Rogues and Pets vs. Dolls [closed/starting]

Jared:

I snuck up on my prey and moved the elk so I could have a clear shot. I moved in slowly, getting so close i was surprised he didn't move, and then...
"BOO!!" I shouted from right behind Davnick. He turned.
"hey." he said. Seena bolted awake.
"What!?"
"It's fine, seena, go back to sleep." davnick said. She kind of nodded and then layed back down. Rayden gave me the death stare.
"That's right, little Seena Weena. Go back to-HHUUUUUHHHHH!!!!" Tess said getting really close. "You. Got. Some. FOOOD." She said very slowly. Her hand shot out and she grabbed the elk from me and threw it on the fire. Everlee made a little yelp and pulled it out quicly.
"Tess!"
"Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaa........." She trailed off and looked at the ground.
"Tess are you back?" Everlee asked.
Tess' finger shot up. "Wait for it!" Suddenly her head froze over and she toppled over, landing with a crash as the ice shattered. "Okay, Now I'm good!" She got back up and sat down. "Hey! Who's trying to destroy the meat?"
I walked behind her and patted her on the back. "Good to have you back, tess."

Niyah lay awake, staring at the stars. Almost everyone had returned to camp, and it was nice just to lay around the fire and listen to the wind in the trees.
"Hey Elise?"Niyah asked. rolling over.
"Hmm?" the girl rolled over, obviously half asleep.
"Are you...scared?" Niyah asked. Elise's eyes widened.
"How could I be, with Everlee to lead us and all the others..."
"You know that's not what I mean." Niyah turned back to the sky.
"We might die you know. Not just at this battle, but at al the others that will come after. Elise, it his battle is only the bigining. This is War. A war that we may never win." They both lay there, in the soft green grass, the gurgling of the river filling the cool night air. Niyah knew Elise had never considered it like that. To her, it was just another battle.
"Your right." she said, more to herself than Niyah. " It is the beginning of a war. And we may die. But you know what. I'm more willing to die fighting for what I believe in than die alone." She smiled, ruffling Niyah's hair. "Because as long as I have you guys at my side, I have no reason to be afraid." Niyah smiled back at her, then stood, the scent of cooking meat wafting through the air. She walked over to Everlee, who was standing half in shadow, and staring into the flames. There was a distant, sad look in her eyes, and when she noticed Niyah she had to force herself to smile.
"Oh, hey. You hungry?" Niyah didn't reply. Instead, she met Everlee's gaze. Her smile fade, and she was the first to look away.
"Everlee, what's wrong?" she knew it was rude to ask, but she couldn't help it. She couldn't see one of her friends sad. not now.
"Nothing." Niyah continued to stare. "Niyah..." she turned away, eyes glistening. She was too strong to show her emotions to anyone. Niyah knew. She herself had been the same way for a majority of her life. Like a mother could never cry in front of her children, Everlee couldn't cry either.
But the problem with that was that it hurt all the more. It was like building a damn with no holes. The water would just keep rising and rising until it overflowed. Or until it broke completely.
Niyah reached out, taking Everlee's hand in hers and squeezing it tight. Everlee's tear stained eyes met hers, and then her head was on Niyah's shoulder, and she was sobbing softly. Niyah placed her hand on Everlee's back, consoling her silently.
She didn't know why. She didn't have to. Everyone had problems, and Everlee's were hers and hers alone.
It just helped to have someone there when you let it all out. Niyah wished she had.

(Hope this is okay Vuzzy. But she had to let it all out sometime, especially before she breaks up with Skylar. 'Cuz no matter how strong she is, she's still human, and a decision like that is bound to hurt=)

Rayden Thorn:

The invisible rouge? My blood ran cold when I heard the name. I had spent so much time thinking about who that killer was, hating who the killer was- I had never thought a girl barely older than my sister could be the cold hearted killer. My hands stilled on their own as I felt a wave of confused emotions.

Reva was the monster that me and my fellow Shepherds had reviled for so long? This girl was the person who left in her wake a trail of blood and massacre a mile wide? But she was nothing but wonderful too us, she seemed tough, but sweet nevertheless.

“Rayden?” Dante said worriedly from the fire. “Rayden is she really the-” I shook my head in disbelief.

“I can't believe she is that-” I trailed off.

“Monster?” Dante finished. Anger welled up inside of me and I could feel my eyes harden even though I tried to hide it.

Rave was the person who murdered so many innocent people? She was the one who didn't spare anyone, no matter their age? She was the one who had a vendetta against all dolls? She was the one who had made it even harder for me to get people out of the country- I had lost three people because of her meddling!

“Why Rayden?” Dante asked poking his head out of the fire. “Why would she do such a thing? What happened to her?”

His words brought me back to Reva's face, tears running welling up in her eyes.

What had happened to her? Why did she turn into who she had? Why had I turned out so differently? I realized something with a start. We weren't so different, really. Both of us were hurting and trying to make sense of everything, with what we had been given.

“You do hate me!” she cried and burst into tears, freely crying, shoulders shaking violently. Something in my heart gave a painful twist, she was broken into SO many pieces, her tough exterior was nothing but a mask.

Did I hate her now? I wondered looking at her shattering before my eyes. No! The word slammed into my mind with more violence than I expected. I reached out to her and crushed her against me in a tight bear hug.

“I don't hate you Reva.” I said softly into her hair. “I couldn't hate you.” I paused just holding her, trying to comfort her best I could, there was more to her than I could figure out. No one was born a killer.

She curled into herself, holding onto my like she was drowning, I stroked her hair.

“I can't understand why you did it, and I hate that you did what you did, but I don't hate you.”


(as always if I have done something wrong tell me and I will gladly edit. )

Everlee

After a small debate with Tess, we get the elk meat Jared caught cooking. Most of the group settles down to sleep, although, some stay awake, talking about this and that. I can't sleep even if I wanted to. Two days before a battle, and Skylar on my mind. No, there will be little sleeping tonight.

I stand up from leaning against Niyah and walk into the forest.

"I'll be back," I promise. Niyah looks questioningly at me. "I'm fine, I just... I'm just going for a walk." A short break will feel good. I walk for a while in silence, Darren staying quiet as he patrols.

Keep a close eye out, I warn. We're getting closer to the city.

Darren pauses and howls at the moon, signalling he understands. I love his howl. It's one of the most comforting sounds in the world. The only other one I can think of would be Skylar's voice...

I stop that train of thought as a foot step sounds behind me. I jump and turn around, only to see Skylar.

Uh oh I think.

Now's better then never, Darren whispers.

But I...

Darren cuts me off. Then don't. But I have to.

"Sorry," Skylar says, putting up his hands. "I was just wondering if we could talk."

I force a grimace onto my face, feeling every fiber of my being rejecting the negativity. "Talk? About what?" I shock myself by my tone, so deep and menacing, as if I actually hate Skylar. My hands quiver by my side, but I ignore them. "We have nothing to talk about."

"Then can I ask you a question?" Skylar asks.

I nod once, but then change my tactic. "If you must," I say with a sigh.

Skylar pauses, trying to think the best way to word his question.

You're not being mean enough, Darren offers, although I hear the still disaproving tone in his voice.

"Come on," I say, bored. "I haven't got all day."

Skylar looks at me in shock, but recovers himself quickly. "Did I do something wrong? To make you hate me?"

No. Never. "Why does it matter?" I ask.

Skylar looks hurt, and instantly I feel my blood run cold. "You've been ignoring me all day. Did I...?" he begins to ask.

I cut him off. "Skylar, let me tell you this simply. I've moved on."

Ouch!

"What?" Skylar asks, completely lost. "I thought... I thought that... we..." he stutters.

"Well, you thought wrong," I almost shout. I sound too forced, but I know it doesn't matter to Skylar. Just the words will rip his heart out. "I'm busy trying to save the rebelion and the rest of the rogues. I don't have time to waste playing puppy dog love with some average doll. Just leave me alone. If I really cared for you, then I wouldn't be leading you into battle, would I? You're better off moving on, like I already have."

Lies, lies, lies. Skylar, please, please forgive me! I'm sorry! I didn't mean any of it. I'm just being selfish. Can we please go back to the way things were? Please! Let's leave. We don't have to go to the battle in two days. We can just leave. Stop the rebelion. It doesn't matter. Only you matter to me. Nothing else. These were the words that I desperately want to say, but none of that's true. I need to lead my rogues to the battle. And I can't let my heart wrap around something it can't have.

(Gleek, take it away! Hope everything's ok! so horrible!)

((AWW! T.T that was wonderfully horrible Kitty! Wonderfully horrible!))

Reva

After I managed to get out what had to be said, I realized what a mistake it was. Why would he even be indifferent to me as I had hoped? Even I hated myself, why would he feel any different?

His face hardened in the firelight and I felt my heart freeze, then shatter. Once again, my heart was breaking and I didn't know what to do. I hated the feeling. How on earth did I become this vunerable? Where was the strong Reva, the one that was untouchable and cold? Who felt nothing? I missed her, I preferred her to this weak girl that was in so much pain. The truth about who I once was changed everyone's opinion of me.

"You do hate me!" The words burst from my mouth and were quickly followed by sobs. I couldn't believe myself. I was crying in front of someone. Not just anyone either, but Rayden Thorn, the one man whose opinion I actually cared about. The cold stiffness that had suddenly entered his manner was bad enough, but the expression of pure disgust and disbelief is what really broke me. I didn't know how, I didn't know when, but somewhere in the last week I had passed the point of no return, and right then, I was looking for an escape route.

He beat me to it, by wrapping me in a strong hug. His warmth made me suddenly feel more chilled than I had been, but his words were those of comfort. "I don't hate you Reva. I couldn't hate you." He murmured softly, I barely even heard it over my own sobs. I just clung to him and cried.

I cried for Old Kaston and his death. I cried for the morales the old man taught me, the ones that now seemed so very wrong. I cried for all of the people I killed. Their loved ones, their friends, and even their enemies. And I cried for the person I had become. Broken. Weak. Vunerable. And yet more happy in some ways than ever before.

“I can't understand why you did it, and I hate that you did what you did, but I don't hate you.”

And how kind he was being only made me sob harder. Had he told me that he did indeed hate me, then I could have handled it. I may have cried a bit, but I would have gotten over the moment quickly. It would have served as proof that letting my guard down around people was not safe. And I could have returned to my own life. But the gentle way in which he comforted me... "If I could... I would go back... And change it..." I sobbed. "If I could give... Those people back their lives... I would lay down my own... To make it happen..."

Rayden Thorn:


"If I could... I would go back... And change it..." she sobbed. "If I could give... Those people back their lives... I would lay down my own... To make it happen..." she gulped trying to calm herself, shaking slightly.

I didn't know if she was shivering form her emotions or the chill in the air. But in the moment of silence that followed I heated up my body slightly and I tightened my grip on her.

“ I understand. I have things I wish I could go back and redo. I regret things I have done.” Reva looked up at me then and I chuckled slightly.

“I'm not the white knight my sister thinks I am. I've done some awful things and I'm still trying to repent of my sins. I hold onto my guilt too long, it eats away at a part of you, one you can never get back. My mother used to tell me and Seena something when we were young: “No on is perfect. Don't throw stones at someone- for you've sinned just as badly. Everyone gets a second chance if they want it.”- but Reva you have to want to get that second chance. You have to fight for it, it might be an uphill battle, but if you want it badly enough you will get it.” She looked up at me again and wiped her eyes.

“Was your mother a rouge?” she changed the subject, and I understand she needs time to think, no more talking about that. I smile and shake my head.

“No, both my parents were Dolls. I was the first rouge born into the family ever.” the memories of my parents drifted over me in that wonderful bittersweet way. “ You could say they are the reason I do, what I do. When the law was passed, they decided we were going to stay together as a family. We all went into hiding. They were willing to risk everything for me, even their lives. A family friend betrayed us and both my parents were killed trying to protect Seena and I.... to protect me. Their death shattered me in ways Seena won't ever understand. The guilt that ate away at me for years. I felt it was my fault they died, I wished I was never born for a long time- I wanted to die, but my mother before she died made me promise two things.” I paused and took a shaky breath as images I had buried deep within me came back.

“She made me promise I would find Seena, that I would get her back somehow. And she me promise that I would not let them die in vain, she made me promise that I would do something with my life. I decided the best way to do that was to fight to save other families willing to do what mine was. My parents are the ones who made me who I am and they are the reason I am a Shepherd. It is the only way I think I could honor them properly.” I stop talking, Reva shifts slightly in my arm and I feel fresh tears soak through my shirt. I felt suddenly cold.

“Reva? Reva have I said something wrong?”


......

(Alrighty Bee or Blondie take it away!)

Reva

"Reva? Reva have I said something wrong?" He asked, pulling away a little bit.

I fisted my hands in his shirt and tried to calm myself a little bit, as much as I possibly could. Here I was, the one sobbing in his arms, when he was the one hurting. He had lost people he loved, and had put himself at fault. "No... No you didn't." I assured him and finally managed to stop my tears. Instead of pulling away though,I wrapped my arms around his waist and gave him a hug back. "Your mother would be proud of you Rayden. I bet that she would be more proud of you than words can describe. I'm sure of it." I murmured softly, not even sure that he was able to hear me, but it didn't really matter. I probably wasn't making sense anyway. "You were never at fault, there was nothing you could have done that would have changed what happened. And there's nothing you can do now. And instead of growing bitter and seeking vengance you turned and stopped others from having the same fate. You saved their lives, and gave them hope. Yes. Your mother would be very very proud."

After Everlee left, Niyah didn't feel like sitting by the others. And though the warm fire and laughter felt like the only thing that could draw her out of the dark mood she was trapped, in, she felt as if there was something els, something important that she needed to lok to within the depths of the forest.
The darkness, Eisen, it's pulling me in. Drawing me closer. I can't...I wont. The shadows around her seemed to dance at the feet of their master, their distorted movements resembeling that of a corpse dragging itself along the ground. Niyah swallowed, looking up, only to be greeted with more swirling darkness. A vortex, pulling her in..
Niyah, I have to tel you... Eisen murmered. Niyah could hear the rustle of his wings in the darkness. Her fear peaked.
The truth that youve kept hidden so long... All her emotion melted away, leaving her cold as ice. Niyah smiled, reveling in the darkness she ruled so completly. It wrapped around her, embracing her. She turned her face up to the cold pale light of the moon, eyes flashing. This was her kingdom. Darkness. This was her realm.
"Niyah?" Niyah awoke, glancing frantically about her. She was lying on the ground just inside the wall of trees.
It was a dream?But it had felt so real. So frighteningly real. The darkness had consumed her, flowing across her skin in waves.
Niyah never wanted to feel like that again
"I, I..." That's when the tears came. Niyah fell to her knees, letting them drip down her cheeks and onto the cool soil.
"Niyah!" Tess cried, kneeling at Niyah's side, wrapping her arms around her and pulling her into her lap. "Shhh, it's alright. Don't be frightened." she consoled. Niyah wept. Wept for those she'd lost, those she'd lose. She wept for what was to come, for what would never be. What could never be.
Because Niyah knew. The cost for battle was blood, and they all had a price to pay.

-Sheara

I was sitting near Davy as he was muttering about being called short, but my attention was somewhere else. I couldn't help but watch as Rayray began to talk to Reva. I heard something about a cut and infection. I quickly covered my eyes when Rayray was about to put a hot knive on her shoulder. I waited until I heard them talking again to open my eyes.

Suddenly, Poca hopped on my shoulder.

"You-look-pretty...funny wearing-Davnick's clothes!"

She chuckled. I looked down. She was right. The pants were way too long. They dragged on the ground when I walked, no matter how high I pulled them up. The shirt was WAY too big. The shoulders were down to my elbows and I had to tie the collar in place. The sleeves were so long and baggy that they went over my hands and still had about 5 inches to spare. I looked rediculous.
"Well, it's better than no clothes at all..." I shrugged. Poca laughed, then scooted closer to the fire. She always loved the warmth of fire.

I turned my attention back to Reva and Rayray.

"I murdered innocent people, okay? I went into village after village and just slaughtered them all! Are you thoroughly disgusted with me?! Because I am!"

Reva looked like she was about to cry.

"Now that you know me for who I am are you going to change your mind?! Because I wouldn't blame you. Not one bit if you did. No one can ever really care for the invisible rogue."

Reva started to cry and tears ran down her face. Rayray looked a little shocked, I don't think he knew what to say.

“You do hate me!” My own mind was trying to figure out the situation, so I didn't hear what was said after that.
She...killed people? I recalled the empty village, and how Poca neatly avoided the question of where the people had gone. The truth crashed down on me like a wave of ice water. Reva was now sobbing. Before I could even think, Rayray trapped her in a tight hug.

“I don't hate you Reva. I couldn't hate you. I can't understand why you did it, and I hate that you did what you did, but I don't hate you."

I was suprised at how powerful his words sounded. So certain, so immovable, but very very gentle. Reva burst into even more tears.

"If I could... I would go back... And change it...If I could give... Those people back their lives... I would lay down my own... To make it happen..."

I felt my heart cave in. I just couldn't stand to see people in so much pain, internal or external. And in that instant, Reva's past no longer made a difference. What she had done before was horrible, yes. But people change. I knew that I had done things I regretted too, and even though none of them were as serious as killing people, I still understood.

We must learn to forgive...or we can never be forgiven ourselves.

I couldn't take it any longer. I got up and ran over to them, but tripped over the long pants and fell on my face. I quickly got back up, pulled the pants up, and tip-toe ran towards them. When I was really close to reaching them, Reva and Rayray turned and looked at me. I stopped and covered my mouth, a little embarrassed to be interupting their little *hugging* moment.

"I'm sorry!" I said through my baggy sleeve.

"I just over heard what you said-not that I was spying on you! I was just worried when I heard you were hurt and then Rayray was gonna put a hot knive on it, so I looked away, then I was about to look back to see if you were okay, but then Poca and Davy's clothes and then I fell and-and-and..."

I felt myself grow smaller. I was about to shrink away when I remembered what I was going to say in the first place. And what Reva had said just before. I lowered my hand from over my mouth, letting it slowely drop to my side.

"I mean...what I really ment to say was...Reva...I care about you...and I don't think your a monster." I felt my eyes water.

"How can you say that you are a monster? You are so nice...you gave all your money to Evee, and you saved her life! You did bad things before...but that was before. You are different now, and you are sorry for what you did. Reva...everyone here cares about you. No one hates you or thinks you are a monster...so don't be sad...please?"

I looked at the ground, then back up at Reva, unsure of what I should do next.

(sorry if that is a little choppy! Tell me if I need to fix anything!)

Okay! Here we go!

Skylar:

I widened my eyes at Everlee. She moved on? What a way to break a heart. I bowed my head, looking at the ground now. What do I do now? I've lost the one girl I've loved, and motivation. I remember something my grandfather told me immediately. I lifted my head, and squinted at Everlee.

"Do you know what hurts most about a broken heart?" I asked. She raised an eyebrow and waited for me to continue. "Not being able to remember how you felt before... try and keep that feeling... because... if it goes, you'll never get it back." I took a deep breath and nodded, accepting her fixated feelings for someone else, and walked away.

I'm so never loving again. Love just screws you up... I just learned that thanks to Everlee, and partly yours truly. I walked as far away from the group as possible, and hit my head on a tree. Then again, then again, then again. It didn't hurt as much as Everlee's words.

I've moved on.

I sat down on the ground and buried my face in my hands, letting the waterworks begin. Now, I've got the battle to worry about, not some silly love life anymore.

(Skins show quote alert! Not my quote... or Skylar's grandfather's quote! All Skins! Hope this was okay! I'm so sorry I took long... just having fun at school. Oh, and the expression Skylar has on his face when he's walking away, is exactly like my avvie's expression.)

Reva

I looked down at Sheara, and wiped away my tears. I smiled and pulled away from Rayden then I wrapped her up in a tight hug. "Thank you Sheara. Thank you so much," I whispered in her ear. "You are the sweetest girl, I'm so glad you stayed with us."

(Sorry it's so short!)

Everlee

NO!!!!!!!!! I scream to Darren. No! No! No! No! No! No! No! Skylar come back!!! Already his missing pressence hurts. I feel as if my side has been torn off. Or my heart has been ripped out of my chest, thrown on the ground, stomped on, burned, drowned, and anything else I can possibly think of. And what's worse... I'm doing it to myself.

I walk over to a tree and lean against it. I fall to the ground and curl up, wrapping my arms around my knees. His face still lingers in my mind. It's almost as if I could see his heart smashing. A small tear rolls off my eye and down my cheek onto a small flower growing in between the roots of the tree.

"Skylar," I whisper quietly to myself.

"Everlee?" Darren asks outloud. He pokes his head around a tree and sprints forward. "I'm sorry," he says, curling up beside me. I pull myself as close as I possibly can get and cover my face in the light grey fur.

"I can't believe I just did that," I sob.

Darren leans forward and touches his nose to my forehead. "I'm proud of you," he whispers.

My sobs stop slowly, almost as if Darren's nose is sucking them out of my body. "Thank you," I whisper back. Darren rests his head on my back.

I don't know how long I lay there. It must be only minutes before I get up, but without Skylar, it feels like an eternity. I stand up slowly, using Darren and the tree for support.

I should go back to camp. The group will be wondering where we... I stop. Every little thing makes me think of Skylar. I drag myself forward. Darren, can you go make sure everyone is back at camp? I ask.

Darren grunts in agreement and jogs off, leaving me standing alone. I trudge back to camp, but stop only a few trees away from where I started. This pattern continues until I'm not sure how far away I am from camp.

Darren? I ask.

Yes?

Do... do you think he'll ever forgive me? I ask.

You wont want him to, Darren responds. Otherwise it would have all been pointless.

Another tear falls down my face and I wipe it away quickly. I... I...

Darren cuts me off. Do you hear that?

I stand up straight and listen. What?

That noise... Darren cuts himself off with a howl, not a howl that I love. It's a howl of pain.

Darren?! I ask frantically. What's wro... An earpearcing screech sounds. My hands fly up and cover my ears, trying to protect myself from the sound. Darren's howl grows louder as he feels both his pain, and mine. I fall to the ground, the earth seeming like it's shaking.

(Razzle didn't tell me what the sound was like, so I made it up. Tell me if that isn't it! )

-Poca

I watched as Sheara and Reva hugged. I knew that Reva had killed people...so why wasn't I angry? Suddenly I heard that little high pitched sound again, like a mosquito next to your ear. I shook my head and rubbed my ear against my shoulder.

I-hate-it when-that happens.

Sheara came back over to me, approching slowely.

"You...you aren't upset at me, are you?" She asked carefully. Normaly, I might have been. But that stupid sound...it was making my skin crawl.

Will-you leave-me...alone already?! I thought angrily at the sound, as if that would make it leave. It didn't.

"No, I'm-not upset. You...I mean-she looks-fine to-me. I mean...she-doesn't-look dangerous." I tried to focus on Sheara instead of that stupid sound. It suddenly went a tiny bit louder, like it had just shifted, or moved to get a better aim.

What-the... I squinted my eyes and rubbed my ears with my paw. It wasn't that loud, but it was...getting under my skin.

"Poca, are you alright? What's wrong?" Sheara asked. She flicked the air around her ear as if there was a bug. I was about to respond, but then the sound got even louder, and even a little higher. I refrained from screaming and pressed my paws against my ears. This freakish thing was giving me a spitting headache! I heard Sheara moan in irritation.

"What is that?" She said, rubbing her temples. Just as I thought the sound was dimming, it blasted through my skull, now louder and higher than ever. I couldn't help myself. I screamed in pain and fell to the ground. I thought I heard the sound of Sheara scream too, but I couldn't even focus normaly. My ears felt like they were bleeding, and my head felt like is was going to explode.

I tried to stuff my paws into my ears. I tried to fold my large ears to reduce the sound from entering. I tried everything, but the sound cut through it all, like a hot knive against butter. I writhed on the ground in agony.

MAKE-IT-STOP!! I pleaded. KILL-ME-FOR...GOODNESS SAKE! BUT-MAKE IT STOP!!! I wailed and thrashed, banging my head against the ground and dragging my ears across the dirt. Sheara was shrieking in pain beside me. I wanted to help, but I was just as helpless as she was.

WHA...WHAT-IS THIS?!

(Hope this is okay! Tell me if I need to change anything!)

Lydia

I sat up suddenly. I had been sleeping. Sleeping too long. I vaguely remembered getting out of the water and putting up shirt and falling asleep instantly. My neck hurt like a bugger an I was pretty sure my collar bone was bruised. Stupid Rayden. I would murder him when no one was looking. And then take on Reva. Where was she anyhow? I rubbed my temples, luckily I had slept off that bugger of a headache.

I stood and realized that my shirt was still on the clothes line, looking down I wore only a white bodice, my hipbones stuck out at a jutting angle. I remembered in a fog Rayden carrying me. Talking about how they were digging into him. I touched them as I walked towards my shirt. Maybe I was too thin. I waved the thought. I needed to be like this, I needed to move quickly and lightly and a curvy Lydia would not be able to do that. But then again. You could see my wrist bones and I laughed a little. I wondered if I really had left bruises on his shoulders. I hoped so.

The people around me, the members of this camp, our camp were all engaged in conversations. Talking, some looking serious. Some passing the time. I took my shirt from the line and held it tightly in my hand. I needed to get back in with them, I needed to speak with them and get to know them. Otherwise my plan would fail.

I put my hands on my hips and spoke loudly, "Well, I would love to train a little, either by myself or with some one but I simply can't find my weapons anywhere and I need those, possessing no...supernatural powers." I said narrowing my eyes and scanning the small group for Rayden Thorn. "Any one?" I said again, slightly louder. My high, almost reedy voice seemed to be carried out of my mouth by the wind.

(Sorry it's been so long! Classes have been...brutal so far.)

Keradon

I grumble in fury as two more members of the party slip into the forest, while one returns. I can't wait any longer! I think. I feel like somebody has trapped time in molassis, slowing it down painfully. Screw the plan, I need this over NOW! I raise my eyebrows and attempt to relax, a little click going off in my head. I dim my hearing so I'm almost deaf and slowly turn up the volume of the piercing sound emmitting from about my forehead.

I hear Reshes voice in my head, attempting to calm me down and get me to stop. Don't be so hasty! You need to be patient, Davnick's sonar is sound based too! It could-

Just shut up! I shout mentaly. You don't even know, you have no idea what he did to me! HE LEFT ME!! With that, I blare my frequency to a killer level. I hear screaming in the clearing ahead, and move forward. Lets go! I snap at Resh. He follows humbly, without a word. Just like a Pet should.

I walk into the clearing proudly, my shoulders back and my chest out. I glare around in satisfaction. Every Rogue and Doll and Pet here is squirming on the ground, blood dripping from their ears. Their mouths open in a silent scream, and pain twists their features into contorted and ugly masks. I grimace at the filth lying at my feet, wiggling like worms before a bird. I spot Davnick, and to my surprize, he's half standing.

I blare my sound louder, higher, and he falls to one knee. Be careful. Resh warns. Any more and you'll kill them. You could blow up their brains if you keep this up! I ignore him and walk over to the bent form of Davnick. I sneer in his face as he glares at me, unable to make a sound. He spits, and it lands on my chest. I bring my leg up and kick him in the face, hard. He finally goes down and I turn to start binding up my captives.

I start with the one closest to me, a girl with blonde brown hair. She's the hussy I saw Davnick pawing earlier. I sit her up roughly, her head lolling to one side; she's already passed out. Resh hands me some chord to bind her with, but before I can begin, feel a hand on my shoulder. I turn in shock, and my jaw nearly drops from my face when I see Davnick standing tall behind me.


Davnick

I can feel something tickling my ear, but no matter how much I rub it, it wont go away. I rub my whole hand against the side of my head, looking around to see if anybody else is being bothered. Poca is scratching her ears, and Sheara is rubbing hers too. What the? I think.

Lydia has finally woken up, and she's talking about training. Yea, like I'm going to let you at a weapon. I think, rubbing my ear again.

Suddenly, Poca gives a bone chilling shreak, and she's followed quickly by Sheara. I jump up to see what's wrong as Seena starts awake next to me. Then the sound hits me full blast.

I hit the ground on one knee, trying to force my fists through my ears. The pain of the sound pierces my head like someody pounding nails into my brain, slowly, so slowly, oh the pain. All I can hear besides the sound is Daren howling and Seena screaming, but soon that's gone too and the sound is everything. I'm swimming in a sea of pain and blackness and I have the feeling that it will never end. I start go go numb, and it's dark, why is it so dark?

I'm afraid of that darkness. I think. I start to panic, and flare my sonar. Shockingly, the pain lessons, so I try to push my sonar harder. It doesn't change. I'm frantic now, that slight lessoning of pain was the difference between my head above water and drowning. I struggle to change my sonar so it will do something, anything, to help the pain screaming through my soul. I see my sonar in a new light. It's a sound. I realize. I knew that, but I had never really grasped the implications. Sounds have different frequencies. If I find the right one, maybe it will stop what's doing this, cancel it out. The problem is, I have no idea how to do that.

First things first, relax. I do. I try to concentrate on the sound without hearing it. To my surprize, I can see again, but everything is blurry and jumpy. I'm using whatever sound wave this is to see, just like my sonar. I try to ignore what I see and concentrate on individual waves. They're short, moving fast. I think of them, think of their opposite, going the other way. The pain lessens even more and I almost loose my progress in my relief. I keep going, trying to envision a perfect opposite to the waves.

Soon, my sonar is negating the other frequency to the point where I can almost stand, and I can see with my own eyes again. The sound is there, but not nearly as bad as before. I look up and around to find what in the nine levels of the afterlife is making such a horrible noise.

I see a boy I don't recognise standing about five feet in front of me, half hidden in shadow. He looks oddly familiar, but I'm sure I don't know him. But, I do know he must be making the noise somehow. He's the only other person in camp who isn't writhing on the ground in pain.

He sneers at me and comes to stand in front of me. My vision blurrs as he gets closer, so I still can't see his face. He has some kind of furry animal on his shoulder. A Pet. I think, grinding my teeth in fury at this man. He's a Rogue. I spit on him, about the only action I'm capable of taking at this moment. He grimmaces in disgust and kicks me smack in the face. My nees buckle as I feel my nose snap, and the blackness almost swallows me again. I struggle, but can't find the strength to flare my sonar again, to find the wave that will make this punk's stop. I slip into the dark, grabbing desparetly for something to hold onto as I fall. The walls here are slick with innocent blood, and I can't get a hold. I scream as I lose hope, and resign myself to the dark.

But then a hand grabs mine. I look up in wonder at the bright light that's chasing away the shadow. I see Seena's face, and Sheara's, and Everlee's. One by one, my new friends come and grab my hand, pulling me up. Even Rayden is there, smiling down on me. They pull me out of that black hole. Be strong. My dad's voice echos in my head. Be strong for the ones you love. I feel the warmth of them surround me...

...and I'm on my feet, looking around, astonished. The piercing sound is nothing but an irritating buzz in the back of my mind. I turn to see the man kneeling down next to Seena, a chord in his hand. My anger burns and I grab him by the shoulder. He turns in shock, but I shatter his nose in return before he can really react. He falls to the ground, and the noise blessedly stops.

I feel wetness on my face and neck from my bleeding ears and nose, and I try to whipe it away while I crouch next to our would-be-killer. I finally have a chance to get a good look at his face, a face I know I will hate forever for what he's done to my friends. I kick him into the light of the dying fire to get a better look, only to see my own face reflected in his.

The shock is too much. The ground rises up to meet me, and I swimm in darkness after all.

(Sorry, that was long, I wanted to get all of Davie's emotions out there!)