Temple of Sin and Sorrow

[FluffyFox]

I looked at him and my eyes drifted to the ground."They wont return, forest gods here have a reputation for being man eaters that is why Lupine doesn't go into town." I said as I moved over and placed the two swords on my bed. I left them there as I walked over and sat down on the side of Shanori with the wound."Here." I said and softly laid my hand over the bandage. My eyes grew lighter for a moment and the pain went away. I grit my teeth a little and then my eyes went back to normal and I let my hand move away."It's still hurt but I took away your pain." I said and walked back over to my bed.


When the food was brought up I was eating slowly, favoring the side on which Shanori got wounded. I had taken away his pain and gave it to myself, it was my power. Every forest god had one, mine was taking pain unto myself. Once I was done eating I yawned softly and laid down."I'll stay here and rest."

 

[Sha]

As Espe touched my wound I could see her eyes seemed to glow softly as the pain from the wound dissipated as she gritted her teeth. Though I had no knowledge of those called Gods in these lands it became apparent what she had done when she gritted her teeth. We ate in relative silence, I was not used to having traveling companions and it seemed she was not used to anything beyond the walls of her temple from which we had departed just this morning. When we were finished she laid down in one of the beds to rest; it was getting late, after all, and we had just been walking for nearly an entire day without much rest. In all honesty I was surprised she hadn't passed out from fatigue before we even arrived at the village. "She is a God of sorts, after all," I thought to myself as I watched her lay down.


I stood and grabbed an unsullied kimono from my pack, the only other one I had, and put it on. I picked up the ripped clothing as well as the tray with our dishes and made my way to the door, "I won't be long," I began as I opened the door and stepped out without looking back hoping that someone at the inn could fix my clothes before the morning, "Sleep well." I shut the door behind me and made my way downstairs.

 

[FluffyFox]

The next morning I woke up and stretched. Shanori was asleep across the way. I just smiled and climbed out of bed. I changed into the other kimono I brought with me.It was white and had a black trim along the edges. I fixed my hair and then pulled my hood up to cover my ears. I decided to take a small walk so I slipped a dagger from my bag into a hidden pocket inside my kimono.


As I walked along outside I felt I was being watched. I felt a power draw me out of the town and into the woods. What I found would have made me loose my breakfast if i had eaten anything before I left. I quickly rushed back to the town and back up to our room. I shook Shanori lightly."Lord Shanori, I think we should leave this town as fast as we can." I said worried.

 

[Sha]

I heard the door open and shut and glanced up through groggy eyes before noticing the tail end of a kimono beyond the shutting door. I cleared my throat and let my eyes shut again as I lay my head against the pillow and drifted off into a half-sleep. I heard the door open again and yawned sleepily when I felt hand gently being pushing my to and fro. I blinked my eyes open as Espe spoke with worry in her voice telling me ought to leave. I cleared my throat again and sat up stretching towards the sky, "I thought you said they wouldn't come back because you," i paused to yawn as I brought my legs over the edge of the bed, "Eat people, or something."


I stood and stretched again, smacking my lips to wet them after the nights sleep left them dry and crusty in this dry, cold weather, "Besides, I doubt my clothes are mended yet and we should eat before we begin our journey again." I finished as I began to stand and move to pick up my kimono from the edge of my bed to put it on.

 

[FluffyFox]

I look away as he puts on his clothes before I look back to him worry in my eyes."They aren't coming back it's something else." I said with a worried look out the window. I then look back to him."I found the men who attacked us dead in the forest outside of town this morning. I don't know you did it but I feel something is after the swords, if we stay here I think they might attack us." I said as I picked up the swords and held them to my chest.


I knew more then I was letting on and if Shanori kept this up he would get his fight with a forest god like he wanted. I was worried cause I only knew of one forest god who would ever want Sin and Sorrow, an old raven who had power over the winds."Please can we go,"

 

[Sha]

I looked over my shoulder as I rolled up my sleeves after having dressed; the sun was shining through the two windows the room had. I was tired but as she continued to speak and the worry of her voice refused to fade I began to become more and more coherent. "Nope, wasn't me," I said as I threw my pack around my shoulders.


"Please, can we go?" Espe asked.


I found the phrase strange, as though some great danger was approaching which we could escape only if we left at once. "Yea," I said through a yawn, "We can go. I have to get my clothes back first." My eyes were still partially closed as I made my way to the door and downstairs and through a short hall. After a brief discussion with a man holding a sewing needle and thread I paid him for the kimono (the only article of clothing he had time to fix), put them into my pack, and turned to Espe as we began to walk back down the hall towards the dining area where we had first entered. "Are you sure you don't want to eat?" I asked as we walked, finally starting to wake up, "I'm hungry."

 

[FluffyFox]

I followed Shanori down the hall to the man and said thank you to him as I passed when we got to the dinning hall I shook my head no."No. I'll be fine, during winter I often miss many meals." I said and frowned as I looked at the window with a worried glance. Once we were outside I looked around scared."Please let us hurry!" I said and lightly pulled on Shanori's arm as I held the swords to my chest.

 

[Sha]

I felt the loose sleeve cover my arm being softly pulled as we moved from the inn into the temperate chill of the winter air just outside. My stomach growled at me as the worry in Espe's voice returned asking us to hurry. "Alright, alright." I said allowing myself to be moved by her pulling on my arm. We began to walk down the streets now cleared of snow, though the area around the roads were still covered in the now icy white mounds. Moving towards the edge of the village's main road I noticed a shop to our right whose doors were just now opening and the smell of cooking meats and spices wafted to my nose at the behest of steam from just-cooked rice.


My mouth grew wet against my will, "Mmmm," I said, "Are you sure you aren't just a little hungry?" I said before abruptly stopping while my eyes peered at the shop's opening doors, becoming oblivious to the danger which worried my new companion.

 

[FluffyFox]

I shook my head no as I looked around the wind was starting to pick up lightly."No i'm not hungry at all, please we must go!" I begged as I saw a man coming towards us from the square, my arm dropped away from Shanori and I took a step back as the man just smiled at me. He was wearing a black kimono and a small straw hat to cover his head. I also say the white pants he was wearing under the kimono.


"Hello again Espe." He said and then his wings pushed his kimono off as he moved towards me."I don't see that annoying wolf anywhere around her. Give me the swords and I might just let you live." He said with a smirk as I moved behind Shanori afraid, Lupine only ever tied with him.

 

[Sha]

I let out an almost playful groan as she pressed us to leave as quickly as we could. It was then I heard a voice began to speak to Espe causing me to curl my head over my shoulder without shifting my body away from the shop which tickled my nose with a joyous sensation. "Give me the swords and I might just let you live." The voice continued as Espe moved behind me while the speaker smirked in contempt. My eyes rolled instinctively. This one seemed to have wings and as such was probably more competent a fighter than the two we had seen the night before, however he did not seem to have an accomplice which would allow for me to focus all my attention onto him without having to worry about Espe. It seemed I held the advantage, though, as I swallowed the excess moisture still dripping from within my mouth due to my growing hunger I could hear my stomach express its dismay once more.


"Can we eat before we do this?" I said placing my palm gently upon the tip of my sword's hilt with bored eyes cut in half by my jaded, half-closed eyelids. I tended to enjoy a good fight, but the wound on my shoulder was still recovering, though I still felt no pain; just as well my stomach's discontent assisted in the fatigue which moved slowly over my body which only minutes ago rose from my bed.

 

[FluffyFox]

The man only smirked and with just one beat of his wings he was behind me and pulled me against his chest. I slipped the small dagger out and stabbed his arm running away to get out of the way of the fight as the winged man cursed."You dare to stab Aeru!" He yelled at me as I hid behind some boxes. The man drew a halberd out of mid air as he turned to face me."For hurting me I shall have your head!"

 

[Sha]

The winged humanoid shot forward with a single stroke of his wings and latched onto the girl who stood behind me. He moved quickly and managed to be agile enough to contort his trajectory around the obstacle, namely me, which stood between him and the girl. I turned my head as he clutched onto her, my body remaining still and my palm continuing to lay motionless, gently resting upon the tip of my hilt. Blood began to trickle from the man's arm as Espe broke free of his grasp. He cursed and raised a halberd from nothingness and began to lung down towards her while calling for her head as she moved towards some boxes stacked just outside of the shop which had just opened. I'm not a morning person and let out an annoyed sigh.


I lurched forward off of my left foot while driving my right one into his ribcage. I heard a crack as his hand moved to clutch the bruised area. "Why would you ignore me," I said with an air of arrogance, "I just want breakfast," I said growing annoyed as I moved towards him with fists. Despite his injured side he still moved with more agility than most men I had seen, blocking and returning strikes as our fists clashed. His halberd dissipated into the air from which he had summoned it as we struck and blocked each other in a myriad of punches, neither of us yet using our legs to strike, nor did I draw my sword.

 

[FluffyFox]

I watched from my hiding spot as they fought hoping Shanori would win. I had seen Aeru go full out with Lupine before and wipe the floor with him. He doesn't play around when he wants something. I looked around for someway I could help Shanori but I wouldn't be able to do much. I looked at the swords in my arms and my eyes become clouded over for a second before I shook my head bannishing all thought of using them.

 

[Sha]

The fight continued on, punch after punch was thrown but few managed to land from either of us. Then, more swiftly than I could have anticipated, his leg swung out and caught me just above the knee causing me to begin to fall over. He swung his fist downward clashing with my chest causing me to be hurled towards the ground. The air was nearly knocked out of me when the halberd appeared again above his head. He brought it down towards my head but despite his great speed I managed to roll out of the way; this was no ordinary human. His speed was ludicrously fast and when he struck my chest forcing me to the ground it felt as though a boulder had been launched into me.


"I don't care about you, boy," My opponent smirked as he raised the blade of his weapon from the dirt, "I seek the swords your new friend possesses - if you truly wish to give your life to me then so be it, but I give you this chance to leave me to my own doings.


I coughed as I rose to my feet. "Sounds fair," I said brushing the hair from my eyes. "Sadly, I need those swords, and someone as weak as you isn't going to prevent me from having them," I said as I drew my sword from it's sheath. Though there was no pain in my shoulder I could still feel the weakness of it and wondered if Espe could feel the increase of pain I should be feeling. "Now die." I said bluntly as I rushed forward clashing my blade against the long handle of his halberd. The butt of his weapon hit my face causing me to hit the ground once more but this time I was forced to my feet quickly as the winged man sought to end me quickly. Our weapons continued to clash as once more the villagers became interested, curious, and worried as they watched the battle unfold upon the streets of their village.

 

[FluffyFox]

I did the only thing I could as he fought I had my hand sticking out towards him, drawing in his pain. I could feel all the blow he took to his chest, it knocked the air out of me as it had done to him. People came around the area as the two of them fought and a small girl came over to me trying to help me."Are you okay miss?" She asked and I nodded."I'll be fine." I said weakly and held the twin swords harder against my chest. I thought for a moment and then made my decision.


I had to get closer to Shanori and I smiled as Aeru knocked him towards me. I gasped a little as I unlocked the second level of my power, blood started to seep from my shoulder and I could feel the broken rib bone I had gotten. I had healed Shanori's wounds so he could fight better. the little girl pressed her hand over my wound."Your bleeding!" She said.

 

[Sha]

"You're bleeding!" Someone said behind me in the same direction I was shoved. Blocking a swing of the halberd I managed to avert my eyes from the battle briefly to see blood dripping from Espe's shoulder; the same point where my arm had been cut the other day. I returned my eyes to the battle without pause and moved out of the path of his incoming assault. I had to end this quickly. My shoulder had healed and my body was painless, albeit growing fatigued due to the pace with which my opponent fought. I was not a god myself, merely human, but I was far from helpless. In the years before my father's death he had been taught to control and concentrate the energy within my body, though if I were to use this skill, I wouldn't have another chance as it would drain me given I had not eaten since yesterday afternoon and my energy was dwindling as it were.


There was no choice now. Lupine was not going to return and Espe was enduring my pain for me. In conjunction with this, my opponent was more skilled than I, and the only way to win would be to catch him off guard with my speed before he had time to react.


His halberd swung parallel to the ground coming for my neck; this was my chance. Both hands were gripped to the handle of his weapon, leaving him open to an assault to his chest. My eyes shut briefly as my torso wrenched downwards as the halberd's blade reached near my neck. As my knees bent to the point where my calves touched my hamstrings, occurring more quickly than the average eye could see, I looked up through strands of red hair which held at their tips a few droplets of sweat which flung themselves to the ground. I could see my foe's eyes widen. This was my chance; if I delayed he would have time to dodge and I would lose the element of surprise which was still on my side. Launching forward I drove my sword - at the same speed with which I had crouched - through the right side of his chest though I had aimed for his heart; he had moved his torso sideways and his heart out of the way of my strike. He was nonetheless mortally wounded, however because this foe was not entirely human, I could not be sure of the fatality of my blow.


My energy had been drained and I was left gasping. I relinquished my sword from the stunned foe and fell to my knees propping myself up by the hilt of my sword whose blade now stuck into the earth beside me. With heavy breath I looked up at my foe, still standing before me with a look of exasperation and surprise upon his face. I could feel my head growing light and knew that if I stood, if he still had the resolve to fight, I wouldn't be able to defend myself. "So that's what a God can do. Impressi-" I said with a grin as my will to stay conscience finally gave way to the fatigue which burned every ounce of my being and I fell forward from my knees, planting my chest into the dirt while my sword fell down beside me and my eyes closed as I continued to fade unwillingly into sleep. The last thing I saw was Espe, next to the village girl, blood seeping from her shoulder and a clear pain coming from her ribs. I smiled to her before finally fading from consciousness.

 

[FluffyFox]

Aeru jumped back away from Shanori as he was stabbed. He coughed up some blood and looked at me with a glare before he was gone in a dash of wind and snow. I move forward up to Shanori as the village started to surround us."He fought a forest god! They will come after him now!" One person said and I glared at them. I pulled Shanori's head into my lap. A group of men came forward and I pulled the swords against my chest and held onto Shanori."Gather the two of them up, we will take them far away from the village.


I was thrown into the back of a cart with Shanori. The little girl from before snuck under a blanket and winked at me. I shrunk to the back placing Shanori's head on my lap I placed the swords between us to protect them. We were taken out into the woods and left there. The girl came out and started to wrap my wounds."Thank you." I say to her and she smiles before hugging me."Your welcome. I saw you the other day, your amazing, please let me stay with you!" She said and I sighed."I cannot, it would not be safe for you." She frowned and layed back against the blankets."I'll be okay, I can find my own food and I know how to dress wounds. I'm Alie, nice to meet you."

 

[Sha]

When I awoke my muscles burned. I winced as slowly moved my fingers, then my arms, then my toes, and at last my legs in order to gain my bearings. I was alive. A sense of relief washed over me as moved my hand to my eyes and wiped them while I sat up. My eyes meandered over to someone new, I didn't immediately recognize her, but I felt as though I had seen her before. My stomach churned, "I guess we don't get to eat a hot meal after all," I sighed quietly, too drained to make any more of it. Reaching over I stuck my arm into my pack and took out the last cloth of jerky and put one into my mouth which I began to chew before holding it out in the direction of Espe and Alie with a dull, bored look of exhaustion planted upon my face. My neck craned slightly as I held it out, noticing the crusted blood which splattered upon both my hands, though it had dried sufficiently since I had fought, and so did no stain the cloth of jerky which I held.

 

[FluffyFox]

I looked at Alie as she reached out and took a piece of the jerky and slowly started to eat it."Thank you sir." She said and looked back to me. I had pushed down my hood as it was just the three of us. Alie smiled and cuddled up to my side as I looked at Shanori."We now have a ride at least, they left this cart here since it had blood on it, they would have burned it but I wouldn't let them move you." I said and looked at the stuff we had in the cart. We had the stuff we brought with us, a small pile of blankets and a small pile of hay. We had no horse to pull it but there were many creatures in the area we could capture to pull it for us.


I moved over to Shanori moving the blades out of the way I take a cloth from beside him. Alie had brought some water so I used that to get the cloth wet and I wiped his hands off."There, no more blood." I said before I climbed down from the cart Alie following me."I'll be back in a moment." I say and walk into the woods. I come back a few moments latter leading two large elk. I tie the cart to them and smile at Shanori."I've convinced them to pull the cart for us."

 

[Sha]

My lip twitched as Espe gently cleaned my hand as it ached as did the rest of my body. "I shouldn't have used that technique given how tired I was," A looked of surprise passed briefly over my face as the thought continued, "And now we won't get to eat a hot brea-he-ckfest," My mind whined. The little girl and Espe then left into the forest. While they were gone I stood and stretched, making a few noises which expressed the pain of my muscles. "I hope noone attacks us until I get something to eat, I'll be useless in this state. Even with Espe's healing I doubt she can impart the energy derived from food," I muttered as I stretched my aching body.


Soon thereafter the two returned, Espe remarked that she had somehow convinced these animals to pull the cart for us, "You," I said while pushing against my lower back with both hands causing strain to enter my voice, "Convinced them?" Both of my eyebrows raised as I spoke, "Well, we ought to continue on, won't do much good sitting around. Besides, I still havn't had breakfast."