The Mist!

She ignored Ben for a moment and stood walking over to Skraal who now stood as if ready to leave immidiatly. "Though you are all free to go," she said looked at Skraals wounds, and then around to the others. "If you wish to rest here to heal up we will provide you more occomidating rooms in the city, and you'll have free reign and we'll even offer you an allowance for food, supplies and anything that you feel you want to buy." She offered, and then looked at Ben.

"Beyond our boarders as far as we know it is just wilderness, and the Dragon's minions. I am sure their are other groups but we do not have any records of them." She told him, sounding a bit anoyed at the twenty questions. "All weapons will be returned when you leave." She added.

Dameon listened quietly and looked around at the wounded. "I say we rest here about a week and then head on." He said looking around to get other's oppionions.

 

Madeline listened through Jaqueline’s explanation and watched the reactions around her. Cassandra and Si looked scandalized when they heard that Drake had built the wall. I always thought he was a shady character anyway, she mused. As for the sending them out... he obviously hadn’t intended for them to come back. Maybe that was how the Orc’s found them so quickly.

Rest sounded good, but she still felt uneasy about Jaqueline. Being locked up like an animal had dented Madeline’s pride, and it still hurt. However, she needed decent weapons, and Jaqueline’s offer of paying for them was tempting, however much she disliked the demon.

Skraal had already made it clear that he planned to leave, and carry on into the mist, away from the demons which sounded good. However, his anger and desire for revenge was also blatant. That path led to trouble, no doubt about it. Madeline had no thirst for knowledge or adventure. She had only come on this adventure because it seemed like a good idea at the time.

She weighted the decision, and the scales stayed balanced. On one side was a fierce loyalty to these people that surprised her. She was unwilling to let them walk into danger alone. She almost laughed. As if they need me to protect them, she thought.

On the other side, there was the substantial fear of death that drove her this way. The threat of death chased her for as long as she could remember; its slavering jaws snapped at her heels. Now she was running out of turns to take to throw it off.

‘I want to leave with you,’ she said to Dameon.

 

"I say we take them up on their offer. After all, we have nothing to gain from just leaving without new stuff. After leaving, we need to find this dragon their talking about. If it has something to do with the mist, then maybe using it, we could find a way to get rid of the mist." says Si, still reeling from the idea that Drake was somehow involved in all this.

 

Soujiro took a moment to digest all that Jaqcueline had said to them. This Drake guy had built the wall. That's all he needed to know since he was not going to return there. He didn't like the wall or care much for Drake so he found the information rather boring and yawned when she finished.

"I say we rest here about a week and then head on,’ said Drake. He didn't want to stay here anymore so that was out of the question for him.

"I say we take them up on their offer. After all, we have nothing to gain from just leaving without new stuff. After leaving, we need to find this dragon their talking about. If it has something to do with the mist, then maybe using it, we could find a way to get rid of the mist."

This was a better plan and the thought of finding the source of the mist excited Soujiro. He smiled widely as he saw Si and Cassie pull funny faces as the news of Drake sank in. He was content to carry on into the mist with Skraal and any of the others who would come but he was sure that some of the others would not make it after their encounter with the orcs.

‘I want to leave with you,’ Madeline said.

"Dependancy." he muttered to himself. Soujiro had the feeling that he might eventually have to protect some of the others if a fiercer battle ensued.

 

Madeline had sharp hearing and heard the mutter. She slowly turned her head to face him. Anger blazed in her eyes, transforming her into something menacing. The tendons in her arms quivered. She balled her hands into fists.

‘Don’t feel obliged to save me,’ she spoke in a snarl that would rival Skraal. ‘I do not need protecting. If it came to a fight, I would rather die than depend on any of you to save me. On anyone to save me. My fate will always rest in my own hands.’

 

‘Don’t feel obliged to save me, do not need protecting. If it came to a fight, I would rather die than depend on any of you to save me. On anyone to save me. My fate will always rest in my own hands.’

Soujiro smiled calmly, "My, my what an angry little girl. None the less I'm sorry if i offended you. That was not my intention. I was merely remarking, to myself, how you seemed to quickly cling to Dameon." he paused and watched her reaction, "Anyway i'm sure that those will be soon to be forgotten in the heat of confrontation. I simply do what i can and if you happen to be in danger i will assist."

 

‘Don’t feel obliged to save me,’ she spoke in a snarl that would rival Skraal. ‘I do not need protecting. If it came to a fight, I would rather die than depend on any of you to save me. On anyone to save me. My fate will always rest in my own hands.’

I wasn't sure what she was reasponding to but I moved to her side and said softly. "When it comes to a fight we all depend on each other. If one of us does not hold our own we all might die." I said reasonably, and looked around at the group. "I'll stay for a week with anyone willing to wawait, if you want to continue then go, if you want to stay and make a life for yourselfves than that is fine also." I said, with a small smile on my face.

"Oh, you'll love the city." The commander spoke up, and then looked over at Si giving a wink. "I might even visit in my off time to hang out and show you around the city."

 

Madeline glared at him. His calm and patronizing attitude was infuriating. I’ve seen more conflict and pain than he could imagine. Calm down, she counselled herself. By being angry, she was just playing into his hands. Her nails bit into her palm, and blood rose to the surface.

Her anger was a cauldron that lurked beneath the surface, filled with gory memories and broken promises. Right then, it overflowed, leaking incoherent, violent impulses.

Dameon moved to her side and began to speak. His words were lost, but the sound was soothing. It gave her something to focus on.

She turned the self control she had worked to achieve on the anger, and the bubbling reduced into a simmer. Finally the surface was still and as long as no one disturbed it, she had control again. Blood dripped from her palms.

‘I don’t cling to anyone,’ she said to Soujiro. Her voice sounded distant. ‘And like I said, don’t bother assisting me. I don’t need your help.’

The surface rippled. Don’t look at him, she thought. With force of will, she managed to turn her head around to face the wall. Dameon was saying something to the commander, but she wasn’t listening.

Instead, she made a mental vow. I’ll prove myself to them, she thought.

 

Skraal slammed his fist hard on the wall.

"Am I to asume your all becoming weak. These people prison you and tell a half truth. resting here could be trickery. Once your in that city whats to say they won't let you out." Skraal spoke loud.

He stepped up to face the whole group from the front.

"Better to die standing with passion and a weapon in hand than die on your knees with your throats slit. Drake has lied to us he knows much of this world and the mist that condems it. I say we leave this place like a bad memory before they convince you to kneel as they slit your throats." His voice spoke in anger of the past few days events.

 

Madeline listened to Skraal's speech with her usual skeptic outlook. She could picture how he imagined his death: defiant, surrounded by the fallen bodies of the enemy, and brave in the face of eternity. Probably with a picturesque backdrop and a heroic motive.

She scowled. No death was honorable. For a while, people might mourn, and then they moved on. You died, and rotted in the ground. And that was even if you merited or had the chance of a burial. If any of them died, most likely their hacked-up bodies would be trampled under the feet of the enemy or eaten by scavengers.

However, she did agree that the departure date was too far away. She didn't trust Jaqueline and the demons at all.

Madeline turned to Dameon. 'Could we not leave sooner?'

 

Skraal looked at both Madeline and Dameon. She seemed unconvinced by this place as he did.

All Skraal had learnt was these travellers were his family now. and he had decided he could not stand and watch them die not without purpose.

Skraal could see a passion in Madeline yet it would harder not too after all they had been through this past week.

Skraal stepped down and stood at Madelines side.

"You know what I say is right. We must leave here. how can you trust those that imprision you. Look at the evidence. none ever returned to the wall again. Yet tthose before us lacked the spirit we hold. Whatever your thoughts on death may be. I am sure not even you wish to die with your throat slit." Skraals voice was strong and yet clear. He looked to Dameon then back at Madeline.

 

'I don't wish to die at all,' she said, returning Skraal's look. She glanced around at the now familiar faces; Dora, Ceri, Ben. The mages. Hortensio.
She even managed to look at Soujiro without wanting to smash something up. She turned to Dameon; young, but the first person she had ever felt willing to follow and obey orders from.

She had been willing to stay, but sensing Skraal’s worry, she wanted to leave. She never wanted to see any of those faces lifeless and cold. The image of the slit throats also grew on her; the lurid gaps grinning up at her from her imagination.

‘He’s right,’ she said. ‘We can’t judge the situation on what she has said,’ she nodded towards Jaqueline, ‘or even trust that what she has said so far is true. The offer of hospitality and weapons is kind, but,’ she paused. ‘An offer like that is rarely what it seems on the surface. Such apparent kindness always comes with strings of obligation attached.’

Madeline felt that she could not voice her next suspicion with the demon present, so she finished the conclusion in her mind. They may be trying to recruit us into a war. No amount of food and shelter was worth that.

 

Skraal patted Madeline on the shoulder as a kinsman’s respect.

"So say we all. We should leave by first light sonce its pointless leaving now." He said.

Skraal looked at Jaqueline.

"No offense. I just don't trust someone who prisons people then speaks of values and letting them be free. I am a warrior not a caged animal. If the Angels are what you say they are. Then no this on this day. I skraal the last Blood Angel will show them true fury."

Skraal looked to Dora the innocent girl and to Ben the medicine man. he wished no ill fate upon any. he stood between Dameon and Madeline. for once the group had the spirit of comrades in arms

 

By this point, the anger at Drake had really began to sink in and Skraal outburst is finally the straw that broke the camel's back for Si. She stands and yells at Skraal "For what I'm sure would be the first in your life, please actually think before you act!" Si takes a few breaths and calms down a little. "Listen to me, going out in unkown terrain, against an unknown amount of enemies while in poisonous mist isn't being strong. Its being stupid. We don't know how many orcs there are out there. You handled yourself against a few of them, what happens if you run into twenty or thirty of them. Or how many angels do you think you can kill with just a sword. Oh, and just so that it'll sink in, that mist is poisonious over time.

Whether he's good or evil, one important thing that Drake taught me was that strength with intelligence will not accomplish anything other than a quick death. You two can go to your death if you want, but I'm going to learn more about this dragon, the angels, orcs and mist first. Then at least I might accomplish something other than getting a few kills before I die." She sits back down and quietly says "At least in here, we might be able to accomplish something, and just leaving will accomplish nothing."

 

Madeline looked at Si, unsurprised by the outburst. ‘Yes, it sounds like the intelligent option to stay here and learn whatever they decide to tell you about the mist, and the war or whatever else is out here. I’m sure it will all be honest and in your best interests and not theirs.’ She folded her arms and resisted the temptation to roll her eyes.

 

Skraal took his sword from the scabbard and held it firmly by the hilt the sword pointed to Si.

“You insult me.” He growled.

“I faced off a hundred of those green skins and still stand here today. Be damned. You are weak and wish to die a weaklings way then be it by your choice. Insult me again and I shall take your head whelp.” Skraal’s words came through gritted teeth with a menacing stair.

He turned from Si.

“If you choose to stay then why leave the wall. You came for adventure and it has found you. But you stray from it to be save and hide a safe life. Then why leave the wall at all.” Skraal spat at the floor.

Skraal returned his gaze to Si in a feral glare for a moment. Then finally turned back to Dameon.

 

Si looks up at Skraal and says "Sorry, I didn't mean to insult you. I came out here to learn more about the mist and what was outside of the wall. Also, I'm more than willing to put my life on the line, its just that I want to know its for something worth it. I say we get the demons to be our allies. With their weaponry and soldiers, we make our way to the way. Once inside, we confront Drake, since he seems to be the one at the center of this. My goal is to get rid of the mist, not to just go around killing things. I will find out everything I need to know from the main people involved in this, or die trying. Even if I have to do it alone."

 

SkraaL smiled as he turned back to hear Si.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to insult you. I came out here to learn more about the mist and what was outside of the wall. Also, I'm more than willing to put my life on the line, its just that I want to know its for something worth it. I say we get the demons to be our allies. With their weaponry and soldiers, we make our way to the way. Once inside, we confront Drake, since he seems to be the one at the center of this. My goal is to get rid of the mist, not to just go around killing things. I will find out everything I need to know from the main people involved in this, or die trying. Even if I have to do it alone." Si explained.

Sheathing his sword back in the scabbard Skraal laughed.

“I see your view clear girl but I also suspect other motives within these people. Should we stay then we seal our fates. If they are to be our allies staying will not help that along.” Skraal looked to the group then back to Si.

“I see a great deal of fear in your faces. From the group as a whole there are three possible four of us who are warriors. And yet still we are all here. Today I have discovered I am to be the last of a breed. A Blood Angel. I see only sorrow in our future for those of you who long to return to the wall it shall never be the same. Drakes words will be riddled with lies. Your future uncertain now. But know this. We are all we have. Like it or not we are all we have.” Said Skraal his voice trailing to a lower tone.

Skraal for the first time since he left the wall felt different.

 

Si smiled at the sign of humanity in Skraal. "I understand that you don't trust them yet. I'm not sure if they can be fully trusted yet either, however we do need to trust our own observations. While outside, we were slowing down and even the warriors were getting paler and weaker over time. The mist is posionious. Even your body would eventually siccumb to it. If we leave, then we seal our fate.

Besides, with their help, we might be able to force some answers out of Drake. He is our only link to this dragon, so he is our only chance of finding it in the mist. And if they want something in exchange for helping us, I'm fully willing to negotiate a deal." said Si. Her voice had gone back to its quiet tone that it was before her outburst.

 

Soujiro couldn't help but laugh quietly as the little spat between Skraal and Si went on. This is intriguing, he thought, they actually want to stay here. He snickered.

Yes, it sounds like the intelligent option to stay here and learn whatever they decide to tell you about the mist, and the war or whatever else is out here. I’m sure it will all be honest and in your best interests and not theirs.’

She'd taken the words straight out of his mouth. He smiled as he recalibrated his impressions of this girl. She wasn't half bad if not a little rowdy. Soujiro was going to go with Skraal, he knew that much but how many of the others were going too.

"I will go with Skraal. I see no point in sitting in one place when that which we seek is outside." he announced.

 

The commander had been sitting quietly throughout the arguement. "You can attempt to make it back if you wish though the angels will not allow it." She said matter of factly. "They will kill you if they think you are attempting to return from which you came. I know, I've seen it happen." She leaned back in her chair.

Dameon looked around worriedly. The group was waiting for him to decide. "Um, give us five days." He said looking at Skraal. "We have wounded, and I will not put them in danger before they have had some time to heal, just five days and we will follow your plan of heading deeper into the mist." He said, making eye contact with the worrior.

"Skraal, you are of our blood, you may have your weapons back, though I'd recommend that you don't ue them while staying in the city." She pointed out. "The rest of you may have them when you leave and not before." She added though stubornly.

 

Si nods her head. "Five days will give us more time to think about things." She then turns toward the commander and says "Um..you said that you might show me around the city, right? I'd love to take a tour of your colony here."

 

"I will go with Skraal. I see no point in sitting in one place when that which we seek is outside." Soujiro announced.

Skraal's Mood darkened.

He turned to Jaqualine.

"You say I may have the rest of my weapons. I should like them brought to me now." Skraal said his tone thunderous.

Though his mood was darkening he was beginning to see a devide within the group.

Skraal stepped up to Dameon.

"I thought you were made of sterner stuff." He whispered in Dameons ear so only he could hear his words.

Skraal then looked towards Ceri Madeline and Dora.

 

Madeline waited for the noise to subside before looking at the commander. 'You expect us to stay in your city,' she looked at Dameon as if for confirmation, and then turned back to Jaqueline, 'weaponless for five days?' She frowned.

It wasn't the lack of weapons that bothered her; she could do more damage with her hands that with that awkward Orc sword she had been carrying around. It was the principal that annoyed her. The demon knew perfectly well that most of them distrusted her, and her people, and yet they were trying to make them go around without proper means to defend themselves.

 

Ceri listened to the others’ opinions and arguments, wrestling with her own conflicted desires. She felt herself blush fiercely when Dameon mentioned certain members of the group not hold their own in battle, and after Si’s outburst had to reign in her own temper several times. It wouldn’t do to end up divided, even if they did decide to go along different paths. Trapped as they apparently were in the middle of a war, if they couldn’t count on each other then death really was certain.

Slowly the few that had been dominating the conversation calmed, though the tension in the room was no less palpable. Skraal had announced his intention of leaving, Soujiro with him, while Si and Dameon were determined to stay in the city. Madeleine seemed to see merits in both courses of actions, and the others hadn’t spoke.

Snarly turned to those quieter ones, Ceri included, and gave a significant look, as if to say, And what about you?

There was a pause. When no one spoke, Ceri tried to articulate her own thoughts in a calm, analytical manner.

“I don’t think we should make any hasty decisions,” she said. “We’ve been given a simplified version of what seems to be a very complicated situation and, no offence,” she glanced at Jacqueline, “but we have no reason to trust you at all. You’ve imprisoned us, taken away our things, killed that angel boy in front of us when he hadn’t caused us any harm – at least, so far – and then, suddenly, told us that your people only want to help ours and that we’re free to go? That Drake’s the one trying to kill us? We can rest here, leave freely and with new equipment with no catch?”

The scepticism was clear in Ceri’s voice, but without waiting for an answer she turned back to the others.

“Be that as it may, some of us do need rest.” Ceri indicated Hortensio, Dora and then her own ankle. “Hortensio was nearly killed, Dora’s still a little sick from the mist, and if I don’t get a least a couple of days’ rest I won’t be able to walk.”

She paused again, trying to bring her thoughts together. “I don’t really know what the best option to take would be though. We don’t need to find this dragon as such,” Ceri shot an apologetic look at Si, “And if what we’ve been told is true, it might just try to kill us.

“Just plunging headlong back into the mist is, frankly, stupid. For a start, it’s poisonous, then there’s certainly some kind of war going on and we don’t know what else is out there that might want to kill us. I don’t want to risk that, not without knowing how to fight properly.”

Ceri shook her head, then looked directly at Snarly. “Skraal, please don’t be offended but do you have any idea how hypocritical you sound? You’re warning Dameon and Si not to trust these people and stay here, but you’re just taking her at her word that these angels killed your brethren? That’s ridiculous! And before you say it,” she added quickly, “thinking things through does not make me weak. Nor does being able to hack things to death make you strong. Acting without thinking and with no regard for what the consequences is just stupid.”

Realising an edge had crept into her voice, Ceri paused and school her tone to one of calmness. “I don’t know what the rest of you wanted to get out of this … journey. I wanted to see what more there was to the world outside the wall. But I’m damned if I’m going to get dragged into a war or into any one of the variety of death traps we’ve been told are our options because of one woman’s word on the subject.”