OOC: Me n DS4 again.


Kael was making his way towards a small village on the edge of the Hadarac Desert. As much as he hated doing bounties for the Empire, he needed the money badly. Lately he has been short and wasnt able to do much. Kael sighed to himself. I hope that this is gonna be quick. I really dont need any trouble right now.As he entered the village, he got the usual stares and whispering towards him. At this point he really didnt care, he was used to being jeered at. Glancing around he saw a tavern. Guess Ill start there.

Jeria stumbled through the sand and went to her knees. She winced as the heat burned her skin. She flapped her wings weakly to try and get to her feet, but it was no use.
Cveti...I need you... she murmured in her mind. The great obsidian black eagle was beside her in moments, shielding her from the sun with an extended wing.
What possessed you to go into the Hadarac Desert, dear angel? he asked, nudging her arm worriedly with his beak. She sighed.
I don't know. Did you see any place I could go and rest? I love you dearly but I know you can't provide for me forever. she felt him heave a sigh in resignation at her logic.
There was a town up ahead. Would you like me to carry you there? he asked. She nodded wordless. The huge eagle bent down and waited patiently as she climbed up his side and settled onto his back. Hang on dear angel. he told her before lifting into the air with a flap of his wings.

He dropped her off behind a dune and made her promise that she would call for him if she had the slightest bit of trouble. She assured him she wood, donned her thick black traveling cloak to hide her tightly folded wings, and staggered forward. She felt ready to pass out by the time she reached the gate to the town. She heard someone call out, and looked up. A woman was walking toward, kind looking but with a fierceness that the Hadarac demanded.
"My dear child you look about ready to collapse. Come with me. I'll serve you some water and food at the tavern, on me." she offered. Jeria had not the energy nor the will to argue, so she let the woman wrap one of her arms over her neck and half-carry her to the tavern.

Jeria let the woman half-drag and half-carry her into the tavern and to the bar, where she set the Nephilim female on a chair. She tiredly lowered the hood of her cloak, letting her golden-blond hair cascade from inside and down her back. Her bright amethyst eyes flicked around from person to person, feeling vulnerable without Cveti at her side. The woman brought out a mug of cool water and set it in front of her. She grabbed it and put it to lips, swallowing down the contents eagerly. It had been almost two and a half days since she'd had fresh water. This had to be the sweetest water she'd ever tasted. Once she finished she carefully set the mug back down.
"Thank you." She murmured gratefully. The woman smiled.
"It's no problem my dear. Now you just sit there and rest up while I make something up for you to eat. You sit now, ya hear?" Ordered the woman kindly. Jeria smiled and nodded. She looked about the tavern, noticing at the edge of her vision a man. She blinked. Interesting. She put it at the back of her mind and went back to waiting for the woman. She grimaced as her wings cramped from being held so tightly to her body.

Jeria paid little attention to the argument. That is, until one of the soldiers mentioned a woman angel elf. She started and looked up. They were talking about her! She listened more carefully then, her lips twitching when they scoffed at the idea of an angel, elf or no. Once they had moved away from the man they seated themselves at the counter closer to her. She glanced at them in disgust. The female Nephilim got up and moved past them to sit closer to the man. She saw them look her up and down; her body was gaunt and thin true but she was still a beauty. She tried to ignore them when one whistled appreciatively. She sat on the other side of the man as far away from the three as she could. The woman came out then and set a plate before her of vegetables and slices of freshly made jerky. It looked delicious. She took a bite of a vegetable, then looked up at the man.
"Those rumors could be true. There are other mythical beings that exist; why not angels? Even if it is only half angel." She said. What was she doing? She was closing the noose over her own neck! But she couldn't help herself. "Why did they charge you to find her anyway?" She asked curiously.

Jeria lifted a hand and traced the acid burn that lined her left jaw; it tingled a bit beneath her touch.
"Perhaps you should ask questions of your target. Perhaps they are completely innocent, except maybe a difference in view or appearance." She said quietly. She ate a piece of jerky. The dry meat hurt her on the way down. She bit her lip against the pain, ignoring it as best she could. She studied the man next to her, her bright amethyst irises curious. It was obviously she that he was hunting. But he didn't seem to care either way. Could she trust him? She frowned to herself, wishing fiercely once more that she could remember her past. She bit her lip, this time out of frustration. She crossed her arms over her deathly thin torso, thinking. She was so deeply in thought that she forgot to keep her wings firmly against her back. A slight bump formed behind her, and if one looked down toward the bottom of her cloak one could see the feathery edge of a wing. But she didn't notice; she had leaned her head forward, letting her deep golden-blond hair fall forward and cover her face.

Jeria's lips twitched but she kept silent. She had rested her head on her folded arms in front of her with her eyes closed and hair shielding her face, so she didn't see his eyebrows raise. She stiffened at his question. He knew. She cursed herself for not paying better attention. This man was obviously not one of the stupid guards that she had managed to slip by in Gil'ead. She lifted her head but didn't look at him.
"I've spent the last almost ten years of my life being tortured, starved, and beaten." She paused and turned her head to look at him. Her bright amethyst eyes danced with purple fire.
"What do you think my answer is?" She asked quietly. She shoved away from the counter as hard as she could and darted for the door, shouting for Cveti as she ran. She grabbed a chair and hurled it behind her to try and slow him down. She struggled with the cloak and finally managed to throw it off. Her wings unfurled and spread, rippling with muscle despite the long years of no use. Around her skinny hips was a belt that held her weapons. She grabbed the pair of fighting daggers she'd found and spun, holding them in front of her defensively. She heard gasps of surprise as the occupants of the tavern caught sight of her wings, though she ignored them. She had eyes only for the man.
"Hard way. No way I'm going back to that hellhole after finally becoming free." she snapped, her eyes as cold as ice.

Jeria's eyes narrowed. This man looked familiar. Not him, precisely, but what he was. She wondered...No, she had to concentrate. Her legs shook from exhaustion and she'd hardly done anything but run a few feet. Her hands trembled, making the daggers shake visibly. She put them away and straightened, closing her eyes. She silently held out a hand, as if she were relenting and telling him to grasp her hand. Her eyes flashed open, flickering to a pale lavender. A bright light flashed just in front of her and a coiled whip appeared in her palm. It wasn't actually touching her, because the whip was made out of light. She 'grasped' it and uncoiled it, snapping the whip to the side menacingly. She crouched, whip ready to lash out at him.
"Answer is still no. What right have they to question me? No more than they have for you! You clearly are unique as I am, surely you understand." She growled, noting his tail. She flared her wings out to full length, glancing up to the sky. Please hurry up, Cveti, she thought to herself. She didn't have the strength to fend this guy off for long if he persisted.

Jeria's eyes snapped with anger.
"If you haven't noticed, I'm not exactly normal. I don't remember anything, thanks to the near ten years I was held in Gil'ead, of what I am." She retorted bitterly. She ducked under his attack, but didn't expect the chain. She staggered back, almost losing control of the Light whip. She shook her head to clear her vision, but it was too late by then to try and avoid the chain as it circled around her. She cried out involuntarily as he pulled the weight, the metal chains pinching her painfully. Tears came to her amethyst eyes. She went to her knees, too weak to fight him. She gasped for breath, the chain constricted around her torso and ribcage which in turn restricted her breathing. She looked up at him, the tears running slowly down her cheeks.
"If you take me back, I will die." She said quietly. With the chain tight around her body, it was terribly easy to see how skinny she was; every one of her ribs were visible, even through her tunic, and her hips were very sharply curved, though not in an attractive way. She beat her wings weakly, trying to stand, but couldn't find the strength. She still held the whip, though she let it disappear. Her mind was too tired to control it. And then she heard an outraged screech from above and ducked instinctively. Cveti dove from the sky and slammed into the man, knocking him back onto the ground. The over large eagle pinned him down while Jeria tried to get free of the chain, finding it difficult because of her weak body.

Jeria's body jerked in sympathetic pain when the man stabbed her animal bond in the chest with his tail. She gasped for breath and fell onto her side, eyes clenched tightly in pain.
"Cveti, let him up." She ordered with as much strength as she could. The obsidian black eagle looked at her incredulously, but he obeyed. He hopped off the man, but kept his body firmly in between him and her. The female Nephilim struggled a moment with the chains but soon collapsed, panting heavily. She tried to beat her wings, to at least get to her knees again, but they flailed uselessly against the ground, unable to lift her weight up. She slumped onto her stomach, her wings going limp on either side of her. The hot sand under her burned her skin. She looked at the man, her amethyst eyes pleading.
"Cveti, step aside." She told him softly. He hissed once in defiance, but a weak scolding look from her and he reluctantly moved aside. Jeria coughed, the spasms racking her body painfully.
"If you have any mercy in you, please just kill me now. I have not the strength to fight you or defend myself, and I will not let you kill my animal bond." She said tiredly. Her eyes were half-shut she was so exhausted.

Jeria looked up at him, then back at the flames.
"Better, I suppose." She said quietly. She flared her wings, flapping them lightly. She looked up at him, and her amethyst eyes were hard.
"You said you had questions. You can try to ask them, but I remember nothing from before ten years ago. All I know is my name, Cveti, and..." She cut off and looked away. She wasn't going to share that, the only personal thing she knew, with this stranger. She didn't even know his name for heaven's sake.

Jeria looked up, meeting his gaze. She sighed, rubbing her temples with her fingers.
"My name is Jeria. I think....I think others called me Jer (as in cherry) as a nickname." She said quietly, and then looked back into the fire. Her stomach abruptly snarled with hunger. She'd never finished the food that the kind woman had set out for her. She placed a hand over her abdomen and grimaced.

Jeria looked up at Kael, startled that he was offering her food. She took it hesitantly, waiting for him to snatch it back and snicker, saying she would get it once she'd earned it by answering questions. But he didn't. She tore off a small piece and ate it, remembering somehow that if she wolfed down food after nearly starving to death she might shock her system. She watched him as she chewed, her amethyst irises brightening from wariness to curiosity.
"Why are you helping me? And don't say because you got a rush of pity. I don't believe in pity anymore. Not after..." She stopped, her throat constricting with tears, and looked away. She swallowed and met his gaze again, refusing to be weak in front of him.

Jeria stared into the fire as she listened. He didn't sound like he was lying, but still....She looked up at him after he had fallen silent. Her amethyst gaze studied him carefully, without hostility or wariness. She saw a young boy, perhaps in his late teens, with thickly spiked black hair and, dare she even acknowledge it, kindness in his red eyes. It had been a long time since anyone was kind to her. She smiled, a slight, hesitant quirk of her lips.
"I understand. It has been so long...I've nearly forgotten what kindness is, too." she said quietly. "Although you are lucky in the sense that you remember your past, the couple that took care of you. I wish I could remember something. Anything. I know I used to know what I am and, when I saw you in the tavern, I recognized you. Not you, of course, but what you are." Her wings shuffled behind her in agitation. She sighed and deepened her breathing to calm down. She looked up at Kael, her expression curious and a little sheepish.
"Would you...Would you mind if I touched your tail? It looks so different from any reptilian creature with scales that I wonder what it feels like." She said. Her cheeks reddened.

Jeria managed to not stiffen when she felt him grip her shoulders and gently nudge her. She bit her lip and nodded.
"Yes, it's just..just memories. It has been so long since touch wasn't instantly followed by pain. My body says pain is coming while my mind knows otherwise. But I can't help my bodies instinctive reaction." She said quietly. A light shudder went through her.

OOC: Think its time for some action.

Kael was about to say something when out of no where his ear's twitched at a sound of a hiss in the air. Time slowed down to almost nothing. Glancing over with his eyes, he saw something that gleamed like silver flying through the air. All within one second he pushed Jeria aside and he forced himself to fall backward. As soon as the object impaled into the wall, Kael felt reality return to normal. His heart however was racing. Quickly he looked over to see that it was a dagger lodged into the wall.

"My, you're a quick one." A shadow of a man appeared by Kael's entrance to the cave. Coming into the fire light, the figure revealed to be a shade. "A normal person would be dead right now. Still just by looking at you I can see that you're not normal."
Kael gritted his teeth at the shade.
"Oh, where are my manners? Allow me to introduce myself. I am called Gannon. Ive been assigned to capture that girl next to you. It took a long time...but after the ruckus that happened at the nearby village, it wasnt too difficult from there." Gannon was tall, but slim. He had dark orange hair that was combed back. His eyes were black with a purple hue to them. He wore light black armor.
Kael stood up and walked forward. "Sorry, but she isnt going anywhere."
Gannon grinned at his comment. "Oh come now boy... do you really think there is any choice in this? No."
Kael pulled his scythe out of thin air from fire and placed it over his shoulder. This made the shade laugh. "Do you really think a rat like you has a chance against me?"
Kael's tail twitched in irritation. "Well lets find out." He charge Gannon and took a big swipe, but hit nothing but air as the shade jumped backwards outside of the cave. Kael ran after him. The sun hit him in the face as soon as he was outside. Still he kept running towards Gannon. Kael kept swiping and slashing towards him but couldnt touch him. Already his arms were getting tired. Normally he never had to swing this much and this quickly, but the shade moved inhumanly.
"My turn!" Gannon kicked straight up to Kael's face with his right foot, hitting him straight on the nose. Kael fell backward and instinctively put a hand on his nose as it started to bleed. It felt like it was broken. Kael then heard the shade's voice. "What done already?" Gannon then stomped Kael in the stomach full force. Kael bent upwards in absolute shock as all the air was forced out of him. Gasping, Kael clutched his abdomen. After that he began to cough and spit out blood. It felt like he was drowning.

Gannon took a few steps back. "What a shame. I was hoping for more of a fight. Ah well... at least you lasted longer than many."

Jeria hadn't heard the strange hiss, so she was startled when Kael pushed her to the side. Instinct rose within her that told her to roll and pop back onto her feet. Roll and pop she did, and she was taken aback to see a man there, and a dagger in the wall. Her amethyst eyes widened; Kael had protected her, or at the very least prevented her from being hurt. She stiffened as the man claimed he'd been searching for her. She recognized his voice from somewhere...but she couldn't exactly place. She watched worriedly as Kael fought the man. And then he was down on the ground, gasping for breath from a vicious blow to the stomach. Her vision turned red. He'd already been down, why had this Gannon attacked again when he was down? She straightened, fury lighting her amethyst eyes until they almost glowed. Deliberately she grabbed her weapon belt and strapped it around her hips, took a long swallow from the flask and whatever vitalizing liquid was within, then walked out of the cave. She spread her wings fully and glared at Gannon,"I'm the one you want; leave him alone." she said icily. Then with a flick of her wings she was airborne, at least a yard or two off the ground, and her body exploded with pure light, blinding the man. Kael, now if you can! But make sure you don't look at me, otherwise you will be blinded too! she called down to him.

OOC:
This attack is kind of hard to explain, to be honest. It's called Heaven's Sight in her profile if you want to check it out. Basically with being half-angel, this attack is like letting the mortals see the light of Heaven, which blinds them. That's the best description I can give.

OOC: Not exactly what I had planned on... oh well, I can adjust.

Gannon merely shook as the dagger impacted into his chest. For several minutes nothing happened. Suddenly, Gannon's whole appearance began to change. His skin began turn tan and cracked. Finally his body turned to a pile of sand that toppled over. A few feet away, the desert floor exploded upward, knocking much sand and rock into the air. The figure of Gannon appeared as he lept from the depths of the crater.
He landed with a light thud into the soft sand.
"Well then, that was quite a close call. What a neat little trick that you poscess."

Kael watched Gannon in disbelief. How could he have done that? Kael shook his head as he still gripped his stomach. This is bad... I can barely move and I dont know how well Jeria is doing. This guy looks like hes barely broken a sweat.
Gannon cracked his neck. "Now then... where were we?" The shade grinned towards Kael. "Ah yes... I was just about to finish my fun with you." Gannon pulled out a black blade from behind him. "I thought about killing you. But you being...unordinary.. I think my master would find a use for you. However it would be better if you didnt cause problems while I bring you in. So instead of killing you, I will just cripple you." Gannon slowly made his way over to Kael. In turn, Kael took uneven steps backwards.
By the next time he blinked, Gannon already charged him. Already injured, Kael was powerless to do anything. The black blade slashed across his chest. Kael doubled over and was screaming in absolute agony. Gannon spoke aloud over Kael's cries. "We shades like to soak our malice into our blades. Leaving our fabled scars that only the power of dragons can be removed." Gannon kneeled down to Kael's ear as he continued to cry out in pain. He spoke lowly, "You will feel bursts of pain for the rest of your life. With no hope of relief." Gannon sighed and smacked Kael across the head, knocking him out cold. "Sorry... that will get annoying while I bring you with me." Gannon stood and turned away from Kael, turning his attention to Jeria.

Jeria heard a scream of pure agony, though it seemed like it came from far away, like at the opposite end of a tunnel. She opened her eyes a crack, then they flashed open as she saw Kael on the ground, a bloody and nasty looking slash across his chest. Fury lit within her. Strength coursed through her as her anger and rage toward this man steadily increased. She beat her wings once, lifting herself to her feet with a single stroke. Her amethyst eyes glowed a pale lavender. She lashed out with her hand, a whip of Light uncoiling as she struck. The Light Whip cracked at the man, slashing over his torso before she jerked it back to her side.
Cveti, take Kael! She called to her animal bond. She heard his shriek, and looked up to see the obsidian black eagle diving down. At the same time that Cveti extended his talons, she lashed out with her Light Whip again, keeping the man back. The giant bird grabbed Kael in his talons and lifted back into the air with a surge of his wings, carrying the boy away to safety. She turned her attention to Gannon.
"I'm the one you want, not him, you coward." She hissed. She took a step back toward the cave; she needed to get her cloak, the flask, and a cloak for Kael. She spotted her throwing knife a foot to her right and swooped down to grab it. She sheathed it back in its scabbard on her belt and took another step backward to the cave.

Jeria snapped her Whip at her side menacingly.
"If you want him you have to go through me." She growled, her amethyst eyes gleaming. She knew he probably could get through her with little trouble, but she wasn't going down easy. There was no way she was ever going back to Gil'ead. She'd sooner slit her own throat and kill herself than ever let that happen. She cracked her Whip again as a warning, then spun around as she heard a loud crash of stone and rock being blasted apart. What she saw made her eyes widen and her heart nearly stop. She had recognized what Kael was. Demon. Of course. She backed away several steps, her Light Whip disappearing. She felt almost sorry for Gannon. Angering a demon was suicidal. She flared her wings a bit, tensing, just in case she had to flee. She doubted she could out-fly Kael in this form, he was undoubtedly stronger, but still...She hoped he wouldn't turn on her. She didn't want to hurt him, though she seriously doubted she'd have even a small chance with getting away alive if he decided to attack her. All she could do was hope.

Jeria had woken only a mere hour or two before the time that he did. But in the state she currently was, every movement was a torture, a slow agony. The only grace she had was the presence of her bonded, close to her side where he waited anxiously. The moment her eyes fluttered he was nudging her gently with his hooked beak, urging her to stand, eat and drink. The Nephilim complied as best as she could, but the weakness that ravaged her even more fiercely than before meant that Cveti supported most of her weight and was required to help her around the ruin of the cave to get anything done. First she went to Kael, who was still out cold, but she made sure he had a blanket to keep him a little warm. By now it was late and descending to night, when it would get cold very quickly. Next she finally allowed her bonded to guide her to where the flask her patient had given her now lay. A little revitalized, Jeria then let herself eat.

After this was finished, all she could do was wait. Kael's stirring didn't escape her notice. She sat on the floor by his bed after all, with her head leaned against the bedframe. She sat up and folded her legs under her to push herself onto her knees into his field of vision.
"Hush, I'm here, you're okay. Here, drink a little of this first." Gently she tilted his head up and tipped a few slow swallows into his mouth from the flask. Once his head was settled again she put it away and pulled his blanket down a little. The heat in his skin had never faded much, and she supposed perhaps a demon was always hot.
"How much do you remember?"

Jeria hid the slight flinch her body gave from the sound of his voice, however weak it was, directly into her mind. Only one other, beside her bonded, had ever done that. She shuddered and focused on Kael. Her head nodded slowly.
"Makes a little sense." she murmured. Her smile she gave him in reassurance was weak.
"I'll be fine, don't worry about me. You're the one that was hurt." she patted his shoulder gently, cautious to avoid the scar across his chest that had developed after she had healed him.
"Yeah, that's pretty much what happened.." should she tell him? Yeah, she should...Fates help her. "You...turned into a demon. After you were hurt, you..morphed, or shifted, I'm not sure which now. You killed the Shade, he's completely destroyed and can't return."

OOC:Gonna bring a sub-character in. You might recall him lol

Kael remained silent for a while. He thought about what Jeria told him. Then he spoke to her again. I had a feeling... something like that happened. I was sort of hoping... that it didn't though. Kael fell silent once again. Only the noise of his shallow breathing filled the air.

Suddenly, some faint footsteps began drawing near the cave entrance. A hand pressed against the blanket and moved it aside. It appeared to be a young man, but in fact he was a half-elf.

"Aw, dammit." The newcomer took a few steps forward. Jeria seemed scared and even stood and took a few steps back. "Whoa...take it easy. I'm a friend, his friend to be exact." She appeared uneasy still, but the newcomer walked over to the side of the bed. "Kael.... you bonehead, what did you do now?"
Kael cracked open his eyes. "...Naru?"
"Hey, take it easy. I'll fix ya up." Naru placed his hands over Kael and faint green light illuminated from his hands. Kael's pink appearnace began to fade as his skin slowly regenerated. The both of them remained silent during the process.

Jeria smiled slightly at his words, although she had no idea how he felt, she could understand why he said that. Her attention was distracted by a sound, and by more light entering the cave. She spun to see, at first glance, a man as he entered the shelter. The Nephilim rocked onto her feet and retreated, instantly wary of the stranger. His promise of friendship wasn't unheard...quite. But she'd spent too long being betrayed in her torture cell to trust carelessly. However, that he helped Kawl...even healed him, by the looks of it, improved his chances a bit. Warily she gripped her dagger behind her leg, out of the newcomer, Naru's, line of sight. Her amethyst gaze went to Kael's.
"A bounty hunter friend of yours?" she had to be prepared to run if the answer was yes. Her wings were a little stronger than before, proved by them being lifted and unfolded, ready to bolt. Cveti also was ready to grab her and escape in a moments notice.

Kael glanced over to Jeria. She looked like she was about too take off all of a sudden. It seemed that she really had a hard trusting anyone. He turned his attention back to Naru, who was still working on him. "Hey Naru... you're not gonna look to bring her in... are you?"
Naru chuckled lightly. "Let me guess, she was the job you picked up right? Well I take it she fell into the "not deserved bounty" category? Well, if thats the decision you made, then I'm not going to either. Although..." Naru leaned in closer to Kael. Then he glanced behind to Jeria and then back to Kael. "Is that the real reason you decided to drop the job? Or did you do it because you have a thing for her? She is quite the looker."
Kael merely blinked at Naru. "A thing...? What do you mean?"
Naru sighed. "I keep forgetting you weren't raised properly. But I would've thought at least your instincts would've kicked in or something." Kael remained silent.
Shaking his head, Naru resumed what he was doing. "One of these days Kael, I'm gonna have to teach you these things."

Jeria cautiously slid the knife back into it's sheath on her belt. Perhaps she didn't trust him quite yet, but he wasn't taking her in...so he wasn't an enemy. Gingerly she sat on the end of the bed and watched the healing process. Her ears pricked however as Naru leaned in and spoke more to Kael. On inspection, being an elf himself, he should have known better. Her hand gently swatted Naru on the back of the head.
"I heard that." she warned with a raised eyebrow at him. "I may have amnesia but I can still punch just fine to keep two men in line like gentleman."

Jeria found it slightly comforting to listen to the banter between the two friends. She wished she could also remember if she had any relationships like that. Her eyes found the floor as Naru finally suggested going back to the tavern. She wasn't sure why one would have the desire to 'hit' a tavern, but after a second she supposed he meant getting drunk. Cautiously the Nephilim stood and grasped her cloak, which she fanned over her wings to hide them. She'd had no other supplies upon meeting Kael, so there was nothing else to gather together. Cveti poked his head in and warbled softly. Jeria stroked his velveteen feathers gently.
"I'll be parting then.." staying with them meant food, at least in the short term, but it also increased her danger, and their own. She couldn't do that to them, especially Kael, after he helped her. Cveti however was of a different mindset. He was worried she'd starve if she didn't stay. Jeria scowled at her bonded.
"I won't stay, you know what happens when I stop moving, they catch up to me, just like Kael did." her tone attempted to be patient, she thought he already knew this, but his concern for her health made him more confidant than usual.

OOC:
For some reason, Naru reminds me of Naruto...if that's on purpose I'm going to laugh. XD

IC:
Jeria listened quietly to them both. It warmed her that they were worried about her. Cveti tried to convince her that they were right, and she needed nourishment, badly, or else the impression of her ribs on her sides would be permanent. Naru's challenge that they were the best made her smile, but only out of bitterness.
"Galbatorix could." she murmured quietly. She knew for a fact he was stronger than the both of them combined, demon or not. Angels were just as strong as demons, and she had been broken fairly quickly by the poisoned, ravaged mind of the fallen king.
"If he comes after me himself, there's nothing you could do for me. No one is safe around me, not even Cveti. I couldn't do that to you. I'd go home...if I remembered where home was. I have a feeling Galbatorix couldn't reach me wherever that is." she just finished her words when her stomach shared with a loud growl that it was hungry. The pain of hunger was a constant companion nowadays, but the twinge in her gut from an empty stomach still hurt enough to make her wince and cover her torso with her skinny arms. This was a mistake however, because it only pressed the tunic tighter around her tiny waist and showed every rib. Her fingers jerked the cloak shut around herself to hide her form. She didn't want pity, and she didn't want them to know just how weak she was.

Jeria couldn't help but agree that Galbatorix probably wouldn't come out himself, but the minions he had were many, and powerful. And she knew his secret to his power, which only increased his desire to get her back before she blabbed it out to the world. Her clear amethyst eyes refocused on Naru as he knelt before her, and the sincerity she detected in his voice made her want to cry. Kindness like this was so unnatural. How was she not dreaming, a beautiful, wonderful dream, while her body continued to waste away in her torture cell. The Nephilim tried to shake her head and turn to leave, but before she could Kael approached with a piece of bread. Her stomach growled again as the smell of the food entered her nose and caused her mouth to water. She trusted Kael, but still her hand was cautious as she took the offered morsel. The first bite was like heaven, and she savored it. The winged girl forced herself to eat it slow and not down it like she was starved, then she could just throw it up and it'd be a waste. Jeria paused at halfway and looked to the two of them, one pair of blue eyes the other red.
"Thank you...you really don't know what this means to me." she murmured softly. If she couldn't convince them to let her go then she couldn't leave, they'd simply find her again. In a way she was trapped again, but she didn't feel threatened, just worried, and eager to be home.
"Is there anything I could do to repay you..? Bounty hunters don't work for free, but I haven't any money to give you.." She trailed off uncertainly, and a lump formed in her chest. Her gratitude could quickly turn against her if they decided to keep her with them indefinitely or ask..other things of her. Things that she could do...but she wasn't sure if she could do them without being sick or being dragged into a panic attack.

Jeria relaxed instantly the moment Naru waved the need for her to repay them. She felt a little guilty for it, but she was glad he didn't require anything. If it was one of the two she'd feared, her hand was good at stealing, but she preferred not to. Her amethyst gaze changed to Kael as he teased his friend, and the Nephilim could not resist a smile. The expression only fell a little as the former said they should rest here for a night before they headed out. Her head bobbed gently in agreement. And here she could help...maybe. Her mind was tickling her with...something.
"Hang on, let me try something." the slight woman turned away from the two men and set both of her hands against the blanket that shielded the entrance of the cave. She had no idea what she was doing, but it felt like a good instinct to follow. Words flowed from her mind to her mouth and spilled like honey, warm and protective. The air shimmered in front of the blanket, back and forth, and then out of their field of vision an entire dome appeared around their hideout. Her wings drooped to the ground in exhaustion and she swayed, now intensely dizzy. Her hand found the wall to steady herself, and she closed her eyes.
"I...think I put a warning system around us. I can't make anything strong enough to keep unwanted company out completely, but it's set to let us know if someone comes a certain distance to here. There's a second one on the blanket to make it appear like solid stone, but only if nothing touches it physically, and it...-should- also shield our minds from being discovered...I think."

Jeria could feel the weight of his gaze on her and tried not to fiddle. Her eyes watched him as he approached. She blinked and lifted her head to him in surprise. His offer was a kind one, but she wondered if he wasn't doing it for another purpose. And she wasn't sure she could stand being touched in such an intimate place. At least for her. Her wings were a part of her that she couldn't explain, she didn't remember why she had them or what she was, but they felt..private, or sacred. It would be nice if he could heal the scar there however. Perhaps the pain would go away a little. So the Nephilim woman turned so her back faced him more squarely. She also fanned her wings to either side so he'd have more access. The feathers of her wings gently caressed the bed and her arms with their soft tips. Jeria lifted a hand and pulled her hair over one shoulder.
"It was not normal..some kind of mixture of hot acid and...seithr oil, I think. It was common for them to use it on the tools they used. It may not heal correctly." she tried to keep her tone flat and only be passing on information. "You can tear the shirt, Kael has more, and this one is nearly destroyed from the attack anyway."

Jeria tried to conceal the shudder that ran through her body. Out of his sight, her eyes were squeezed tightly shut. For so long touch meant pain followed instantly afterward. They had trained that mentality into her brutally. Beaten it, really. But his skin was so warm and...gentle. The fingers pressed against her back felt a little callused, probably from the use of a sword or bow. With his history as a bounty hunter, this didn't surprise her much. The Nephilim stiffened as a wave of energy shot from him directly into her. She felt cold for a split second and then a tingle of warmth flushed over her entire body and filled her to her fingers and toes and the very tips of her wings. And she felt the scars as they closed and healed, all the way down to her bones. Jeria felt stronger than she had in a long while. Strong enough to fly, even. Her magnificent wings swept open and stretched up until the delicate tips brushed against the ceiling of the cave. A wondering smile slowly pulled at her lips as she luxuriated in the full movement she now had. Slowly they folded again behind her, and here they appeared as tall as she was, in all their creamy-gold glory. Without a pause to consider what she was doing, she twisted her hand over her sternum in an alien gesture.
"Elrun ono, Vinr-Alfakyn." and then she stopped abruptly, because she had no idea where that had come from. "Uh...what did I just say..?" she asked cautiously.

OOC:
Thank you, Elf-Friend.

OOC: quick question, is it the Ancient Language or something unique to her race? Im a bit rusty recognizing AL.

OOC:
Its just the AL, yeah. There's a pretty extensive vocabulary of it on Inheriwiki.com including a little sentence structure and the like.

The Ancient Language? How odd. Well..he kind of looked like her, except for the wings, obviously. Maybe they were related at some point? Maybe.

She rested for the hours it took for Kael to arrive back. Her head lifted as he entered, and a smile pulled at her lips to greet him. Jeria twisted onto her side on the bed to watch the two men as they interacted. It interested her how Naru reacted to Kael's words, and for a while she wondered why. Kael seemed genuinely concerned, so why did Naru treat it like only a joke. Her amethyst gaze studied him for a bit while Kael went to prepare some food.

Gingerly she got up and stretched her wings again. Their length filled the cave from end to end, and she couldn't help the smile of delight that crossed her mouth. Jeria turned to Naru and parted her lips to speak. She closed them again, conscious that she barely knew these two. They were practically strangers to her. And yet she was compelled to help them, protect them.

Tentatively her fingers reached for Naru's shoulder and she touched him gently. Her touch was warm through the cloth of his tunic, which was normal for her kind, but she didn't know this.
"Why do you act like that..?" her tone was the exact opposite of accusatory, it was filled with warmth and concern. She'd never be able to explain why or how, but something in the way he said those things felt...off.

OOC:
On iPod, sorry for any spelling mistakes.

IC:
Jeria's head shook from side to side in a slow motion, filled with sorrow.
"Your lips curve but I do not see a smile. I cannot see it reach here," she gestured to his eyes."or here." Her forefinger gently touched his chest where his heart beat. "It seems to me that it's only a mask you manipulate for the pleasure of others." The Nephilim paused, concerned that she was far over the boundaries that she should not cross. The amethyst irises that peered at Naru were filled with chagrin, and regret if he was angry that she was so forward with him, a stranger. She twisted her fingers in front of her anxiously.
"And...drinking excessively and trying to impress a lot of women...I think...is usually defined to those that feel empty...a way to fill the void." Her eyes found the ground and she stated at it incredibly hard, her ears bright red with embarrassment. "I don't mean to...intrude..I'm sensitive to others...and you and Kael are doing so much for me..the least I can do is say you're not alone..." Her voice trailed off from it's timid whisper and she remained silent. If he struck her or growled at her verbally for nosing in his business where she wasn't welcome, she probably deserved it.

Jeria opened her mouth to speak again but snapped it shut as Naru stood and left the cave after his final words. Her amethyst eyes followed him, her compassion for him strong in their depths. She turned them to Kael and rubbed her arms.
"Do you know if he's like that for a reason..? You seem to know him the best." she asked quietly. Her wings shivered and moved forward a few inches to cover her arms; she felt very cold all of a sudden. She knew that was absurd, it was still light enough for the desert to be well heated. The sun was setting, however, and the heat would vanish soon enough and be replaced with cold. The Nephilim sat on the edge of the bed and folded her legs in front of her and watched as Kael prepared the meal.