Didn't expect to get this out before Christmas, but I had a freed up day today and was able to finish it.

"Haya, heya, eya," someone chanted repeatedly, voice old and cracked but full of life almost like a joyful plead or someone happily praying to a god.

His mind felt like how a newborns probably did, not knowing anything, soon overwhelmed with everything that came with the burden of living. Every memory, from his very first one, came flooding back, rebuilding his comprehension. The memories stretched, causing him to forge then suddenly remember. He felt every emotion he'd experienced and saw memories he'd forgotten, some of the happy breed and others of the more depressing.

The singing returned, this time quieter. As the seconds passed it grew quieter than soon silent. He used to like the silence but now it was terrifying. His head rang and he wanted to just sleep. For the first time in forever, he just wanted to sleep peacefully. No newborns. No worries. No pain. But of course, as memories rebuilt themselves, all he could think about how he'd almost let himself die. He'd nearly died. Or maybe he was dead. He didn't necessarily know what death felt like, he assumed it felt like nothing, but he wouldn't think he'd be able to hear or think when dead. He hoped he wasn't dead, but as he felt his body regain consciousness, his exhaustion caught up with him. Hald of him wished her were dead, then at least he'd get some sleep.

What am I thinking, he screamed at himself, trying to stray from those horrid thoughts that repeated over and over, not ceasing to exist. The singing was louder, the sound produced by who knows what, more constant and focused, with some goal to accomplish."Shut up," he hissed painfully. He blinked, body sore and weak, but strong, well it's strongest it had been in a while. The room he found himself in was dimly lit, not a save but a hobble of sorts. The air was damper than the one he was used to, but definitely on the surface, not below the ground. The walls were a twine of sorts, long sticks weaved together with grass, the roof held up with mud that had dried over time. In the center of the room, a fire crackled loudly, a small pot bubbling ontop. He was lying on top of a mat made of the same long grass the walls were. The needles poked him, but he didn't notice it the most pain was prominent in his legs. He could feel a different type of bandage wrapped around his chest, hand, and legs. They felt cleaner and like some natural aloe was beneath.

"You've awoken," an old voice said, the same which had been chanting. An aged woman rose from another mat, relying on a walking stick to walk. Wrinkles ran over her pale face and her bottom lip turned inward. Her right eye hung to the side unlike the other and her limbs were all long. She was wearing a worn dress he could picture a senior woman wearing, over which was a cloth apron that had been through quite a lot. Her thin blonde hair wavered and thinned near the roots, grey strands seeping through." Everyn though another day from you but that boy has never been a good thinker," she laughed at her own statement like it were the funniest thing. With a shaking hand, she lifted the bowl, within which was a bubbling brown stew with a stomach-churning stench.

"Wha..." he began to ask, the woman cutting him off. With a firm hand, she forced his head up, bringing the stew to his mouth.

"Drink," she ordered, steady eye glaring down at him. Though the smell repulsed him, the aged woman brought immediate fear to him. Holing his breath, he allowed the thick liquid to flow down his throat. Chunks brushed up against the roof of his mouth, causing his gag reflexed to kick in. He shot up, leaning over and gagging immensely. He luckily didn't puke but his stomach turned as the soup finished its journey down his esophagus. The woman had stepped back, letting the bowl drop to the floor which was just more of the grass matted down."Took it better than the girl. I tell ya, the child gave me hell."

"Cassidy?" he asked, wide awake. His eyes trailed to a mat a few feet from him. Cassidy laid on her side, face, and body still scarred. Her hair had most definitely been washed and she was wearing a stained shirt that engulfed her petite body. Her face had more life to it, but her eye and cheek were both bruised. Beside her face was another bowl with some creamy liquid that seemed to be working like a breathing tube of sorts.

"Worse than you but gotta say, with how much water you both had taken in, surprised you didn't drown. And that nameless's venom, now that was hell getting out of you both. Still surprised you're awake, Everyn said you both looked dead when he found you."

"Uh, yes, where am I?" he asked, trying to get up, but finding it impossible.

"Don't try moving love. Bleeding was heavy, but expected with the loss of a leg," she said, removing the bowl beside Cassidy's face. Her breathe hitched immediately, only returning to normal when she returned it, patting the girl's round head as she passed.

"Loss of a..." Jim stared down, able to clearly see that his right leg was shorter than normal. Reaching a hesitant hand down, he flinched at the immediate pain touching the now stump that was wrapped tightly with a cloth. It was only from the ankle down, but he could see blood seeping through.

"Barely hanging on when Everyn found you both. I was able to stitch it up but not my finest I'll tell you," she said, limping to the animal hinds that worked as a curtain, separating the hut from the forest."Where is that boy? I tell ya letting him go Lolley gagging with them humans was a mistake."

"Them?" he asked, noticing her ears pointed upwards as she turned back to Cassidy kneeling to check over the girl.

"You're magic isn't as powerful as hers. Can't track why then nameless's would want to deal with you both," she said, stepping back towards him.

"I..." he stuttered, the old woman, gently grabbing her hands. With a firm but soft hand, she unwrapped his hand, revealing a healed over, but probably permanent, branding.

"You've been branded as Impure. You and the girl. I've assumed she's your daughter though I do admit you are quite young," she said, voice not full of mockery or judgment like most older women would hold when he explained he wasn't her older brother or uncle.

"She's my daughter," he said, the women humming quietly at the answer.

Her steady eye fixated on the mark, gently tracing it with a long crooked finger."I was a young girl the last time I saw one be branded. My brother. He was not one to possess magical abilities but had fallen for a girl much like you and your own girl. Amara was her name. A kind-hearted girl. I was young and can only remember she had the most gorgeous hair in the land. It was like silk. I can still remember playing with it, though my father forbade our interaction with such holders of tampered magic. 'Thy Bitter one we shalt avoid' he'd always say. But of course, my love struck brother couldn't help but avoid her. My older sister, who didn't enjoy my brother interacting with her, would tell me she was not only of Seer blood but a Siren. And that in the night, the cries of the wolves was just her song, trying to lure us. Amara, the poor thing. She was an outcast of her village, parents, and family dead. Run out of her village and hunted down after they found she was an Impure. She lived in the forest, drab and cold. My brother would sneak out in the dead of night and bring her food from his supper. Eventually, my father caught him in the act and told the nearby villagers that there was a Seer in their woods. But this was only bad for us. After capturing her for branding my brother ran out to save her. Of course, his heroic feat only turned to sorrow when they branded him and then killed both. But aware there was an Elven tribe nearby, they came for us. My sister escaped with me and a few other children, while almost all other adults were gruesomely murdered. Life was no easier, having to hide our race, and soon enough most of the children had died. My sister, still blaming our deceased brother for our horrid life, eventually found us a less wealthy tribe where she was courted to one of the leader's sons and so was I. I tell you, be lucky that girl of yours is a product of love because my own son, Harpen, was not. But I've ranted on enough, now tell me, what brought the nameless to the urge to brand you?"

He stared at the branding, unable to imagine how many innocent souls had been marked with such a burden they didn't wish for."They wanted to use us for information. I don't know the technical side of it but they were planning on using our blood to learn of the future."

"Selfish nameless's," she grumbled, the title she gave the Changelings like a curse word to her. She reached for a damp cloth, continuing to cradle his branded hand." I tell you, Everyn is lucky we don't have many up here. The day I catch even one in our woods, he's not going anywhere near that town." she pulled her hand away, the cloth replacing the bandages.

"If you don't mind me asking, where are we?" he questioned, watching the woman sit down beside Cassidy. Grey eyes shut, she stroked her cheek, feeling the scars that began to heel. Her veins were obvious, and they seemed to bring concern to the woman.

"She still has some of the venom left," she said, reaching for another ceramic bowl. Within this one, leaves were crushed up and mixed with different liquids to make a paste of sorts."Don't give me this again child" she sighed, forcing the girl's mouth open. Using a stick, she dabbed the paste onto her tongue, letting her mouth close once more. She was still as eve,r only moving once she'd swallowed the paste. As he had, her mouth opened and she gagged, unlike him, puke that was a strange iridescent color exited her." That's it," she said, patting her head as Cassidy moaned, rolling over to sleep more." Shocked this actually worked." she said, struggling to stand up.

"Is that the venom?" he asked, forcing his eyes from the marking on the palm of his hand."I thought it was in the bloodstream."

"Nameless venom doesn't work like normal venom. It can be injected anywhere and will eventually devour and consume all of the body. When Everyn found you both, the venom nearly had you both growing in it. Luckily, that made my job easier. I've got most of it out, but some are still in your blood, not enough to kill you, but will slow both of you down."

"Gran!" someone shouted from nearby. Pushing past the deer hind doorway, a boy he could guess was 17 stepped in. He had a mop of strawberry blonde hair and the same glaring grey eyes his grandmother had. Unlike her, he wore relatively clean clothes that he could picture kids at his school wearing. A red flannel was tied loosely around his waist and his white t-shirt was surprisingly clean. He removed a beanie hat from his head, long elven ears stretching out, happy to bed free.

"Sshh!" the woman hissed, much like Claire would whenever Toby came over to visit, the poor boy could just never make a quiet entrance." The girls still sleeping, and I don't need you to wake her up." she reprimanded quietly.

Everyn stepped back, flushing white at his grandmother's words."Sorry Gran, I, oh, he's up,"

"Yes now be useful for once," she said, forcing a bag that contained more of the strange paste, into his arms."You find a river leading down the shore?"

"Uh yes, but a buddy of mine offered a ride if you're fine with it." as he spoke, his tone grew quieter and he tried to hide behind the bag.

Aila which was the woman's name turned to him with a fire in her eyes."I knew it was wrong to let you spend time in the city. Trusting humans for travel. What if they saw them ears of yours? What would you say? Most of them don't even know we exist, why would you trust one?"

"I... uh..." he stuttered, trying to fudge up some answer his untrusting grandmother would accept."He's a drop out okay and doesn't have enough of a brain to question a thing. Either way, the river will take too long, New Jersey's far enough from Boston alone, let alone these two being hunted by Changelings."

"Boston?" he questioned, stunned the underground river brought them miles from home.

"Do not speak that name in this household!" she yelled, not giving a care to Cassidy who began to stir. She held her stick up, pointing it at the teen's chest."Those things are Nameless to us and you be lucky I don't run you through!"

While the fighting continued, Jim's eyes stayed glued on Cassidy who, even with the concoction Aila had made, was struggling to breathe. She needs the hospital. And so do I, he thought, looking back down at his foot, or absence of a foot." We're taking the car," he stated, biting his lip as he stood up. The pain of the venom was gone, but his legs still hurt like hell. He held the weak wall of the hut, using it to balance on one leg, while he made sure the other didn't make any contact. He could tell without even seeing his stump of a leg that he'd need proper stitches once he and Cassidy were back in New Jersey and could go to a proper hospital."I get you don't like him interacting with humans, but I have to get her back as soon as possible and the car is safer."

"He's right Gran," Everyn mumbled, letting the pack fall to the ground.

Aila glared at her grandson, sighing as she hooked her stick under the bag's straps. With a simple lift, she brought it back up to Everyn's hands."Take it with you. If the girl or you go pale, immediately have some. It should be enough for the drive."

"Thanks, Gran," Everyn smiled, psyched to do something most normal teens would. He stepped to Cassidy, gently picking her up, slinging her over his shoulder." I've got her, you need any help?" he asked, watching Jim who was still struggling to stand.

"I should be good," he said through gritted teeth. Hesitantly, preparing himself for the pain, he set his right leg down, a fire like vibration running up his right leg. It ended near his knee and the stitches didn't fray like he expected, though he expected if it hadn't been wrapped tightly, the skin would've broken. Though he felt the urge to lift it off the ground, he reminded himself that the more we walked on it, the quicker he'd grow used to the pain. It was definitely awkward walking because not only was the pain a burden, but the way his body stood lopsided, his right foot, or stump, falling a few inches shorter than his other foot." I'm good, thank you, for your help and keeping us alive." he said to Aila who smiled worriedly.

Both hands resting atop her staff, Aila nodded, eyes landing on her grandson, all fears rising within her."No thank you is needed, just keep you and your girl safe. Now branded, you both are in great danger."

"Why?" he asked, wanting to take his own daughter, but aware his leg wouldn't allow that extra weight.

"Now marked, creatures that can't smell the impurity in your blood will know you are," Everyn explained, adjusting Cassidy on his scrawny shoulder." Mainly sorcerers, witches, and elves like us." he smiled."Don't worry, I don't plan on killing you though."

"We shouldn't have to worry. From what I know there are no Elven tribes around us, and I'm friends and married to the only two sorcerers I know," he said, laughing for a brief moment but falling silent remembering his wife. He could assume some search party was out looking for him, and from what he could assume, Claire was with them. He prayed all was fine a few states down and felt more urge to get back down there to not only get Cassidy and his self to a hospital but also give her some relief.

"Really?" Everyn questioned outside of the hut. In the distance, he heard cars swiftly moving across the highway. He'd never been to Boston but knew it was a busy city. He couldn't see the highway or any road but prayed it was close to save his hurting leg."From what Gran's told me, even Sorceressess stay away from those of Impure blood, sorry,"

"Don't apologize," he said, hand gripping every tree they passed."If I'm being honest, two days ago I had no idea I had Seer blood."

Everyn's eyes dilated, head cocking towards the Trollhunter." R-really?! How is that even possible? I mean, you were aware she was a Seer, right?"

"We were, actually before she was even born, but my wife's a sorceress and we didn't know Seer was a lineage thing. I have no magical qualities and my Seer blood is tampered so I don't have any constant visions, so we just initially assumed she got the magic from her," he explained, sighing at the slight hill ahead of them.

"Oh, I didn't mean to be rude of judgy. Gran's told me about her brother and how he fell in love with a Seer, I'm just not used to hear of Seer's getting married in general," he admitted.

"Why?" he asked, still confused about the origins of Seers.

"Gran's told me that Seers or Impures, were kind of like the untouchables in India. Except, Seers were hunted and killed. I've never met one, but from what I know, most seers that married and had kids had blood tampered like yours, had no idea they were Seers, to begin with."

"Oh, okay, but I'm confused why they were considered Impure," he said, recalling something about tempering with dark magics, but even that didn't seem like enough to call for murder.

"I guess they did some shit with bad magic. I dunno, but what I do know was some found the fact they knew of their and another's futures and could be used for rival kingdoms benefits, they were just outlawed and killed to prevent and war advantage."

"That's bullshit," he cursed, unused to having such words exit his mouth. With Cassidy picking up words, they had to be careful with their wording, but at the same time, Claire had noticed she seemed to be talking less and crying more when she needed something.

Everyn laughed, head bobbing in agreeance."Most stuff of the past is. Sadly, my Gran whose been through some shit prefers going by the old ways."

"Then shouldn't she have killed us?" he asked, originally a joke but becoming a true question.

"Gran finds the whole Seer outlaws stuff wrong, mainly since she liked her brother's girl. What's her name? Mila? No, may, oh Amara, right. She liked Amara and blames her people's actions for her horrid life. Though that horrid life led to me so I can't really be mad at it all."

Jim chuckled, continuing to chat casually with the teen, though many questions still burned about his past. Did his father know they had been of Seer descent? Had Lindsay truly been mad? Had he ever experienced visions? How exactly did this Cassidy get here? And how would he get her back? What were their permit brandings going to mean? Would it change things? Would people try to kill them? How hadn't the trolls picked up on their tampered blood scent? How would these small marks on their hands, change things?

Reviews and Critiques are Welcome.