The Simple One

October 27, 13,012

The day was warm and the breeze cool, the hills on the outskirts of the mountains painted in vivid shades of reds, greens, and golds. A clear sky greeted the inhabitants of the area, but despite the oddly pleasant weather, there were no animals to frolic, nor birds to sing.

Despite this magnificently calm day, the hills were unsettlingly quiet and vacant.

This did not concern the dark-cloaked traveler as he crested the southern hill, lightly grasping the reins of his black steed as he navigated about the trees. Sharp eyes meticulously scanned each one before swiftly moving on, slender fingers tugging the scarf about his face loose.

The scent of old blood wafted through the air. At least he was on the right path.

"You should quit sniffing like a dog and just rest for a bit," a gruff, disembodied voice sniggered. "And no, standing still for all of about half an hour doesn't count. Besides, I doubt it will take much more to find the girl; that mayor did say she came around nightfall. She'll probably go, again, tonight."

The man did not respond with more than a quiet hum.

"Are you just aching for a dirt nap? You keep pushing yourself, that's where you'll end up! And we know how fun those are when you can't dig the hole!"

The words went unheeded as he continued to weave through trees. True to the voice's comments, the girl would in all likelihood go back to the town. This was not the first he'd heard of her, but it was the first time he'd been hired to find a woman terrorizing a town. The towns in the surrounding area seemed to drive her off before she became a problem.

Word of his arrival had traveled fast, and the Mayor was even quicker to seek him out. Half down, the other half upon completion. So he would find this 'terror'. It was a rather simple job, no point in wasting time on a short-lived rest.

Sleep clouded eyes stared blankly into the distance, observing the swaying trees while simultaneously seeing nothing at all. Limbs dangled limply from the branch the girl rested upon, bark digging into the flesh of her cheek with each shallow inhale. Despite the discomfort, she couldn't bring herself to move at the moment. Her body ached from head to toe, and if she hadn't known any better, she might have thought someone tried to beat her to death with a spoon over a ridiculously long amount of time.

There was a quiet clopping, and she could barely hear it, but it garnered her attention as it steadily drew nearer. So with a low moan, she stretched and eyed the area.

Nothing.

But she pushed herself up and leaned against the main trunk, her slowly mounting anxiety leaving her with the shakes. "That's all I need right now. More trigger-happy numpties." She pantomimed shooting a rifle and being shot with a loud 'Ka-Blam', catching sight of the traveler and his horse as she struggled to right herself on the branch.

Immediately, she noticed the curved longsword upon his back. "My God, would you look at that thing?! He could serve me up for dinner with that monstrosity! Just stuff me now and call me done!" she gasped quietly. "Maybe if I squawk like a chicken, he'll pass me by."

Her voice dropped in pitch as she imitated a man's voice. "That's one queer chicken, boy. Looks a little funny but damn it if she ain't tasty!" And she giggled, entirely too amused from the simple one-sided banter. "Oh, I have problems. Or maybe I have fever."

A quick pat to her stomach checking for fever and she laughed all the more. "Oh, I do have some, but that's okay! I'm hot! Tssshhh…" Despite her delirium, all laughter ceased when she realized the man was but a few trees away. She could only hope he'd not heard her babbling as she stood and reached for a nearby branch.

But he had, he'd heard everything. With a reassuring pat on the neck of the horse, the traveler dropped the reins and continued to the tree, dark gaze searching for the girl hiding among the foliage. In truth, he need not search hard. Her childlike grace and unsteady footing betrayed her, sticks and leaves falling through the tree as she struggled to catch herself.

Her panicked breathing and soft curses thrummed in his ears.

The wide-brimmed hat tipped up, and she knew there was no sense in hiding. At least staying in the tree meant there was more distance and obstacles between them. Slowly, a choking aura enveloped her, fear creeping into her small frame as the gravity of her situation settled like a rock in her belly. She climbed further up, boots slipping over the slick bark. "Wh-what do you want?"

The man made no suggestions of answering, face passive as he treaded about the base of the tree, stalking her without ever coming closer. In hopes he would reply, she called down again. Still, no answer came forth. She closed her eyes, struggling to pull herself onto another branch.

A queer noise filled the air; not one of animals or insects. Nay, this noise – so quick and quiet she questioned the origin – sent chills down her spine, something akin to scratching and clacking against bark. In the same instant she opened her eyes, the man appeared before her on a neighboring branch, nary a hair misplaced from the sudden ascent, cloak quivering about his legs. Bits of bark trickling from his right hand.

To say she was surprised was an understatement, and as coal colored eyes caught her gaze, she could feel her world turn in on itself, her soul cleaved open by the piercing gaze and laid bare for him to read.

She realized she was falling only after the first branch splintered beneath her back, breath forced from her lungs.

Like a rag doll, she tumbled down the tree, branches cracking amidst the sturdier limbs, and one could be impressed that she did little more than grunt with each lost breath.

Her body lurched to a brief stop as her leg slipped between a pair of limbs. A stomach-churning snap of a too-stressed bone replaced the sudden silence.

"Bloody f-!" The weakest limb gave before she could finish, and she landed with a dull thud, a guttural groan tearing through her bared teeth as she rolled onto her back. The man stood just a few feet away, though she did not immediately notice, too focused on keeping her quivering breaths steady and not vomiting on herself.

Wouldn't want to add insult to injury, would we?

"Fudge nuts," she finally finished with a hiss. "I should've never left, disappearances be damned." She turned a critical eye upon the strange man, truly feeling insignificant as he loomed above her. Red flags flapped wildly at her instincts, urging her to flee, broke leg or no. It was then that it dawned on her; this man could very well be a professional hunter or mercenary sent to kill her.

'He's not some run-of-the-mill asshat.'

If that were the case, why had he made no move to end her life? Was it a scare tactic? Was she not worth his time? Or was it all a farce?

"Well, it's been fun," she squeaked, lurching to her feet despite the sickening cracks issuing from her noticeably broken leg, and she clapped her hands together with a small bow. "Very nice meeting you, you scary man, but I'm gonna leave while you're giving me the chance!" With those parting words, she turned on her heel and ran like the dickens.

The traveler, watching the young woman run as though hell spawn were snapping their teeth at her heels, mounted the steed still waiting by the tree. The disembodied voice from before groaned, almost disgustedly. "You don't really think this is her, do you? She didn't try to fight you, just ran. I know she fits the description, but still." The rough voice sounded almost disappointed. Perhaps it was expecting a show?

A pause filled the air, the man lightly spurring the horse's flanks. "Hey, you aren't seriously going after her are you? This whole job is a sham! Besides, it's nearly dark. What if darkness is her strength?!"

The man ended the rant, voice cold and monotonous in tones. Laced with rust in a way. "We were charged to 'take care of the woman terrorizing the town or bring her in'. I intend to do so."

"Then why didn't you grab her while she was here?!"

Unbeknownst to the scratchy voice, he'd already sized up the girl. Many things could accurately describe the girl; weary, sick, scared, but threatening was not one. A terror? To someone other than herself, unlikely.

It was an almost ridiculous notion.

Ahead of him, the girl was still running, left leg appearing lame but still managing to aid in her trot, if only barely. Trees parted about a town, and she darted around the building before her, tearing down the alley as fast as she could. She left a trail of destruction in her wake, cans and clothing lines alike knocked over as she headed for the main street. Unsurprisingly, not many people loitered in the streets, having heard the commotion and inherently knowing the girl was involved. Those that had not cleared out scattered at the sight of her stumbling into the road.

And she could hear the clopping, again. She knew what she had to do.

Around the corner he rode at a high rate of speed, gravel kicked loose by the horse's powerful strides, and in that moment, he felt a shift in the girl's aura. Briefly, he wondered if the brash voice might receive its show, wondered if he'd misjudged the girl as she pivot on her toes and charged, a black club in hand.

The horse reared, upset by the sharp pull on the reins as the man drew the longsword from the sheath upon his back. With a quiet ring, the blade was freed. Ignoring the fearsome sight, she leapt at him, squealing and eyes wide in terror as she swung out her arm. The two weapons clashed, the force enough to dislodge him from the saddle. He landed light on his feet, eyeing the silhouette currently angling down an adjacent alley.

Like the wind he moved, blocking her way down the narrow path. She stumbled back, yelping when his hand found purchase on her tattered shirt and her feet left the ground, her back against a brick wall.

She thrashed wildly in his hold, unable to do more than claw and punch at his arm. "Let go of me, you bloody behemoth!" The honed tip of his blade pressed into the flesh above her fluttering heart, and she fell silent for a short moment, eyeing him through a curtain of crimson hair. "I'm listening."

"Face my employer, leave this area, or perish," the man murmured succinctly. "It's your decision."

A disgusted scoff left her pale lips. "I run away to escape crap and just fall face first into more crap," she muttered, not knowing her words reached his ears. "Yeah, I'm gonna have to go with D, none of the above. I've got someone I need to find, and I'm tired of people like you. Bunch of mindless freaks!"

Belatedly she realized she was taking her anger out on a man just doing his job. That he was, if anything, better than the people who'd come before. And whether he was angry or was stressing his ultimatum, the tip of his blade pressed into her chest with a force that landed on threatening.

But instead of getting smart and minding her mouth, she became furious. "I dare you," she snarled, spitting in his face.

A simple flick of his wrist and the blade slid cleanly through her flesh, a trickle blood staining her well-worn shirt, and she writhed. The fight drained swiftly from her with each shuddering breath, pain gripping her with each stuttered beat of her heart. "F-fine! I'll leave!"

He dropped her and she crumpled at his feet, clutching at the piercing in her chest. Her life flowed freely with the blade gone and stained her pale, shaking hands. The flutter of a travel-worn coat was her only indication the man was mounting the horse waiting patiently at the end of the passage. "Y'know, I don't see much difference between this and just killing me. I guess the upside would be the chance to find a doctor, if one would see me. But, he is giving me a chance. Others didn't," she breathed.

Few would know the man could hear her mutterings from his distance, but her problems didn't really concern him.

She staggered to her feet and stumbled from the alleyway, eyes trailing after the black form. With a shuddering breath, she followed, sight dimming with the strain. "Heh, maybe I'll die from this? May as well just take me now, God!" Black spotted what vision she had. Each movement felt progressively more sluggish and leaden.

'I am dying.' A pitiful whimper fled her lips.

The man upon the horse knew this, her flubbing heartbeat something he was not unused to hearing. But she continued to trail after him and into the forest. It was commendable, really. Still limping about on a broken leg, practically knocking at Death's door, but determined to follow the man who'd left you in that condition.

Only when there was a gentle tug at his coat did he spare her a glance. Her bloodied hand clutched to the fabric as he continued on, fingers twitching as she struggled to keep up. "I can't leave the… area if I die beforehand. Although… I guess that works in your favor… either way, huh?" she slurred, voice barely audible.

A gentle tug on the reins and the beast halted, stomping at the ground in an agitated manner. In a slow move, he twisted in the saddle, giving her his attention. She continued to hold fast to his coat, swaying like a drunkard. And she was pale, deathly pale.

Her lips curved with a small smile. "I know that asking… is probably silly, but could you help me out? Or take me to a doctor… that will help me?" The man above was silent and she nodded her head, lurching with the small movement. She need not look at him to know he would not answer. "What a way to be heartless." She forcefully smacked the rump of the horse just as her eyes rolled back and she collapsed, face first, into the ground.

There was a long, hard laugh from the vicinity of the man's left hand as the man calmed the startled horse, the sound clear amongst the beast's displeased snorts. The flesh of his palm contorted to form a leering face, and the man seemed wholly unfazed by the countenanced carbuncle taking residence within his flesh. "Finally, a woman not melting with desire! It's a nice change. But you're not heartless! It's there! It's just buried beneath centuries of dust and stone."

The traveler did not respond, but the creature hadn't expected one, simply following his owner's gaze with beady eyes as a devious smile curved its small, wrinkled lips. "Perhaps, since she is here, you can refuel. She's already dying. Just put her out of her misery and end your own suffering," it coaxed, grinning wider at the sharp glare it received. "Who knows? Maybe she'll taste as sweet as she smells… underneath the other smells."

There was a long silence as the man dismounted and kneeled beside the girl, a slender hand exposing her pale neck. "I'm amazed she's still alive," he murmured.

The queer creature snickered. "No thanks to you. Well, not like it matters much. She won't live much longer at this rate. At least, probably not through the night."

He quietly hummed, briefly deliberating. The creature was right. The girl had been sick before, body struggling and running off adrenaline when it could, whether she realized it or not. Perhaps he'd pushed her body too far. But in a rare show of pity, or curiosity, he scooped up the limp girl and mounted the horse.

"Woah!" the creature cried. "I didn't say take her with us! How did this even become an option?!"

There was no response as they navigated the dark woods.

It sighed obnoxiously loud. "Why?"

Was he even sure?

"Curious," he stated, settling her in the saddle when she shifted. It was the best answer he could give. And rather uncharacteristic.

Slowly they headed into the cliffs. The air chilled and the wind moaned through the large trees. Or, maybe it was the girl moaning. He averted his gaze, watching as she slowly woke. She flailed weakly, startled by the horse's loud snort.

"What the?" Lidded grey eyes narrowed at the bloodied hand pressed between her breasts before eyeing the man. "I want down."

"You wanted help."

Whether she realized the words did not leave the man's slim lips was debatable. She squirmed pathetically in his hold, and anger flushed her cheeks when his hold did not lessen. "Well, you didn't seem to care earlier! Why the change of heart?!"

A loud crunch ruptured the air.

Blood dripped from each nostril, and for a moment, the man looked truly fearsome, if rather unfazed. A steady hand reset his nose and wiped away the crimson fluid.

The girl eyed the fresh blood, her mouth dropped in awe, and a thought occurred to him. "Are you Human?" But she only turned her gaze forward and smiled sweetly, as if saying, "Oh, you; you're so silly." Gradually she slumped in his hold, head bobbing with the horse's gait.

"Gee," his hand breathed. "She's a little off kilter. Besides, does she come off as Human?"

They both turned their gazes upon her, and both came to the same conclusion. They weren't sure. There was nothing truly otherworldly about her, but it was something that couldn't be placed.

"Hmm, maybe we'll figure that one out before we leave."

The remainder of the trek passed in relative silence, few creatures about and wise enough to see when they were no match for the man in black. They followed a small goat trail up a cliff to a shallow cave, one he'd seen some time before that gave an impressive view of the forest below. But he wasn't there for pretty views.

They ducked into the cave, his eyes narrowed as he scanned for threats before throwing down a makeshift pallet for the girl. His, thankfully new, medical kit and lantern were next to follow, the lantern warming the immediate area. In the light, he could see just how pale she'd become, the blood stained, tattered shirt a stark contrast. But he did not dwell on this, pulling away the shirt and unlatching the worn and dented armor about her upper torso.

The scent of infection filled the air. A large wound, purple and weeping puss, looked untreated and bled weakly from fresh tears. If he were someone else, he might have cringed at the sight of such a horrid wound. But the man bats not one eye as he works on cleansing the grisly thing alongside the chest wound, stitching them closed and wrapping her side with an antibiotic and salve-soaked cloth.

Still, the stench of infection did not leave, and he eyed the lingering injuries. It really was a wonder this girl was still alive. If anything, he was amazed she'd not gone septic with some of the open wounds.

Sometime later, fragments of arrows and the occasional bullet rest beside him, cradled within soiled rags. The only thing left was her leg. But that would have to wait. It wouldn't do for her to vomit and aspirate in her sleep.

Really, everything about her seemed Human, almost painfully normal. Her aura was tame, her speed impressive if you consider her broken leg, but…

The man's curiosity grew.

Why not peer into her memories for her story?

A lurid light coursed through his eyes as he pressed his left hand to her feverish forehead. Images flashed before his eyes, the most recent flickering by first.

The girl was running, leaping from rooftop to rooftop away from people bearing guns, a ball of plasma hitting her shoulder. She lurched forward, slapping into the tiled roof with a grunt as broken shingles fell to the street below. Trembling hands slipped and bled on broken tiles as she scrambled up.

She was sitting in a bare classroom, listening to a kindly teacher with rapt attention as she cautioned the few students left about kidnappings. Her eyes turned about the room. Ten labeled desks lie empty. Looking over the five remaining people in the room, she nodded silently to herself. Three days, she would wait no more than three days before leaving.

She was outside, walking past a group of older teens, when they began stoning her. Garbled insults streamed from their mouths. She wept, not understanding why she was a freak when she barely remembered her own name.

Many memories flitted across his vision. And with each one he studied, he knew for certain this girl was no monster. But he pressed on through her memories, delving into what should have been her childhood. There was nothing.

At least, not at first.

A gore-filled home, not wholly uncommon in this world, filled with the laughter of a madman and the cries of a child. And a woman's voice, soft and sweet, calmly explaining something that couldn't quite be understood.

The visions faded, and with a quiet grunt, the man snapped back. Pain gripped him, much like an oncoming migraine. His left arm seized, twitching almost uncontrollably.

As fast as it happened, it all ended.

A quiet huff left tiny lips as the hand muttered to himself and contemplated the reasons for such a forceful denial. "There is a memory blocker in place. I don't think she is strong enough to place one herself, so I have to imagine someone forcibly placed it there. And we didn't get what you wanted."

Beady black eyes scrutinized the girl. "I'm just gonna say this now; I don't like this. Something is definitely off about her, especially her past. So, just leave her now before you get in too deep."

The creature had a point.

"Come on, get up! Let's ditch her."

It was unclear if the man even knew what kept him rooted to his spot as she moaned and thrashed.

"Wow, I feel like I've been bludgeoned within an inch of my life," she gasped, rolling onto her belly to push herself up. It was only then that she opened her eyes, heart leaping into her throat when she did not recognize the surroundings. And she stilled. She need not look to feel the presence of the intimidating man behind her, but she did, head dipping down to peer between her legs.

A quiet command had her freezing in place before she'd had a chance to bolt, shivering as he gestured for her to come closer. "Why?"

"Your leg," he responded succinctly.

She would be lying if she said she wasn't confused. "But… before? I… you hurt me. Why fix me? I mean, I know I asked if you could help me get help, but this…" With a grunt she sat on her bottom, eyeing her dressed wounds suspiciously. Realization dawned on her heart-shaped face. "Wait. Where is my armor and shirt?!"

Despite the brassiere covering her breasts, she covered her chest and skittered away from him. "I'm serious, you freaky man! Where is my bloody stuff?!" Part of her knew that to dress her wounds the items needed to be removed, but she was more concerned with keeping her no-no squares well dressed.

The clatter of armor drew her attention just as her ratty shirt smacked her face. In that moment, she was grateful he tossed the items to her instead of bringing them to her. And despite the pain and discomfort that came with twisting about to latch the armor in place, she felt more at ease with it on.

"Thank you," she sighed, almost embarrassed at her outburst. "Sorry, no-no squares and all…"

The man's gaze had not left her yet as she fidgeted with her shirt, and he beckoned her close, again. "Pull off your boot and roll up your breeches, if you can." She did not question him, sitting meekly with her bare leg in his lap. He ran his hands lightly down her shin and calf, feeling for any more breaks than the obvious one and checking her pulse.

"You never did answer."

She jerked, staring confused. "Answer what? You haven't asked me anything."

"On the way here, I asked if you were Human."

"Only after you punched him."

Her eyes became vacant as she searched an empty mind, not entirely hearing the other voice. "I passed out, didn't I? I was probably talking in my sleep. I do that. Besides," she murmured as she turned her gaze to the man beneath the broad-brimmed hat. "What kinda question is that? If I'm not Human, am I a kitty? Meow!"

She playfully clawed at the air with one hand and hissed. "I mean, what else could I be? A dog?" she snarked. "What a strange question to ask someone."

The man did not pay mind to her remarks, fingers pressing a bit firmer upon the swollen flesh of her leg. "Where are you from?" he enquired.

"The orphanage in Puregon," she breathed. "Um…that's north-ish, I think."

"Why roam the local towns only at night?"

"Why ask so many personal questions?" His eyes briefly flickered to her face before focusing on her leg. "Right, I'm lucky I'm not dying right now. Well… I felt safer surrounded by people. Maybe it was just paranoia, but this is one of the few times I can remember not feeling watched. Wouldn't know about before. Maybe it's a good thing I don't remember why I'm an orphan." A wry smile twisted her lips, and for a moment, she felt at ease with the stranger's presence.

"Hold still," he commanded in a soft tone. After a moment of brief confusion, she leaned back and braced herself. One break would be simple enough to set, but both the fibula and tibia were snapped and twisted. In one fluid movement, he stretched out her leg and twisted it.

The girl gasped and gagged, one hand pressed to her lips, bile leaking between her fingers as she writhed. And she cursed with tears streaming down her cheeks; she cursed life, she cursed the man, she cursed anything her mind could grasp. She was almost sure she kicked him at some point, but hurt too much to care as he continued setting the bones.

"Please tell me you are almost done!"

"You shouldn't have run on a broken leg."

"Well, I didn't feel like I had much of a choice!" she cried indignantly, almost sobbing with relief when he began fashioning a makeshift splint. "But, thank you. I know you didn't have to do any of this. So, I have to ask. Why do any of this?"

He did not answer. Instead, he asked a question in turn. "You said you were looking for someone; who?"

"Just a mercenary of sorts," she murmured. "Or, maybe you can help me." Her face lit up at the idea, and she smiled widely. "You were hired to find me and… get rid of me, right? So, you must have the knowhow to do what I need. If you are willing…"

Finished with wrapping her leg, he shifted, if only barely, to prop his elbow upon his knee as she scooted back. He said nothing, merely studying her as she examined her leg and fingered the fabric.

"Maybe, just maybe, you're the one I was looking for. Someone who can stop nightly disappearances." Her eyes lit up with joy, and for a moment, the man could see a splash of green in the grey irises. "I can pay you! This works out perfectly if you say yes! Oh! The name's Krista!" She held out a small hand that the traveler merely ignored, sheepishly drawing it back.

"I'm almost 18 if it's an age thing; will be in a couple of weeks? When's the 31st?" She shrugged. "Ah, not like it matters. So, will you? Will you come back with me?"

"Perhaps," he replied.

She was overjoyed with his uncommitted answer; it was better than a flat out no. Until he spoke again.

"You will come with me to the town of my employer. From there I will decide."

The most uncomfortable grimace twisted her lips before she sighed. She knew if she wanted his help, she would need to do this, especially after everything else. "Alright. I will."

The lantern flickered off, and she tried to catch the man's gaze as he stood. She knew not what she expected to learn from staring into his eyes, but she could almost see the age and horrors he'd seen hidden by an emotionless mask. And something about him seemed wholly otherworldly.

"Go to sleep." He sat with his back to the cave wall, one leg drawn in to rest his arm upon and sword cradled there. For a moment, he had to wonder what he was heading into with the snarky girl. And he watched her wiggle about on the pallet as he caressed the horse's muzzle.

"Don't you wanna sleep here?" At his soft no, Krista leaned up on one arm and pulled at the black ends of her waist-length hair. "Wait, what's your name?"

"D."

October 28, 13,012

The sun was yet to rise when Krista snapped out of sleep, her leg throbbing but better in that it wasn't twisted queerly. With a wide yawn, she struggled to stand from the pallet before she eventually opted to quietly crawl from her spot. She flopped onto her belly once at the mouth of the cave, leg propped up by the opposite one as she scowled at the moon. "When I left the orphanage, this is not what imagined would happen. And I figured my leg would feel better, not worse."

The hairs on the nape of her neck rose, and she twisted her head around to gaze upon the intimidating man standing by her side. 'I didn't even hear him come up.' Something in her mind told her this was no normal man. From the heavy aura hanging about him to the… wait, what did he just say?

"Say what?"

"Let me check your leg."

Her brows furrowed. "Why? You just barely fixed it. It's not like there is gonna be much difference this morning." She had to admit, the throbbing had all but dissipated since she'd first woken, but that didn't mean much to her. At his pointed stare, however, she rolled over and lifted it for his inspection.

D's chilled fingers pressed against the pulse points in her thigh over her breeches before he unwrapped her leg. Lightly, he ran a fingertip down the length to her foot, and she giggled and twitched before he roughly pinched the skin. She yelped, glaring at him, but she couldn't pull her leg from his grasp. "Mind telling me what that was for?"

"I'm ensuring you won't lose your leg from a pinched artery and that no nerves are pinched."

"That… that makes sense," she muttered. "Look, I'm sorry for my attitude. I'm not normally so… so…" She trailed off, unable to find the words to describe her mood. "I'm sorry for being so nasty. For spitting in your face when you were just doing your job."

"You should be sorry, you little-!"

That did not sound like this man's voice.

She stared up at him, watching his left hand clench, skin turning white across his knuckles. She had to wonder if he was agitated with her, but, something about him made her think he was not the kind to easily agitate. In fact, most of his interaction with her thus far had been rather stoic. Not a single emotion really showed.

However, she did not bring up the voice. Instead, she stretched around him to grab her boot and eased her swollen foot into it. The slight pressure was comforting. "This probably isn't my brightest idea, but…" With her breeches pulled into place, she struggled in vain to rewrap her leg. "Yup, not happening."

The Hunter did not let her struggle much longer, quickly wrapping it with ease. This girl, she seemed rather 'simple', save her spitfire attitude. Only time would really tell. Without a word, he moved to his cybernetic horse, pulling out a pink apple for the large beast. Happily, the horse ate.

He felt a shift in the air behind him, casting a sidelong glance at Krista as she snuck towards him, though he doubted she could see his eyes trained on her. No longer a dull grey, her effervescent green eyes shined in the dim light with mischief. A lone finger extended, she crept until she was close enough to poke him inexplicably hard.

AN: I just want to say that, while I will be replacing the old chapters up to what I have done, I am wary of doing so on here because... well. It's graphic and this site don't like graphic sometimes. And I think all of the italics and bolds are in their proper spots. However, I am over on AO3. Same story name. Come look for me if you want. Thanks!