Rogues and Pets vs. Dolls [closed/starting]

Rayden:

"I believe you fire rogue. But that doesn't mean that I like you. You talk too much and you threatened to kiss my rogue. Call this a stalemate between us."

I heard the words float into my mind, Dasor had a very deep and gruff voice. I looked sharply to Reva.

Dose he know I kissed her? I wondered- Could she keep her thoughts so cut off from him? I smiled at Dasor, he glared.

"It's a draw then, I can live with that. Thank you- for believing me." I stood up and was about to walk away when the rest of his words hit me, I turned back sharply.

"I talk to much?" I asked, Dasor's glare deepened, I looked to Dante on my shoulder, he rolled his eyes and pecked me sharply.

"Merciful heavens yes! you talk altogether too much- shut up once and a while idiot, silence is wonderful." he flew across to Seena and perched on her shoulder, ruffling his feathers. I looked at my sister and cocked my head to one side- very much like a confused dog, a childhood habit I never grew out of.

"Really?" I asked her, she shrugged and smiled.

"Sometimes Rayray, but don't worry, I do too." I walked over to her and gave her one of my bear hugs.

"Well we are siblings, and we Thorn's do have a tendency to run their mouths off." She giggled and I joined her, chuckling and gave her a light peck on the cheek.

"Do you think Everlee and the group can handle two Thorns? We are terrors when in numbers."

...

(alright! use rayden if you want too! Vuzzy, I hope this is alright if not I will edit. )

(Sorry, it's been awhile )

Everlee

I walk back into the main part of camp, almost completely numb. I catch myself looking at Skylar once or twice and look away quickly, his final words still echoing in my mind.

Do you know what hurts most about a broken heart? 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 shutter and stare at the sky. The pale blue is speckled with white fluffs of cloud that remind me of pillows. I try to focus on them for a minute or two, but somehow, in my numbness, my eyes drift over to Davnick.

A quick smile flashes on his lips before a grimace replaces it. He stands up from where he and Sheara were talking and walks away, continuing to pack up his stuff.

Did he just smile? I ask, uncertain whether or not I'm imagining things from my lack of sleep.

I think so... Darren says uncertainly.

I sigh and look down at my pile of stuff.

I guess... it's time to move on... I whisper, meaning more then just the physical.

Darren only nods, understanding my double meaning.

I take a deep breathe and square my shoulders. "Alright, it's time to move," I say, loud enough so that the entire group can hear. I lean down and pick up my bag.

Run ahead, Darren. We're two days behind, we need to catch up, I order.

Darren barks and runs off into the woods. I smile after my friend and follow him into the forest alone.

Seena

"Do you think Everlee and the group can handle two Thorns? We are terrors when in numbers." Rayden jokes.

I laugh. "We're terrors alone too," I point out.

Rayden laughs.

"Alright, it's time to move," Everlee's voice calls. She gathers up her stuff and wanders into the forest looking dismall. I pick up my pack and wait for Rayden until I follow Everlee.

"Hey, RayRay?" I aks while he grabs his pack.

"Ya?" he asks.

I pause and think over my question, debating whether I want to go down that path. "Do you still enjoy pranks?" I ask.

Rayden sends me a devilish grin.

"Because I may have one or two of them that I want to test out..."

(Hey, Shadow, I was thinking our siblings could be pranksters. Like it? If not, I can change it. )

Lydia

I stood from my spot at the river bank, my neck was stiff and my back creaked slightly as I stood. The aches were back but the splitting pain in my head had subsided. I actually felt...better.

I had dozed off by the banking, the sand and the murmuring of water and the quiet, Rayden-less place. It was wonderful. Perhaps that is why I felt better, rest. Not so dead on my feet anymore.

I arched my back, pushing the palms of my hands into my lower back and yawning widely. I should be getting back to camp. They had probably moved out now. I laughed quietly. What a wonderful thought. I was confused, as much as I hated to admit it. Reva had helped me, been kind to me, I had to brush that off, not let it cloud my judgment. I came here to kill and collect a bounty. Avenge and make a name for myself.

I walked towards the camp, slowly, walking as if I was training with my mother again in the forest. Not stepping on a singly twig, almost dancing above the ground, as she would say. Not making a noise. I was content to stay alone and unseen until I reached the camp.

" My heart is pierced by Cupid,
I disdain all glittering gold,
There is nothing that can
console me but my jolly sailor bold.

His hair it hangs in ringlets
His eyes as black as coal
My happiness attend him
Wherever he may go.. "

I sang lightly in a thin reedy voice. My mother had read it to me in a story once and I always loved it. My mother. I couldn't forget why I was here, to avenge her. I continued to sing.

Looking at my feet as I jumped and hummed and sang I did not pay attention to who was also walking in the woods, and perhaps I was nearer to the camp than I had thought. But I slammed into a boy, a boy who was naturally much taller than I and who I had seen before in the camp. Jared I think they called him.

I looked him to him, hands on hips and one reaching down towards my boot. I didn't know this one well enough. My face was slightly colored, I hoped he had not heard me.

"Excuse me, Jared, is it?" I drawled, side stepping him.

Once again, Niyah was asleep. Maybe it was the warm sun against her skin, or the cool breeve that carried the scent of earth in it's tender breath. Whatever it was, Niyah slowly drifted off into oblivion.

"I don't want you to die." Niyah wept, clinging to her twins hand. The girls eyes were sunken, her skn as pale as chalk and clammy as that of a fish.
"Dont cry, little sister."Yihana rasped, dull silver eyes meeting her sisters. Niyah's gaze blurred, but she didn't dare remove her hand from her sisters.
"How can I not? How can I be without you? Your the strong one. Your the one who should live, not me!" Niyah cried, cuddling into her sisters chest. Yihana placed her hand on Niyah's head, petting her hair as she always did whenever Niyah was upset.Niyah cried softly, inhaling her sisters familiar scent of lavender and roses mixed with something new.
Niyah cried even harder.
"Don't cry. Don't cry, little sister. I, I, it is time for me to go. But you. You have to stay behind."
"What if I don't want to?"
"Sister. Let me tel you something." Niyah pulled away, meeting her sisters gaze.
"Yihana?"
"Please..." Niyah leaned down, placing her ear against her sisters lips..
Niyah sat up, gasping, clutching at her heart. She didn't want to know. She didn't want to know.

Rayden:

Seena gave me that wicked gin that I knew so well from long ago- we were the village devils to put it mildly.

"What did you have in mind sister dear?" I said winking, before she could answer Elise called from up ahead.

"Hey Seena can you come here for a sec?" Senna gave me a shrug.

"We'll talk later?" I nodded smiling as she ran ahead.



We walked for maybe a few hours at an easy pace, morning had slipped away into early afternoon. Dante was perched sleepily on my shoulder tail fanning this way and that to keep his balance.

"He's really colorful isn't he?" Reva said. I started and turned, she was walked next to me, I hadn't even sensed her there! I looked back at Dante nodding.

"He is flashy if that's what you mean. I usually like it when he calms it down, but he really likes the gold and bright fire tones. He usually does when we're in the city- he tried to look like a parrot, a really odd looking parrot." I laugh nervously, Reva gives me a small smile- Heavens she is pretty when she smiles!

I shook myself mentally for thinking that. I had messed up horrible once, I didn't want to do it again. She was so close to me- I could have easily reached out and grabbed her hand-Easy boy! slow down! I shouted to myself. I shovved my hands in my pockets for safekeeping.

"Hey Reva?" I started, not quite sure how say what I was thinking. She looks up at me, one eyebrow raised-She's really good at that.

"What?" I chew my lip, my nerves were acting up.

"Well I was thinking- What I was going to say is- Well I think we should..." I floundered, Reva rolled her eyes.

"Cat got your tongue much? come on spit it out!"

"I think we should set up ground rules!" I said all in a rush-Crap! that is not how I wanted to phrase that!

I was kicking myself hard when I saw the look that crept over her face.


....

Reva

"I think we should set up some ground rules," he blurted, looking a little embarrassed, and ashamed.

I thought about it. There was so much that I was uncomfortable with around him, so it only made sense that we set up rules that we had to abide by. That way we would avoid more problems... Like the kiss... "Okay. For starters, we have to have a three foot distance between us at all times." I said, making sure we were already following that rule, and stepping another foot away.

He gave me a strange look and I immediately felt awkward, but didn't take it back. It was a good rule.

Rayden:

"Alright." she said calmly "First rule, a three foot distance." she quickly stepped a little further away and looked at me. I stared-She actually agreed?!

I was silent for a moment then nodded.

"Done. Next rule, no touching." I realized a little too late that what I had said might be read in many- and not all of them innocent ways. "What I mean is nothing like hand holding or anything-um- flirty? like that." My cheeks felt hot, Dante snickered.

"You humans have such odd courting behaviors." I almost fell down and my cheeks now I was sure were bight red- even my ears felt hot.

Dante shut up! now is not the time to talk about this! he opened on eye slightly and looked witheringly into mine.

"What are you talking about?! Now is the perfect time to talk about this! your doing it now! You want her but for some strange reason your fighting your feelings. he rolled his eye at me and went back to sleep.

If I could have crawled into a hole and died I would have. Dante's words made me uncomfortable- he always tended to say what I was really thinking but wouldn't admit. I looked at Reva and tried to calm my breathing, forcing the heat from my face.

"That's a good on." She said, if she had noticed my reactions she said nothing. "No flirting of any kind."

"Friends first?" I asked, looking at her out of the corners of my eyes, she nodded.

"Friends first."

....

Reva

"And no digging." I said, and then felt my cheeks heat up. That didn't even make sense!

Why do you care? Even if he's not a bad one, he's still a fire rogue. Darsor commented.

I turned my head so he wouldn't see my burning cheeks. "What I mean is no digging into the other's past. If they don't volunteer the information, don't ask." I said quickly.

A soft voice, one I had never heard before laughed a little. I whipped my head around, searching for the source. It sounded like a pet, but none of the pets sounded like that. "What the-"

"What?" Rayden asked.

I looked at him and narrowed my eyes. "No digging."

Jared:

"Yeah. And you're the backstabbing deciver. Nice to meet you." I answered Lydia grumpily. I wanted to say more, but I didn't trust her, so there was no way I was gonna push her. Maybe intimidate.
She glared at me and whispered something that would make even Tess blush. I didn't though. I glared right back.
And grabbed her arm and pull her off to the side of the road. She pulled against me, but I was stronger than I looked.
I put her next to a tree and put my arms on either side of her.
"Let me go!" She said, leaning down to her boot.
I stopped her quickly. She wasn't the only one that kept things in her boot.
"Oh no you don't!" She struggled for a minute, but then stopped and just sent me a death glare. "What do you want?" She hissed.
"I want to get something straight between us." She looked slightly shocked. I looked back to the group. Nobody was watching. I looked back to Lydia. She had regained her composure, almost admirably. Almost.
"Listen, I'm sure you're probably a great girl once I get to know you, Davnick was. But," I paused and closed my eyes, images of Tess Elise, Everlee, Seena, even Rayden and Davnick, flashed before my eyes. "If you even lay a sharp stick on annybody other than the enemy, you will know my power very well, and you will regret the day you became a bounty hunter. Trust me on that. I will hold to it." I hissed the threat.
When I opened my eyes, expecting to see fear, I only saw a smirk.
"And I promise you, Jared, that you can't make me regret becoming a bounty hunter. Ever."
I tried to held my threatening face, and almost failed. We glared at each other for a long time.
"Get a room!" I turned back tot he road to see Davnick. He laughed at us. It seemed forced.
Lydia pushed my arms away and sent me one last glare before heading back to the road. I followed her with my eyes, letting my stare drop to shock.
What kind of a person wouldn't even have a little bit of guilt about sending people to thier deaths and torture? Even Davnick seemed to have a remorse about what he'd done. And she seemed so innocent...
I pushed it from my mind and went to walk with Tess. i needed to fight with someone, someone who I did NOT want to kill or mortally wound.

(Sorry it's so long, but I thought it'd make up for not being on for so long! School and stuff, sorry. Hey, tell me if Lydia wouldn't say that! )

(Oh my goodness look who it is! XD )


Tige:

The first thing I became aware of, was pain. Mind numbing all consuming pain that radiated around my body mercilessly.

When my head cleared even more the pain increased and I thought I have been torn in two so bad was the pain in my chest, it was agony.

I don't know how long I lay there crumpled in a fetal ball, or how long the pain lasted so intensely. It might have been minutes, it might have been hours, it might have been days- I don't know. What I do know was it lessened in other areas and intensified in my chest- from where my neck is joined to my shoulders and down to my right hip at a diagonal.

After what seemed an eternity it lessened by degrees and I was able to collect my thoughts. I thought I might be dead but then again did you feel pain when you died? I wasn't sure. I slowly opened my eyes not knowing what I would see.

A long abandoned hallway without doors and lined with window frosted so nothing could be seen. It was all made of white stone with a simple Byzantine style carved into the mid stones that ran about hip hight. I uncurled myself from the crumpled heap that I had been and tried to sit up against the wall, the pain across my chest flared again and I gasped and groaned a little but finally sat- if somewhat slumped- against the wall and looked about.

The hall was completely empty, barren except for me and a few braziers lighting the din interior. But I didn't feel alone here and as I looked longer at the shadows dancing wildly on the walls they began to take shapes. Shadowy, willowy shapes like half forgotten dreams. Figures both human and animal took shape slowly climbing up the walls and wavered, flickering like flames. I watched them, soon my whole mind was filled with them, all I could comprehend were these shapes- what were they? There was nothing in the hall to cast such shapes and I didn't think my mind was playing with me.

“They are the shades of lost souls.” a voice suddenly said from my right. I whipped my head around and I tried to get up but to no avail- I was too weak.

A woman in a flowing orange dress, with equally flaming hair, stood watching me out of her strangely slanted eyes.

“They are lost- souls who have forgotten themselves and remain here in the “in between” place.” she continued unblinkingly, my eyes began to water on her behalf. A small smile slowly formed on her thin lips- if it was malicious or kind I know not, but I went cold at it nevertheless.
“And you too will be like them ere long if you go unchanged Tige.”

......

Lydia

"And I promise you, Jared, that you can't make me regret becoming a bounty hunter. Ever." I said sweetly. He stood and I shook his arm off. Stronger than he looked, that was a positive. He turned and began his walk back down the road. I wondered what the bounty was on his head. Not as much as it would be for good 'ol Davy or Everlee but I could collect a pretty penny. I rose and fell into step silently behind him, careful not to so much as touch a fallen leaf or twig.

After a few moments walking I leaned in to him, on tiptoes I let my lips brush his ear. Adrenaline was coursing through me and I needed a way to relieve it. I needed a fight, and I was always happy to start one.

"Want to play?" I whispered, he turned fast, reaching for my arm again, as if to pull me in and lecture me like a child I spat.

"I'm not sure you can handle me." I hissed dancing back another few steps. I didn't go for my boot. He knew what I kept in there and I didn't want to kill anyone just yet, though killing him would make my mission faster. I wanted to map this one out. See how he reacted, maybe even how he fought.

Niyah heard Everlee's shout, and imediantly pushed her whirlwind of emotions away. Standing, she ran over to her bag and to Everlee's side. as she did so, Everlee's brow furled, and her originally quick pace slowed.
"Are you alright?' she asked. Niyah slapped on a smile.
"Of course, why wouldn't I be?"
"Your as pale as a ghost, and your smile looks more like a grimace. Niyah, i know all the tricks. You don't need to hide anything from us, from me. You can trust me." Niyah blinked, already feeling the burn of tears. Still, she continued to smile.
"It was just a nightmare. Just a bad dream." Everlee searched Niyah's face, then put her arm over her shoulder.
"Dreams are worse than reality, aren't they, because they always come to an end."
"An end..." Niyah put her head on Everlee's shoulder, suddenly very tired.
"But don't worry. I promise, no matter what happens. I wont let anyone get hurt. I wont let you get hurt." Everlee said, and her words struck Niyah with their strength. Niyah smiled.
"You know, Everlee, i have no doubt."

Jared:

That little-
Easy, Jared. Amy said trying to calm me down.
But she-
She's trying to get you to fight her because she wants to see how you work.
She was right. I already knew that. I used to do the same thing to people who passed by my cabin. Usually they just ran away crying ghost.
The problem was, I wanted to fight Lydia soo bad.
I swallowed. "Go find a hole and die in it." I turned to walk away.
"What? Are you scared of a little girl?"
I stopped mid-step.
Jared, calm down and think about this.
I turned around slowly. Tess cheered me on from somewhere. I smiled. "This. Is going to be."
Sticks and stones JAred!
"Fun."
My hand flew up, sending a gust of wind. It flew towards her and she dodged easily.
"That all you got?" She shouted, trying to sound innocent.
I smiled. "Not even close."
I twirled my finger. The gust of wind turned into a twelve foot tall twister, picking up dirt and leaves. Lydia turned quickly, but not quickly enough. The Twister picked her off the ground and sent her flying barely missing a tree. I turned it just in time to hold her to the ground before she could regain her footing.
I jumped onto her and landed with a knife at her throat.
It was sheathed, though. What a pity.
"Do not, underestimate me." My smile was gone. "Bounty hunter." I spat.
I got up and stomped away back to the group. Everyone was silent.
You over did it. Amy said, coming to walk next to me as I pulled ahead of the group.
Coming from the Pet that makes me clean for hours even though nobody ever visits us.
I was in a very good mood.

(Sorry I haven't been on in a while. It was Homecoming week at my school, so... )

Lydia

I kept silent, not a girlish scream, not a mouse like squeak as the wind picked me up and flung me. I wouldn't fight back this time. The camp was too close. people would see. I would look like the victim for a little and see where that got me.
I felt my body fly back and land in a shrub, lucky to have missed the tree to my left. I cursed under my breath and jumped back up.

Back up in time for that stupid, ignorant little rogue to land on me, knife at my throat.

"Do not, underestimate me. Bounty hunter." He spat, I hissed back at him and rammed my feet into his stomach, he jolted upwards and began to walk away, looking so smug, so pleased with himself. Twat.

I stood again, brushing the earth and leaves off of my front and caught up to him for a moment.

"Well played.." I said reaching up and pinching his cheek hard between to of my nails, "Maybe you could teach me that little number." I let my hand drop and walked away, back towards the camp.

I needed to set my plan into action. Maybe tonight, maybe tomorrow morning. When people were sleeping or groggy. When one night shift was ending and the next just beginning. One tired person being substituted for an equally groggy one. Perfect time to kill and collect.

Everlee and Niyah stopped to watch the fight. The entire time, Everlee remained completely silent and still, staring at lydia with eyes only slightly narrowed. The anger around her was literally tangible.
"Everlee..." Niyah started, growing nervous. She to, was angery at the little, insignificant bounty hunter. The girl was a fool, after all. No matter how good she was, she was only a doll, and only one person. She was surrounded by thirteen rogues and three dolls who could probably kick her butt on their own. Add that to the fact that the only reason she wasn't dead yet( she'd been beaten, what, twice before) was that Everlee was in a forgiving mood...
Oh yeah, she was in trouble.
Niyah smiled, remembering how easy it was to pin her down before. If that bounty hunter decided to hurt anyone, Niyah would be the first person to see her dead. She didn't care if Everlee would hate her afterword. As long as her friends were safe...
The girl, defeated (once again... she really couldn't learn her lesson, could she?) turned and strode off back to the old camp. Which wasn't there anymore considering everyone had already packed up and started heading out. Niyah sighed. How did the girl even imagine she was an even moderately decent bounty hunter when she didn't even know what the people around her were doing? She was to busy sulking around and 'looking innocent' (which she failed horribly at, considering she went around telling everyone off) to even know what was happening.
Next time she tried to hurt someone, she was dead.