Yuuichi smiles happily as he listens to Hikari speak, thinking for a moment about when he last saw his bag. He shudders a bit at the thought of when he was captured. "I guess it would be easiest if I start at the beginning." Yuuichi squeezes Eva's hand for a moment, one of the few physical signs of discomfort he shows as he remembers the night he was captured. "I was in my natural form, rummaging for food when I wandered into a trap set by some hunters. When they took me back to their camp half of them were arguing on killing skinning and eating me, while the other half was talking about selling me as a slave. They had found my bag and had it in their camp. They tried going through it, but could not understand what is written in my books....So I know for sure they are not educated or of Elvish descent. When they let me out of the cage, for fear of them killing me, I went ahead and changed back to this form, unfortunately, they assumed I was a girl." The boy starts to shake as tears fall from his eyes, reliving in his mind what the men did to him. "T-They tried to make me do things....of 'that' kind of nature. Once they recognized I am a boy, they started beating me and slashing me with knives and swords. Talking about how I'm the epitome of evil and beasts shouldn't be allowed to live." He starts to sob for a moment before regaining his composure. "When they went to sleep that night I broke free of my bonds and grabbed my bag and left. The guys they left to keep watch saw me as I ran and chased me....that is when they shot me with the arrow....and from there, everything just went black and I think that may have been when I lost my bag." He squeezes Eva's hand again, still feeling remnants of the pain that was inflicted on him. "And after that was when you guys found me against the tree....I thought I was done for, that they had finally caught me. I never really thanked you guys for saving me."

Eva took note of what he said about saying the word seeing and she respectful made a note not to say just that. She felt him squeeze her hand, he was upset by it and the fact that humans had tried to make him do ‘that’ stuff actually made her blood boil slightly. “I hate men like that…” was all she said simply. Squeezing his hand back. “Then we should back-track…” waiting on Hikari to lead the way using the tracking she had been working on. As they waited on this she pulled him in to a hug for once, if he wanted to view her as a big sister she’d act like one. He had shown the pain of what they did to him and she felt like she should protect him from now on. It was most likely the fact she had been alone so long, the idea of being able to protect someone else was one she gladly accepted.

Saito's shoulders slumped in disappoint. He was hoping this man might give him a lead. The man he saught seems to be a phantom. He would appear in one place, or evidence of him, and then disappear. Accepting defeat, Saito bowed to the demon respectfully. Im sorry to have troubled you and thank you for your time. If we were to meet again, feel free to call on me. I wouldnt be much use in a brawl, but i am rather talented in enchantment. If you need anything enhanced, i would be glad to work on it. Saito called to the demon in his noble tone. But the appearance disappeared when he laughed and rubbed his head. Oh ya, i never gave my name. Im Saito Kadama. Anyways, i hope our paths cross again. Saito waved carelessly and headed back towards where the others were.

Saito paused before he got to the area the others were. His mind wondered to the young kit and his cheeks went pink. Shaking the uncomfortable feeling, he continued to walk. Saito was curious about this elf girl and he needed to apologize to the fairy. He got to the tree and the others were talking. He overheard what Yuuichi went through and his fists clenched. Im sorry to have run off. There was something i needed to find out. He turned to Hikari and smiled at her softly. Im sorry to have ignored you. I have a tendancy to have a one track mind. Could you find in within yourself yo forgive me?

Half concentrating on her task,Hikari flinched at the kitsune's story.Her wings trembled in fury that anyone could be so cruel.When Saito returned and asked for her to forgive him,she nodded."Not a problem.It happens...Ah! I think I found something.An object with a strong feeling of fear,not too far away." She said,her senses locking on to the object.

Yawning from a bit of exhaustion, Yuuichi smiles slightly at Saito's approach. "Welcome back Saito. We were about to go look for my bag, would you like to join us?" He yawns again, trying to concentrate on Hikari's words but having a hard time keeping his eyes open. "Go ahead an lead the way, Lady Hikari." The boy stretches a bit, in an attempt to get his body to start waking back up but finally decided it is useless and turns to look up at Eva. "Onee-chan....if it isn't too much to ask, would you mind carrying me?" A glazed look comes over his eyes for a moment as the sound of bones popping and realigning can be heard. Yuuichi switches into his beast form and rubs up against Eva's leg for a moment, hoping that in this form she wouldn't find him to be a burden considering he is still the size of a young snow fox pup.

Saito smiled at the group. I would love to come along. He waited for Hikari to take them to the place she mentioned and watched Yuuichi turn into a fox pup. He was actually really cute. It reminded him when he was a little boy. He had found a wolf pup that was injured. Saito wanted to keep it but his father forbade it. His mother on the other hand, hid it in an unused barn on the estate and helped Saito nurse it back to health. Afterwards, he led it back to the forest and found his family. Every once in a while he would run sneak into the woods and play with the wolf. I guess you could call it his first and only pet.

Saito returned to the present and looked over at the other elf. Eva, wasn't it? You mentioned you were from Ozryn. I have never been there. Whats it like? Do you know who the head house is there?

She felt herself blush again, it was almost instinctive to being relied on and how cutely he said Onee-chan, and then he morphed and her eyes momentarily widened. It was the first time she had seen this and she scooped him up. Unable to hide a cute moment taking over her, she blushed softly. “Wow you look so cute like this!” she had said without thinking, her entire body seemed alive as the blush was on her shoulders and she held him up slightly smiling. When she remembered the others were there to she actually went entirely red this blush deeper and spreading further over her body in embarrassment. She hung her head slightly and muttered. “idiot…” to herself, she hated people seeing her like that but Yuuichi had cracked through her outer cool shell so quickly she was having issues coping with her new ‘little brother’.

She looked to Saito as he spoke and regained her cool composure, speaking confidently but almost monotonous compared to her previous outburst. “I actually don’t know much about the head house, I wasn’t exactly… welcome there when I was born.” She held Yuuichi to her playing with his fur for comfort as she continued. “Ozryn is a beautiful place but the people there; they aren’t the most forgiving or accepting. I never asked what they had against humans but the fact I wasn’t a pure-blood was an issue to them.” She glanced to Hikari, the half demon thing made her wonder if she had gone through the same, maybe worse. “My mother and I lived on the outskirts of the village. I never went that far in, wouldn’t be proper for someone like me to be caught hanging around the town, so I played outside the town.” She realized she was holding Yuuichi a little tighter than normal and loosened her grip. “I’d rather not talk about Ozryn though…”

The pup lays happily in Eva's arms, nuzzling against her for a moment before falling asleep, his tail wagging happily for a moment after he falls asleep. His ears continue twitching as if he is listening to the conversation even though he isn't hearing any of it. The pup yelps a little bit in his sleep as Eva hold him a bit too tightly, but sleeps through it as she loosens her grip and continues running her fingers through his fur. As he lays in her arms he starts to dream of the past with his master before that man came along, a few tears falling through his fur as he remembers being called 'tainted' as well as people in the village making fun of him for only being able to see out of one eye. He starts to whimper a bit in his sleep as his dreams become fitful, but his body doesn't show any reaction to it so he doesn't accidentally scratch Eva.

Hikari caught the glance Eva sent her at the mention of being half-blooded,and nodded,confirming that she had been through the same thing."Let's go." She said quietly."Before the feeling fades.Objects don't hold emotions as long as living things." She added,wings fluttering as she started to walk in the direction of the object.Her wings shimmered in the light as they moved,creating iridescent rainbows and sparkles,and a gentle breeze with a pleasant scent.

Saito hung his head and slowed just a bit. He had made Eva stir unpleasant memories. I couldnt imagine what it was like growing up. Unfortunately Elves have a nack for shunning those who are different or seen as inferior. I had a couple of friends that were treated that way. I was lucky to have such a kind mother. She taught me to judge people for who they are not for who they are not. Saito's heart ached a little as he talked of his family and friends.

He sighed, shaking his head. Looking up at the sky, he wondered what he should do now. He figured he should head into town, before it got to late. The lands were dangerous at night, especially with rough demons about. None of them would be a match for him, but it was not that easy. Turning away, he began to move through the trees, his mind back home for a moment, and then what was going on back home. Taking a breath, he wondered how his parents were handling his desicions and the fact that their heir was out in the world doing who knows what, where he could potentially be killed. He knew his father had people around to keep an eye on him, it was not uncommon for him to meet one of them along the way, but it was alright. In their own way, his parents cared about him. They wern't the best at showing it, or respecting boundaries and such, but it was the under thoughts he guessed that counted. Glancing back behind him, the odd feeling of being watched crossed his mind, and he knew that he was being followed. He gave no real hint of noticing, and continued walking.

“You mother sounds like a wonderful person.” She said simply before following Hikari, being careful with how she held Yuuichi in order not to squish him or drop him as they walked. Eventually holding him became more natural and she didn’t have to think about. “I hope we find the bag… it will be nice for Yuuichi to get it back and for you to see if he has the information you need.”

Hikari nodded."That would be nice,indeed." She said absently,her mind still focusing on the object.They were getting closer.However,there was another presence intruding on her concentration.A livingg one this time,that radiated both suspicion and indifference.Was it...the demon from before? She couldn't tell."We're close.Stay on the lookout for any of those men Yuuichi described." She said.

Saito smiled in response to Eva's kind words. He walked in the present, but his mind was back home. He thought of his mother and running around the grounds of his childhood home. Climbing the trees, sparing with his best friends. But that was such a long time ago. His friends had left and Saito spent most of his time being trained and taught by his father. I guess thats when his life became dull. Waking up, lessons with his father, training with the soldiers, dinner then bed. That was his life day after day except for the random parties his father would hold to gain more leverage in the Elvin world. Saito sighed thinking of how dull and stressful his life was. Hikari's mention of the huntsmen brought him back to reality. Hey, hold on for a moment. He ran in front of the group and stood in their way. I wana check things out first. Saito walked over to a tree and laid his head against it. Forest, show me whats ahead. The forest takes his mind through the trees and towards a clearing. He can see a camp, the fire had recently burned out. Looking around there seems to be no one around. He stretched his mind a bit further to search the nearby area. No one seemed to be around, at least from what he can tell. His mind withdrew and he backed from the tree once again. No one is at the camp and not in the immediate area. However, we should hurry. They could head back to camp at any moment. Saito began walking, following the path the forest showed him.

She watched him run ahead and when he returned she nodded, running off ahead in to the camp, still holding Yuuichi to her she was careful to not misplace her footing and slip. She turned to the others “I plan to ruin this place in case they do return for what they did, you guys focus on finding his book.” It wasn’t that she was taking charge; it was more that she wanted to let them know why she had run off. Adjusting Yuuichi to balance him atop her head, something her mother had made her do with books as a child; she swung the 3 section staff with such ferocity it destroyed anything flimsy enough to break in the camp. She hated these humans for what they did and right now, petty as it was she was getting vengeance.

As Eva shifts Yuuichi a bit to set him atop her head, he starts to stir a little, aggravated his peaceful sleep was disturbed. As she starts to swing her staff about he opens his eyes and mewls a bit. Looking at what she is doing he hops down from atop her head, reverting to his human form as he does so, unfortunately with his exhaustion, Yuuichi looks more like a ten year old boy instead of his usual age. He grabs Eva around the waist and hugs her, squeezing slightly, wanting her to stop. "Onee-chan please stop. Its not worth it. Lets just find my bag and go, please." He whimpers and cries a bit, burying his head in her back. "These people may be bad, but if you make them angry, things could get worse." He shivers a bit, fear starting to take hold, waking him up a bit more, his body changing a bit more until he is back to the form Eva met him in.

Hikari kept quiet as the others went about their business.She began searching for the bag,and it wasn't long before she found it.She checked it over,using touch to strengthen the emotion coming from it.Sure enough,it was the bag she had sensed before,that had the same feel as Yuuichi's own emotions."Yuuichi,is this it?" She called.

Saito walked among the camp, looking for the bag. He let Eva let out her anger. She had seemed to gotten an attachment to Yuuichi and he is sure she is also doing so as her womanly duties. Saito wanted to exact some vengeance but he would much rather beat some manors into the scum themselves. Hikari spoke up when she found the bag, but something was irking him. It was too quiet. The fire had recently gone out and the embers were still red. His forest vision wouldnt tell him anymore than if he looked with his eyes. These men were hunters. Most likely extremely skilled at making their presence unknown to catch their kill. They could very possibly be watching them as they stood there. A rustle nearby heightened Saito's scenes. Hey guys, we better hurry up. I have a feeling we are not alone. Saito drew his sword and pulled a spell from deep within him and a set of runes started to glow. Just then he heard a whistle of an arrow behind him, going towards Eva. Eva! Watch out!

Eva had gone in to a rage of some sort but the moment he turned back to his more humanoid form she felt bad. He was right, she had let her emotions cloud her judgment and she felt bad about it. Lowering her eyes to the ground as she closed her staff in 1 swift movement and strapped it to her side. She nodded, she was sure if he hadn’t called her Onee-chan he wouldn’t have snapped her out of the moment of rage, being as he did she let her eyes grow sad but she smiled to him. “You’re right Yuuichi, I just couldn’t stand the thought of what they tried to do to you… please forgive me rash behavior.” She didn’t need the human’s forgiveness, they could be found dead for all she cared, but this beast, she couldn’t stand the thought of him hating her.

He smiles happily as she puts away her weapon, delighted at being able to keep her from being rash. Standing up on his toes he gently kisses her cheek. "Thank you Onee-chan." Hearing the same whistling noise as Saito had, the boy's ears twitch a bit, instincts starting to take hold over his mind. As Saito yells for Eva to watch out, the boy moves around her in line with the arrow and grabs it out of the air. He smiles as he turns to look back at Eva, not thinking or feeling the fact his 'catching' the arrow was the arrow piercing through his hand, not him actually grabbing it out of the air. "That was a bit close wouldn't you say Nee-san." He grins mischievously at her as he stands there. "By the way, on second thought, you can feel free to beat the ever living hell out of them. I only wish I could do more to help than be a shield. Heck, I feel guilty for trying to stop you." He looks over at Hikari and nods his head, wanting to go get his bag, but not wanting to stray to far from Eva. "Yes, that is my bag. Thank you for your help in finding it." He smiles a bit, still oblivious to the fact an arrow is sticking out of his hand.

Hikari picked up the bag,just as the sound of an arrow piercing flesh reached her hears.She turned to look and saw Yuuichi standing there with an arrow sticking out of his hand."Crap,we're under attack.Yuuichi,your hand!" She said,not wanting to alarm him but feeling that he should probably be aware of the issue.Meanwhile,she stretched out her senses once again to detect the emotions of the hunters.

Saito ran over to Yuuichi and grabbed his hand. You idiot. Saito broke this arrow just like the other and pulled it through. He tore off the bottom of his shirt and gently wrapped it around Yuuichi's hand. You need to be more careful. I'm glad you helped Lady Eva, but you have to take care of yourself too. Knowing that he was okay for the most part Saito hit Yuuichi lightly on the top of his head. He then pushed him behind him. They are somewhere around here, so be on your guard. Hikari, you might want to come over here.

Eva exhaled but when the arrow struck her weapon was out she watched Saito tend to his hand. “I’ll heal you later Yuuichi, get behind me.” She wanted to protect him blushing slightly at being called Lady Eva, like she was someone important and not just some troublesome Halfling. She was however rather focused on the task at hand. “Hikari can you track the arrow to give us a location, is that possible I hate feeling blind to my enemies location.” She sighed, she couldn’t help but feel responsible for his injury, he had got it defending her after all.

Looking down at his hand for a moment, finally realizing his error when he caught the arrow Yuuichi tilts his head a bit confused on why he isn't feeling any pain from it. He glances up at Saito and shakes his head at the man as he realizes how high the man's guard is. He clenches his teeth for a moment as a little pain hits him when Saito tends to his hand. "By the way, Hikari, like Saito said, you are probably going to want to come back over here, but be careful there are traps laid about this camp." Even with everyone around him having their guard up, Yuuichi finds it hard to do it himself, instead a wave of his earlier exhaustion hits him again, causing him to yawn a bit. "At least I was able to protect Nee-chan. That....makes me....happy." The last few words come out slurred as he falls to the ground, reverting to his fox form as he passes out.

As soon as the fox hits the ground, his mind starts to drift off, being pulled by someone familiar to him. He growls a bit instinctively in his sleep as he notices not one but two people before him to where he was pulled off to. He stands before them in his dream, surprised that either his former master or her new apprentice was able to track him down. "You let me leave, why are you calling out to me now?" He stares at the pair of Elves, waiting for a response, but one isn't forth coming from them. After a few moments of standing before them, his mind returns to his body, causing him to wake up with a few words ringing in his ears. 'My brother is out hunting again.' The fox opens its eyes and stares up at Eva, his body and mind a bit too weak to move while he tries to decipher which brother they were mentioning.

Hikari fluttered her wings and gently floated upwards and towards the group,so that she wouldn't trip any hidden traps on the ground.She took the arrow and focused on it,an invisible thread coming from it as she did."I see...at least one in the north...no,three...they're around us in a circle,in groups of three,at North,East,South,West,Northeast,Northwest,Southeas t and Southwest...Possibly more beyond.Some are in the trees." She said.