Hi! I know, last chapter was pretty bad, but I'm working on it!

Let's see… Yeah, Vogel talks, but that's only because people have said that ravens are like parrots in that they can imitate words. And just to let everyone know, I will have Vogel become a smart-arse. Like back talking Raevin.

Hmm… These Trials should be interesting if I don't run into another block… but hey, I try.

Disclaimer: Eidos and all of it's stuff is not mine. I own Ally, Raevin, Ectoplasm, and Vogel.

~Raevin~

******

Raevin bit back a yell as Ally stepped out into the sun. She stared, expecting Ally to burst into flames, and writhe and fall lifeless to the ground.

It didn't happen.

Ally stared down at herself, waiting to burst into flames. The advancing vampires had all come to a screeching halt, and were staring after them with a look of pure hatred. They hissed and bared their fangs and bashed their claws or weapons against the wall, the ground, and their armor. They weren't willing to risk running out into the sun just to kill a couple of girls who had the dumbest luck imaginable to get away from them.

Raevin blinked in complete and utter surprise while her friend stood there, alive and completely healthy. The hissing and screeching vampires snapped her back into reality… if it was reality. She grabbed Ally by the arm and pulled her into the forest. The two started running as fast as they could, and when they reached the remains of the forest tribe village they both collapsed to the ground. Raevin's chest burned, having not taken in enough oxygen while running.

"Why didn't I burn up?" Ally asked, panting.

Raevin shook her head. "I don't know… Did the vampire that bit you manage to take all of your blood?"

"No." Ally shook her head. "I killed him before he drank much."

Raevin frowned. "Has there ever been an account of a human being bitten by a vampire, but not having their blood drained?" Ally shook her head again. "Ally, I don't think you're a vampire."

Ally blinked. "What do you mean? I have the fangs… I changed forms to sneak into Dumah's lair…"

"Maybe the vampire bite only gave you the powers of the vampire, and not it's weaknesses." Raevin suggested. "Try shape shifting again."

Ally nodded and closed her eyes. After a few moments, her body shrank and her brown hair turned a grayish color. Her human body became that of a wolf's body. The she-wolf opened her eyes and looked at Raevin expectantly.

Raevin nodded. "You're a wolf. Change back." Ally quickly changed back to her somewhat human form, save for the vampire fangs.

"I'm still confused." Ally said. She leaned against a tree, and Vogel flew down from above and landed beside her. Ectoplasm was soon by Raevin's side, rumbling as he layed down.

Raevin ran a hand through Ectoplasm's black mane. "We'll figure it out. Until then, I think we need to get moving. Night will come, and Dumah's fledgling will be out."

Ally's eyes suddenly darkened. "The village… We need to warn them. If those Dumahim reach the village, they'll slaughter everyone."

Raevin grew pale. She finally understood what Charles and Anna had meant. When the Dumahim captured her, they must have guessed that she had come from Durikyn. That would cause them to travel to Durikyn and…

Raevin's stomach lurched at the thought. Ally saw her grow even paler, if it was possible. "We should hurry and get to Durikyn before dark. We need to warn them." Ally said, pulling Raevin to her feet. Ectoplasm stood up and allowed Raevin to climb on and pulled Ally after her. Vogel flew up into the air and followed them as Ectoplasm ran through the clearing and back into the forest.

The sun had just passed it's high point when the girls arrived at the village. A group of farmers were rounding up the cattle when they saw them coming. They dropped their tools, abandoned their cattle, and ran for the nearest gate. "Are they scared of both of us?" Raevin asked. Ally shrugged helplessly.

Ectoplasm galloped through the field and cleared the gate in one jump. He landed, then took off for the main part of Durikyn. All the people they passed jumped out of the way or tripped over something in their attempt to do so.

They reached the Town Hall, where terrified townsfolk had gathered. Apparently, news traveled fast here. Armored men had already begun to surround Raevin, Ally, and Ectoplasm. Vogel was nowhere to be seen; he was probably watching from the roof of the nearest building.

"Everyone! Please!" Ally yelled frantically. "The Dumahim are coming! They will be here soon after nightfall! You must leave!"

"Why should we believe you?" Berg asked, brandishing his axe but staying a good twenty feet away.

"Why else would we come back?" Raevin snapped, clearly annoyed. Here they were, about to be jumped by a dozen or so armored men, and no one was believing them when they were telling them that the Dumahim would be here after nightfall.

"Maybe you are leading vampires here!" One of the men yelled.

Raevin glanced up at the glaring sun. "Not unless vampires have become immune to the sunlight." She said. She spun Ectoplasm around and looked into the crowd. She didn't see Charles or Anna.

Ectoplasm reared and screamed as one of the men tried to swing at them. He pawed the air, then jumped over the heads of the men and ran to the edge of town. The men were running after them. "Raevin! The forest!" Ally said, gripping Raevin's shoulder and pointing at the dark trees. Ectoplasm sped towards the forest, and as the did, they passed Charles and Anna's house.

Raevin jumped off Ectoplasm and came to a rolling stop against a wood pile. Ectoplasm snorted and crow-hopped. "No! Go to the forest and stay with Ally!" Raevin commanded. Ectoplasm reared, but obeyed. Raevin jumped over the wood pile in time to hide from the men, and Ectoplasm once again ran for the forest.

After the men had passed, Raevin sneaked out of her hiding spot and quietly opened the door to Charles and Anna's house. She slipped inside, and quietly closed the door before turning around to look for Charles and Anna.

She came nose to nose with a very sharp looking sword.

Her eyes traveled up the blade to the hilt, then up the hand and arm holding the weapon. Her gaze met the very scared eyes of Charles. Her stomach lurched again as a thought struck her: What if Charles and Anna had become scared of her?

Her fear ebbed as Charles' face suddenly looked very old and tired. He dropped the sword and fell to his knees, sobbing. "I'm so sorry." He choked. "I thought it was the armored men from the village. They have done nothing but harass Anna and I since you left."

Raevin's gut twisted itself up as she knelt and hugged Charles. "You and Anna need to get out of here." She said. "Ally and I think the Dumahim will be here shortly after night. We think they believe I am from here."

Charles eyes regained their terrified glint. "Anna is ill. She has been ill since you left. Please, come quickly." He stood up and pulled Raevin after him to a bedroom.

Once in the bedroom, Raevin saw Anna's sickly form in the bed. Her skin had paled, and her hair was even whiter than it was before. She looked so frail, it took Raevin a great deal of effort to keep from breaking down and crying.

Anna slowly opened her eyes and looked at Raevin. She smiled weakly and held up a shaking hand. "You've come…. Back." Anna whispered. "You cannot stay… the town wants you… dead."

Raevin nodded slightly and took Anna's hand. "I know. Ally and I came back to warn Durikyn that the Dumahim would be here after dark. But no one's listening. I've come to take you both out of here. Maybe we can find another village where you will be safe."

Anna shook her head slowly, coughing. "No, child. Danger follows you closely. Whichever village you go near, danger and death will follow you." She smiled weakly, then started to cough fitfully. After she managed to stop, she took a few deep breath before continuing. "You are our legend."

"I won't let either of you die." Raevin said, squeezing Anna's hand. She turned to Charles. "Pack up a rucksack for both you and Anna. Bring only a few extra clothing items. Pack food. I can hear Vogel at the window. I'm going to send him out to get Ally, and she'll get a horse and a cart for the two of you." Raevin said. Charles nodded and set to work gathering a few clothing items for Anna and himself and food for a few days. He retrieved his sword and sheathed it, got Anna's staff, and set the items in the bedroom.

Meanwhile, Raevin went to the window and pushed it open. Vogel flew down from a tree and landed on the window sill. He cawed gently and looked at Raevin. "Vogel, go to Ally and try and get her to get a horse and cart ready. Have her bring it here. We're taking Charles and Anna away from Durikyn." Vogel cawed something that sounded like "Message deliverer!" and flew off towards the forest.

"I'd like to know how he's going to give her that message…" Raevin muttered. "I don't even know why I had a bird take a message to someone." She closed the window and started helping Charles gather things together. Unlit torches, flint, small barrels of water, etc. etc. They gathered only what they would need to be able to survive.

Soon, though, Raevin heard the almost silent creak of a wooden wagon and the footsteps of two horses. She opened the window again and saw Ectoplasm, followed by Ally. Ally had indeed somehow gotten Raevin's message, and she had managed to get a wagon and a horse. "Ready?" She asked, jumping down from the driver's seat.

Raevin nodded her answer. She began handing Ally the supplies she and Charles had gathered. Somehow, Ally managed to organize the stuff neatly in the covered wagon. After the items came several armloads of thick blankets and a few pillows. Ally arranged these in a bedlike style for Anna. Charles and Raevin lifted Anna off the bed and carried her to the window. Ally and Charles held Anna while Raevin climbed out the window and helped Ally carry Anna to the wagon. They placed her on the blankets, rested her head against the pillows, and covered her with another blanket.

Charles had soon joined them. He had apparently decided to wear his old armor, which consisted of brigand mail and arm and leg braces. He climbed in and sat next to Anna, and placed his sword and the staff next to him.

"Ally and I will take you as far as we dare. From there, you'll have to drive, Charles." Raevin said. "Lead us in the direction of another village, and we'll take you there. We will have to stay far enough so that vampires do not decide to attack the village." Charles nodded, stern faced.

Ally climbed back onto the driver's bench and Raevin closed the cloth 'doors' of the covered wagon. After climbing into Ectoplasm's saddle, Ally handed Raevin her lance. "Let's go. The sun is setting." Ally said. She clicked to the brown draft horse pulling the wagon, and they started off down a rarely used path that was conveniently located near the house. Raevin followed on Ectoplasm, and Vogel stood beside Ally on the bench.

"We need to put as much distance between us and the vampires by the time night comes." Raevin said. She noticed a few families had actually listen to her warning; the families had formed small bands of sorts, and were making their way out of the village. The groups went on separate paths, but those that saw Raevin and Ally leaving waved and smiled their thanks. Even a few of the armored men had listened, and each traveling group had at least one armored soldier with them. One man saw Raevin, but instead of running after her, nodded and continued helping the group he was with.

Raevin looked back at the village with a heavy heart. There were still people there that weren't leaving. But she had done what she could. Yes, this event would stay with her and burn a hole in her heart, but if she kept trying to make them leave she could be killed.

Ally gazed at her friend with concern. Since Ectoplasm was not walking all that far from the wagon, she was able to reach over and place a hand on Raevin's knee. "There is nothing else we can do. All we can do is hope for the best." She said. Raevin smiled slightly at her words, but her eyes continued to keep their guilty and depressed look.

(A/N: Hahah! No writer's block for this one!)