glad to be updating again so soon actually... feel free to leave a constructive review... It really does help me improve.
As usual the only characters I own are Hawk, Tenebris, and Limino... the rest belong to the creators of the game. enjoy!
To the Palace!
"U-uh Hawk?" I hear a voice call out to me as I'm standing on a cliff overlooking the sea.
"Hm? Oh, hey. What do ya need?" I ask as I turn to look at her. My only friend on this one island. She's like me... Branded with a mark on her left hand. Though it took me a while to get to know her. She's kind of shy and I don't really like talking to people, very few show me any amount of kindness.
"Oh, n-nothing. I heard that the townspeople started beating you today when you asked for food. I just wanted to make sure you were okay." She says looking down towards the ground. As usual she always makes me feel bad for making her worry like this...
"Hawk!" I hear Tenebris call my name waking me up.
"What? Is everything okay?" I ask with a start looking around to make sure we weren't surrounded.
"You started yelling man. You woke everyone up, was it another dream?" Tenebris asks concerned. He reminds me of the girl in my dreams... who was she again? Why can't I remember her name?
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you up and yes, it was another dream..." I say thinking over the memory again.
"Do you want to talk about it? We're getting ready to leave now anyways we can stay at the rear of the group and talk." Tenebris says getting more and more worried about me.
"Not really... sorry." I say standing up grabbing my tome and walking to join the others who had already finished preparations to leave. Some friend I am, how can I call myself a friend if I'm not even willing to tell my best friend about my memories that keep returning slowly. Was she someone important to me? How could I leave her behind?
We began our way to the royal palace of Gallia with our guides Mordecai and Lethe leading the way. I walked in silence trying to remember more while being awake instead of asleep for a change. Too bad it doesn't seem to work that way.
"Hawk?" Mist calls my name as she pops up next to me. I don't know if now's a good time to talk to her. But, when I'm around her something in me stirs and I can't help but smile.
"Hey, Mist. Sorry for waking you, I don't know why I started yelling in my sleep." I say trying to give my best smile. For some reason today I can't seem to smile. Could my dream be bothering me this much?
"No it's fine." She says looking at me with a smile. "I heard you yelling apologies, I was worried about you... you don't have anything to be sorry for so I guess I just wanted to make sure you were okay..." She says moving her gaze from me to the ground. Not only did this make me feel bad but it also reminded me of my dream again. Guess this is going to be one of those days that reminds me of my past.
"Don't worry, it was probably nothing; just me being weird most likely." I lie. Of course it was something. I just don't know what... yet.
"Liar. You wouldn't apologize if it was nothing. But, I'll respect your privacy and not ask anymore questions. My only question for you is if you know that yellow haired Gallian who has joined us since yesterday. I saw her briefly after the battle and again this morning when she and Tenebris were talking to Ike about her joining the company." Mist says looking back to Tenebris who was talking to Limino trying to get her to talk to him.
"Well I know her name is Limino. But, I don't really know more than that. She attacked us during the battle yesterday and she fought Tenebris and lost. Though she also attacked the Daeins so I don't think she really has ties to Gallia or Daein." I say realizing that I probably just said too much.
"I see... I wonder what she likes to eat. She looks starved." Mist says as we continue walking. That's the Mist I know, always worrying about others. I begin to get a smile on my face again and think that maybe this day won't be so bad after all.
Ike was farther ahead than the rest of us with Soren, Titania, and our two guides. Once they stopped they started talking and shortly after Titania came riding back to us.
"Everyone, prepare yourselves for combat." She says stopping the caravan carrying our supplies.
"Titania, what's going on?" Boyd asks after grabbing his axe.
"There's a Daein squad up ahead in some old ruins. We are going to take back those ruins and then continue to the palace." Titania says as she turns around to head back to Ike.
"Of all times, why now?" I hear Boyd complain as he begins following Titania. I turn and look to see everyone else gathering their equipment and setting off right after.
"Limino, are you coming?" Tenebris asks her as she just sits on the ground laying back to watch the sky.
"I refuse to work with the laguz of this nation. If you want to go ahead... but count me out." She says with disgust and anger in her voice. It would seem she definitely has issues with Gallians. I can't blame her, I know how she was treated. Tenebris knows too. We're connected to each other in that way.
"Then don't work with them. Work with me and Hawk... it shouldn't be a problem working with other Branded." Tenebris says trying to convince her to join us. Limino stays silent as Tenebris and I leave to join the others. I guess it will take some time before she's willing to work with us more.
When we join up with the others I see Mist and Rolf arguing with their families.
"I've got this!" Mist says holding up a heal staff. Does she plan on joining the fight?
"And I've got this!" Rolf says holding up a bow.
"Mist! It's too dangerous. You and Rolf go back to the caravan with Jorge and the others." I say worrying that she might get hurt... or worse.
"Hawk's right, Rolf. It's too dangerous out here." Boyd says looking at his little brother. He sounds kind of angry but I know that he just wants to protect him.
"No! We don't want to! All Rolf and I do is sit and wait and worry about all of you. We're tired of waiting! We want to fight by your side!" Mist says pleading with Ike.
"Mist..." I say giving up knowing that she's already made up her mind.
"Well commander?" Boyd asks turning towards Ike.
"We leave the decision to you." Oscar says as he comes up beside Boyd.
"...Alright... we don't have time to wait around arguing about this. Besides, if they are nearby it will be easier to protect them." Ike says looking at Mist and Rolf.
"Are you serious?" Mist says with disbelief and a bit of excitement.
"You won't regret this commander! We'll prove ourselves." Rolf says happily.
"Let's hope not." Boyd says as he begins to get into formation.
"Just stick near us, Rolf. We'll protect you." Oscar says as he puts a hand on his brother's shoulder.
"Alright... everyone form up! We're going to take the southern ruins. I want Oscar, Boyd, Rolf, Mia, and Rhys to head down to that beach and check on the people residing in the houses. Everyone else will head for the ruins, understood?" Ike orders.
"Yes sir!" we say in unison as the groups separate to complete their given tasks. Ike and Titania are the first to come into contact with the Daein soldiers. Ike easily parries their attacks before swinging back at them taking them out easily. As a soldier thrusts his lance at Ike Tenebris jumps in knocking the attack aside as they begin to use the same strategy they used back at the castle. Casting thunder I aim for the archers aiming towards us in the back doing my best to keep Mist from harm as she waits patiently in case one of us gets hurt.
Unfortunately, the fighting begins to slow as more armored knights begin to show up slowly surrounding Ike and Tenebris. By the time they take care of one, two more have shown up and begin fighting back. Pushing farther ahead, Tenebris gets himself surround by two lancemen and two knights. As I go to cast wind I am forced to change targets hoping to hit the arrow that had been shot at me. Just before I cast my spell a different gust of wind strikes the arrow shattering it in mid air.
"What did I say about paying attention on the battlefield?" Soren says looking at me as if I'm an idiot. Good to know he's got my back at least.
I look again to Tenebris who was holding off the two lancemen, unaware of the two knights who had got around behind him. and perpared to swing their weapons. Before they can make contact with their target Ike jumps in between them parrying one of the attacks as the other grazes his arm.
"Ike!" Mist yells as she begins to run towards her brother.
"Mist, stay back!" I yell casting fire as an arrow gets fired off by an archer in the distance. Luckily I hit the arrow just after it got fired but, I don't know if I can handle the level of stress I have trying to keep Mist safe.
As more and more soldiers came out of the ruins Ike and Tenebris became separated by more and more soldiers and with Ike's injury he was in trouble. I began casting as many spells as I could trying to get them out of there but even Titania was having difficulties with the number of soldiers she had to deal with. Before I get the chance to do anything else three swordsmen swing at Ike all at once while he was backed up against a tree.
"IKE!" I yell out expecting to hear a scream. Instead I hear three different screams as I look up to see Limino standing in front of Ike. Quickly grabbing the commander she drops him off next to Mist and I.
"I saved you this time, human. Don't expect me to do it again." Limino says angrily as she rejoins the fight to help out Tenebris who was getting himself backed up into a corner as well.
"Ike! Thank goodness you're all right!" Mist says healing her brother then hugging him.
"I'm fine, Mist." Ike says as a flapping noise is heard heading for us. Luckily Oscar and the others had finished their part and began to help the rest of us push for the ruins. I shudder when I think about how things would have turned out if Limino weren't here. Before I can finish my thought a pegasus lands in front of me as a pink haired knight dismounts the creature looking at Ike.
"Ike!" the pink haired knight says excitedly.
"You! You're that.." Ike says as he recognizing Marcia.
"That's right! It's me, Marcia! As promised I'm here to repay my debt...I'm joining your group!" Marcia says as she mounts her pegasus.
"We don't really have time for this right now, can we talk later?" Ike asks looking at Marcia.
"Just tell me what needs doing!" She says enthusiastically.
"Alright let's go!" Ike says running back to the front lines while Mist and I stay towards the back. The rest of the battle was short lived as Ike faced off against the enemy commander while the rest of the group held off the rest of the Daein soldiers. Limino and Tenebris fought back to back easily defeating the enemies and once in a while switching opponents to throw the soldiers off. Titania and Oscar rode around taking out the archers who were aiming to take out the pegasus knight. Soren and I stood in the back facing off against the mages casting spells trying to hit each other. Due to our mobility it was rather difficult to get a hit on them, until Soren and I began aiming for the same person. I would cast a spell knowing it would miss and while they moved out of the way Soren would hit them with another spell of his own.
Lethe and Mordecai, having assumed they finished their part backed off from the soldiers just before Ike got cornered against a tree and had gone down to the houses on the beach to talk to the people themselves. Maybe that's why Limino was willing to save Ike when he needed it. Once the battle ended the rest of the mercenaries entered the ruins to check for other soldiers while Limino, Tenebris, and I stayed out front in case other soldiers came.
"Thanks for saving Ike, Limino." Tenebris says not looking away from the sky that he had been staring at.
"Hmph... I won't do it again. He wouldn't of needed my help if those laguz had just stayed in the fight." She says angrily.
"If I may ask, why do you hate the laguz and beorc so much?" I ask looking at Limino confused. I mean I can understand why, but she seems to hate them more than the laguz and beorc hate each other.
"I was born in Begnion. Due to my appearance we were driven out of the country and my mother died before getting out of the city trying to protect me. My father thought that we'd be safe here among his people in Gallia and my brother left thinking it would be safer for us if he wasn't around since he looked like our human mother." Limino says. She seems so sad, she lost her mother at the hands of her own people and her brother abandoned her.
"It worked, for a while, I even made friends. But one slip-up and they found out the truth about me. My "friends" found out I'm a half-breed and before you know it, you're treated worse than a slave. Soon after my father died of disease and I was left all alone, treated like I didn't exist, turning to crime just to get another meal." She say as tears begin to form in her eyes.
"I had no idea... I'm so sorry Limino." Tenebris says hugging her.
"I don't need or want your pity... I have done well on my own. However, being around people again is strange... in a good way I think... If I were to follow anyone it would be one of us, the Branded, or Ike... something about him seems... different. I get the feeling that I can trust him..." Limino says thoughtfully.
At that moment everyone exited the fort and began gathering any supplies they had gathered onto the caravan. "Thank you, for saving my brother." Mist says hugging Limino before leaving again to join back up with the others.
Once the sun set we had reached the site where we would set up camp until the next morning. When everyone got settled as much as needed I left with Tenebris and Limino to go watch the stars.
"So, you asked me about my past. What of yours, Hawk?" Limino asks lookiing at me.
"Well, I don't remember much. I grew up on Phoenicis having to beg for food. Don't know if I had any family. Eventually, I left and ended up in Begnion where I met Tenebris." I say looking at my friend to continue the story.
"From that moment we were inseparable. We became best friends and learned each others secrets... Well most of them. Hawk, didn't want to remember much of his past. One day he got captured and imprisoned in a tower in Begnion." Tenebris says looking at Limino who had a look of shock on her face.
"After a while I was moved because someone had been tracking me down and whoever took me didn't want that. I ended up somwhere in Crimea before I escaped the tower using my magic." I say remembering my dreams but not wanting to retell them in detail, while smiling at Tenebris who had almost found me.
"Wait... I may not be a mage but don't you need tomes to cast magic? Why would they leave you with a tome?" She asks confused.
"I don't need tomes to cast magic. When I do that though it takes up my energy and eventually I pass out. After escaping the tower I woke up in a forest where I met Ike and his father. They took me back to their base and there I met the rest of the Greil Mercenaries and became a proud member myself." I say with a smile.
"I see..." Limino says as she lays back to watch the stars.
"Hey! Hawk? Tenebris? Limino?" We hear Mist calling our names as she runs over carrying three plates of food. "I didn't know what you like to eat so I just brought a bit of everything I cooked this evening. I hope you like it!" She says smiling at Limino as she hands each of us a plate.
"T-thank... you." Limino says surprised to see someone treating her kindly. We all sat in silence eating until Mist broke the silence for us.
"So, did you know Hawk before too, Limino?" She asks remembering the day I introduced Tenebris to everyone.
"No... I met them on the battlefield rather recently. I'd like to think that since then we've become... friends." Limino asks looking at us.
"I see... Well a friend of theirs is a friend of mine!" Mist says with a smile. Returning to the silence of before we all laid there watching the stars until deciding that we should head back to the camp site so no one would worry about us. I fell asleep with a smile on my face at the fact that I have met someone else that's like me, and that they have become my friend. Maybe we're not all alone in this world, perhaps there's more of us out there. Just waiting to be found and befriended by others who know their pain...
I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter and the look into Limino's past. Hopefully another update will be out next week.
I do suggest reading the Mass Effect story: Odyssey 2183, 2184, and 2185 by Gray Spectre Warden Boom and Vanguard by StrifeOkami.
If you want more Fire Emblem check out some of the stories written by ShiverInTheLight.