Crystallized Miracles

Azan smiled as he lay back in the bed, pulling the thin sheet over him. "Yeah, I'll try." He said laughing a bit. He felt butterflies fly up into his stomach, he had never felt this way before. This isn't a sickly feeling... He said, shutting his eyes and taking one last sigh before trying to fall asleep. He began tossing and turning. After about twenty minutes, Azan finally got comfortable. The bed was hard, and the sheet didn't protect him much from the biting chill, but it wasn't bad. In fact, this was luxury compared to other places, he noted. The fire outside was still burning, he could smell the embers, Who could possibly be up at this hour? Dawn is going to crack soon... Not feeling like getting up, he rested his head on the uncomfortable pillow. Why must I live like this? He shut his eyes and fell asleep.

A scream rang through his ears, he was standing the middle of a dirt road, crying, clinging onto the limp form of his... brother? His hands were covered in his brothers blood, there were burning bodies and houses all around him. Suddenly, two of the raiders came out, followed by five of his comrades. They threw them on the ground, and began spitting on them. Azan tried to call out, but a strong hand blocked his face. He watched in horror as one of the raiders pulled out a pistol and rested the barrel in between one of the tribesmens head. He pulled the triggger, and Azan watched in horror as blood and brain spewed from the head. The man repeated this process to the rest of the five. They laughed, and walked over to the prisoners. The man that held Azan shoved him hard, and began beating him. He felt a strong lash across his face, tears running out of his face. His mouth was full of blood and dirt, he cried out as his mother was thrown out onto the street and murdered. He screamed aloud trying his best to get to her. To late. Two of the raiders pushed him back to the ground, and kicked him hard. He lay on the ground, writhing in pain and misery and the sight that he saw. The men were heartless, he heard more gunshots and screams. The village was nothing more than ash. He was lifted off the ground, and then smashed over the back of the head. Nothingness consumed him.

He awoke with a start, cold sweat ran down his face, his eyes were watery. He lay in the hard bed, a tear escaped his eye and ran down his face.

Zen sat outside with the cat, he never used to get up this early, but he was bored and couldn't go back to sleep. "....*sigh*...." he was trying to think of a name for his cat. he hadn't come up with anything so he stood up and looked at the other tents. he sat back down and lied on his back, as the cat curled up on his chest. it let a silent meow. "Meow."

John again awoke, this time to the noise of a cat outside. He opened his eyes and smiled, it just wasn't his night to sleep. He got up, opened the flap of his tent. Walking out, he saw a figure with the cat, walked over, and had a seat next to him. "Hello." His eyes went from him to the cat and back again. He wondered what the cat's name was and why this guy couldn't sleep.

Silence.

This was something Kiri was sickeningly familiarized with, yet, she loved and endevoured it. It blanketed her like the velevety night air which surrounded her. Unlike home, this air was cool, and dry. She paused her train of thought.

Unlike home? What is home, but distant memory, a bleeding wound which had not yet healed uming all others upon her young body. pain.Pain...blood.

A sickening grin crossed her face, but she disposed of it soon after. She shakily lifted her arm before her eyes, blue and crystalic as rippling water. She breathed in, holding the short gasp as she pulled back her long sleeve and unwound a long, white, gauzy bandage. She took a relaxed breath as she ran a pale, small finger over them again and again untill she knew they were real, and constant. They would not be bought, or sold. And more tantalizingly she had complete control over them. This brought another slight curve to her upper lip. Her eyes dilated, as suddenly, something inside took control over her.

Do it....It's what you deserve, it's what you want. It's what he did.

She slid, incontiouly, the small blade from her pocket. Her hands shook with a secret pleasure, a guilty lust for what she would do. The blade touched the skin on her upper arm, sending wonderful chills down her work-abused spine. As she slowly peierced the skin, it all went away. The wonderful fufillment came as a blurry rush. Deeper, and deeper, untill finally she ran it down her arm, to about her elbow. Her sharp teeth slid along her chapped lips, cutting in as they did. She trembled,. It felt wonderful. So very wonderful. It made her forget. Forget the past, the pain.

How pathetic, you are.

Kiri's eyes lifted then. As did the blade she heald in a trembling hand. She had noticed how far she had travled now. She glared over at the steed beside her. She heald his make shift reigns tight withing her worn fingers. He snorted nervously as she raised the blade. Hushing him, she tied the ropes around his large muzzle to a nearby tree branch.

" Quiet, Elle. Quiet.

She whispered as she crept forward.

Sliding the knife back into her pocket she wound her bandage back up, the fresh crimson blood leaking through. Her eyes were wide with fear as she looked on. A camp, of some sort. It was fenced, and she should probably not be intruding, but the scent of food drew her to levels she could not name. She needed it. The saliva in her mouth turned to plentiful for speach, catching at the corners of her lips, which she wiped immediately. Her stomach turned flips in hew abdoman.

She walked on silently, and crawled under a hole in the fence. She stopped dead in her tracks when she noticed someone laying on the ground before her. A man...her whole body shuttered, and she back ed up a few steps, but stopped when she caught sight of the smoke nearbye.
Food.

Zen turned his head to look at him. "hi." he kept petting his cat. he wondered why he couldn't think of anything to name the cat. "....*sigh*...." he was confused as to who this person's name was who was talking to him. "........" He kept silent until the person next to him said something. the cat let another soft meow. "meow."

"My name is John, what's yours?" John could tell he was confused about something. He wondered if it was about naming the cat. He smiled as he turned around and looked at the stranger with the horse coming towards the fire, for food he thought. He was right as he saw her tie up the horse and come over for food. He allowed her to eat in peace for a few minutes then asked, "And who are you?" Just after he had completed his sentence his dog, Christian ran out of the tent barking at the horse and then the cat. John picked him up to calm him down and awaited the two's answers...

Jason groaned and sat up. His eyes killing him. He felt helpless with it. His friend in his tent, Azan, was still asleep it seemd. He stood up and walked to the fire, stumbling slightly and sat down next to it. He ignored the bodies of which were there, not able to make them out. Couldn't tell if they were friends or enemies. So he kept his mouth shut. His long hair flowing gently in the autumn wind. Cold. and tired, but not able to sleep. He sang silently to himself as he watched the flames dance before him. He picked up a rock and threw it over the fence, hitting one of the guards, and laughing slightly. The guards are always in the same position, so he could do it if he were completely blind. He giggled to himself before standing and looking at the three. "hmm... all i make out is that young cutie right there" he said pointing to john. "But whos the beauty there?" he asked pointing to the new girl.

"Z-Zen......It's...nice to meet you." he stared at the woman that just walked up. he didn't feel good, he needed food, but he refused to eat. he just watched the others. "....*sigh*...." he started to wonder what was going to happen, and who was this person that walked up with the horse. he was nervous to say anything unless he was being talked to by some one else, and he was very shy, and scared. "......." he looked around at the tents.

Startled, Kiri stumbled backward once more. Her body heaved a nervous breath as she pulled forth the knife she held to tightly to her thin, malnorished body. She placed her right hand in a fist, and held it pressed against her breast as she gripped the blade in her left. Two icy blue eyes narrowed as she looked back at Elle. He snorted nervously, and she turned back to the men before her. Her eyes wandered once more to the one who lay sleeping on the ground. It was then that his question played in her mind. She scowled at the now hushed animal the male held before her. She opened her mouth , but shut it soon after. The sleeping one had roused, and was staring at her.

Nervously she considered her options.

You could run, or attack. Not much hope there though, plus...the gaurds.

She stood her ground.

My, My name is Kiri.

She responded in a fierce whisper.

Who are you? All of you?! What is this place?!?!"

Her body had stopped trembling now, and she stood planted, her eyes intent and feirce. Her mmotions were steady, and brave. Finally she let her muscles relax. The food, she knew she needed it.

Jason kicked up the pot of soup into his hand and poured it in a small bowl. "Im Jason, Love." he said as he held out the food to Kiri "and your in a slave camp. Rather a hell on earth." he giggled slightly and smiled "I hope this helps with your hunger, 'cause yoour belly is growling." he giggled a bit more and tried to make out the color of her eyes but couldn't. He didnt want to get close because he didnt want to get slapped.

"I am John and this is Zen," he said, inclining his head to the latter. We are going to depart tomorrow for Crystallized Miracles, a place the likes of us go to be free and safe from our masters and oppressors. You are welcome to join us, and I'm sure your horse could only make your journey easier, as he looks to be in fine condition." John looked around, as usual he was speaking too much again, and realizing he had stood up, sat back down. "You are welcome to use my tent as I fear I cannot sleep tonight, there is a stream over there," he nodded towards the rear of the camp, "and I recommend you get some rest in the little night we have left."

Zen seen the knife she was holding and he slowly backed up. this was one of the times he spoke withought being spoken to. "don't hurt me miss. please put the knife away." *he curled up in a scared way, as the cat jumped off of him and slowly walked to kiri. "Meow. Mew." the cat stared up at her in confusion. it seen the knife and didn't know what it was. "Mew. Meow."

Originally posted by Ruby_weapon
Jason kicked up the pot of soup into his hand and poured it in a small bowl. "Im Jason, Love." he said as he held out the food to Kiri "and your in a slave camp. Rather a hell on earth." he giggled slightly and smiled "I hope this helps with your hunger, 'cause yoour belly is growling." he giggled a bit more and tried to make out the color of her eyes but couldn't. He didnt want to get close because he didnt want to get slapped.

No, It's not him. It isn't him.

She then graciously nodded her head, and placed the bowl to her lips. Slow, eager sips followed this motion untill the bowl was drained. Her deep breaths heaved her thin, visible ribs in and outward in a quick, jolting motion. This continued untill she regained her breath. She parted her lips and sighed out a quick almost inaudible 'thankyou'. She turned then to the others.

Originally posted by John!attheDisco
"I am John and this is Zen," he said, inclining his head to the latter. We are going to depart tomorrow for Crystallized Miracles, a place the likes of us go to be free and safe from our masters and oppressors. You are welcome to join us, and I'm sure your horse could only make your journey easier, as he looks to be in fine condition." John looked around, as usual he was speaking too much again, and realizing he had stood up, sat back down. "You are welcome to use my tent as I fear I cannot sleep tonight, there is a stream over there," he nodded towards the rear of the camp, "and I recommend you get some rest in the little night we have left."

She gasped silently.

Crystalized Miracles? She had heard of it, but was it not only a myth? Could she really trust them? huh. she didn't have anything other to do.

At Elle's mention she gazed over at the thinned grey animal. A slight smile touched her lips and cheek, but soon dissapeared. She nodded, more to herself then anyone else. Yes. She would join them, and Elle as well. They would search for this place. 'Crystalized Miracles' And they would see if it was truley real. If not? She would simply contninue on as she had before. Continue the painfully true reality which had named itself 'life'. Or maybe she would be blessed with the wonderful gift of death. A content sigh slid from her lips, which she opened again.

Sleep...yes...

Her voice trailed off, but she nodded sullenly to approve her sincerity. Now she looked at the final male before her. Zen, had the other calle dhim? Yes. She shaded her half closed eyes, and hesitantly put the knife away before looking down at the small animal sniffing at her. She winced and looked at it nervously. She had never seen one of these before, at least not scince her old home, where great ones roamed. These large creatures were often vicious, and she wondered if this one was too. As it produced a growling sound, and brushed against her leg, all her worrie subsided, and she bent, gently caressing his head.

Jason smiled "Well. Now that we all now eachother, and im glad. Because we need to protect eachother. Jason smiled as he walked past Kiri and swiped the knife from her "If the guards were to find this on you, or find you period they would most likely beat you, hun." he said sweetly before slipping it into his coat pocket. "Dont be mad, i'll give it back. I'm no theif, but i don't want a hurt ladie ariund." he smiled sweetly and looked at John. "Well, I would offer my tent, but it's rather occupied at the moment. "Perhaps you two should get some sleep, while i take a beating from Kiri here over the knife.."

Zen wouldn't move, he was to nervouse. the cat purred as it rubbed against her leg. "prrrrrrrr" the cat stopped to look at her again. "Meow." the cat slowly walked back to zen as he started to calm down. "Thank you." the cat sat down beside him and tryed to take a nap. it made a yawning kind of sound and slowly went to sleep.

Azan struggled to sleep, cold sweat slowly running down his face. Finally, he awoke, and lay in the bed with his eyes wide with fear. That seemed all to real... He got up, and noted how Jason was not in the tent. Damn it! Did they all ready wake everyone up! Fear mingled with excitement as he ran back outside, his eyesight still poor... as usual. He stumbled across dirt, rock, and root as he struggled to find his friends. Running quickly, he accidentaly kicked Zen's cat and tumbled over him. "Ahhh!" He yelled as he went down, fast first into the dirt. His mouth, full of muck he spat four times before noting that his mouth was "clean". He rubbed his head, and slowly stood up, looking over at Zen. "U-Uh... S-S-Sorry..." He spewed out, hoping that whoever he had fallen over would forgive him. A cat? His curosity overcame him again as he moved to ground level, slowly nearing the cat. The little cat jumped onto Zen's chest, and Azan stopped, Where has it gone? With his poor eyesight, Azan began crawling around on the ground, looking for a cat he would never find at this rate.

(Recap?)

Originally posted by Sora The Brave
(Recap?)

(Not much has passed. Everyone is basically around this one fire, so, just re-enter or something.)

Zen leaped up to hold his cat "M-my cat!" he held on to it softly so it would feel comfortable. "It's ok." *he softly pet it and stood up to walk to his tent, slightly angry, and extremely sad. "It's ok." he sat down by himself.

Kori coughed rather roughly, his head pounding. It was just one of those days... He took out an herb he had documented, and chewed it up in his mouth. Aside from a stomach ache, the herb relieved most pain. Kori smiled and looked around the campfire. Everyone was just so... Dark and quiet... He couldn't understand why.
"You guys should lighten up! I mean, yeah this is hell, but surely you see the brightside in this?" Kori was just trying to lighten the mood, though it was tough...