WELCOME TO RAYVEN'S REIGN.

[♖ Underdog91]

Maria got between Echo and the calm man. "Please no fighting. I don't want to see anyone die today. However, I will not let you harm this girl." Maria shifts to a fighting stance and was ready to defend Echo.

This post has been edited by Underdog91 on Oct 20 2011, 01:58 AM

[♔ Ketic]

Mickey gave Echo a little bow after she spoke to him. He had no interest in involving himself with these other people. His search was much too important to be wasting this much time. As he turned to leave, Mickey saw the bandits were returning. Just great. I don't have the time for this. He wiped at his forehead and stopped backpedaling. There were four beings here now instead of just Echo. Mickey doubted that the bandits would attack now, and if they did... things wouldn't go well for them. Unless they had the same abilities as Echo. Mickey couldn't match power like that. His eyes searched the men up and down as they neared, trying to size them up and assess their ability to cause harm.

[♖ Laraine]

Echo stared hard at Sterling before moving Maria behind her. Echo glared at Sterling as he slowly walked towards them both.

"Ah, Azure's down for the count so I have no choice." Sterling smirked. "I'll make this easy. If you hand over Echo to me I will let the three of you live. Even the one who beat up Azure."

Echo smirked. "What makes you think I'd come with you willingly?" Echo asked cooly. Her hands started to glow. "I have more than enough power to deal with you alone."

"What a wonderfully brave front my dear." Sterling said, stopping right before her. Echo continued to act as a shield for Maria as her hands glowed blue.

"Water huh?" Sterling eyed the area. Suddenly a large wave of water appeared from behind Echo. It formed into the shape of a hand and reached towards Sterling. Echo grit her teeth, trying to control the large amount of liquid she was lifting.

"Impressive." Sterling said, his voice sounded amused. "For you to have controlled that power to this extent. Its no wonder he chose you." Suddenly a black bladed sword appeared in his hand. It sliced through the water as it wrapped its fingers around him. The water split and the liquid around him suddenly dropped to the ground.

Echo formed another fist with the water she had left and slammed it towards Sterling, who dodged. Echo continued to do this until Sterling sliced the water again into nothing.

Losing hold of the water, Echo fell to her knees, gasping hard.

"Little brat...that power is too much for you to handle." Sterling said, once again walking towards Echo.

Echo managed to get back to her feet.

"Why do you fight so hard girl?" Sterling sighed and shook his head. "After all, you are already dead."

Echo didn't flinch at his words, now when he placed the blade to her throat.

"Rest in peace already..." he whispered.

Echo smiled. "I wont rest until you all die." She grabbed his arm and her hands glowed.

A red light surrounded her hands and they suddenly burst into flames.

Sterling's eyes widened as he was engulfed in flames.

The masked man stumbled away from her and cursed. But because he was covered with water from the attack before, the fire wasn't spreading. "I'll be back." he swore.

With that he ran over to Azure and the two vanished into thin air.

Echo, panting fell to her knees again cursing herself for using up all her power.

She took a couple deep breaths before slowly starting to regain her energy.

"Sorry....about.....that." She said, still panting a bit. "I didn't want any of you to get involved in that." Her blue eyes gazed at each of them worriedly.

"None of you are hurt right?"

[♔ Ketic]

Mickey watched silently as Echo fought for her life. He could tell by the look in the girl's eyes that this was her fight and no one else's. He had considered using his mesmerism abilities on the two bandits but Echo dealt with them. She turned to all of the people around her and spoke. "None of you are hurt right?" Mickey gave her a white toothy smile. "I'm not injured. However... crowds are not my thing." He glanced meaningfully at the newcomers. "I mean none of you any offense but unless you require me Echo, I'd rather not stick around too long." The synesthetic man looked sincerely at the girl. He really meant that he would help her if she needed it, but other than that Mickey had no interest in the other figures nearby. He could sense power from the girl and something weird from the man which made him even more cautious. Mickey gazed at Echo while he waited for her to answer.

[♖ Laraine]

Echo smiled to him softly and shook her head. "It's okay Mickey..i'll be fine.."

But she wasn't fine. She was beginning to feel dizzy. It was hard trying to focus on any of them. She was out of the forest. But she was far from safe. If she didn't find some place to hide soon, those two would return to kill her before the morning.

Before her powers would return.. She didn't want them to know. That right now, out of all of them she was the weakest one.

The dizzy spell suddenly became too much for her. As she started to turn around to walk away, her legs gave out from under her.

Her vision turned black.

[♔ Ketic]

"It's okay Mickey..i'll be fine.." Mickey cracked an almost too easy smile. Some part of him was a little disappointed but he pushed that part of him down. He had a job to do after all. Mickey briefly eyed the other people simply standing around before he noticed Echo waiver. She turned and took a step then began to fall. Mickey barely caught her by one of her wrists and she hung limply for a moment before he gingerly lowered her to the ground. "Shes passed out." Mickey once again stated the obvious. He rubbed at his blond hair and sighed. This girl is going to get me into trouble, I just know it.

Mickey easily hefted the girl into his arms and glanced back at the others. He said nothing as he began to walk away. Where can I take her that is safe...? Those guys got beat pretty hard but they still came back. They are definitely not done yet. As he walked Mickey gazed around. The field was open and in the distance he spotted a cluster of buildings. Maybe there is a homestead there. If so, I'm sure they'll help her.

[♖ Underdog91]

Maria walks with Mickey. "I can heal her if you wish." She looks around. She sighs as she thinks of the two mysterious men. 'I would who those two were? It doesn't matter. Right now this girl matters.'

Maria tries to heal Echo and curses. "She out like a light. There's nothing i can do to help. I keep watch though." She keeps her eyes on the trees just in case.

[♖ Laraine]

Echo remained unconscious in Mickey's arms as he walked towards the cluster of buildings. Her breathing was even as she slept. Now that he was this close he probably began to realize how thin and light she was. While she did look young, it was hard to believe she was actually 16.

Within her mind, she was reliving a nightmare from six years ago.


The silence was ripped apart by screams. Smoke poured from buildings ablaze. People were fleeing from the city which was falling apart at the seams. One after another, buildings collapsed into nothing but cinders. One family in particular was running for their lives. The two parents, followed by a young boy and girl ran through the burning city. Following behind were several mean looking men.

Bandits.

The young boy clutched at his sisters hand, pulling her roughly through the debris.

"Ariel, hurry up!" he called, trying to make her run faster. His worried expression was enough alone to drive her to run faster.

However, her ten year old legs were small and it was impossible to meet his pace.

Their parents suddenly stopped and the brother wrapped his arms around Ariel in a tight hug, as if to shield her from what was about to happen.

"Henry, take your sister and leave, got it?" Henry's mother spoke softly to the red haired boy.

"No, I cant...Mother.." Henry started. But her blue eyes stared at him harshly.

"Henry, go now." She said sternly.

Henry closed his eyes and grabbed Ariel, running off.

Ariel was crying now, looking behind her as Henry pulled her arm to make her go faster.

"Henry we have to get mama and papa." Ariel cried, tears falling from her blue eyes. Her fire red hair which rested behind her suddenly kicked up as a few figures approached.

Henry's eyes widened and he stood before them, pushing Ariel behind him.

"Ariel, when the right time comes..run.." he whispered.

"No, Henry." Ariel knew somehow what was going to happen. Like mama and papa he would risk his life, giving her time to escape.

"Ariel. Please." Henry said. "At least one of us must live."

Within the span of a few seconds, everything changed. Th figure ran up to them, knocking Henry to the ground. Two men held him down, while another approached Ariel, his dark eyes alight.

Ariel could do nothing but look up in horror.

The large man brought up his blade.

"Ariel! Run!" Henry screamed.

The blade impaled her.



"Henry..." Echo whispered while asleep. Her face, once peaceful now appeared to be in great pain. A tear slid down her face.

The sun had long set and they were approaching the buildings fast. It was around that time Echo slowly started to awaken. She weakly opened her eyes a little. She looked around and then finally met Mickey's gaze.

"Micky? Where are we?" She asked, still terribly weak.

This post has been edited by Laraine on Nov 2 2011, 01:21 AM

[♔ Ketic]

Echo thrashed a little bit in her unconscious state which surprised Mickey. In his experience unconscious people didn't dream. She kept muttering something but he couldn't make out what she was saying at all. Eventually she came to as Mickey was nearing the farmstead. "Mickey? Where are we?" Her voice rasped and he could easily tell she was still weakened from her battles. "A farmstead. I'm hoping they have some sort of inn or a place we can stay for the night. You are in no shape to be doing much of anything right now it seems."

[♖ Laraine]

Echo blinked looked around. She realized she was being held by him and a small blush formed on her face. If Loki saw her now, he would for sure be upset. Her thoughts traveled back to what happened earlier.

She was wondering why Mickey was helping her like this. Gazing up at his eyes, she tried to find the answer. His last words he spoke to her hit home rather well. She really was useless right now. She had to wait till the morning before she got her power back.

"Mickey...I.." She started to say, but then her stomach growled. Quite loudly too.

She blushed a bright red. "Oh why now?" She grumbled, trying to hide her blushing face. But it was hard since he was holding onto her.

They finally reached the farmstead, Echo was looking around for a place to stay, she didn't want to be a burden on him anymore.

[♔ Ketic]

Mickey shushed her and let out a chuckle when Echo's stomach growled loudly. He approached one of the farmhouses where a grizzled old man was standing. Mickey didn't even bother greeting the man. His mesmeristic abilities began their trick as soon as the old guy had spotted the pair walking towards the farmhouse. The man ushered them inside, speaking only nice words. Mickey wondered if Echo would realize that he had his own skillset but he doubted it. She seemed really tired at the moment. "Thank you, we are fine now." The old man simply nodded and walked away. Mickey set Echo on a bail of hay and sighed, rubbing his eyes. "Well Echo, I'm not going to interrogate you right now. Theres no food here, so I guess I'll go get us some from the house across the path." Without waiting for her answer Mickey turned and left the barn-like building.

[♖ Laraine]

Echo was still blushing a bit as he laughed, then when they confronted the man with the grizzly beard, she watched in awe as the man kindly let them towards the barn. As Mickey set her down on the hay, she looked up and met his eyes briefly before he stated that he would go get some food at a nearby house.

"Uh..wait Mickey.." But he was already gone when she spoke those words. Left alone, she began to think of some way to evade the questions Mickey would ask about what happened.

Setting a hand on her chest, she gave a small smile and shook her head.She suddenly realized something. She was alone in this farm house. She went lie back and to close her eyes.

Suddenly a flash of light appeared before her, and a man stood before her.

"Echo my child." The glowing figure spoke. His long silver hair was tied behind him elegantly. Red eyes piercing into her blue.

"Lord Loki." Echo hastily tried to bow to him, but another wave of dizziness hit her and she nearly collapsed again.

"Lie back down." Loki ordered. "You used up all your power. What were you thinking?"

I'm...sorry my lord." Echo smiled lightly. "I just...couldn't get them involved."

"As well you shouldn't Echo." Loki sighed and then smirked. "Well I suppose if anything else, they would be a new form of entertainment for us. However, I will warn you once Echo. Do not get close to him. You know above everyone else what will happen if you do."

"I know...don't worry Master Loki." Echo gave a small smile and bowed her head.

"Remember this Echo." With that, Loki vanished, leaving Echo once again alone in the farm house. She lied back again, staring up and wishing that her powers would return to her. "I have to keep going, I don't have time for this." she whispered to no one and sighed.

[♔ Ketic]

After tricking the old man's wife out of a fresh baked loaf of bread, Mickey returned to the farmhouse. He had no qualms about using these simple folk. After all they would probably have no memory of him or Echo after the day was done. "Hey. All I could get was bread. Its fresh though." He handed her the majority of the loaf and munched on the rest. His eyes studied Echo for a moment before he swallowed and spoke up. "What was that back there? I mean the fight. I've never seen anything like that and believe me I've seen some crazy intense stuff." Mickey hoped Echo wouldn't lie to him. He was at least trying to build a little trust with the strange and powerful girl. After all he'd brought her here and retrieved food for her.

[♖ Laraine]

Echo gazed at the loaf of bread and her mouth water. It may have been only bread, but to hear it would at least give her a little energy to last through the night. She began to chomp away at the bread and before they both knew it, it was gone. As he turned to ask her about what happened, Echo's eyes darkened. She wrapped her arms around her legs and brought them to her chest.

"I'm sorry about that Mickey. It really is better if you don't get involved with me." She looked down, thinking a long time before finding a decision. She looked up at him. "Alright. I won't tell you everything....but I will say this. Those people were bandits. A part of a blood thirsty group known as the God Slayers. They go to town after town, and burn it to the ground. They kill everyone. There are no survivors. Well, usually there aren't any survivors. They are pretty thorough like that." She gripped hay in her hands tightly.

"When I was ten, they attacked my town. My parents, my brother...everyone was killed before my eyes." Echo looked away, hating to relive the memory. "I almost didn't make it. But someone saved me."

She smiled sadly, turning back to him. "And now I won't rest until I see them all die." Her eyes turned to ice. "No matter what I have to risk, no matter what happens. The God Slayers must die. As for my power. I more or less have control over the elements. I suppose its a gift from the gods?" she grinned at the comment. "I've been given the gift to defeat the bandits. But it has a price I guess." she shrugged.

"Any other questions?" She asked, starting to feel tired again.

[♔ Ketic]

"Wow." Mickey didn't know what else to say. "Um, no more questions. Well not any more that matter right now." He gazed around the barn until deciding to sit on a bail of hay across from Echo. "You should sleep while you can. And I think I'd better decide what I'm to do next. After all I'm not sure I'm too prepared to be in this sort of dangerous situation." Mickey didn't say he was going to leave because he wasn't sure if he wanted to. This girl seemed like she might need some help in the future but Mickey wasn't a revenge kind of guy. He rolled his eyes as he rubbed his forehead. Damn. What should I do? He grinned at Echo a little recklessly. "I'll stay awake so you don't need to worry about someone getting the jump on you." He picked his legs up and crossed them on the hay, leaning back onto his wrists.