Yay! Reviews! Glad everyone is enjoying the fanfic… I think you're enjoying the fanfic.
Alright, if I come to a sudden writer's block, you'll have to excuse me. That happens to me frequently.
Disclaimer: Nope, -still- don't own Eidos or Legacy of Kain or Soul Reaver. I do own Raevin and Ectoplasm and Vogel. Ask nicely and you can use them.
~Raevin~
**********
Raevin spent the rest of her day walking…. Or maybe limping…. Around the village. She went to the market and looked at the wares, peeked inside the tavern (that was a bad idea), looked around in the lobby of the inn, then went to the fields.
Ectoplasm followed her throughout her exploration of the fields surrounding Durikyn. If a bull from the cattle herd even looked at Raevin funny and pawed the ground, Ectoplasm would then paw the air and bare his teeth. The gesture would send the bull lumbering off in the opposite direction.
Then Raevin saw the raven again. The one that had been outside her bedroom window when she gave herself the new name. It looked at her and cawed, then fanned its wings and flew down to perch on Ectoplasm's back.
"This is getting really weird." Raevin said, looking at the bird. It looked back at her and cawed. "I hope you aren't going to be following me around. People already look at me funny when I touch Ectoplasm." The raven cawed again. "Does this mean I have to name you, too?"
"CAW!"
"Hmm." Raevin turned and started back to the village. Ectoplasm walked after her, and the raven took back to the air. When she turned and looked, the raven was gone. She sighed, then led Ectoplasm back to the horses pasture.
After convincing Ectoplasm to stay in the pasture, Raevin made her way back to Anna and Charles' house. The moment she stepped through the door, they started asking questions. Where she was that day, what she had done, who she had talked to, and if she had had food or drink while she was out. Raevin answered all the questions. Then she told them about the raven.
"It kind of followed me around, I think." Raevin said. "It landed on Ectoplasm's back and cawed at me."
"Ectoplasm?" Anna asked.
"The white stallion I was telling you about. A girl named Ally said I should name him, since I was the only one who could touch him." Raevin replied, sitting down carefully in a chair.
"And what about this raven? Did you see it before today?" Charles asked. He appeared nervous.
"I saw it when you were taking care of me. I told you what my name was, then you left, and then the raven cawed from outside my window." Raevin said. This is getting really confusing. She thought to herself.
Charles sighed and sat down in a chair. He suddenly looked very old. "There is a legend in this village," he began. "About a child like yourself who could talk to the spirits and was kin of the raven. People are beginning to talk about it again. They've seen you with that white stallion."
"What Charles is trying to say is that you are in danger." Anna said. "This child he speaks of is supposed to be the doom of this village."
Raevin stared off into space. "Why? Why is this child… or me, in this case…. Why the doom of the village?"
"Because this child will take sides with the vampires and become one of them." Charles replied. He had grown suddenly pale. "Raevin, you remind us a lot of our son… he died about three years ago." His shoulders shook as he fought his tears. "He was killed by vampires."
"I'm so sorry." Raevin replied. "If I must, I will leave Durikyn to keep it safe. You two healed me and kept me alive, it's the least I can do."
"No child." Anna said, sitting in a chair next to Raevin. "You are still weak. You could get hurt out there. I think you should stay here until you are healthy again, and then we'll talk about that." She placed a hand on Raevin's shoulder. "The village is having a gathering to talk later this week, and the Council requested that you come. With the stallion."
"Why?" Raevin asked. "I haven't done anything."
"We know. Which is why you are going armed." Charles said. He stood up and walked to the closet. Opening it, he took out a tightly wrapped bundle. He gave the bundle to Raevin and said "Take this. We think you will like it."
Raevin unwrapped the cow hide from around the bundle to reveal a uniform of sorts. The contents of the bundle were a pair of loose white leather pants, a white leather jacket, a black leather belt, a white cotton shirt with designs on the shoulder and down the back, and white leather boots with black designs on them. "What is this for?" Raevin asked.
"It as supposed to be a gift to our son." Anna explained. "But, he was killed before we could give it to him. So now, we give it to you."
Raevin fingered the white leather. "I do not think I deserve such a gift." She said softly.
"But you do." Charles said. "We found you, and it was like we had found our son again. We give you this gift out of the love of our hearts."
Raevin frowned. She was still a bit confused. "What day is this gathering?"
*****
The entire village had gathered in the village greens for the meeting. They milled in groups ranging between three and eight, and the Council members sat in chairs in the middle of it all. Some wore regular work clothes, others wore nicer clothes. All of the young men wore armor and carried weapons.
Charles, Anna, and Raevin came a bit late. Raevin had trouble persuading Ectoplasm to come with them, but in the end he finally followed. Raevin kept glancing around, trying to see if that raven was following her.
When they entered the greens, everyone stopped talking and looked at them. Or, more specifically, looked at Raevin and Ectoplasm. A few people pointed and started to murmur, and others just turned away.
Ectoplasm flattened his ears against his head and bared his teeth. Charles had Raevin fit him with a black saddle and bridle, in case she needed a fast getaway. The saddle and bridle had been hand made by Charles and Anna, and they had made Raevin promise them that she'd keep them.
"I think it's best that you two stay away from me. So you two don't become targets." Raeven whispered to Anna and Charles. They nodded and reluctantly left to join their friends.
"Raevin!" Raevin turned and saw Ally running towards her. She was dressed in better clothing than she was when Raevin had met her in the barn. "You brought Ectoplasm?" Ally asked when she reached Raevin.
Raevin nodded. "Yes, I did. I thought it would be best. To try and clear up any confusion."
Raevin was dressed in the white leather clothes that Anna and Charles had given her. Her sword hung from her belt, and she carried her lance. She had returned the staff to Anna when she was able to walk about with minimal problems.
"Are you sure it's safe?" Ally asked. Ectoplasm was having a hard time staying a decent distance away from everyone.
"No." Raevin replied.
"Everyone!" One of the Council members boomed. He appeared to be the leader. "We have come together to discuss what we should do about the vampires. They are getting bolder, and they have attacked the last surviving member of the forest tribes. We need to defend ourselves!"
"We can defend ourselves by sending the girl away!" An armored man said. He had an eye patch over one eye and a nasty scar on his cheek.
"Why do we need to send the child away?" One of the other Council members asked.
"Because she is from the legend. She can touch that stallion, and I have seen a raven following her." The man snapped.
Everyone started to talk at the same time. Ally looked at Raevin strangely and took a few steps back. Raevin frowned, then looked at the closest tree. The raven was perched there, and it wasn't making any noise.
"And this proves that she is from our Legend? How? Perhaps the stallion has just taken to her." The Council replied.
"But no one can touch the stallion!" Someone else piped up. "Every time someone tries, it runs away."
This isn't looking good. Raevin thought to herself. The bird in the tree was fluttering its wings and glancing at Raevin and Ectoplasm. "If you want," Raevin called out, causing everyone to stop talking and look at her. "I will leave. I am healthy enough, I can manage on my own."
"I would rather have you dead, wench." The man growled.
"There is no need to wish ill on the girl, Berg." Charles said. "She had done nothing to any of us."
"But she has. She had brought the vampires closer!" Berg howled, gripping his big war axe.
"This is looking ugly." Raevin whispered to Ectoplasm. The stallion snorted and shook his head. He sidestepped closer to Raevin, pushing her back with the saddle he wore. "You want me to get on?" Raevin asked. Ectoplasm bobbed his head and nickered. Raevin grabbed the saddle and swung herself up onto Ectoplasm's back.
"So you wish me dead?" Raevin asked Berg. "You will have to try hard to accomplish your goal."
"Girl, you tempt me." Berg smirked. He brought out his axe and swung it through the air a few times. "Might I suggest you swing first?"
"If I were to swing first, you would be dead." Raevin spat. This was making her annoyed, and granted she wasn't making the situation any better by challenging the man. She knew this.
"Suit yourself, girl. That will be one mistake that will cost you your life." Berg said. He ran towards Raevin and Ectoplasm, yelling a war cry and scattering villagers.
Ectoplasm whirled and ran towards Berg, and Raevin clung to the reins. When Ectoplasm and Berg were about to collide, Ectoplasm soared into the air and jumped clear over Berg's head. Raevin watched as Berg swung his axe at Ectoplasm's belly. But, the blade just passed on through.
"Not sure if that was a good idea or a bad one." Raevin said to Ectoplasm as he landed and spun around to face Berg. The horse just shook his head, then bared his teeth at Berg, who was staring at them with a look of shock and horror.
"You… that horse. It really is a ghost!" Berg cried. He dropped his axe and tried to step back, but tripped over his own two feet.
"Wait! You don't understand!" Raevin yelled. The townsfolk were getting…. Hostile. The armored men were bringing out their weapons, and the townsfolk were scrambling to get out of the way. Charles and Anna weren't sure if they should run to try and protect Raevin or run with the other townsfolk.
Some of the armored men had formed a barrier between Raevin and the Council. Raevin had no intention of going after the Council; she didn't have any intention of going after anyone. The rest of the men were working on surrounding her.
Ectoplasm reared as one of the men tried to grab onto his bridle. Letting out a tremendous scream, he tore through the ranks of the men, scattering them. He spun and kicked out, nearly kicking one of the men in the face. Raevin pulled in the reins and Ectoplasm ran south towards the fields. Raevin glanced up at the afternoon sky and saw the glossy black bird flying above them. "Looks like we have another addition to our little group." Raevin said as Ectoplasm cleared the fence. He ran to the southern end of the field and cleared that fence, as well. Soon, they were in the forest.
Ectoplasm slowed his run to a walk, and eventually stopped. He looked as if he had just walked from one end of the barn to the other. He wasn't sweating, and he wasn't breathing hard. "Well, you really are a ghost." Raevin said. "After a run like that, I know I'd be tired."
A caw from above caused Raevin to look up into the trees. Sure enough, it was the raven. And he looked intent on following. "Bird, I swear." Raevin scowled. "You and Ectoplasm have made us all a problem." Ectoplasm shook his head at this and snorted. "No, you have." Ectoplasm shook his entire body like a dog after a bath, rattling Raevin's teeth. "Alright, alright."
Ectoplasm started to walk farther into the forest, and the raven hopped from branch to branch to follow. "I guess I have to name the bird, too." Raevin said. The raven cawed in reply. "Fine. Might as well give you a fitting name. Since you're a bird, we'll name to Vogel. It means bird." The raven cawed again and flew down to sit on the saddle horn. Raevin, sighing, gave up and let the raven follow.
The farther into the forest the group went, the darker it became. It got to the point were the vegetation was so thick, the sun couldn't get through to the plants on the ground. And Raevin could sense Death in the air. Ectoplasm didn't seem bothered, but then, he was already dead.
Suddenly, the forest opened up into a clearing. A huge tree in the middle had branches that spanned the clearing, ensuring darkness' rule. Bodies of both vampire and human littered the ground, and forest animals and insects had already made work of the corpses. The huts were burned to the ground, and the heads of the tribe's leaders were displayed on sticks shoved into the ground around the base of the huge tree. "Oh my god…" Raevin said. The smell made her gag, but she managed to keep her food down. "This is the destroyed forest village."
"It is, and you are trespassing, human girl." A voice said from the shadows to her right. Ectoplasm whirled to face the voice, and Raevin held her lance at the ready. She was no fighter, but she had already killed a vampire. If she had to, she'd force herself to become a fighter. After all, she had the horse and the weapons.
A tall, very dangerous looking vampire stepped out of the shadows. The fingers on his hands were talons, and his feet were cloven. "You are trespassing on my forest, human. You shall pay the ultimate price; Death."
"Maybe next time." Raevin said, turning Ectoplasm away and running across the clearing to the tree. The sight of the heads made her shiver, but she kept Ectoplasm running.
The vampire just stood there. Raevin started to wonder why when smaller vampires jumped out of the shadows surrounding her. Vogel took to the air and landed on a branch in the giant tree. "Coward." Raevin muttered, and Vogel cawed back.
Ectoplasm spun and reared, pawing the air. His hooves connected to a few of the vampires' heads, knocking them out cold. Raevin swung her lance and scattered some more. The stallion screamed and kicked, sending two vampires flying. The move knocked Raevin off balance, and she fought to stay on Ectoplasm's back.
Strong hands reached up and grabbed Raevin by the shoulders. She was pulled down to the ground, and Ectoplasm screamed again, pawing at the vampire that had grabbed Raevin. The vampire fell to the ground, stunned, with a bloody hoof mark on his face. Raevin jumped up and was quickly disarmed of her lance. Muttering, she brought out her sword and swung it from side to side, trying to keep the monsters back.
Vogel cawed and flew down from his branch. He clawed at the eyes of a vampire, then flew back up to the safety of the tree. Cawing, he gave the vampires the evil eye and fluffed his feathers in annoyance. "You're a big help." Raevin called up to Vogel, and received the 'I'm a bird, what else can I do?' look.
One of the vampires clawed at Raevin, and made a cut along her neck. It wasn't deep, but it stung. Raevin scowled and started to swing her sword at the vampire's neck, but her wrist was grabbed by a taloned hand.
"I don't think so, little human child." A voice said. It was the vampire that Raevin had first seen. He appeared to be the leader. "I must admit, you are an impressive fighter. Able to keep my brood back with a lance, a sword, and a horse. Very impressive." He yanked the sword from Raevin's grasp and twisted her arm behind her back. "But not good enough. You are coming back to my lair; perhaps my father, Kain, can think of something to do with you. You deserve so much more than Death for fighting my brood. We happen to be meeting with him tomorrow night."
Raevin ground her teeth in pain, and squirmed to try and free herself. It was no use. The vampires had seized her weapons, and Ectoplasm. He pulled and shook his head, but the silver in the bridle kept him in place. A few of the vampires were busy trying to catch Vogel with a net, but it wasn't going their way. Finally, they managed to snag the bird. Vogel screeched and flapped his wings wildly, but it only tangled the net around him.
As Raevin and her companions were led away, Raevin muttered under her breath. "This is not a good day."
Deep in the shadows, protected by the spells she had cast, sat Ally. She had completely changed her clothes, going from dress to brown leather pants and jacket, and a falchion and it's scabbard hung from her belt. A pouch next to the scabbard held some small silver pieces, a vial of water, and some garlic sealed tightly in a vial. The seal kept the smell out, and kept her hidden. She had watched the scene, and the sight of the destroyed tribe village made her stomach twist into little knots. Slowly standing up and keeping the hiding spells on herself, she followed Raevin and her captors.