Hello again, this is a quick update ~ I just felt inspired so I continued writing the story. In fact there might be one more after this. Haha ~

Still hope you enjoy this ~ and the disclaimer is the same as always.

Chapter 10: Knothole Glade

Chanting…there was chanting. Jet moaned as she began to wake up. There was shuffling and murmurs echoing all around her head and she did not like this. Her eyes cracked open and nearly fell off of whatever she was laying on.

A wrinkly old face squinted right in hers. Involuntarily she yelped and the woman jumped back. Jet sat up quickly, her hair flying all around, to look around her. She stopped immediately and felt her body. Her eyebrows scrunched together in confusion. She turned her head down as she lifted her garments, tattered and dirty, taking note of a long scar running diagonal across her abdomen.

Jet continued to feel her way across her sides and back. There were more...a small wide one on her back right and a light one on her bottom left, almost on her butt. She would bet money that there was more small ones that she just could not feel.

"Oh good, you're awake…are you okay dear?" Jet looked down to her body,

"I know I'm going to be scarred because of the serious wounds those...beasts gave me...but why just scars? Shouldn't I have bloody red cuts and gashes across me?" Jet shivered at the thought of facing another Balverine. The young woman, who was tall and lightly tanned, answered for the elder woman.

"My grandmother prayed to Avo to heal you…and he did. It was amazing to watch. " Jet cocked an eyebrow.

"That just seems too convenient. Some god-like being that never meddles in the affairs of humans suddenly decides to heal one because another prays?" A smack came from behind her and Jet held her head. She turned to the old woman.

"Do you want to have all your wounds back?" Jet grew quiet and shook her head.

"No…" Jet admitted sheepishly. Why would she? She was practically healed...besides her muscles aching and those eye sores across her body.

"Then thank Avo for his kind gift." She nodded and mentally thanked the invisible being. Fear invaded her as she remembered why she came here.

"How long have I been out?" The man, well built and darker than his sister, shook his head.

"Not too long. Probably about five hours. Why?" Jet sighed in relief and shook her head.

"I'm heading somewhere and need to get there soon. Five hours didn't cut me too bad." The family looked to one another and the sister laughed.

"Since you saved our lives, allow me to show you around!" Jet nodded and followed the girl outside.

Jet found that there was not much to Knothole Glade. Most of the houses were empty now and only one shop was open. That sold everything that someone needed. Out of her curiosity, Jet asked why that was.

With a brief history lesson Jet learned that a few hundred years ago many of the villagers decided to move because of the frequent Balverine and bandit attacks. With that she realized that fighting had never been completely eradicated.

The two women enjoyed conversation and a bit of food learning about one another. Her name was Leyanne and is one of two children of her parents. Her brother was Brix and worked at cutting trees around the glade for income. Their parents were out of town on a business trip and the kids had been left to take care of their grandmother and the house.

"Where are you from Jet? And how'd you get that?" She referred to the blade strapped around Jet's hip. Closing the gap between them Jet whispered to her new friend,

"Me? I'm from Oakvale and this," she played with the hilt, "is from an agreement between our villagers. I really don't know what kind of agreement, which is why I'm far from home. I'm trying to figure out history." Leyanne looked her over in surprise.

"You mean…our Ruler let you leave…with that?" Jet shook her head.

"He doesn't know…I snuck out after he left. I don't know where he is…" Leyanne became terrified.

"Jet!" She started off in a harsh whisper, "he could be watching you right now! What's going to happen if you get caught!" Jet looked around warily.

"Leyanne, please…I've learned a lot on my own out here. Little monsters pop up frequently and I've learned how to hold a blade steady." Leyanne shook her head.

"What about those Balverines? They had you messed up bad! You think you could take on Ruler, who has centuries of experience behind him?" The thought hit Jet hard and cringed at the idea of coming face to face with a Balverine anytime soon. A hand gently grabbed her shoulder. "I don't doubt your abilities; the Balverines are proof enough, but think about what you're saying. The Hero from your village failed and he had the blood!" Jet looked curiously at Leyanne.

"Blood?" Leyanne bit her lip. She looked around and drug the black haired female back to her cabin and up into her room. Barely audible she said to Jet,

"I can't say much more, but the reason Ruler killed off the Hero was because of a bloodline that could completely kill him…not just put him temporarily out of commission. My guess is that you may have that blood somehow." Jet shook her head.

"If he killed that line off, how could I?" Leyanne shrugged.

"I don't know, but I believe you do." Jet remained quiet and the two girls settled down for the rest of the night.

/)^3^(\

Leyanne woke Jet early the next morning and enjoyed a nice breakfast with the family. After cleaning up, which Jet partook in, the two girls headed out. Again they submersed themselves into conversation and did a little shopping.

At the shop something caught Jet's eye, a little white mask with red and gold markings…more like swirls. Jet picked it up and looked it over. She liked it and tried it on for her friend. Leyanne giggled at Jet and the ebony haired female took off her mask. Jet turned to the shopkeeper.

"How much are you wanting for this mask?" The man, roughly starting to age, smiled at the girls. "Ahh, naw, I aint gonna charge a couple a perty ladies fah some'in like dat. G'head, take i'." Jet shook her head and took out her coin purse. She dumped out her whole bag. She only kept a few coins.

"If you go around like that, you aint gonna earn a livin." She winked at him. He was quiet looking at all the gold.

"Lil miss...this is mo' than I coul' ask fer...I can-" Jet slammed her hand down on the table with her eyebrows together. The man looked at her with wide eyes.

"And sir, I can't take that money." She turned and left the man there in bewilderment. Leyanne caught up to her.

While walking around, Jet looked to the mask. Something compelled her to buy it and after moments of staring at it, she realized what. Her one free hand caught Leyanne's wrist. The curly blonde haired female turned to her friend in confusion.

"Leyanne…I'm going to fight in the Arena."