A/N: I know what you are thinking… "Heather doesn't like men, WTH are you doing?" Well, let's just say I wanted something different. I'm prepared for flames too. -_-

Disclaimer: I wouldn't be here if I did.

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Heather sat underneath the tree; a slight breeze blew her hair gently. She sighed, she was actually a bit lonely sitting here. Nephenee was nowhere to be found, and lately she seemed to not even have interest in Heather.

The other day she found Nephenee and Geoffery together, hugging and talking about things only lovers would. Heather ran away after that, and now here she was, alone, alone in the cold nights of Crimea's castle town.

She felt dead inside, not one person could cheer her up. Ever.

She thought of stabbing herself, poisoning herself, anything to put her out of her misery.

It was so cold.

-x-

Hours passed, it was nearing midnight now. She had to move out into the shadows, she felt calmer there; maybe the shadows would eventually consume her soul and kill her. She could only hope.

She wandered to a dark alleyway, it was small and littered with trash, but all of them were that way and Heather couldn't afford to show her face at home, not like this.

She unclasped her cape from her neck and lay it down on the cold cobble sidewalk to sit on. Sighing again, she closed her eyes and tried to wonder off to sleep. She would have if not for the faint footsteps she heard deeper in the alley.

Closer, and closer they came, she began to worry.

What if it's a thief? She thought, she couldn't afford to have her things stolen, not at a time where she is vulnerable.

She pulled out her knife and prepared herself to strike, sliding against the wall and creeping towards the corner, peeking around it to see who was there.

There was nothing there, not even a mouse. She stared, confused.

Then what was…?

"Gotcha!"

"-Oh!" Her neck was wrapped by a long muscular arm from behind, fortunately it wasn't threatening her life, and it was just keeping her still.

"W-who are you?" She squeaked through her fear-drown voice.

"You first." The shadow sounded like a male, she hated men, they were always so stuck up, always hurting her, always taking advantage of her.

"Get off of me, you-"

"My name is Volke, I don't wish to harm you. What are you doing lurking around here at night?"

"What are you, some sort of-"

"Look lady, I'm not here to play games, I'm here to save you."

Save her? She did not need saving, and especially not from a man.

"Save me? What the hell are you talking about?!"

The shadow of Volke let go of her and pointed backwards.

When Heather saw what was there, she gasped.

A corpse lay on her cape she left on the ground, a thief wishing harm upon her, felled by this mysterious man speaking to her.

"You…" She nearly began to cry. "You saved me! He could have killed me, I-I-"

"Don't mention it." He set his knife in its sheath and began to walk away.

"W-wait! What was you're name?"

"Volke."

She ran to him and pecked him on the cheek, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Thank you…" She whispered.

Volke was stunned, he could hardly speak.

"No problem."

"If I ever need saving, I'll know who to call." She gave him a wink. "See you around."

Volke laughed and sprinted off, probably back to wherever it was that he came.

Heather felt relieved, maybe men aren't so bad or at least not all of them are.

She would have to seek out that Volke man again sometime, he was so… Fascinating.

She laughed at how she felt earlier. Who needs dumb Nephenee; I got a man who would protect me. Nephenee wouldn't do that.

The End.

A/N: So what do you think? Reviews make me smile, even if they are short or are flaming. I laugh at flames, so go ahead. Just do something. :/