The smile on Dark's face faltered. He couldnt' stop staring, but he knew now that she wasn't the type of woman to mess with. "Look, sorry if I bothered you. I was just curious. It's just that you're friends with Alexial and those creepy guys. I mean...I just wanted to get to know you better." He smiled nervously, and tugged at his collar, suddenly aware of how stifling the area was. "Forgive me? I'll leave you alone if you want me to."

Terria smiled, she liked seeing guys squirm but she felt a little guilty, Dark seemed like a cool guy, at least from what she had seen so far. "no wait... Dark isnt it? I'm sorry I'm not meaning to be rude, I just haven't eaten in a while and when I'm hungry my temper seems to get the best of me." she said "you can stay if you want, however until i get to know you better i'm not sure as to how much i should tell you about me, or anything i am involved in."

"I'll let you go eat then." he said, his smile coming back. He figured out she was a vampire, or something of the sort. "maybe when you're not hungry we can get to know each other better." He turned to go back inside and finish eating. "I'll talk to you later? My name's Dark. Nice to meet you."

Terria watched Dark walk back into the tavern and join the others. the knowing smile on his face before he had left was a knowing smile, like somehow he had figured out what she was. she didn't know, but she felt bad just leaving everyone when they all just got reunited, so she went back inside to join the others. when she walked inside she didn't feel quite as nausous it seemed that the fresh air had helped after all. as she slid back into the booth next to Dark she asked everyone, but mainly Odin, and Knight what they had been up to since the last time she had seen them, it seemed like forever.

Knight started to speak with his mouth full of food. "U'm doon yawshun." He said, accidently spraying Odin with food. He swallowed, wiped his mouth, and tried again. "I'm doing awesome. A fight here, a fight there, you know the drill." After giving Terria a big smile, he dove right back into his food. It was the best thing he'd ever tasted in awhile. Not that raw meat wasn't good, but this was better.

The waitress had already come and gone with Odin's second bowl of soup. He wasn't quite full, but he didn't want to look a pig. "You know the usual," Odin said before he took a swig of his drink. "Making trouble, finding trouble, trouble finding us. Trouble as usual." He gave Terria a goofy grin. "Rather be with you all, no offense to Knight. Just seems right to me." He shrugged and took another drink. "You know, just like good ol times." It was rare to have them all together like this. Most the time they were scattered around. Mostly together, but missing a person or two, but now it was just nice to sit here and talk just like they all used to do. "I hope we can stick together this time. Nobody needs to go off on their own agenda now do they?" It wasn't really a serious question, but he did wonder. They all had their own painful pasts, and sometimes they caught up with you and brought you crashing down.

Haishin gestured towards his camp. "I assume you have nothing. No travel pack, or anything else." He had the urge to take her by the hand back to his camp, but he wasn't sure how she would react to him touching her like that. Haishin lead the way back to his camp where the fire was still ablaze. His recent catch was already skinned and shoved crudely onto large stick he had shaved and sharpened with a knife. He quickly rolled out his bedroll and offered her a seat and then pulled out a cloak from his back and offered it to her. "There is a city nearby. I will take you there to buy you things you need. I doubt these people would be looking for a girl wearing something much more fitting for a beautiful young woman." He paused for a moment then looked her over. "That is not to say you don't look lovely as you are now."
Haishin pulled out a few cans that had various spices and herbs to had to the meat. After sprinkling a few on he sat it up to cook over the fire. "It will take a while to cook," he said.

Kim smiled. "I appreciate what you're doing for me." She inched closer to the fire until she was comfortably warm, and held her hands in front of it, enjoying the heat from the fire and the cloak. She kept an eye on the meat that was roasting, and couldn't help but drool a little. She was very hungry, and hadn't eaten properly in what seemed liked days. Though she wouldn't say it out loud, the idea of wearing something beautiful from a city for the first time ever excited her. She'd only been to the city a handful of times before, but only wearing a black robe and a scarf to cover her face. She'd been in a trance at the time too; she didn't remember it.

Knight grinned, showing all his teeth. "I'm sure we'll all stick together now. Now that we're all one big happy family again, I don't see why we'd part ways again." He ordered a second bowl of soup, and tried to eat some of Dawn's bread, but she slapped his hand away and glared at him. He just crossed his eyes and stuck his tongue out at her.

"It's nothing," Haishin said. "We are helping each other out." Haishin watched her as she warmed herself by the fire and nearly drooled at the sight of their dinner. He felt slightly sorry for her, but compassion wasn't an emotion he really felt. Instead he felt a new hope for his future. If things went well he would be able to use her and hopefully get her to do anything he ask of her. She seemed to be a woman who had nothing, and usually if you gave something to these women they would do anything. Even kill; however, some women were to good for such things. He wondered what type of woman Kim was.
"I don't mean to pry into your past," Haishin started as he turned the meat around to cook the other side. "If you're running from the Republic, that must mean you're a slave, correct?



"It's much more fun to have Alexial bandage us up after we do something fooling and mostly exciting, than having to try and patch up ourselves on our own. She has a lovely touch," he said with a wink. "And how would we ever live without Dawn's short temper and her horrible punishments. Or Terria's sharp tongue and scary glare." Odin tilted back in his chair and laughed. Maybe it was the booze or maybe just being with his friends, but he was starting to feel tingly.

Kim stared into the fire and didn't respond for a moment. Against her better nature, she felt compelled to answer his question. "Yes. Well, I guess. I don't remember much about it. This is the first time in several years I've been truly awake." She closed her mouth then. There wasn't much else to say. She didn't remember her past.

"I'm sorry to hear that. It seems they must have used outside forces to get you to comply. Demons and anybody associated with them are truly scum." Haishin had always hated demons. It didn't mater that Demons gave him the power he now had. Besides they always smelled like shit. "You can forget that past," he spoke. "I'll help you create a future you will look forward to looking back on."

"A better future..." Kim mumbled. It sounded nice. She had reason to believe Haishin was being sincere now. "I don't know why, but I feel I can trust you," she said with a smile. "I thank you for giving me hope." She silently agreed about what he said about demons. They were scum. All of them. They had to be. Why else would they kidnap, brainwash and torture a child?

Terria glared at Odin again. she didn't know why but she felt like glaring. she knew that she would have to leave the group again, even if not for a very long time, she had to feed, and she wasn't going to ask one of them if she could feed off of them just so they could stay together, no matter how good it sounded right now. Right now she was just enjoying being with them again even if she didn't show that. right now she admitted to herself that she was probably being bitchy to them, but anyone that knew her knew that she would be that way until she fed. she would try to be pleasant until then she thought to herself just as the waitress was coming back with a third bowl of soup for odin, explaining that he still looked hungry and this one was on the house. she gave the waitress a smile, and then turned the smile to the group not realizing that her fangs were showing in the smile.

Haishin smiled inwardly. It was so easy to gain her trust. He had good reason to believe if he kept this act up soon she would be eating out of his hand. He didn't want to sound cheesy, but she seemed to be eating it up. The girl seemed to have a rotten past and what she wished for was something better, something somebody like her would only be able to dream of. (magicly the food is ready..)
Haishin took out a knife and sliced into the leg of the rabbit on a stick to check if it was done. The meat was no longer pink and that he assumed it was cooked enough. He was no chief, but his cooking was decent. "I've only got a plate and a bowl," he told her. "Not much room to travel with a bunch of dishes." He decided it would be easier to eat off a plate, so he handed that to her and cut chunks of meat out of the rabbbit and placed it on her plate, then handed her a fork. "Chow time."
After plunking a few hunks of rabbit into his bowl, he started picking it with his fingers and eating it. The meat was juicy and tender. He couldn't help himself as he made a sound of delight.

Odin couldn't help but grin and profusely thank that waitress. Just as he was about to dig into his third bowl he noticed Terria's fangs. He slightly panicked and hoped nobody else dining noticed. Everybody in the room was to busy with their own affairs. He took a few spoonfuls of his soup and leaned over to Terria. "If you need to excuse yourself, go ahead. Don't torture yourself for our sake." He picked up a piece of bread and chewed. He really didn't want her to leave, so he excused himself away from the table along with Terria, so they could discuss her need to feed. "When was the last time..." he paused and made a stupid motion indicating he was talking about her feeding.

Kim dove right in. She was starving, and the food looked so tender, and tasted very juicy. With her mouth full, she wasn't able to say anything, but she gave Haishin a thumbs up instead, along with a lopsided smile. This was a lot better than running. Maybe, and it was a slim hope, but maybe if he helped her out long enough to get out of harm's way permanently, she'd be able to go back and find her family. It was a slim hope, but Kim clung onto that with all her might.

Knight was blissfully ignorant of what was going on with Terria and Odin. He was full, and now he was feeling sleepy. Letting out a sigh, he leaned back in his chair and patted his stomach. "My compliments." He sounded relaxed. Now that he'd bathed and eaten, he was ready to curl up in a nice comfortable bed. Preferrably with Alexial by his side, but he highly doubted that even after all this time, she'd be interested in him. still, he could hope.

Terria looked at odin, she knew that he was just concerned for her. she acted like she was thinking about it even though she knew that it had been almost a month. she just stared at him blankly because she wanted to make him think she didn't know what he was talking about. "why what on earth do you mean dear Odin?" she asked dumbfoundedly but with a slight smile on her face

Haishin chuckled. "I'm glad you are enjoying your meal." he turned back to his dinner and picked the pieces apart and quickly finished. He offered her more and she eagerly accepted. Between the two of them, there was nothing left of the rabbit (cept the bones and guts....). Haishin leaned back and stretch. "Oh, I don't think I'll be moving for a while," he joked. He pulled out a canteen and drank from it. "Where are my manners? Thirsty? I have a small cup, if you want it."

Odin frowned. He had always felt very weird about Terria's needs as a vampire. "You know," he said while making that same stupid motion. Terria just gave him that evil yet seductive, playful look. The one he hated because it always, always made him feel awkward. "Come on, I'm just worried about you. You know how this blood drinking deal is with me. Don't play with me Terria," Odin whined, almost child like.

Terria smiled again and then couldn't help herself as she laughed. "I'm sorry Odin, it is just so fun to watch your facial expressions." she said. then she got serious. "nearly a month" she said to him and then she got silent for a minute and waited for his reply as she looked around the forest trying to determine which direction the voices she heard were coming from.

"A month," Odin said quietly. He couldn't really remember how long Terria could go with out feeding. He knew the longer she waited the worse shape she would be in. Part of him wanted to offer his blood to her, but then he had always been wary of offering his neck to her. She was a good friend to him, and she meant the world to him, just as Alexial, Dawn, and Knight did. "I don't want you to leave now that we are together." He paused and looked away for a moment. He was about to say something when he noticed Terria was focused on something else. "What is it?" He asked. He stared at her wondering what had her attention. Terria had an odd way with the forest. She seemed to sense things and know things as long as she was surrounded by nature. She could sense things far before he could.

Terria looked back to Odin as she heard him speak. "dinner" was all she said as she looked off in the direction the voices were coming from, it had been far to long since she had fed and she knew that for how long it had taken her to sence the others in the forest. "you don't mind if I take off for a little while do you?" she asked him as her eyes darted between him and the forest. "please tell the others I will be back later tonight?"

Kim nodded. She was exhausted. Now that it was dark out, the day had caught up to her. She was more tired than she thought. "Something to drink would be nice." She said, reaching out. "Then I'd like a nice long nap." She'd meant the last part as a joke, to lighten the situation. It was a pathetic joke, but she was feeling more at ease with Haishin than she was earlier. She supposed it was a good sign.

Odin gave Terria a lopsided grin. "Don't be long. We'll be waiting for you," he said. He waved her goodbye and watched as she left. His chest ached at watching her leave. He knew it was stupid to worry and selfish to wish all of them could stay together, forever. It was only a child's dream, but his friends brought out the best in him.
Odin returned back to his seat, and by now his soup was cold. It didn't matter too much, because the talk about drinking blood mostly ruined his appitite. "Terria will be back later tonight," Odin told the others.

Haishin handed her the cup and water. "If you're tired go ahead and sleep," he told her. "I'll watch out for you." He pulled his pack up and opened it up and pulled out an extra blanket that he'd use. He was letting her have the best of what he had in order to make her feel like he actually cared, which in a way he did. "Don't refuse, because I'll stuff you in there and wont let you out until you are rested," Haishin said as a joke. If she was going to lighten up, he might as well do the same. He had to get her to like him after all. He was so happy that this was turning out easier than thought. And to think how lucky he was to stumble upon this prize.

"Thank you." Kim mumbled as she lay down. She was already slipping away. it was nice to know that Haishin was looking out for her. He was a breath of fresh air after years of suffocation.

((so I'm confused do they know haishin at this point))

Alexial was slightly saddened by the news of Terria's leave. "At least it will only be for a short while," she said. She had finished her food long before the others; she couldn't eat nearly as much as them. She knew she would probably be in bed before her friend returned. It was starting to get late and she had been up before the sun. She let out a yawn, but tried to cover it so nobody would notice. She wanted to stay up with her friends and she was excited to see them, but her body didn't care; it wanted sleep. "Now that everybody is together, what are we going to do?" She rested her arms on the table and looked around at them.

Meilynn was glad that another waitress would be covering her shift. She had been in her room while the new guests had arrived. She didn't get to meet these new women, but she saw them coming from outside before anybody else would have. She had used her powers to place little traps in the shadows. As each of them passed they triggered letting Meilynn know people where on their way. The traps did nothing but let her see who passed through them. She had set them up shortly after Dark and the large boys arrived. To her, it was odd that all these people started to show up all at once, so she had to take precautions. It was her job to protect the in after all. Once she was finished in her room she headed down stairs to finish up her long days work. She approached the table and offered to clear their plates. "Can I get anybody desert?" she asked. "The chiefs cooked up some sweet pastries for their children, but we've got a few left over if you'd like them." She explained. She noticed that one of the new women were missing. The other newcomer looked pretty normal and friendly, except that she too wore a weapon.
Geeze what is up with all these crazy people. They're like a small militia.

((No, the others don't really know Haishin))

Odin scratched his cheek as he thought what they should do. "Of course I didn't think of that," Odin said. "Perhaps some sort of celebration. Maybe tomorrow." He kicked his feet onto the table and leaned back in his chair. "After everybody rests. We'll come up with something," Odin said. He yawned a bit and then let out a sigh. "I'm looking forward to sleeping in a real bed." He tilted his head back and closed his eyes. Today was rather eventful. He smiled to himself. Being chased by demons, having his best friend along side as they kicked some demon ass, then chased some more and then finally arriving here, where they met up with the rest of their friends.

It was dark now. Haishin could see only a few feet out thanks to the fire, which was starting to burn down. He stood up and gathered a few pieces of wood to feed to the fire. In the morning they would set out to the town. He'd by Kim some nice cloths, and some warmer traveling cloths. He'd get another horse for her and trade in his own for a better stead. The stupid horse wasn't doing him any good. Kim would be able to ride him into town as Haishin led the reigns. He couldn't wait to get out of this damn forest. He was frustrated and angry over losing the wizard's trail. Maybe in town they could find his next victim. After Haishin was satisfied with the fire he laid the blanket on the ground and used his coat as a blanket. His mind was to awake and buzzing for him to sleep. He just laid there, looking at the fire, thinking of the sweet possibilities of the future.