OOC: Thought I might as well start one, been bored lately. Anyone is free to join.

Daidrea struggled himself up from sleep, looking at the dawn's light. "Morning already, huh?" He was sleeping ontop of a treetop deep in the forest near one of the smaller elvish towns. He jumped down and looked around. He paused for a few moments, The skies look ominous he thought to himself. Something was going to happen. He gathered his things and began to move south near the border of the forest. After some hours he stopped to rest.

Wonder if there is a spring around here. As he was searching for a while, he abruptly stopped, ..What..is this? The air is thicker here and reeks with malice. He looked around and there he saw were corpses. He went over to examine them. Humans?, here? surely some one would have noticed them cross the wards. Not to far from the dead humans was another body. Except this one was an elf. What in the world is going on.. a few sconds later he noticed the smell of blood in the air. Some one...or something was wounded and it's moving. With great speed he moved towards the source, hoping to discover what's happening. When he reached the source, he looked in amazement. It was a shade. Daidrea was about to reach for his weapon when he noticed the shade had been hit in a vital spot.

He walked over, "So, whats a servant of the empire doing in a place like this?" The shade made no reply. I would assume that you are not here without reason." The shade grinned, threats must be dealt with. He stopped and coughed up blood. Heh" this forest...will burn. With his last breath, the shade falls over.

Dammit. Are we being invaded? In any case, I must search for any other enimies. I will not let this happen. I should inform the queen and counsil with master Oromis about this. I should return to the capital. For now this forest is not safe and will not be safe for anyone in it.

Ooc - Hope you don't mind me joining in ^.^

Ic -
Erais had finally come down from the mountains. It was something that she hated doing, but when she had discovered the Shade, she was more than willing to leave her home and hunt down the horrid creature. It had taken days, maybe a few weeks. Though finally she had come close enough, but hated the stuffy feeling she got when she was in De Weldenvarden.

It had only been a few more days until she was able to come within hearing range of the Shade. She cursed him for all his horrible glory as he was speaking with some humans. Erais was going to intervene, but than she saw an elf.

She had thought that the elf was going to try and attack the Shade, but it horrified her when they both shook hands. As anger boiled up inside of her, she watched as they were exchanging what seemed to be pleasentries. Cursing them all she attacked in blind fury.

Her rage was on such a magnified level that the humans stood no chance at all. They were all dead within a few minutes. Next she moved onto the elf and struck out with as much rage as she could. After plunging her sword into the elves chest, she moved to the Shade.

The Shade put up a good fight, and Erais sustained enough injuries to put her down for a while. That didn't stop her however, she had made a vow to kill anyone with the empire that came close enough to her.

As she slashed out, growing weaker, Erador's screams of pain echoed in her memory. That was enough to drive her past her limits. Stabbing the Shade in the heart, she quickly retreated a little distance away. The cut in her leg was starting to hurt to the extreme.

While she sat behind a tree, she heard foot steps, she peaked out behind the tree to see someone else. The blood loss was starting to get to her as well as the exhaustion. Knowing she needed to get away, since she had no idea if this stranger was a friend or foe. Erais attempted to stand. Realizing she couldn't do much on her own now, she held her sword tighter to herself and used the tree as support.

The pain in her leg became more apparent as the seconds inches by. The sound of soft feet padding across the ground made her instantly open her eyes. It took a bit long for them to focus completely, though it quickened when she heard the sound of a sword being unsheathed. Taking a staggering breath, she brought her head about to the source of the noise.

Moving more upright and pulling her sword closer to herself, she carefully moved from the tree. Her stance instantly became off and her breathing was coming out harder now. However, she pulled herself to her fullest height to seem more intimidating, as well as prove she could still fight with a bleeding leg.

Almost instantly, she felt another presence. In her blurred vision, she saw another stranger approach. Adjusting her sword so it was held more comfortably, she looked between the two warily.

"Who I am is no concern. As for the Shade...he got what was coming to him." Her voice sounded harsh, from the lack of use. Erais wasn't one to talk much, she rarely did it. She had no friends and no one to talk to, so what was the point.

She was unwilling to give out any information at the current time. Besides, for all she knew, they both could be working for the Empire. Her cut leg continued to sting more, her clothes were quickly becoming soaked in the area. "Do not try me." Her voice was threatening. Having been a dragon rider had toughened her and made her a better warrior. Having had to have heard her dying dragon scream in agony...made her a harsh apponent. Especially for those with the Empire.

Erais' nose began to sting, and in that instant she knew they weren't alone. The stench of the Shade was highly visible to her keen sense of smell. It's only a matter of time, She thought to herself and brought her full attention back on guard. Erais brought her eyes fixed on one of the strangers face. She didn't fully believe him, she had what would easily be called, trust issues.

"I do not care if you claim to be against the Empire, that does not prove anything. For another fact, there are ways to lie in the ancient language." Erais spoke to him in almost undertone. Almost instantly after she was done speaking, a loud crash resounded off the trees. Minute by minute she could feel her strength waning as more blood poured from the gash in her leg.

Immediately she prepared herself for the attack. "I was the one who killed them, they deserved it. However I doubt you'll live to tell the tale of escaping." Erais was shocked to hear her voice was much weaker than she intended. The Shade merely laughed.

"No! I can fight my own battles!" She shrieked loudly when he said to get out of here. However her body was thinking otherwise. She would have toppled over, had yet the other stranger not have picked her up. Instantly she began to struggle against him. As he moved away from a fight she so desperately wanted to be apart of, she kept struggling.

The only problem with that was that she kept growing weaker. So finally she just fell still. It was difficult to keep her eyes open as exhaustion and the suffering from her wounds were fully catching up with her. Finally they stopped and she started to talk extremely fast and in anger, though her voice was barely above a whisper.

Still hanging onto consciousness, she had the strangest feeling occur. Finally after she felt her leg was healed she opened her eyes, not realizing they had closed on their own. Standing up, she wheeled about and slapped the stranger in the face as hard as she could.

"Don't ever take me away from a fight." Her voice was threatening. Erais would have caused more damage, but she wanted to get revenge on the Shade. So staggering, and stumbling a little bit. She began to make her way back to where the massacre had taken place.

Feeling as though she was half way there, she saw the stranger from previously. He didn't look so good. Still struggling with her consciousness, Erais felt slight compassion for him. That was something that rarely happened. Walking over to him, more like stumbling, she began to carefully heal his wounds. Making sure she wouldn't go to far past her limits.

Only having succeeded in healing a few of the more critical wounds, she could barely stay on her knees.

Daidrea looked at the girl. Gah, shes stubborn he thought. "We need to head to a safe place to rest, neither of you are in the condition." I saw a small cave near by, let us make haste.

He walked over to them. "This place isnt safe right now, at the moment I'm the only one with strength to fight." It's going to be difficult to move with both of them injured.
He sat on the ground and closed his eyes. After a few moments he opened his eyes again. "I don't sense anyone near but we must still proceed with caution."

OC: Sorry had to edit, read the last post wrong.

Erais barely registered being lifted up, but she became slightly more aware when she was put down. Looking over at the one who had said they needed to move, Erais felt like rolling her eyes. "We are safe right now, for the time being. That Shade had come here alone with the humans. The other Shade was the only other one that I can think of. He was giving empty threats about the forest." She hated feeling weak and searched through her mind to where Erador had resided.

The memory brought a pang to her heart, and for a moment her face had fallen and a tear threatened to spill over. Quickly she recovered and pulled strength from the past memories of her dragon. It worked, but she knew that it would run out. Since Erador was gone, the strength wouldn't keep coming.

With a stubborn mind she pulled herself to her feet and looked definantly at them both. "I've been worse off before and defended myself. I'm in as much condition to fight as you." She said while glaring at him. "Though knowing what happens here at night...I guess we should go to the cave you mentioned." Erais sheathed her sword which had been left behind before she had gone looking for the injured stranger.

"Let's go." Her voice had turned cold, as well as her eyes. She was in no mood right now, to be friendly.

"I can if it is what keeps me alive." Erais said through gritted teeth. Neither one knows how hard of a past I've had. I've got more and more strength every day by pushing myself past my limits. Erais thought to herself. It was the truth, today was an easy example of her head strong will and determination.

However, as the sun was falling low in the trees, they moved to the cave. She could feel her weariness disappear as they drew near the cave. Once they reached it she was fully awake, but ached to no ends. Still unnerved with the two, she drew her sword and sat down against the cool wall of stone.

Erais held the sword in her hands, laying them across her lap. "Well if you truly aren't with the Empire, than who are you?" She asked. Might as well get to know them a little bit while the night would pass. Even though she appeared relaxed, her mind was on high alert and her posture was tense.

Erais waited, watching him with her eyes trained incase he decided to move to swiftly. Mesaraih. So that was what his name was. She had heard the name before, a few rumors which she doubted though. "Ah, so you are Mesaraih. I pictured you...older, or at least having a much more rugged look." Her voice was in slight teasing, but she had pictured someone different from what she had heard.

She sighed before replying. If he really was Mesaraih, the one that she had heard a little bit about, than he was trust worthy. "My name is Erais, but if you ever tell anyone that you have come into contact with me. You'll find a swift end." She threatened him. Erais had no intentions of becoming known to the world yet.

"I'm cold because half of my mind was brutally killed. I'm not human..." She had been refering to Erador, and the fact that she had become a fully built dragon rider before Erador had past away. In a way, you could see characteristics of a dragon pass across her face from time to time.

Erais looked to the cave entrance and saw a wolf drag in a doe. It was definately no ordinary wolf. Is Mesaraih always so...seemingly optomistic? Erais asked the wolf, only letting the thought stray into the wolves mind.

Erais listened to the wolf. Ah, though I would think it would be the other way around. Though I wouldn't have taken him for someone to have a bad temper. Erais said while looking from the wolf to Mesaraih. Well I am someone to trust. I'm a Dragon Rider, or I used to be. She felt much more content around animals than she did when she was around other people.

They were always more trustworthy and seemed more calm about what was going on. Erais continued on with a slightly lesser gruesome version of what had happened. The only thing that gave her away about talking to Rubya, was that her expression was very distant.

Erais stopped mid thought and looked over to Mesaraih. "While I was waiting, I heard the Shade discussing something with the humans. I couldn't hear it clearly, so I went into the humans minds. They were easy to get inside, the Shade would have been to risky."

"An elf came, and at first I thought that they had been caught." Her eyes flashed cold at the recent memory. "Instead they clasped hands like old pals. It turns out that the elf had turned double agent and was working for the Empire. They were exchanging a plan to break down Ellesmera, I only could listen to half of it before I couldn't control my rage anymore." Her voice was harsh as she spoke.

"I assume that the other Shade had been out scouting or something. I don't know, but my blood boils every time I come near one." Erais knew she needed to get her rage out of her system so she wouldn't hurt them. So concentrating the rage onto a rather large boulder. It blasted into millions of dust particles.

Erais had gone too far this time. She felt the energy leave her body quickly and saw her vision fade to black. The last thing she heard was Erador's dying screams of pain. Her whole defense was gone and her mind crumbled.

Ooc - Wow, I can't believe how long my posts get. If they ever get to much, let me know... I never knew I could be that long winded.

Erais listened to Daidrea. "I don't care if you've been down my path before. This is my choice, I'd rather my body not be able to take it, than sit back and watch Galbatorix destroy the last bits of sanity." She said wearily.

She merely nodded at what Mesaraih said, she even gave a half hearted chuckle before her eyes shut and she finally fell asleep. The exhaustion was so great that she was completely comfortable sleeping up right, her sword lay across her lap. Though her grip was slack and it slowly slid and clanked on the ground.

The small sound didn't disturb her as she fell into a fitful sleep. Not realizing that her defenses had completely washed away.

Erais had finally woke up a little while after Mesaraih had been kidnapped. Though she didn't know of that. She looked around and saw Rubya sleeping as well as Daidrea. Though when she went to the entrance of the cave to relieve Mesaraih, he was no where to be seen. Looking about frantically, she noticed a slight struggle on the ground.

Looking around she noticed small drag patterns faded in the ground, barely noticable in the moonlight. Erais gasped slightly, slowly realizing what could have accord. Quickly moving about, studying the different patterns in the ground, she wondered why Daidrea, Rubya, and herself had been left alone in the cave.

Now frantic with worry as to what have accord to Mesaraih, though a bit confused as to why she was caring so much. She quickly went back into the cave to get her things. After gathering them all together, she looked up and saw Mesaraih entering the cave. He looked a bit dishevled and extremely worn out.

Her eyes lit up at the sight of him in relief. She covered half the distance to him when the point of a sword protruded from his stomach. Erais gasped and took a step back in surprise. When the head was disconnected from the elves body, Erais felt extremely sick to the stomach. Sure she had her fair shares of murder, but never had she beheaded someone.

Supressing her want to rid her stomach of the contents in it. She moved over to where Mesaraih had fell unconscious. He looked horrible now and extremely beat up. This wound is to deep to cure without sacraficing my own life...if only I still had Erador with me, I could have enough strength. Erais felt horrible as she thought that.

She had no clue as to why she felt a strong caring towards him. She barely knew him, but he was the kind of person she knew that was needed in this world. Not some ex-rider with horrible judgement. If it takes my life, please carry me away from them. I don't know why, I just don't want them to know I did this. Erais said to Rubya, knowing what to do.

As the seconds ticked past, he was losing an extreme amount of blood. Taking a deep breath, she searched in the far reaches of her mind for every ounce of strength. Setting her hands over the extremely fatal wound, she began murmuring a long spell. She felt her energy ebbing away, and finally she passed out. Though knowing that she had healed to wound to a mere scar that would probably stay with him the rest of her life.

Slowly the darkness took over, and she lost all knowledge of time.

Daidrea was quickly running towards them frantically. Dammit... this isnt good. We will be surruonded if we dont get out of here. Looks like I have no choice.
Mesaraih was still crying but reached for his swords and started to charge into the groups of enemies, but before he could, Daidrea appeared in front of him in almost an instant. "Get her out of here now!" Almost bewildered on how quick Daidrea was he stood there silent. "I said go!" Daidrea turned his head towards him. His eyes have changed from soft oval shape to a sharp reptilic eyes.
Mesaraid did not argue he ran towards Erais and picked her up. He jumped over to a tree top and began moving. However his curiousit was at his peak so he stood and watched.

Daidrea was moving and attacking with almost intrackable speed. Men began to retreat but the urugals and the elf stood fast. Daidrea stopped in the middle of the clearing. Held out his right hand and began to form a ball of light. Just a few seconds later he chucked the ball to the remaining enemies and the area was filled with blinding light.

Mesaraid almost fell from the tree from the shockwave. He stood in awe when he saw a large pit not far drom Daidrea. However he was even more shocked when he looked at Daidrea himself. He had cuts everywhere on his body and was breathing heavy as he coughed up blood.
He realized that using magic puts toll on his body and if used to much it litterally tears him apart.

After a few minutes Daidrea finally colapsed onto the ground. "..Damn..I...over did it.." Darkness engulfed him in his mind. He was bleeding all over and ached in agony. Barely still awake he thought..I will not let some one make the same mistakes I did...even if it costs me my life..I.., his weariness and loss of blood have caught up with him he finally passed out.

Mesaraid was running towards him with Erais on his back.

OC: Sorry if it looks a little godmoding.

Erais felt lost. She felt as though she was in a never ending world of darkness. Her energy kept fading away and finally she collapsed on her hands on knees. She looked around frantically. The whole world was so dark and her whole body ached. Her mind was in so much pain she could barely stand it.

She tried in vain to hold onto the bits of life that she had left in her. Finally she could only stare in the darkness that surrounded her. Hearing distant screams of pain and agony. The sounds of multiple dying dragons spread through the dark. Erais looked up, to where she thought the sky might lay.

A faint light started to decend. She had an ominous feeling that this was the end, but it was not so. The faint light absorbed into her chest and instantly the darkness banished and she felt herself fall asleep.

After a while she almost heard weeping. Erais felt something wet slide down her face, slowly she opened her eyes to see Mesaraih crying. She was too swamped to move. She barely registered the faint sounds of battle as it began to happen. She only registered being lifted and moving.

Erais looked down, the dragon side of her took over and she pulled herself to her feet. Barely able to stand she pulled her sword out. Erais screamed in frustration as she collapsed against the tree. She wanted to get rid of them, but her body couldn't do it. All she could do was lay on the ground, watching as Daidrea passed out.

With barely enough strength yet, she was able to find her bow tucked in her many layers of cloth and began to shoot a few arrows until her arms buckled. "I will not go out like this..." Her voice was faint and barely noticable as her eyes shut of their own accord.

Erais was still out. She was having the most bizzare dreams. One moment she would be on the highest peak in the mountains, the next she was fighting in the desert. As soon as the dreams would shift to a next, she would forget it instantly. After a while she began to break in a cold sweat as horrible images formed in her head about her new acquaintances. The most horrid were with Mesaraih.

Finally her eyes snapped open. The sun was high in the sky and she ached terribly. She still wanted to sleep, but her mind was fully awake now. Her troubles were instantly forgotten. She looked around at the mass of dead bodies. Not able to remember what had happened.

Looking around she saw that Daidrea and Mesaraih were both up. She just lay there, finally piecing it together. At least the more important parts. Looking at both of them, she knew now that they were both trust worthy. Erais didn't bother trying to move. Her body was almost like in a coma state, though everything else was working fine.

She just observed the two quietly. "Well that was definately a bit too much than what I wanted." She finally spoke, her voice was almost light hearted and her face for once didn't hold the cold expression.

Erais felt a bit hurt as Mesaraih was being indifferent to her. She had no idea why, but when he only glanced back at her when she talked, and he looked away, she couldn't help but glare at his back. Finally finding enough strength to pull herself into a sitting position. She watched Daidrea struggle with healing himself.

He's only hurting himself more. Erais thought annoyed. "Well it's nice to be awake. I never ever want to feel as though I'm about to walk into the light." She shivered, it was an eerie and yet peaceful moment when she had accepted it to be her fate. Now she felt as though she had a second chance. She also had a slight hunch that Mesaraih had something to do with it.

Erais picked up a twig and flung it at Daidrea after he almost passed out again. "I thought it was you who told me that I shouldn't push myself so hard. Knock it off, it's bad enough that we are all already in this horrible shape." She quickly, or as quickly as she could, moved to a tree that was closer to them and propped herself against it.

Erais felt a bit upset that Mesaraih wouldn't even look at her. She wasn't sure why, but she risked her life for him and he wasn't willing to talk to her. Though he began to not look to well. When he started having a fit Erais was shocked, instantly she crawled over to him and tried shaking him out of it. "Mesaraih! Snap out of it!" She said sternly, but it didn't do much.

He kept muttering no over and over. She couldn't imagine what was going on through his mind right now. "Come on, it's okay. Nothing's going on." Erais was starting to panic. All of the fatigue that she still felt was gone instantly as he grew still. She moved to look and see if he was still breathing, as she was rather close he screamed out her named in a pained voice.

Instantly he wasn't moving. "Mesaraih! No! Wake up! Wake up now!" She slapped his face lightly.

Erais hadn't cried over something in a long time, the most she'd get was a stray tear when she had thought about Erador, but now it was different. He had risked his life along with Daidrea's to help keep them all alive. No one had done something like that for her in a long while.

She listened to Daidrea, not able to move much, she was too shocked. Even if she wanted to she couldn't stop Daidrea. Erais glanced up at Daidrea as he was stumbled against the trees. "Don't leave me alone," She whispered, not sure if he heard her or not. It was the best she could do to stop him.

Erais really didn't want to be left alone right now. So when Daidrea sat down next to her, she thanked him quietly. She felt so broken right now. No one had helped defend her before, and now that Mesaraih was unconscious because of her, or so it seemed.

"I can't sleep right now. I'll be fine right now, you are the one who needs the sleep. I'll wake you up when I need sleep myself." She would feel much better if Daidrea stayed, even though he would be asleep, at least she'd be able to wake him up.

Erais drank some of the water and began to eat some of the food slowly, sitting right next to Mesaraih. Wondering what was going on in his head right now.

Erais looked down at him as he opened his eyes. Instantly she felt a little bit of joy inside knowing that he was awake again. Though she moved back slightly as he rolled to the other side and threw up. He tried sitting up and Erais quickly began to help him. "Sorry for what?" She asked him, giving him a little bit of support.

She realized her face was tear stained and wiped away some of the wetness on her cheeks. "I'm just glad you're awake." Erais felt his forehead slightly to see if he was heating up or not. As far as she could tell, he wasn't burning up, at least not right now. Though he didn't look very good.

Erais watched him for a while after he spoke. He still didn't look to good, but being conscious was better than not knowing if he would wake up again. "You saved my life, I don't think is letting me down." She finally said, a bit harshly I might add. "The fact that we are all still alive is because we all helped out. I wouldn't be here right now. I'd be dead. So stop moping and be grateful you're alive yourself." Erais was being a bit harsh, but he was being stupid.

Grabbing a piece of fruit, she bit into it and ate it slowly. Now that he would live, her body was reverting back to it's state of recovery. A painful one at that.

Erais closed her eyes and began to breathe deeply as the aching pain came back. The sun filtered through the tree branches softly, making the leaves look greener than they actually were. Erais opened her eyes, and if she didn't know better, they almost seemed like little jewels.

Glancing over at Mesaraih, she replied gruffly. "Like I've just fallen off a dragons back." She said with a sharp gasp as a wave of pain swept through her arm. "I think Daidrea was right...I should not push myself like that." Erais said it more to herself than Mesaraih, but now she knew she would have to be more careful about what she did.

Erais' head had started to swim about sickeningly. She closed her eyes and concentrated on her breathing. After a few moments she heard the dull sound of feet hitting the ground. Her eyes snapping open, she looked around and saw Mesaraih sitting on a rock. When he pointed to where they were coming from, anger boiled inside her.

Quickly remembering what had happened, she knew she couldn't fight. Or at least live through the fight. Standing up quickly, she walked over to Daidrea and shook him, finally getting him up. "Don't they ever end?" She asked as she went about the area, erasing all traces of use.

Looking about hastily, she realized that they wouldn't be able to get far before they caught up. Glancing up, she remembered the trees. "We have to hide up there, really high." Erais said and began the painful climb up the tree. Though she'd rather be climbing the tree than facing her death. Which would probably be a torterous one.

Erais hated feeling helpless, but didn't say anything against Mesaraih helping her. She just had a scowl on her face as they were finally safe in the tree tops. None of them dared to move as the Urgals and men marched through where they had just been. Erais was going to sigh in relief until they stopped marching.

For a moment she was afraid they had seen something she hadn't been able to cover up. "I think this will be a good resting place for a while." The leader of the group grunted. Now was not a good time to be stuck up a tree while the enemy was below, especially when you've been weakened greatly.

Erais looked at the other two, her face showing fear for once.

It almost felt like slow motion as the branch broke and fell to the ground. Erais watched it in horror, now knowing that they would probably all die. Though when Mesaraih shifted so that only he was visible, the only though she had was what the heck does he think he's doing?

As he jumped down and took out quite a large number of them, she watched in horror as he sank to his knees. When he got up and continued to fight Erais couldn't stand watching it. She knew that he would die down there, but she had pushed herself too much. Was she willing to give her life up again for him? Or had she seen the errors of her mistakes.

After a few moments of hesitation, she climbed down the tree, knowing jumping like Mesaraih had would only end up getting her killed. Drawing her sword shakily, she focused on the dead and drew all the life left in them, tranfering it to her. She knew that was a bad thing, but they were already not going to make it, and they were on the enemies side. So it shouldn't do much harm.

The Urgals were much harder to fight. After killing the remaining humans she battled on with four Urgals. Her strength began fading again, thinking hard in her mind, she began to make herself believe that she was fine. She had all the energy she needed. Finally she cut the last one in half, but not before sustaining a cut on her side. It wasn't fatal, but she'd regret this later.

Walking over to Mesaraih, she took as much life as she dared to and transfered it to him. Feeling weak, she felt triumphent and sat down. Not really feeling pain, just weariness.

Erais really wasn't thinking anything, her mind was sort of just suspended, not thinking or sorting through anything. Though she did snap out of it when Mesaraih talked. "Well I wasn't going to ask," She gave him a sharp look.

"Though I can't deny that was extremely stupid!" Her temper flared up as the clock work in her mind started running again. "What were you thinking?" She stood up, holding her side as she did, it hurt but not unbearably so. "We were high enough up that the sun would have been enough of a blind that they would have thought they were imagining things! You idiot! You about died...again!" She shouted and would have hit him up side the head, but that probably wouldn't be the best idea right now.

"There are other ways of leaving that tree! We didn't have to climb down, there are enough trees close enough together to move! Besides it's the middle of the day, they would have moved on!" She yelled back at him, her temper was running away without her at the moment.

"Taking chances will get you killed! Every once in a while you have to hope that they don't see you!-" Erais was cut short when he suggested that if she thought it was so stupid, she should have let him die.

Glaring at him as walked away from him, she sat down without so much as a glance at him. "Maybe next time I will let you die, what than?" She muttered to herself, she fixed her gaze on a distant tree trunk, not bothering to do anything else, except fume inside her mind.

The sound of him walking over registered slightly in her ears. She didn't bother facing him as he began to speak. Only listening half way to his apology. In her mind she began to think of numerous things she could lecture him on, and brutally attack him verbally. What was surprising, is after a few moments she didn't feel like doing any of if.

Sighing she stood up, brushed herself off and turned to him. She was only a little bit shorter than him, but hated the fact that she couldn't look him straight in the eye without have to tilt her head up. Her pride was rather a hard obsticle at times, especially when she knew she was in the wrong as well. "Well I was wrong too, I shouldn't have yelled at you like that...or called you an idiot. I suppose my temper got the best of me as well." It took a little bit longer than she thought to get that out. In a way she didn't like how she had started to like him, she hadn't cared about someone in a long time.

For some strange reason, Erais felt completely recovered. She had no clue as to why she felt like she had felt a few days ago. Well whatever it was that was keeping her going right now, she hoped it lasted. Already they had all had to many encounters with the Empire. They needed to get to the safety of Ellesmera soon.

She saw Daidrea cough up blood and quickly went over to him. Pulling out a piece of clean cloth, she handed it to him. "We need to get to Ellesmera before we encounter any more from the Empire. They need to know of the attack that will most undoubtedly come. That and we all need the safety to fully recover." Erais bent down to help Daidrea up. "About how far is it from here?" She prayed it wasn't too far. They were all sitting ducks until they made it to the safety of the city.

Erais agreed, it was going to be a rough road. "Than we've got to leave now. I think it would be best if we didn't make any stops, very few if we have to. The sooner we get to Ellesmera, the better." She did not want to have any more encounters with Urgals, Shades, or humans. She had had her fill for a very long time.

Quickly bandaging her cut, she sheathed her sword. She walked over to Mesaraih and helped him up. They began to walk, but it was a slow going process, Erais couldn't wait to be safe in the elfin city. Hopefully, they wouldn't have any surprises on their way.

Erais had been completely unaware to Daidrea's and Mesaraih's conversation. She was letting her mind spread out through the forest, to make sure they'd be okay. So far the only life was the natural one that was supposed to be there. Even feeling fairly fine, her pace was no faster than the other two.

"Do you think we'll be safe in Ellesmera?" Erais asked, not really directly to either one. She just needed some reassurance that they would be. "I never should have left the mountains." She mumbled quietly as they walked under the peaceful forest canopy.

"Yeah, for a little bit." She muttered quietly. The peacefulness was almost taunting. Knowing what was lurking out there made her cringe inside. They continued to walk a rather long distance in silence. Each step she took, her eye lids felt heavier. The horrible aching feeling started to slowly settle back into her bones.

Looking over at Mesaraih, something else surfaced, and it was slightly confusing. Shaking her head slightly, she decided to ignore the aching and whatever else it was that was starting to bubble up to the surface. Slowly they kept up a pace that was actually getting them somewhere, but unease about something other than being attacked settled in her mind.

Erais looked over at Mesaraih as she ignored her own discomfort. Seeing his walking become uneven and his breathing was starting to come out harder, she quickly walked up to his side and put one of his arms around her shoulder. Even though she was smaller than him, having trained in rugged conditions was now paying off. "Come on, we need to keep moving."

Erais had to use her whole body to support him as they continued to walk through the forest. A long distance behind, she had a feeling that a small group of something was making their own way in their direction. Now they couldn't stop, for anything. "Just keep putting one foot in front of the other, and before we know it, we'll be safe." It was rather reassuring to say it aloud, instead of repeating in her mind.

Adjusting her hold on Mesaraih to relieve some of the weight, she continued to support him as they walked. Her legs were starting to grow weak as everything was starting to press back down on her much more stronger than she had expected. Just keep moving... She thought, they couldn't be very far now...could they?

The full weight of everything, literally, was crashing down, but she kept pushing it away. Though came back with more force each time she pushed it away. "You cannot afford to give out yet," She said to herself rather harshly. Erais knew any moment now her body was going to just give out. They just had to be close...they just had to.

Erais was barely awake while they continued their horrendous journey through the woods. Her strength would come back in little spurts and she would begin to use it to help support Mesaraih, than it would fail and he'd be helping her along. It was infuriating as she kept fighting back everything.

Finally she sensed that they had made it. Her whole body had been pushed to far and her eyes were just barely open. Erais let everything flood in and instantly she passed out. Her body collapsed, everything shut down except for her heart which kept beating feebly, and her slow shallow breaths.

Erais had no idea how long it had been, or if she was even alive. All she knew was that she felt like she had been squashed by rocks and than thrown into the freezing ocean. She could feel the stickiness of sweat, but she felt extremely cold. After a few moments of slow breathing she finally managed to open one eye. Closing it she took a few more ragged breaths and than opened both her eyes.

Light flooded her vision, making her cringe back as much as she could. She was able to tell that there was Draidea, and another elf. Probably the one she remembered being mentioned, though it was a vague memory. Trying to move her head, she couldn't see Mesaraih anywhere. Starting to wonder if he had made it with them, she tried sitting up, realized that that was a bad idea and lay back down.

Her head pounded terribly and she thought that nothing could ever amount to this horrible aching pain.

After Daidrea helped her with the water, she lay back down, aching all over. She didn't bother moving, knowing that it would cause even more pain. That was extremely stupid. What was I thinking? She asked herself. She might have said it aloud, but that would have been a bit painful.

Erais looked at the ceiling, with not much else she could do she traced the patterns in the wood with her eyes. They had almost died. She had almost died because of her stupid pride and with revenge on her mind she had let it go. I can't afford to do that again...next time might result in death. Coming so close to death had opened her eyes. She felt a bit sad, but mostly mad at herself for doing that.

After a while of just laying there, unmoving. She decided to try and attempt getting up. Key word being, attempt. After a few tries, she was finally able to prop herself up. Sitting there, almost gasping for breath, she began to stand up. "We can't just sit around and wait till we've recovered...we have to do something!" Erais hated being idle, even in her moments of pain, she did not want to be lazying about.

Starting to feel a bit dizzy now, Erais sat on the ground, using the tree to support her back so she wouldn't have to exert much strength. "Than what do you suggest we do while we recover? I can't sit around and do nothing, I'm not built that way. I need something to keep me occupied or I'll go mad here. I really love elf company, but in my opinion, the trees make me feel claustrophobic." She said a bit heatedly.

Erais had decided a little while back that she had anger issues that needed sorting out, and now was a perfect example. "Well I'm sorry, but I can't just rest! I'm trapped in a stuffy forest, with elves who rarely make good conversation, and some hot headed guy who has to rush into everything without a single thought of the outcome!" So she was overreacting and exaggerating big time.

Standing up without thinking about how she would feel later, she ranted on for a few minutes before she was out of breath. Sliding back down to the ground, she sat there as her head began to ache again. I don't want to just sit around. She thought in her head, too stubborn to accept the fact that she needed to put her pride and thirst for a fight aside to let her body recover from the extensive damage that had already been heaped upon it.

Erais couldn't really think of a good come-back, except to stick her tongue out at him. That was extremely childish, but she realized (well her sane side did) that they would probably end up having to tie her up and put her to sleep. It was probably the only way she would ever stay calm. "Well at least I know how to be wise before I do rush into things, I do know what my limits are." After saying that she took a moment to think, than realized she had just made herself a hypocrite.

That hit Erais coldly. Her eyes turned icy as she looked at them all. "Because my whole life has been a nightmare." She said bitterly and stood up. "How can I act genuine towards them when they are allies, not friends?" Her tone was cold. Turning to Oromis she studied him for a moment.

"You know nothing...you have no idea what it's like to lose your dragon. You have no idea what it's like to have lost your whole family. You don't know what it's like! Don't try saying you do, because you don't. You aren't me, so don't you dare say you do know what it's like." She spat at him and walked away angrily towards a more open space, far enough away so she wouldn't have to hear them.

Before she could completely walk away, there was a loud noise in the air. It was the sound of wings flapping and decending from the sky was a bright golden dragon. It landed before Erais and roared loudly.

A thunderous voice entered her mind. Do not mistreat my partner little one or you shall know the true meaning of nightmare!
His chest was rumbling and was breathing heavily. His bright lusterous eyes were glaring at the girl with great intensity.

"Thats enough Glaedr, leave her be."

The great dragon did not move for some time then slowly lifted his head away. Although he still looked at her with a cold face.

Erais didn't falter once when Glaedr threatened her. Do not threaten me, I can do as I please. Do not stand in my way. Erais glared at him coldly. She wasn't exactly in any mood to be nice right now. There is nothing that you could possibly do to show me what a nightmare is. I've only ever lived one, you know nothing. Her tone was cold and unbelievably harsh.

Ignoring him completely she walked past him, her head was starting to hurt again and her mind fell into horrible memories. After walking some distance she sank down by a rock and sulked.

Erais heard Mesaraih walked over to where she was sitting. She completely ignored him, she didn't care if they were right or not, she just wanted to be left alone right now. Looking at a cluster of trees, she had decided to ignore him and soon she had drowned him completely out and all she heard was her own thoughts.

She felt a gentle touch on her shoulder and she shut her eyes in defiance. She didn't want pity, she hated it. Not willing to look at his face she blocked him out completely. "Just leave me alone," She said a bit weakly, though her words held strong.