Dreams

Xxxxx

Knowing You Better

Xxxxx

The first thing that Caeshe noticed when he opened his eyes was how dark the sky was before noticing small flakes of white floating down the sky. Groaning, Caeshe forced himself to sit upright, feeling the back of his head throb while his entire body felt sore.

What happened? he thought to himself as he rubbed the back of his head only to pull his fingers back and see the familiar color of crimson covering the tips.

"Great", he muttered before he shifted to stand...only for his hand to bump into something.

Blinking several times, Caeshe slowly turned his head to side only to quickly scoot away after seeing a human like figure lying next to him. It was only when he caught sight of white strands peeking from underneath the hood did he calmed down.

"Hilal?" He called out only to recieve no response.

Pondering for a moment, Caeshe suddenly remembered the sounds of shattering glass, only to realize the unbelievable.

"You saved me?" He gawked, staring at the still form of the Mesmer before he reached out a hand to his shoulder, "Are you-"

Caeshe released a cry when the Mesmer's hand suddenly snapped up and wrapped tightly around his wrist, causing the Thief to shake his hand back and forth before prying his hand away from Hilal's and scooting away.

Slowly, Hilal's hands moved onto the floor pushing himself up as he slowly wheezed, "Do not. Touch. Me."

With that, he rolled onto his back, coughing before he started gasping for breath, causing Caeshe to slowly edge his way towards the Mesmer.

"Stay where you are or do you want me to replicate what happened back in the battle pits?"

Caeshe froze, hesitation clear in his eyes, "But you are injured, I just wanted to-"

"Stop pretending to be nice to me!"

Jumping at the sudden raise in volume, Caeshe quickly pushed himself away from the human Mesmer, watching him as he rolled onto his side, coughing.

Staring hesitantly for a moment, Caeshe asked, "...Are you alright?"

"Do I look alright to you?" Hilal turned back on his back, turning his head to glare at the thief, "if you hadn't been such a klutz, I would not be this seriously injured."

This time, it was the Thief's turn to glare, "It is not my fault that you jumped in to save me. Which now brings up the question of why?"

Hilal turned his pale azure hues towards the dark sky, "That's none of your concern."

"Yes it is," Caeshe snapped, causing the Mesmer to turn his head and glare, "You almost killed me back in the battle pits, insulted my brother and I and then suddenly, you risked your life to save mine? Do you not think that it is a bit contradictory?"

"I have my reasons," Hilal hissed, "many of which I do not wish to share."

"You are impossible," Caeshe sighed in defeat, "Fine, let us just get out of here and find some shelter to spend the night." With this, the young Thief pushed himself onto his feet, glancing around before he spotted a path, "There, a clear path to find some shelter, I hope."

He then took several steps forward only to pause and turn around, seeing the Mesmer still lying upon the ground, "...Are you not going to get up?"

Hilal glared at the thief, "If I wanted to move, I would have done so by now."

"Then, why are you not standing?" Caeshe frowned, impatience clear in his eyes.

"When we were falling I took full brunt of the the collission into the rocks and mountain side," Hilal growled, "so unlike you, I was not left unscathed."

The young Thief stare at the human mesmer, his glowing violet eyes blinking several times before he responded, "So you cannot move?"

"Oh, is it that obvious?" Hilal said sarcastically as he rolled his eyes, "it is alright though, both of my legs were broken in the fall, I can stand perfectly fine, thank you."

Caeshe stared in confusion, "...I do not understand, does broken bones mean that you cannot-"

"That was called sarcasm," Hilal just sighed, "it means that you are saying something that you do not actually mean."

When the Mesmer looked back into the sylvari's violet eyes, he gave him a blank stare, "You do not understand do you?"

Earning a shake of the head as a response, Hilal just placed a hand onto his face and sighed, "Never mind, just go ahead and find help."

"And leave you here immobile?" Caeshe shook his head as he took severl steps forward and knelt down besides the human Mesmer, "No, I will carry you, that way you won't be-

However as Caeshe attempted to scoop the small Mesmer into his arms, he suddenly felt something hit him in the stomach, causing to gasp as he slouch over and covered it with his arms. Hearing shifting movement in front of him, Caeshe lifted his eyes only to see Hilal point his staff at him as he struggled to scoot away, and to the surprise of the young Thief, fear was visible in the Mesmer's pale blue hues.

"What-what are you trying to do?" Hilal stammered as Caeshe rubbed his stomach whom gave him a blank stare in response.

"I was trying to carry you," Caeshe frowned, "if I leave you here, you might as well be killed by the Grawl or the cold even."

"I prefer that than to be carried," Hilal hissed, pink and violet vibrating around his hands, "just leave me here and find help."

"No," Caeshe stood up, standing firm, "though we not have an alliance with each other, that doens't mean I can abandon you, not like this anyways." The thief took several steps froward.

"Do nott touch me!" Hilal cried, causing the sylvari thief to pause, "Just-just-just..."

Then to Caeshe's surprise, tears formed in the Mesmer's eyes as he murmured, "Do not...Do not touch me."

"Hilal," His voice laced with concern, Caeshe added in, "Then what do you want me to do? I cannot leave you here alone, especially when you are injured."

Taking in a shaky breath, Hilal wiped away the forming tears with the back of his hand, "Do you want to get back at me for that incident in the Battle Pits?"

Confusion flashed in Caeshe's eyes, "How is that significant to the situation that we are in?"

"Do you want to or not?" Hilal's eyes narrowed in which the Thief sighed and replied, "Before this all happened, Yes, but now..."

"Then hit me."

Caeshe snapped his eyes toward's Hilal, "Say what?"

"Hit me as hard as you can," Hilal repeated, "Hard enough to knock me out."

"What?" Caeshe took several steps back, "why do you want that?"

"Knock me out so you can carry me," Hilal growled, "there is no way I am going to be conscious when someone else is in physical contact with me."

"Why not?" Caeshe asked.

In that instant, a look of dread and fear flash into the Mesmer's eyes, causing Caeshe to blink several times in response.

"Look, just knock me out now," Hilal took a deep breath, "and I will explain everything once we are safe."

"Everything?" Caeshe repeated, "the reasons of your actions? Why act the way you do?"

"My Life, my dreams, everything!" The human Mesmer hissed, "Now knock me out before I do it myself."

Staring at the young Mesmer, Caeshe release a sigh as he unsheathed his sword, flipping his around so that the force of contact would be the hilt instead of the blade, "You sure about this?"

When the Thief recieved a nod as a response, Caeshe hesitated before with one swift stroke, slammed the hilt of his sword into the Mesmer's head. Instantly, Hilal crumbled to the ground, unmoving.

"Hilal?" Caeshe's eyes widen as he knelt down and placed a hand onto Mesmer's shoulder, only to release a sigh of relief when he saw the human male's chest move up and down, a sign that he was still breathing.

"Still do not understand why I have to knock you out," Caeshe murmured as he scooped the small Mesmer into his arms and started his way down the snowy path.

Xxxxx

"We should be there anytime now," Aoshiro coughed before placing a hand onto his side, shifting his weight against Tzurael whom grunted in response.

"Do not take offense, Shiro but," The Ranger shifted himself so ensure that the Guardian's arm was secured around his shoulders, "you are quite heavy."

Aoshiro just chuckled in response, "That's what happens when you wear heavy armor."

"Then thank the Pale Tree that I am not wearing any," Tzurael shifted once again to ensure that Aoshiro was secure, "How much longer? I do not think I can-"

"We are here."

Coming to a pause, Tzurael's eyes squinted a bit, "I do not see anything."

The Guardian gave the young sylvari a smile, "I am the one that is wounded here and I can see it clearly. Try again and try not to squint so hard."

Glancing back at the Guardian with a confused look, Tzurael turned his black eyes back back towards the area and this time, saw stairs leaning aganst cobblestone walls.

"See it this time?" Aoshiro smiled when he earned a slow, single nod as a response, "Hello! Nabiha!? Khayru!?"

Almost immediately, a head popped over the edge of the wall, the only visible feature were dark azure strands gleaming faintly under the moonlight.

"Shiro?"

Sounds of footsteps could be heard coming down the steps and moments later, a fair skinned human male appeared at the bottom, his dark azure hair barely reaches past his chin, bangs brushed to the left to keep out of his dark blue eyes. He was adorned in black and blue heavy armor, the clanking audible as he approached the two, "I thought you said there were gonna be four of you." He then paused as he glanced behind them, seeing a crimson trail glint against the white snow glint under the moonlight, "You are bleeding. What happened?"

"No time," Aoshiro murmured as he slipped himself away from Tzurael's grasp, "Hilal and the fourth member of our group, Caeshe, they fell off the mountain side."

"What?" Nabiha's eyes widen, "When did that happen?"

"Several hours ago, near the boardwalk," Tzurael replied, concern flashing in his eyes, "could you send out a search party quickly? Who knows what is happening to them now?"

"I wish we could," The dark azure haired male sighed, "Sadly, we heard that a storm is coming. If we search now, the storm will catch us and more of us will be trapped in the mountains. We have to wait until it is over."

"But my brother is down there!" Tzurael cried, causing everyone present to jump, "your brother as well. We cannot leave them there by themselves! We have to-"

"Tzurael."

Turning his coal black eyes towards the Guardian, he saw Aoshiro give him a wary smile as he held his side, "Do you believe that your brother is strong?"

Hesitation clear in his eyes, Tzurael slowly nodded, "But he is-"

"Then he is strong enough to find shelter and survive," the white haired human interrupted, "and the same goes with Hilal. Both of them are strong enough to survive that fall and I trust that they will survive the storm until help can be sent out to find them."

The sylvari Ranger continued to stare at the human Guardian, fidgeting as Marsh stood by him, her small whimpers hear clearly in the silent atmopshere. "Alright then," Tzurael heaved out a sigh of defeat, "But the instant the storm clears up, I am going out there to find him."

"I am going to do the same for Hilal," Nabiha added in as he approached the wounded Guardian and placed his hands onto his shoulders, "but first, let us get Shiro some help." He then turned his dark azure eyes towards Tzurael, "and let us bring you inside before the storm sets in."

Glancing back towards the mountain, Tzurael hesitantly nodded, following the Priory member up the stairs as he helped Aoshiro along.

"Nabiha," The Guardian spoke, causing the dark azure haired human to turn his gaze towards him, "Where is Khayru? Are you two not Priory Partners?"

In response, Nabiha smiled, "She went out a few hours ago right before the Priory heard the news of the oncoming storm." He chuckled as he continued to help Aoshiro up the steps, "But I trust that she will be fine."

"You are not worried about her?" Tzurael asked as he followed behind, Marsh barking in agreement to his question.

"She is tough enough," Nabiha grinned, "especially since she is an old Sylvari."

"Sylvari?" The Sylvari Ranger asked, puzzled, "She is part of your family but she is sylvari?"

"Aaah, yeah," The Priory memory smiled sheepishly, "Well to Shiro and Hilal, to me however..."

"To you?"

"Uhm...Anyways, Khayru should be fine on her own," Nabiha blurted, a his face turning to a noticeable shade of red, "especially since she has Illusion with her."

"Illusion?" Tzurael repeated, in which, Aoshiro decided to answer.

"Illusion is Khayru's Fern Hound," the Guardian smiled at the thought, "he has been with her since the day she awakened which was exactly..." He paused, contemplation clear in his eyes before he turned his gaze towards Nabiha, "How many years back exactly?"

"Fifteen years," The azure hair human replied proudly, causing Tzurael to gawk, "he maybe old now but he still has plunty of spunk left in him to fight alongside her."

"Fifteen years?" Tzurael eyes went wide when the azure haired human nodded, "But that means she is also fifteen years of age as well."

"Khayru told me that sheis pretty old for Sylvari at the moment," Nabiha laughed, "But thanks to that, I am confident that she will be alright, even when the storm is coming." He then shifted himself as he continued to lead Aoshiro up the stairs "Anyways, let us get ready to close up the place, the storms gonna get bad as soon as it hits."

The Sylvari Ranger released a hesitant nod before he once more glanced back at the mountains, his eyes laced with concern.

Xxxxx

Caeshe grunted as he laid the unconscious Mesmer onto the icy floor, heaving out a sigh of relief as he collapsed onto the cave floor before turning around in time to see snow and wind howling at the entrance of the cave.

"After this is all over, I am never coming back here," Caeshe muttered as he started to brush the snow off of his coat, thanking the Pale Tree that he had taken Aoshiro's advice to wear thicker medium armor for the trip.

That's when he heard a groan beside him.

"Great timing to wake up," Caeshe commented as Hilal blinked several times before placing a hand onto the side of his face where he had been hit, "barely escaped the storm just now."

"Storm?" Hilal lifted his head towards the entrance of the cave only for his face to fall, "Oh great, more cold."

Caeshe nodded in agreement, "If we had wood, perhaps I could make a fire, however..." The Thief proceeded to shrug his shoulders, "guess we have to bare the cold for now."

Heaving out a frustrated sigh, Hilal attempted to roll onto his side only to wince and roll onto his back, earning himself a stare from the Sylvari Thief. The Mesmer noticed this.

"What?" Hilal frowned, "stop staring at me like that. It is unnerving when you sylvari stare at others, especially when you are glowing."

"I cannot help it, it is part of my biology," Caeshe gave the Mesmer a blank stare, "and in response to your question, is something wrong with your side? Every time you try to turn, an obvious expression of pain appears onto your features."

Hilal stayed quiet for a moment, his pale azure eyes staring at the icy ceiling before he sighed, "I may act tough but I am actually pretty fragile."

Caeshe blinked once, "Huh?"

The Mesmer turned his head and glared at the thief, "When we slammed into the side of the mountain, you slammed into me, breaking some of my ribs."

Blinking several times in confusion, Caeshe's eyes then slowly widened in realization, showing more of their violet hue, "Oh, my apologies, I did not mean-"

"Whatever," Hilal turned his eyes back towards the ceiling as he closed his eyes, leaving a still silence between the two.

A realization then hit Caeshe, "Are you not going to explain yourself?"

Hilal snapped his eyes open, turning his head towards the Sylvari Thief, "What?"

"You said that you were going to explain things as soon as we are safe," Caeshe repeated, "We are safe now so..."

It was Hilal's turn to blink, "You want me to explain it now?"

When the Mesmer recieved a nod as a response, he groaned, "Fine but you have to promise me that you will not tell anyone else of this." He then narrowed his eyes, "Even to your brother."

Tilting his head in slight curiousity, Caeshe nodded, "Agreed but why can I not tell anyone of this?"

Hilal just sighed, turning his pale azure hues back towards the icy ceiling, "No one else knows about this." He then closed eyes, "Everyone except Shiro."

"H'm? Not even Nabiha and Khayru?" Caeshe asked in which he recieved a nod as a response.

"I became a Mesmer for a reason," Hilal added in as the Sylvari thief listened quietly, "I wanted to hide, to hide from..." He paused, hesitating for a moment, "to hide from my family."

"Your family?" Caeshe blinked several times, "you mean the one that brought you into this world?"

Hilal nodded once again, "I was born to a family of nobles however, my father had an affair with my mother." He then released a short chuckle as he placed a hand onto his face, catching Caeshe off guard, "The instant I was born, fresh from the womb, my mother abandoned me in my father's care." The smile faded form Hilal's features, "I don't even know what my mother looks like." The Mesmer moved his hand away from his face, "My step-mother and my father did not like the fact that I was an illegitimate child born within a noble household. They thought of me as a shame to the family name." He release a strained smirk, "So they beat me around for it."

"They hit you!?" Caeshe interrupted, his eyes wide as he recieved a slow nod as a response, "Just for the reason that you are an..." He paused, "What does illegitimate mean?"

Instead of responding, Hilal attempted to push himself into a sitting position, only to grunt in pain before collapsing back onto his back. He then sighed, "It means that you are a child born outside of marriage."

Caeshe gave the human mesmer a blank stare, "So they hit you...all because you were child that was not born from marriage?"

"Sums it up," Hilal attempted to roll onto his side only to release a frustrated growl when he earned a sharp pain, causing him to roll onto his back once more. The Sylvari thief noticed his discomfort.

"Do you some help?" Caeshe asked, "or perhaps a moment to rest?"

"Stop pretending that you care," Hilal muttered, earning himself a confused look from the thief.

"Why do you keep saying that?" Caeshe asked, "I have been sincere in my attempts to help you but you always push me away. Why is that?"

Hilal stayed silent for a moment, keeping his pale azure eyes up towrds the ceiling before he replied, "That is none of your concern."

The Sylvari thief heaved out a sigh of frustration, "If you were a sylvari, you will definately be in the Cycle of Night."

The Human Mesmer turned his head towards Caeshe, "What does that have to do with this?"

"You are very secretive and self-contained," Caeshe blurted, earning himself a glare from Hilal, "which is exactly what a Night Sylvari is."

"Sorry to prove you wrong but I am not a sylvari," the Mesmer hissed, "stop comparing me to your race. It is annoying."

Caeshe's eyes narrows, "It is annoying when you withold information that I should know about."

"I do not have to tell you everything," Hilal gritted his teeth, "if I can move I will-"

He paused, his eyes blinking several times as his hands flexed, causing Caeshe to stare.

"What is wrong?" the Sylvari Thief asked.

Hilal said nothing but instead, his face started to turn a shade of bright red, surprising Caeshe, "What?"

"Iamstuckontheice."

"Huh?" The sylvari thief leaned in, eyes confused, "you spoke too quickly."

"...I am stuck on the ice."

Caeshe blinked, "Eh?"

His face still red, Hilal attempted to pull his arm up, only for the sleeve to stuck fast onto the icy floor.

Caeshe stared for several seconds, his eyes blinking several times before he quickly looked away, his hand covering his mouth as his shoulders shook.

"Are you laughing at me?" The Mesmer growled in which Caeshe shook his head however, did not turn to look at the white haired human.

"You are laughing at me!" Hilal attempted to push himself up only to growl when his clothes stuck to the icy floor, "It is not funny!"

"I know it is not funny," A noticable strain in the Sylvari's voice reached the Mesmer's ears, "It. Is. Hilarious."

Glaring at the sylvari whom laughed quietly, Hilal added, "Help me up."

"Not until you tell me the rest of your story," Caeshe coughed several times, slowly regaining his composure before turning his glowing violet eyes towards the human Mesmer, "then I will help you."

"Oh for the love of-" Hilal released a frustrated sigh, causing Caeshe to tilt his head to one side, waiting for an answer, "alright, what else do you want to know?"

"I want to know enough to answer my questions," The Sylvari Thief replied, earning a frown as a response, "but I guess I will start out with is why you are so frightened of physical contact? Is it not normal for a human to make contact with a comrade?"

"Not when they hit you everyday," Hilal immediately responded, earning a confused look from the Sylvari, "My Father, my Step-Mother, even my step-brother had done nothing for me except harm. As such, everytime I come into physical contact with someone..." He stopped, his eyes turning away from Caeshe as he sighed, "it brings back memories of those horrid times with my family."

Caeshe blinked several times, his eyes glazed over with guilt as he spoke, "My apologies, I did not mean-"

"Can you stop with the apologizing?" Hilal turned his gaze back towards Caeshe as he frowned, "it is annoying. And also..." He tugged at his sleeves, "help me up."

The Sylvari thief gave him a confused look, "I thought you said-"

"That's only when I am not notified of the contact," Hilal snapped, "now stop dawdling and help me, it is getting cold."

Releasing a sheepish smile behing his mask, Caeshe carefully scooted his way towards the Human Mesmer, ensuring that he himself wasn't stuck before carefully started to peel away the light armor off the floor.

That's when an audible "Riiip" echoed through the cave.

"...Did you just...?" Hilal tried to glance over at his arm, only for the Sylari thief to cover it.

"I-I can fix this," Caeshe stuttered as he glanced around frantically before reluctantly, he lifted the Mesmer's arm, only for it to lift out of the sleeve of his Light armor.

"You did!" Hilal cried as Caeshe's face turned a shade darker, "and I thought you could not be any clumsier."

"It-it was stuck fast to the floor," The Sylvari thief retorted as he placed Hilal's arm back into the ruined sleeve before shifting towards the shoulders, "I could not get you out otherwise."

"I would not have minded if we were in another area," Hilal hissed as he heard small tearing sounds emit from his shoulder area, "but we are in Lornar's Pass where clothes are needed to stay warm." Another audible "Riiip" echoed through the cave as the Mesmer added, "and tearing it apart is not going to keep me warm!"

"Then what else am I suppoes to do? Let you stay stuck onto the cave floor like a trapped fly on a web?" Caeshe frowned as he released his grip on the tattered remains of Hilal's shoulder armor, "or at least sit up and be comfortable so that we can find a way to help you stay warm?"

Staring up at the Sylvari Thief, Hilal released a frustrated sigh before moving his free hand onto his face, silent for a moment before he muttered, "Fine then, get to it."

The edges of his lips twitching upward, Caeshe worked on Hilal's trapped arm, letting out another 'Riiiiip' from the light armor, causing the Mesmer to flinch.

"Do you have to be so rough about it?" Hilal asked as he felt Caeshe tear off another part of his armor, in which Sylvari Thief responded, "It is harder than it looks to separate the floor and your clothes without causing any damage."

Another tearing sound echoed through the cave, causing Hilal to just heave out a sigh of defeat before he felt Caeshe put him into a sitting position, "Thanks."

As he pulled what remained of his armor over his shoulders, the human mesmer turned his pale azure eyes towards Caeshe only to blink when the Sylvari had given him a wide eyed stare, "What?"

The Sylvari thief blinked once, the glow in his violet eyes flickering from the action before he responded, "Take no offense but I never really saw you as the type to hand out your thanks to anyone."

"How very blunt of you," Hilal rolled his eyes as he slowly dragged himself towards one of the walls, leaning his back against before he flinched as a sharp pain struck his side,causing Hilal to place a hand over it in response.

"We need to get you some help soon however..," Caeshe sighed before turning his glowing violet eyes towards the cave entrance, "I wonder how much longer the storm is going to last."

"Knowing this place, might be a while," Hilal grunted as he closed his eyes, "in other worlds help will not come until it clears."

The Sylvari thief turned his gaze towards Hilal, "Then may I ask a question?"

Popping open one eye, the human mesmer stared for a moment before he sighed, "Depends if I want to answer it or not."

"It has to do with our fight in the battle pits," Caeshe added, earning himself a frown from the Human Mesmer, "you are young however you fought like those that have been in war years back. How do you fight so well?"

Hilal's eyes focused on Caeshe, "I ran away from home when I was only six. It was not until two years later when I met Shiro." He release a small 'hmph' before he closed his eyes and added, "A lot can happen in two years."

The sylvari thief tilted his head to one side, "Such as what?"

"You sylvari ask too many questions," Hilal snapped, his eyes opening to glare at the Night Bloom, "can you guys not be so bothersome even for a second?"

"Hilal?"

Both eyes turned towards the entrance of the cave, only to see a hooded figure cladded in gold and honey coats walking towards them, another figure of what Caeshe recognizes as a fern hound next to it. The two men would have taken the figure as a threat and would have unsheathed their weapons if it wasn't for the fact that teal colored eyes glowed behind the hood, its features illuminated by a honey light. In other words, it was a sylvari, a female one by the tone of her voice.

"Khayru?"

Caeshe snapped his head towards the human mesmer, watching as Hilal blinked several times and added, "What are you doing here? I thought you were at the Priory?"

"I was," Khayru released a sheepish smile, revealing more of her birch colored features, "until I couldn't handle waiting anymore." She brushed some snow off of her shoulders before pulling down her hood, revealing her golden colored petals which seems to glide down the right side of her face, the large layered petals glowing a honey color as she blinked several times, her glowing teal eyes flickering in response, "What happened to your clothes, Hilal? It is freezing out here and you are wearing nothing but-" She paused, her eyes blinking several times in realization before a smile faded onto her features, "You got stuck again?"

Caeshe gave the golden colored sylvari a bewildered look, "How did you-" As he turned his glowing violet eyes towards Hilal, he was surprise to find the Mesmer's face turn a light shade of red.

Seeing his face, Khayru laughed in response, "I told you to bring in heavier armor. Otherwise it is going to stick onto the ice."

"Any heavier than this and I cannot fight in a battle," Hilal muttered, his pale azure eyes narrowing at the female sylvari.

"Yes but getting stuck in a middle of a battle is not good either," Khayru giggled as she lowered her pack onto the icy floor, opening it before rummaging inside. Moments later, she pulled out a hide blanket, tossing it towards the human Mesmer whom was immediately engulfed by the large sheet, "I have an extra in case you were wondering Hilal, your friend here and I can share the other one." She gave Caeshe a gentle smile whom just blinked in response, "The name is Khayru of the Cycle of Dawn, what is yours?"

"Caeshe of the Cycle of Night," The Sylvari thief responded immediately.

Instantly, Khayru's eyes beamed, "A Night Bloom?" Then before Caeshe knew it, the golden sylvari was almost face to face to him, causing the sylvari thief to shift uncomfortably as Khayru added, "In all my years after my awakening, I hardly ever met Night Blooms and even when I did, they hardly like to chatter."

She then backed away, much to Caeshe's relief, "Illusion, come here, there is a Night Bloom here, just like you."

Staring at the Dawn Bloom, Caeshe's eyes turned to where her eyes were and he blinked when he realized that the Fern Hound that he had seen earlier had been lying in the shadows, completely hiding any detailed features as it laid there.

The Fern Hound released a low rumbling sound, almost as if to say that it had just gotten comfortable before lazily pushing itself onto its feet and made its way towards the group. When the Fern Hound got close enough to see physical details, Caeshe couldn't help but release a small gasp.

Illusion was heavily scarred, white bark having healed over old wounds. Having heard Caeshe gasp, Illusion turned its gaze towards the sylvari thief, only to reveal a scar running over its closed eye, a sign that it cannot see through that side.

Khayru gave Caeshe a sad smile before wrapping her arms around the large Fern Hound's, whom responsed by lying down next to her in content, "I was very clumsy back in my younger years." She brushed her fingers through Illusion's scarred leaves, whom released a small purring sound in response, "and Illusion had to pay for all of that."

"O-oh, I am sorry to hear that," Caeshe stuttered, turning his violet eyes away from the Fern Hound and turning his gaze towards Khayru, "So I am guessing that you have been awakened for a while then?"

"Oh a lot longer than a while," Khayru giggled, causing Caeshe to stare, "In about a month, I am going to celebrate my sixteenth birthday."

This caused the Sylvari Thief to gawk, "S-Sixteen? As in years?"

Giving Caeshe a gentle smile, Khayru nodded as she continued to brush her fingers through her Fern Hound's hide, "I know it is many years for our kind however, I am glad that I am of that age otherwise..." She giggled, "he would find it very awkward to love someone that is of many younger years than he."

"You are in relationship?" Caeshe asked in which Khayru nodded.

"He is part of our 'family', if you understand," The female Ranger added in which Caeshe nodded his head in response, "Nabiha is his name, we met several years back." She laughed as she added, "It was very amusing to know that the child I had met back in the Grove is the same man that I love now."

"Which I consider very awkward and still do not understand the fact how you two can be in a relationship now."

Khayru just giggled as she turned her glowing teal eyes towards the Human Mesmer whom wrapped the blanket tighter around his body, "Come over here Hilal, it must be lonely over there being in that corner all by your small, tiny lonesome."

"Even if I could, I would not," Hilal hissed, "I know you quite well enough, Khayru, and I know that once I get over there, you are going to get all 'physical' on me."

"It is called a 'hug', Hilal," The female ranger laughed, "I thought it was common for humans to greet their loved ones with hugs, or in Nabiha and I's case, a kiss."

"Common, but not everyone does it," The Human Mesmer wrapped his covers tighter around him.

"He also has another reason that he does not want to move," Khayru turned her eyes back towards Caeshe,"The reason why Hilal and I are here is that we have fallen off the mountain side. During the fall, Hilal had broken his legs and his side. We were hoping to reach the Priory to gain some help however..." he sighed as he added, "The storm had stopped us in our tracks."

Returning his gaze back into Khayru's teal colored eyes, Caeshe was slightly surprised to see the Dawn Bloom's eyes had shifted to concern, her gaze returning back towards Hilal.

"You are injured, Hilal?" She asked in which Hilal pulled his covers tighter around his body.

"I am fine," He muttered, "it does not hurt a bit. Not a bit."

"Oh you stubborn Mesmer you," Khayru frowned before she glanced around before spying a piece of small ice lying not too far from her and scooped it up in her hands.

Caeshe saw this action, "What are you-"

Then to his shock, Khayru tossed the ice at Hilal whom merely leaned his head to one side, letting the small pack of ice hit harmless against the wall behind him.

"If you want to hit me, go ahead" Hilal growled, his eyes turning dark, "but remember that I always fight back."

"I do not know what had happened to you back then Hilal but you have to let it go sooner or later," Khayru snapped, "the past is the past, you cannot let it affect you now."

"If you knew what had happened to me in my youngers years! Then you would understand!" Hilal roared, fury clear in his pale azure eyes, "Now leave me alone!"

Before Khayru can say anymore, the human Mesmer had pulled the covers completely over his face, hiding him from view.

"Oooooh, humans can be stubborn sometimes," Khayru huffed, earning herself a look from the Sylvari thief, "only if he would tell me what had happened then I would understand even better as to why he acts that way."

"So you really do not know?" Caeshe asked, his eyes slightly wide in surprise.

Almost immediately, Khayru blinked several times, turning her teal colored eyes towards the Sylvari Thief, "You mean he told you?"

"Uh. Erm...Yes," Caeshe replied hesitantly, "but it was mostly because of the siutation we were in, not it is because he trusts me."

Hearing his response, the female ranger's eyes fell, "Then that means he told you not to tell anyone, did he not?"

When Caeshe nodded, Khayr released a disappointed response, "He said the same thing to Shiro as well and as such, the only person that Nabiha and I can really ask is Hilal himself however..." She turned his glowing teal eyes towards human mesmer, "He always brushes it off and everytime we try to coax it out of him, he gets suddenly angry and tells us to mind our own." Then she shrugged before she released a smile, "but I know for sure that he will tell Nabiha and I sooner or later, it just takes time I guess."

She then went back to her bag and started rummaging through it, causing Caeshe to blink several times only for his eyes to wide when she pulled out several pieces of logs from her pack, "It doesn't hurt to be prepared." Khayru grinned at the Sylvari Thief, "Want to help me start a fire?"

Xxxxx

Tzurael couldn't help but be slightly amused as a tiny asura with short dark hair and gray skin started yelling some long words at the human guardian that the Sylvari Ranger couldn't understand. It wasn't until the end when he finally understood the gist of what was going on.

"How dare you come back here after you stole our blue prints!" the asura roared, causing the Guardian to smile innocently as he spoke, "I must apologize Gixx, but, what are you talking about?"

"Oh you know exactly what I am talking about," Gixx frowned, "the blue prints. The blue prints that you mongrols have stolen right out of my office!"

"Gixx, I am quite serious when I say that I do not understand what you are talking about," The innocent smile was still on Aoshiro's pale features, "perhaps you have mistaken it for somebody else?"

"Oh no! You are not going to escape from me this time," The Priory Leader crossed his arms, "I know for sure that it was you. The hair. the eyes. even the armor that you are wearing now is the same!"

"Steward, please," Nabiha shifted uncomfortably, his grip tightening around his brother's arm, "he is injured and in need of assistance. Can you handle this another time?"

The frown still visible on his features, Gixx turned his golden eyes at Aoshiro and glared, "I will let you go this time, but as soon as you are well, you 'will' find me there and I will make sure that I'll expose you as the thief you are."

With that, the asura Steward turned and left, causing Nabiha to release a sigh of relief before turning his dark azure eyes towards Aoshiro, "Shiro, did you really...?"

"That, Nabiha, is confidential," Aoshiro gently smiled, somehow causing Tzurael to think that he knew the answer to the question.

Giving his brother a blank stare, Nabiha said nothing else but instead started to lead his brother towards the infirmary and moments later, Aoshiro was seated on one of the beds, Nabiha having left to find a healer.

Ensuring that he and Aoshiro were alone, Tzurael turned his black eyes towards Guardian, "It seems that the Order of Whispers like to work in secret."

Aoshiro just chuckled, "It is our preferred way of functioning." He then turned his pale azure eyes at the bed, using his fingers to draw invisible figures into the sheets, "Been in the Order for a while now, almost two years since I have joined."

"Two years?" Tzurael asked, puzzled, "is that all? You seem to have a lot more experience than that of a person who had been in an Order for only two years."

Aoshiro smiled in response, "The reason is that before I joined the Order of Whispers, I ran away from my home and lived out in the streets." He then shrugged, "I ran away before I even hit my coming of age." The human guardian turned his attention back to drawing imaginary figures onto the sheets, "I do not mind though, my household was a bit..." He hesitated, "violent towards me."

"Violent?" Tzurael asked, hearing Marsh bark beside him in agreement, "what do you mean violent?"

Lifting his gaze towards the Sylvari Ranger, Aoshiro released a sheepish smile before returning back to drawing pictures onto the sheets.

"Shiro," Tzurael paused, contemplating before he asked, "Did they hit you?"

"Everyday," Aoshiro nodded, lifting his pale azure eyes as he released a gentle smile, "all because I am a bastard child."

Tzurael blinked several times, "Bastard...child?"

"A child that is a result between a female and male partner that is not of marriage," the Human Guardian replied, "amongst the nobles, that is a shame to the family name." He released an empty laugh, "Something that my step-mother likes to remind me of every day back when I was a child."

Glancing around, the Sylvari Ranger pulled up a chair, sitting on it so that the head of the chair was in front of him so his arms can have a resting place, "What happened to your real mother? And your father?"

Aoshiro just shrugged in response, "My mother was the one who left me with my father however, I was told she was a Priestess of one of the Six gods. Which one? I do not know." He shook his head, "my father was there but he was not a part of my life. He neglected me, actually agreed with my step-mother to abandon me at a harsh boarding school to make me a 'true' noble." Aoshiro went back to drawing pictures on the bed sheets, "he tried contacting me since I ran away but I always end up ripping up the letters." Once again, the human Guardian shook his head, "After he had abandoned me, I pulled myself away from my family except for..." He hesitated, "except for my mother. My real mother."

Tzurael placed his head against his arms, "You want to find her?"

Aoshiro nodded, "It was my dream since I was a child." He released a sheepish smile as he turned his pale azure eyes back towards the Sylvari, "I was told that she was 'forced' to abandon me, that she had not done it willingly, mainly becuase of her duties as a Priestess." Aoshiro turned his eyes back to the sheets, using his fingers to draw pictures once more, "I am hoping that it is true and one day, to meet her face to face."

"Sounds like a wonderful dream," Tzurael added as he lifted his head, "I hope that you will find your mother soon."

The human Guardian lifted his gaze toward the Sylvari Ranger, releasing a sheepish smile, "Thank you."

With that, he returned back to drawing his pictures and moments later, Nabiha returned with a healer at his heel.


...I feel like this chapter is focusing more on the other characters instead of Caeshe and Tzurael .-.

Oh well, the other characters are gonna make a lot of appearances in this story anyways so I guess it's alright so that you guys can know them a bit better...I guess _

Anyways, I can't think up of a better title for this chapter so...uh...yeah .-.

Also, expanding contractions really make a difference in accents o-o

makes it more gw2 talk than modern lol

Enjoy C:

~123arcalas