… I've been WAY TOO lazy to put author's notes, so now I'm doing them! Reviews please!

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In no sooner than a few minutes, Faith was down at the house, delivering her kill for the day.

In no time, Greg lumbered out of the cottage. His size seemed to be growing larger and rounder with each passing month. Helga and Faith had both lectured him about health issues and how much lazier he has become. But he just ignores them with the wave of a rounded hand, before doing whatever he was doing.

"So, what did you catch this time?" Greg asked as he stopped by the table that the stag had been set upon. His wily eyes overlooked the animal before saying, "Hmm, a stag…. Good work!" He clapped Faith on the back in a congratulatory way; like he would a son.

Faith just smiled, pulling out her hunting knife. "It wasn't a hard kill," She said, "It didn't notice me." She didn't even mention Kesh.

Greg nodded. "Good, good. I'll take it from here, Helga is inside." He slowly picked his own knife off of the bench.

Faith just shrugged as he began to skin the animal. "Ok…" She said. Personally, she'd never really liked hanging out with Helga. It wasn't that Helga was a bad person or anything, it was the fact that Helga liked to make Faith act girly to no end. She'd have her dress in new dresses that she'd make, help sow, and even bake. Baking was an OK subject, but trying on stuff? No. Just no….

The door creaked as she entered the cottage. A happy gasp reached her ears. "Welcome back!" Helga said, wrapping her arms around Faith's thin shape. Helga always made a big deal about when Faith came back, mainly because she feared that Faith would get shot by another hunter in the woods.

Soon enough, enough air was squeezed out of her lungs to make her gasp, "Yeah, I'm back…" Her voice trailed off as she tried to conserve her air.

Helga soon released, the pressure subsided. "Well, you're just in time! I'm right now making rolls, care to join?"

Faith pressed her tongue to her cheek, unable to force out the word 'No.'

Helga just sighed, watching Faith's movements. "You don't want to bake with me, do you?"

Faith's eyebrows rose. "No! It's just… I'm very tired at the moment so…" She glanced at the small room that was officially hers. "I'm going to bed!"

Before waiting for a reply, she hurriedly walked to the room, tossing herself onto the bed when she entered.

Deer skins and sewn cloths soon enveloped her. She sighed as she flipped onto her back. Memories of the day's walk flitted before her eyes; Kesh's face, his reaction to her saying that she was 'different', and especially when she'd finished her story and he had stared at her like some lost little boy.

She rolled her eyes and rolled back on her stomach. Cut it out, Faith. He was just a boy, a very odd one… Her mind whispered.

Her eyes slowly slid shut, letting her be sectioned off to this dark room that only she was in.

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Moonlight filtered through the trees, birds called from above, and dark beings flitted past.

Faith's hands lashed forward wildly, not knowing what to do. The world seemed to be sliding past her, like an oil-based painting that hadn't quite dried yet and was leaking off the dark canvas.

Her eyes narrowed determinedly. "Hello?" She called, moving forward. Each step felt like she was trudging through thick water. "Hello?! Can anyone help me?!" Her calls seemed to echo throughout the area.

The ground seemed to soften, letting her legs sink down.

She gave a gasp and thrashed around wildly, only sinking deeper with each convulsion.

"Help!" Her mouth spluttered. Darkness closed around her, sectioning her off from the world around her. "Help!" She called again.

At that point in time, only her head, and flailing arm was visible from the pit.

A small tear escaped her eye, dribbling down into nothingness…

Suddenly, a dark, winged shape descended in front of her. It clutched her arm, its safe grip holding her steady.

Soon, she was out of the abyss that now yawned behind her. The stranger's face was clouded with a darkened mask, making it impossible to see their face.

They stepped back a few paces and held out their hand. Faith cocked her head to the side, the stranger only mimicked her. She slowly reached out…

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Faith woke, gasping.

Her eyes scanned around her. She was safe; back at home.

She sank back down into her blankets, trying to figure out what she just saw.

Stop thinking about it, Faith, Her mind interfered, It was only a dream: it had no meaning whatsoever.

She sighed, trying to agree with her mind, but the dream wouldn't budge from its place.

Ok, that was just a dream! Nothing new, or special. So I need to just –

Her thoughts were soon interrupted by the unmistakable sound of her stomach.

Faith sat up, triggering another tremor of hunger to erupt through her belly. She peered out the window, realizing that the moon was already out.

Her green eyes narrowed. Had she really slept that long?

She just shrugged and stood up, brown hair descending down to her shoulders once more. Greg and Helga have probably saved me some food like they always do. She thought as she walked to the oak door that marked the entrance and exit of her room.

She placed her hand on the smooth surface, and gently shoved it forward. The sound it made seemed to creak around the house eerily.

Faith merely shrugged. Not many things scared her nowadays.

She walked forward and turned the corner that bordered her bedroom door and the rest of the house. And her gasp soon filled the house.

Greg and Helga were in the room all right, but they were lying on the floor.

Dead.

When it came to violence and gore, Faith was calm and mild. When it came to sad, mushy stories, Faith just shrugged them off. But when it came to her family or friends getting hurt, her heart just about bursts.

Only they weren't just hurt, they looked as if they were tortured. As if they were questioned before being put to death.

Hot, salty tears leaked from Faith's eyes as she stared at their shocked expressions, as if they had no idea that they were about to die. Helga's mouth was wide open, as if gawking at an invisible object. Her eyes were wide open too, mimicking her shocked look to where she looked like she was gasping for air. Greg, on the other hand, looked terrible. The clothes that he wore were ripped in places, some larger than others. Dried blood was crusted on the edges of some, while fresh blood was still soaked on the fabric. His face was a mixture of defiance, and fear, complimented by narrowed eyes.

The most horrifying part of the scene was what was around it. Blood seemed to be spattered on everything. The rolls that Helga had made were scattered on the floor, some with few drops of blood coating them. The wall had large rivulets of blood smeared across, like some deranged painter did it.

Faith was silent for only a moment, before letting out a loud cry of sorrow. "G-greg! H-helga!" She spluttered between her sobs.

She sank to her knees, her hands trembling as they slid onto her eyes, as if trying to erase the sight before her.

"W-w-why?" She spluttered once more. "W-why did this happen? Why?"

As if her thoughts were being answered, a loud bang resounded from the door.

Faith's head shot up, her tears seemed to stop. Her eyes narrowed furiously. So, the murderers came back for more, huh? Her mind growled.

She reached over for her bow and quiver of arrows. After readying an arrow, she walked over to the door, glassy eyes blazed with fury.

Her leg reached out as she hit the door with her heel, knocking the door backwards on its hinges.

"Faith!"

Faith flinched at her name. Kesh was standing there, his eyes filled with worry.

"Faith, you need to get out of the house n-" He stopped abruptly as he realized how she looked, and how an arrow was pointed at his chest.

He huffed out a breath. "Honestly, I try to help, and she whips out an arrow on me again!" He muttered to himself.

He stepped forward and held out his hand. "Faith, it's not safe here, we need to leave… now!"

Faith just stood there, glued to the spot. Her mind and body was wrought with emotions, and she felt one emotion that she never wanted to feel again; panic.

Kesh glanced at her before letting out an exasperated sigh. "Come on now! Let's not wait for the grass to grow!"

Faith blinked a few times, clearing her thoughts, but before she could say anything, Kesh had placed his arms around hers and was shoving her out of the house.

"Stop! Stop! I can walk y'know!" She said, swatting his hands away.

Kesh managed to swing his hands away from Faith's, before saying, "Look, we don't have much time! I'm trying to help you!"

Faith just sighed and asked, "Help me from what? Getting saved by the townspeople?"

Kesh just gripped onto her arm again and resumed dragging her towards the forest. Faith's mouth soon opened to scream; only to have it covered by Kesh's other hand.

"Will you shut up!?" Kesh hissed, all cooperation lost in his anger. He dragged her harder, this time Faith walked with him.

After a few minutes of this charade, Faith stopped dead in her tracks. "Hey, I think I can see people down at the farm!" She exclaimed. Small, dark forms that looked like humans were scurrying this way and that around the house. Faith's mouth curved up into a smile; she was safe! She turned back to Kesh, trying to see if he was happy too.

Instead, his face had grown pale.

Faith cocked an eyebrow. "Kesh, what's…?" She followed Kesh's stare back down to the farm, just in time to see the small people light it on fire.

Faith just stood there, rooted to the spot. The humanoid figures seemed to stare at the burning embers, as if pleased with their work, before turning and running off. One of them let out a jeering laugh, before falling in place with the group.

Tears once again sprang to Faith's eyes, coming in a greater amount.

"N-no…" She whispered, "W-why?" She then realized the pressure in her arm had loosened; Kesh had let go.

She turned her head, her vision blurred by salty tears. Kesh was still standing there, in his resolute fashion.

She turned back to the farm; the sounds of the worried animals reached her ears. She closed her eyes, wishing she could just block out everything.

"Um… Faith?" It took her a while to realize that it was Kesh that had spoken in such a hushed voice. "We'd better get going-"

"Hey! What are you kids doing here!?"

Kesh and Faith's heads both turned towards the voice. A large, heavyset man was walking towards them. His voice was seemingly familiar to Faith. Her eyes widened as she realized that he was the "laughing" man.

"Well, brats, why are you out here!?" He demanded again.

Kesh's eyes narrowed. "Why should you know, blubber? I don't think that's any of your business!" Kesh retorted.

The man's eyes narrowed into slits. "You little shit! You should have respect for others!" With that, he lunged forward, meaty arms extended in fists.

In one swift and fast motion, Kesh had wrapped his arms around Faith's waist.

Faith turned her head around. "Kesh, what are you-"

Her eyes widened as brown-speckled wings protruded from his back. Her eyes moved down as she felt his feet changing into black talons.

Kesh rocketed into the air, hovering a few feet above the man's head. "Sorry, blubber, but we have to go!" Kesh jaunted.

With one beat from his wings, Kesh swooped forward. Wind whistled past them, whipping their hair back into a stream-like way.

Faith turned her head back to see "blubber" stumbling after them.

"Hey, you get back here!" He cried. But Kesh only beat his wings harder, putting more distance between them and him.

Faith couldn't help but laugh at his dopey expression; it was just so priceless!

She laughed for a while, before realizing that Blubber had given up his chase a long while ago.

She grinned again and turned forward once more. At first, the sight before her made her curious, before she gave a loud gasp as she realized what was happening; they were falling, fast.

Kesh was letting out short, panting breaths of exertion. While Faith was letting out worried breaths.

"Kesh! KESH! We're about to fall!" She stared up into Kesh's blue eyes. Instead of their lively shine, they were filled with one message; he was tired.

"Kesh!" Faith said one more time, before feeling the earth hit her body, hard. Kesh's arms, which were still around her hips, pressed into her, only doubling the pain.

She let out a long moan, before letting her head sink into the soft grass.

When Kesh had let go of her arm earlier, she could have run off at that moment. But, she chose not too. Why? Because at that one point in time, she felt as if Kesh was the only one left to be with. And as she lay there in the grass, she realized that it was true.

Ok, what I mean by the last paragraph is not MUSHY! It's just as in friends, or anything else… 'kay?