that, so don't act like you acted out of the goodness of your heart. Charity really doesn't suit you." She squatted next to her bag, rummaging around for a cleaner shirt and holding out hope that Toma had missed one of her weapons in the bundles of cloth. She knew he would have taken them, but sometimes he was careless in his searches and missed a blade or two. This was not one of those times, but she wasn't particularly distraught over the loss knowing that she'd get them back soon enough.


Azrael traded her cotton shirt for thicker, woolen tunic, not bothered by the lack of privacy. She was comfortable in her own skin and used to changing in front of others as privacy at the orphanage was all but an illusion. The only ones that really seemed uncomfortable were the elf and the vampire, and she didn't care much for how they felt.


_____


Asher buried his face in his hands, releasing a long, weary sigh. He was starting to understand that quiet would be fleeting, if nonexistent. He could write without silence better than he could meditate, but he did not fancy having curious eyes peek over his shoulder every time he opened the cover of a journal. He noticed the slight pause in the conversation above him and rolled his eyes internally. "No, please," he said, sarcasm dripping from every syllable, "don't mind me. I hope I'm not killing the mood or anything. Obviously your attempts at flirting are more important, Aurelius, so I'll just find another tree."


____


Toma and Daneel trudged into camp, a wolf hoisted over each shoulder. It had been an easier hunt than Toma had anticipated--perhaps it was the universe sending an apology for the chaos of last night. And even if it wasn't, they had caught a lucky break and now had plenty of meat as well as furs that Surrana could fashion into a few blankets. Winter was fast approaching, and they would need all the sources of warmth they could find.

 

[Blakie13]

Demetrius scowled at the girl's back. She was being an ungrateful little bitch, which wasn't all that surprising for her. Still, Demetrius and Toma had had the least amount of sleep in the entire group all because of her. Demetrius had gotten to take a quick nap when Surrana took over for him, but that had lasted maybe an hour if he was lucky, before he had to get up. Calming his anger to the best of his ability, Demetrius put on a stoic expression before replying. "Fine, be that way. Continue being the spiteful, childish little girl that I have to tolerate for Toma and Surrana. I don't particularly care what you think of me, it's hardly worth my time. Here's your pain medication," Demetrius added in, tossing the pouch of herbs at the girl's feet. He turned around, and went back to sorting supplies, his knuckles white from how tight he gripped his hands. He hardly noticed as Toma and Daneel walked into camp.


___


Calindrien had watched the exchange through half-lidded eyes, half asleep. The humans were so troublesome. And that one girl's attitude had the elf almost laughing. An arrogant, mean little thing, that human. He'd half to watch out for her, if any of them were to try and kill someone,it was her. The elf's musing was interrupted as he had to turn his face. Had the girl no decency to find a place to change?


___


Aurelius sputtered, watching Asher's face as the boy looked to stand up. The vampire beside him suddenly looked as though he felt mildly awkward. "Asher, what the hell? I figured you as a better man than to be so... petty. I'm not... I'm not flirting with him. I'm just making conversation. Don't be such a prick," Aurelius muttered, running a hand through his hair. He was mad at himself for being so obvious with his approach, but until Asher had spoken up, the vampire had seemed totally at ease. Now he looked unsure, and Aurelius was more than a little pissed that Asher would throw him under the carriage like that.


Bastien looked at the two humans, not sure that he wanted to be there at this moment. "Uh, I'm... I'm gonna help Demetrius with sorting things... I'll talk to you later, Aurelius... Asher..." he said quietly, making a move to walk away.


"Ah, Bastien, come on, don't be like that," Aurelius said, placing a hand on the boy's arm. He flinched back, surprised at how cold Bastien's skin was. He saw the hurt in Bastien's eyes before the boy shook his head silently and walked over to Demetrius. Aurelius turned to glare at Asher.


"You...you cabron..." Aurelius whispered, anger covering his expression. Unlike Toma and Azreal, the twins almost never used the language of their parents'. The Andalusians were an unwelcome people in most of the colonies and the motherland, after their revolt against the human empire. Speaking in their mother tongue would have gotten them flogged in the village, if not worse. "Vas a pagar por esto, perro sin valor," Aurelius said. He was already irritated from a lot of things, and Asher's idiocy was a primary cause for most of it.


__


Surrana sighed, accepting the wolves from the returning hunters. Vorinia looked amused and intrigued. The nymph couldn't help but think human drama was incredibly entertaining, and now she had watched multiple confrontations in the span of a few minutes. She noticed Daneel looked questioning over what was going on, but still amused, while Toma looked concerned about his cousin. Surrana, on the otherhand, was starting to look ticked off. Demetrius and Azreal never got along, so it shouldn't be such an issue, but their exchange had her seething. And then she had known Aurelius was just barely repressing his anger over being forced out of their home, but for him to slip into Andalusian usually implied he was angrier than suspected. She usually expected such anger from Demetrius, but leave it to Asher to make the laid back twin the angry one. The vampire, she noticed, looked confused to be caught in the middle of things.


Turning to Toma, Surrana let out a huff. "Let's hope this volatile exchange is just everyone letting loose after last night," she whispered.

 

[cataleerc]

Asher had not anticipated such a reaction from Aurelius--he could be considered the more rational of the two--but couldn't say that he cared about the threats pointed at him. He didn't care about much, really, and this was good. His caring had put them in this situation, so if he could stop caring entirely everyone might be better off. So he simply shrugged off the malicious words and replied, "Perhaps."


There was no need for him to add to the drama, as he noted Azrael and Demetrius were at it again, so he quietly rose to his feet and made for a quieter part of the camp.


______


"Sure sounds like you care," Azrael muttered under her breath. She had half a mind to kick the pouch of herbs into the dying fire, but the pounding in her head stopped her from acting on the impulse. She plucked the small pouch from the ground, moved for the other side of their little camp where no one seemed inclined to bother her.


Except maybe Asher. She bit back a few choice words as the boy settled under another tree, ensuring that she would not find respite from anyone. He was the last person she wanted to acknowledge, so she turned quickly on her heels, breezed past Surrana and Toma without so much as a nod, and marched out into denser woods. The elf would come for her or he would kill her, and in all honesty, Azrael didn't care. The camp's air was thick with malice, and she felt as if she were drowning in it.


____


Toma nodded in agreement, taking a seat next to her and the nymph. He pulled one of the wolves into his lap, short knife in hand, and began the tedious task of skinning the beast. He was quiet for a long moment, watching Azrael's retreating figure with worried eyes. His first instinct was to go after her as he always did, but in this situation, he refrained. The girl had truly angered him last night--a difficult feat for anyone, let alone her--and he could not address her at this time without lashing out at her. And at any rate, the elf would take care of her. "I should think it is for most, at least. Azrael is always the same, but it would seem that everyone is being a bit more hostile. I'd say give it a couple days and everyone ought to be well enough to act in a civil manner."

 

[Blakie13]

Aurelius glared daggers at Asher as the other male walked away. He'd probably regret his words later, he was just embarrassed. Bastien probably thought Aurelius stupid and childish now. Not that the man could blame the vampire. He was incredibly stupid, at least in this instance. Aurelius sighed, turning to watch as the vampire in question join his twin. Aurelius huffed in irritation. His brother was the angry one, not him. He'd practically chased the boy into Demetrius' arms. Rather than sulk over his own idiocy, Aurelius moved towards the larger group where they were tensely watching an angry Azreal leave camp. Aurelius nodded in greeting at Toma, catching the tail end of the man's statement.


The man came to stand next to Daneel, curious over what drama he had missed in his failed attempt to flirt. He threw a questioning glance at the Tiefling, who he assumed had heard more than he.


--


Surrana acknowledged Aurelius briefly, primarily listening to Toma and keeping a wary eye on Daneel. Out of all of their "saviours" he was the one that made her most nervous, from a personality standpoint. The vampire and the Drow were clearly the biggest physical threats. "I... suppose. It is what it is. I can't help but feel that I haven't been overly accommodating with her since the hours before this whole thing started," Surrana murmured. Despite her earlier statement, she wondered if this would be a much longer mood of volatility than she thought.


The girl moved to begin work on the meats and furs as Toma cleaned the carcass.


Vorinia stayed silent throughout the discussion, growing bored now that the two main sources of contention among the humans had removed themselves. She wondered if she should wake the Drow soon, it was getting close to time for a meal.


--


Calindrien sighed, his hopes for a few more minutes of respite once again ruined. It was probably a double standard to do so, but rather than shooting after the girl leaving camp, he followed silently, through the branches. The nymph, vampire, and Tiefling could watch the other humans. But gods damn him if the human's actions attracted the Drow's ire for the rest of them. He stayed silent, only wishing to keep her in sight. Humans were such overly dramatic and emotional creatures.


--


Demetrius held a hand after Azreal, guilt flashing across his features. They never got along, the two members of their little "family" that never seemed to have even a moment of peace between them. He swallowed harshly, steeling his features, his guilt turning into frustration as he turned back to his task of organizing herbs and goods. He was interrupted by a polite cough.


"Do you want any help, Tri?" Bastien asked softly. He fidgeted slightly, but after some rest after the ordeal in the village, he was getting back control of his emotions and reactions. Society prized its masques much too much for him to abandon his permanently. The vampire was also watching Asher in his peripherals, wondering over the human's earlier words. Maybe he should talk with the man, later when he had calmed down.


"Tri?" Demetrius questioned, sucking in a quick breath at the sight of the beautiful creature. I'm never going to react calmly, am I...





"Yeah, like... DemeTrius. I don't know. I thought it sounded nice," Bastien replied shyly, kneeling and looking over the supplies. Humans liked nicknames and terms of endearment. And he wanted the humans to like him, it was less painful than them fearing him.


"Oh, uh, it does. I just didn't expect it," the twin replied. "But yeah, sure, some help would be nice. I'm not the most well rested, and there's a lot here..." Part of Demetrius wanted to call Asher over. The boy liked monotonous tasks. Demetrius even had some satchels of tea he knew Asher liked. The other boy looked absorbed in his secluded corner however.

 

[cataleerc]

Daneel simply blew out a breath of hot and shrugged when confronted with the twin's silent inquiry. He doubted he'd ever be able to understand these humans and their need for dramatic outbursts. The small group of travelers had hardly been together for more than a night and these kids were ready to tear each other to shreds for the smallest of complications. And if the Tiefling was being completely honest, he was surprised the small brunette hadn't killed the others in their sleep years ago. She certainly had the rage and the skill to do so, and Daneel guessed that the only reason she hadn't yet was currently in the process of skinning dinner.


"What an interesting bunch of friends you have," he said, turning sharp amber eyes toward the man next to him. "Tell me, are they always this hostile? Because if so, I doubt we will make it another two nights before that little one tries to kill your brother in his sleep." And to be honest, he was looking forward to it. It meant one less brat to look after.


--


"You shouldn't take responsibility for her," Toma murmured. "I fear it's because of me that Azrael has become like this. When our parents were executed I was suddenly thrust into a position that I wasn't prepared for. We were both so young, and I didn't know what to do. I let her get away with too much. I was blinded by my heart, so I never taught her how to check her temper or follow the rules. Now it's too late, and I am afraid. I am afraid that this temper is going to kill her."


It was rare that the man confided in his companions, but he felt that if they were to survive the Forest together, they would have to truly open and learn to rely on each other. It would be a challenge, no doubt, but it was the only chance they had of making it to the next village all in one piece. He paused from his work, moving the half-cleaned carcass and he shifted the better face the blonde sitting next to him. "We aren't in the village anymore, Surrana. We can't continue to bicker among ourselves when we are preparing to face dangers greater than anything we could have imagined. I need you to help me find peace between our friends so that, inevitably, when we are fighting for our lives we can depend on the person standing next to us."


--


In her haste to leave the confines of the camp, Azrael had neglected to mark her path or take stock of her surroundings, and only now was she realising how foolish of a mistake that had been. The forest around her was dark, pervasive, and whispered of some unseen malice that sent shivers running up and down her spine. She desperately yearned for the comfort of a dagger in each hand, but hers had been confiscated at some point during their departure either by Toma or one of their captors. She silently cursed her stupidity as she wandered deeper into the thick underbrush, searching wildly for something familiar to point her back in the direction of the camp. It wasn't safe to stay out here, not when the sun was already so close to the horizon line. It would be dark before long, and Azrael knew that if she didn't make it back before then she couldn't hope to see the sun rise tomorrow.


A loud crack followed by a thud interrupted the silence around her, and Azrael's heart leapt to her throat as a loud yelp tore itself from her chest. Her mind instantly filled with images of horrid beasts closing in, slowly, steadily, ready for the kill. She could see it: ravenous monsters tearing into her chest cavity, teeth slowly clamping down on her frantically beating heart... But no.


No, it wasn't any creature. She could see it now: a rotten limb had finally fallen from the trunk of an old oak, crashing through the underbrush to rest on the forest floor just behind her. Azrael released a long sigh that morphed into a bout of breathy laughter. Her heart was still racing, but she could feel it slowing as she continued to laugh at her wild imagination. Toma had always said those old ghost stories were no good for her. Perhaps he was right for once.


The brunette took a few more moment to regain her wits, gaze wandering out along the tree line. She thought she saw someone perched high above her, leaning easily against a solid tree trunk, and was about to pass it off as a figment of her imagination when the figure shifted, calling her attention back to it. Her brows furrowed in disbelief as, upon further inspection, she made the connection.


"So, what?" She demanded, raising her voice enough to be heard. "I have a stalker now?"

 

[Blakie13]

Aurelius clicked his tongue thoughtfully before responding. "No, it hasn't always been this bad. Azreal has always been a bit on the aggressive side, yeah, but never so volatile. Stress, probably. No offence, but being away from the Village and surrounded by the Forest and a... not-so-human company is a bit stressful for all of us," Aurelius murmured, not really sure if he wanted the rest of the group intruding on the conversation.


"My brother has never been her favourite person. Neither of 'em have told us why, but we know it probably had to do with how they first met. Probably my brother being a stoic ass as usual and Azreal being an oversensitive idiot. Not really sure," Aurelius continued.


"What about your group? Prison doesn't seem like the best place to bond, but you know... some talking had to happen, right?"


--


Surrana nodded absentmindedly, her hands busy with the fresh meat Toma cleaned. Some would need to be preserved as a precaution, but she could throw a good bit into the stew she and Vorinia were going to start on soon. They needed to eat before they broke camp. That is, if their leader was still set on continuing tonight. Vorinia had gone off to wake the Drow in question, it looked like to Surrana.


"You're right. This place is much too hostile for our bickering. And... and it makes us seem useless. If they think us useless or too much trouble, how long do you think it'll be before they abandon us or give us to Bastien for a snack..." Surrana practically whispered the last part. She wasn't quite sure how good the vampire's sense of hearing was. "We need to work out whatever this... tension is between us. And we can start by getting Asher and Azreal back for dinner. Calindrien will hopefully bring her back soon... Where to even start with everyone..."


--


Demetrius tried to focus on his work, but his guilt over Azreal, his nagging worry for Asher, and his racing heartbeat from Bastien's closeness was making it difficult. He had noticed Bastien tilting his head several times, as if listening to something. He would grit his teeth in annoyance or pout in disappointment, reacting to something well beyond Demetrius' threshold for sound. Finally giving in, Demetrius decided he needed a distraction before he said or did something stupid like his brother.


"Hey Asher, I have some of your favourite tea here if you're willing to help me and Bastien with sorting things!" He called out to the other boy. "Surrana is going to want to have some of the herbs for cooking anyways," Demetrius mumbled to himself, looking at the camp's inventory in annoyance and resignation. So much to organise, and he couldn't put things in proper places when they were on the move.


--


Calindrien hadn't meant to break the branch, of course. He was a being of nature, he didn't usually make such blatant mistakes. But this part of the Forest was dark and rotten. Every branch was a pitfall and every tree a maze. At first the human hadn't noticed him, and he did his best to blend into the foliage. He wasn't entirely in favour of the girl finding out he had followed her. But of course his luck ran out.


Calindrien gave a small, self deprecating chuckle before answering, stepping more into what little light there was. "Not quite. Just making sure you don't go too far. I don't exactly want an irritated Drow blaming me if you go missing. And your fellow humans would cause no end of trouble if you perished out here, so... I'm observing. They'll be setting up for dinner soon, as I understand. Will you be attending?" The elf said, a small, cruel smile playing at his lips. The humans were more than irksome. He hoped that they would make themselves useful soon.