Lili shook her head as Ronin’s presence curled away again, not predicting danger in the immediate future. But she still crouched, frozen in place until Yumi spoke. “I... I’m the one they’re after... I... I hurt someone... He came into my forest. He came with others. I killed... some... And one ran away... And now I led them to you. He’s the one who brought the guild. He knows where I am.” Her voice cracked, and Ronin sensed it. He brought his presence up to quell her emotions, though tears still slid from her eyes. “I’m sorry. I should have stayed where I belong. I knew it was a bad idea to come out.” Crawling out from the table, she twisted her hands in front of her. “I... can’t stay here. I did bad.”

She turned and stepped over the room, retracing the way the old woman had come until Ronin’s voice entered her head. “Sweet girl. Such kind intentions. Yumi might not want you to leave. You have brought this upon all of us, Lili. Do well to face it with a strong might and I will stand right behind you, as Hikari will stand behind Yumi. Don’t leave her now.”

Lili paused. Ronin, as usual, was right, and a definite beacon of what conscious she lacked as a human.

Watching Lili head for the door and then pause had Yumi first confused, then understanding. There had to be a way for them to learn to trust the other faster. Turning, she went to her wardrobe and pulled out two cloaks. One from when she was a girl and the one she used now. Draping the dark brown clothing over her arm, she came quickly to stand in front of Lili. "Child, we are going to go where we have a chance of defending ourselves without hurting my trees." Quickly swinging the smaller cloak around and settling it on Lili's shoulders, Yumi deftly fastened it on and pulled the material around to cover the young girl's slender frame. Pulling her hood up to cover her features, Yumi stepped back and smiled.

Fastening her own on, she easily was covered up herself. Strolling to her chest against the wall, Yumi strapped on her blades. Simple throwing knives and a boot knife. She wasn't really good at using them, but Hikari could always use her magic to help with that a little even if her own aim was off. Grabbing a bag and pushing bread and a skin of cider into it, she motioned for the door. "We head for the forest. Might take a day or so, but we will deal with those that followed you and hopefully they won't be led back here again. I'm here for you Lili. Please don't push me away." She felt Hikari pooling their magic resources together. They should get able to get out and away from this place undetected if they hurried.

Lili stood rooted to the ground, her hand pulling the cloak over her tight. Ronin had retreated into her soul, making his presence as little-known as possible. No one would be able to detect him that way, but Lili still knew he was there, waiting to be called to help. “I don’t push people away.” She said at last. “I... hurt them. Accidentally. I put them in danger and I don’t mean to. So I don’t want to put anyone else in danger. Or hurt them again. Like I did to that guard. But I’ll be careful.” She added as she felt Ronin push a bit. He’d always had her best interests in mind. Like an older brother.

She went to a nearby window and glanced outside. She couldn’t see anything but trees. The ones she had wandered through before ever even meeting Yumi. “Maybe I can go back to my home. People are too afraid to go there. Then you won’t have to bother with me anymore. Ronin can help me keep the place safe. Or maybe you can come with us.” She was musing. Lili had a feeling she wouldn’t go back, and she certainly wouldn’t take Yumi and Hikari back to that place nearly devoid of life. But it was a thought, nonetheless.

Mentally fidgeting and trying not to rush the girl while getting her to get out the door, Yumi paused. If they were going to get out of here before the magic guild got close enough to identify her too, then she would have to convince Lili that having a friend was okay. Fighting her strain to start running, she searched desperately for the right words to convey her feelings. A gentle calm, slow in it’s effect, cleared her mind like a caress. Silently thanking Hikari for the support, Yumi turned her brown eyes on the pale child and spoke with soft assurance. “Lili, we can decide on the way. It will help us pass the time as well as to figure out how to throw the men on our trail off. Don’t worry about me. I seem to be your counter part. You cause harm. I heal with Hikari’s help.” However she was starting to hope that between the two of them, they wouldn’t be healing those after them. The magic guild was a corrupt society that oppressed the people and used their magic to place them higher than the other guilds. She rather they were put into their place for once.

Fingers gripping the bag’s strap and pulling firmly so that it would stay on her thin shoulder, Yumi turned and reached with sure fingers for the door. Turning the cool knob and opening the way towards outside and freedom, the leaves of the trees caught her gaze. Her precious orchard. She grew some of the best fruit in this valley. Yumi really didn’t want anything to happen to them because of fighting. Looking back at Lili, she was careful to keep her gaze calm and assuring, “Shall we?”

Lili narrowed her eyes as she thought. It was the best bet. She had to get away to avoid harming anyone else. She couldn’t bear the thought of doing so again. “Fine, I’ll... come with you.” She said quickly, and ran forward a bit, escaping the immediate area and looking at the trees. She wouldn’t kill these. Her emotions were directly under her own control. Ronin was calm and at peace, but she could still feel him reassuring her at every step she took. Looking around, she tried to take in the surrounding land. Lili could only feel the life of the grass below her begin to seep into her feet from standing on it too long. It was as though she couldn’t stand on any weak living thing, even grass, without inadvertently sapping its life. She took a step.

Looking around, she found Yumi behind her. “If we go the direct opposite of the way they’re coming, we’ll be headed to my forest.” She said as she started walking. “It’s too big to miss.” She didn’t know if Yumi would want to be in such a place, but it was safe enough. Not even the mages from the guild wanted to enter that place, because once within their magic would be nearly useless. But it was an option, and Lili made sure to speak of it as such.

Doing her best to suppress her grimace, Yumi hoped it wasn't the place that she thought it was. There was only two places in the world devoid of life. One of them was protected by guardians and the other was a living death. She rather thought the second was where Lili wanted to go. The girl was letting her help, that was enough. "If that is what you want, I'm game for that." She glanced back as her place disappeared and then turned to walk faster. This was insane. How had the girl been tracked? How did the old lady know they were coming for Lili in the first place?

As the dead forest came into view, she heard a shout behind her. Turning, she saw several figures in the distance jump into a run. Gulping, she stuttered, "Now would be a good time to run, right?" Yumi looked down at Lili, wondering how the younger girl was taking it. Was this the way she lived life? Fleeing from others?

Lili glanced behind them, and her flight instinct took hold. “Yes, it’s time to run!” She took off, her bare feet patting the ground lightly under her and Ronin’s energy keeping her fast. She kept Yumi with her, small hand grasping large, the first blackened trees passing by and the thin, sharp sprigs of dead grass shattering underfoot. No outsider in their right mind would dare enter here without Lili and Ronin with them, and if they did, they’d be killed off quickly. She slowed a bit, panting lightly and looking behind them. It didn’t seem as though they were following, but people could easily show their stupidity. Perhaps that was why she feared them so much...

Yumi gasped as she entered the domain. The very air was different, pushing a heaviness on her lungs. Hand tightening in fear, she nervously gasped, "Are you sure about this place?" It was the world of death. Of fear. Of the living that shouldn't be and what should be ceasing to live. It was just took much and she felt herself starting to close her eyes to jerk away. In a flurry of feathers, Hikari was out and behind her, both slender alabaster hands braced on Yumi's shoulders to keep her going forward. Yumi felt a whimper escape. She was just a girl. This was the land of monsters and non-human terrain. Fear kept clawing at her mind despite Hikari and Lili's firm presence.

((Double Gold Day!))

Ronin was agitated. "You can stop now Lili. They won't come near now." She did as Ronin said, and paused, looking around to Yumi and Hikari. "I don't want you to be afraid here. It's the only safe place... The only place you can come that will keep you safe from them." She looked around, finding that they had come so far in the life beyond was gone from sight entirely. The canopy above was full of thick-petal flowers full of a deeply sweet nectar, the flowers she would eat on a daily basis. They grew on vines too. "Ronin will keep everything away. Hikari... You'll get too weak if you try to redo everything here, please don't. Ronin..."

"I thrive on death." Ronin's voice came from Lili in turn. "I live where there is no life, exist in eternal dark and sadness. I wish neither of you to become weak or fearful where I can keep you all safe and spare you the burden."

Lili nodded. Hikari was indeed very powerful, she could feel it---but the land here was too dead, and thrived on death. The act of a single angelic being would simply not be enough. Would not be nearly enough.

Yumi trembled despite Hikari's strong hands supporting her shoulders. Looking at such lifelessness was depressing if not fearful. She felt her insides turn over and clutched her stomach, bending over in nautious pain. Hikari kept a firm hold on her to keep Yumi from falling all the way over, her face a picture of graceful concern. She looked up at Lili and spoke to her two new friends. "What is the point of living if you do not live? Yes, survival is possible here. But to truly enjoy life and the wonders it holds... can that also be enjoyed here?" She looked determined at the plants growing around her. Were they this way originally or could they be restored to a purer state?