Resurfacing of Old
Chapter 6: Thief in the Night.
It had been four days since the group had set of from Costa Del Sol and the journey had been a long and tiring one. On the first day they trekked through he long fields leading to the mountains, at which they would climb before the final lap to rocket city. The field's grass was long and tangled, therefore Stratus was appointed the task of cutting the way through. That night they camped in the grass and the next day they continued on. They encountered more monsters on the next two days as the mountains became closer and closer. Behemoths and Dragons of all sorts attacking from every direction, as if they where being driven to stop them by some unseen force. The next night was quiet, a little too quiet for one black clad swordsman.
Piper sat around the once vibrant fire, which had now dwindled to a tiny flame in the night that just managed to illuminate the small area where he was sitting. His Oblivion was held tightly in his hand as the fire illuminated the dull black of the blade. His eye's darted around the area, scanning for signs of life. Piper hadn't mentioned it to the rest, in fact he hardly talked to them, but he had sensed a presence following them for the past two days. However, no matter how hard he looked he could not see anyone. Whoever was following them was good, no doubt about it.
"I know you're out there." he whispered to no one in particular. "It's only a matter of time."
----
Stratus sat in his tent, the form of his wife, Gale Strife huddled up next to him, her legs drawn up to her chest like a small child. She had a habit of doing this, not that he minded, he always thought she looked very cute like that. He looked over at her and smiled, then stood and left the tent, to find Piper Jardel sat on a nearby log, his eye's drifting around the area.
"Can't sleep?" he asked as he stepped forward into the dim light.
Piper just ignored him and continued scanning the area. Stratus shrugged to himself and sat down on an adjacent log, staring it the ever dwindling flame. After a few seconds a sound broke the silence:
"Be quiet." Was all Piper said.
Stratus looked at him confused, but decided to humor him and remained perfectly still, not making a sound. Stratus soon got bored however and stood.
"What's going on?"
"Just go back to sleep." Piper said of handedly.
"You shouldn't shut people out Piper." Stratus informed. "Tell me what's wrong?"
"Fine!" Piper grunted. "If you would just shut up for a second. I have the feeling we are being followed."
"Followed?" Stratus asked.
"Yes." Piper said, almost shouting at the interruption. "You know, when someone walks the same path we do, but makes sure we don't see them."
"No need to be sarcastic."
"Enough talk." Piper said, holding up his hand. "I can't confirm this if you keep hounding me."
Stratus huffed at this then left Piper to his devices, the cool night breeze getting to his topless form.
----
The next day passed without much interest, the odd monster attacking but nothing too vital. The camp was in a clear opening, surrounded by tall grass, with three burnt logs placed in the center. It was on this night that a small, quick and almost invisible form in the dark of night sneaks into the camp. The entire group had gone to bed early, wanting to make the journey as short as possible so the camp was deadly silent. The figure crept towards the nearest tent, gazing in with hungry brown eye's. Stratus and Gale laid cuddled together, facing away from the sneaky figure, whilst the Ultimate Buster and Freedom sat propped up against the tent's side. With a quick snatch the weapons disappeared.
----
Piper turned in his sleep, letting out a stifled moan into his pillow before rolling over onto his back and looking up at the tent's roof. No matter how much he tried he just couldn't sleep, his thoughts always turning to his avoided death. He sat up with a huff and climbed out of the tent, looking around the area as a cool breeze blew past him. Sure is cold, he thought before strolling into the middle of the campsite. A small crack caught his attention and he turned his head in the direction of the noise. What the? His eye's scanned the area, seeing nothing but the black of night. Without another thought he rushed to his tent and went to grab his Oblivion, only to find it missing.
"Shit!" he cursed out loud. He ran to the Stratus's tent and went to grab his Ultimate Buster, only to find that missing too.
"Hey Stratus!" he shouted into the tent, kicking Stratus for good measure. Stratus groaned and then turned over to look at the man with a frown, his eye's half open, as if some un-godly force was trying to pull them shut.
"Wah?" he asked, confused. "Piper?"
"Get up!" he ordered. "We have a thief. My Oblivion is gone, and if you'll open your eye's for a second you'll find your Buster missing too."
"Gone?" Stratus asked, still half asleep.
"Yes," Piper roared. "Gone! As in not there! Missing!"
"Gone?" Stratus asked again, out of it.
"Just get up!" Piper fumed and kicked him again.
Stratus finally got his act together and climbed out of his bed, dragging his half asleep body after Piper. They quickly lit a fire in the center of the camp, lighting up the area. They searched the area but came up empty handed, which is until Red wandered out of his tent and noticed them.
"What's going on?" he asked.
"Thief." Stratus said without looking up from his task. "Stole Weapons."
"Really?" Red said, not really asking, before taking a big sniff. "This way."
And with that he began to walk off, continually sniffing and changing direction.
"Let's go." Stratus said, before walking after Red. Piper just followed.
----
Sophus Xun ran quickly, hugging his recently acquired weapons to his chest like they kept him alive, his feet not even leaving a print in the dirt below him. His long mane of raven hair slowing wildly behind him, as his eye's scanned the area for a place to hide and check out his goods. He spotted a rock in the distance and quickened his pace. In a few seconds he ducked behind the rock and put the weapons to the side. He grabbed the first blade, a long and thick black blade topped of by a small red handle. With a tug the blade flew into the air, surprising the boy at it's feather light weight. With a quick swing the blade cut the rock behind him in two, neatly.
"Woah." his voice was barely above a whisper, but sounded quite feminine. In his shocked state he failed to notice the three figures slowly approaching him from behind.
----
Red had sniffed his way to the boy's location, making sure Piper and Stratus didn't rush the thief. Piper lost his patience first and lunged at the boy, jerking him back roughly by the neck and slamming him to the floor, placing a boot under his chin and almost chocking him.
"Stratus!" Piper called. "Get our weapons."
Sophus gasped for air below and Piper brought his attention back to the thief. Red edged closer, using the flame on his tail as a light to reveal the thief's identity. That of a Boy with black bushy eyebrows and equally black hair. The boy had dark skin and an even darker attire, consisting of all pitch black, helping him blend into the night.
"So that's why i couldn't see him." Piper mused.
"A-air!" the boy managed to gasp out. Piper loosed his hold slightly, enough to allow the boy to breath but not enough for him to escape.
"Got em'" Stratus called as he approached with said weapons, handing the Oblivion back to Piper.
"What should we do with the thief?" Piper thought out loud.
"What's your name kid?" Red asked.
"Sophus Xun." he replied. "And I'm not a kid! I'm Fifteen years old! See! Teenager!"
"Kid." Piper snarled, jamming his boot into the boy's throat slightly.
Sophus chocked back a sob at the pain but remained silent, not wanting to show his fear.
"Let him go Piper." Red said. "If he promises to do no more thievery."
"Yes sir!" Sophus beamed.
"Your serious?" Piper asked.
"Perfectly." Red replied.
Piper groaned a little as he released his boot and allowed the boy to get to his feet. Once on his feet the group were finally able to take in his full appearance. He wore a blue undershirt, his shoulders covered by a black cloth that hung around his form and finally dark black pants. His feet were completely bare, covered with dirt, much like his skin.
"Now get the hell out of here before I change my mind!" Piper roared, kicking at the boy as he ran away at great speed.
"You really think it was a good idea to let him go Red?" Stratus asked, assessing for any damage done to his weapon.
"Yes." Red began. "He's only a kid. We couldn't exactly kill him."
"Could have." Piper whispered as the group began to head back to camp.
----
As the group began to walk away a pair of brown eye's peered out from behind a rock, before coming into full view, revealing a smirking Sophus Xun.
"Whose weapons are awesome!" he mused out loud. "And would probably fetch a lot of money."
He scratched his head a little and then stood, with a new determined expression on his face.
"You may have thwarted me once, but not again!" he shouted. "I, the Great Thief Sophus Xun will get those weapons if it's the last thing I steal! Well, with the money they'll get me it will be the last thing I'll steal."
----
Chapter 6: Thief in the Night.
It had been four days since the group had set of from Costa Del Sol and the journey had been a long and tiring one. On the first day they trekked through he long fields leading to the mountains, at which they would climb before the final lap to rocket city. The field's grass was long and tangled, therefore Stratus was appointed the task of cutting the way through. That night they camped in the grass and the next day they continued on. They encountered more monsters on the next two days as the mountains became closer and closer. Behemoths and Dragons of all sorts attacking from every direction, as if they where being driven to stop them by some unseen force. The next night was quiet, a little too quiet for one black clad swordsman.
Piper sat around the once vibrant fire, which had now dwindled to a tiny flame in the night that just managed to illuminate the small area where he was sitting. His Oblivion was held tightly in his hand as the fire illuminated the dull black of the blade. His eye's darted around the area, scanning for signs of life. Piper hadn't mentioned it to the rest, in fact he hardly talked to them, but he had sensed a presence following them for the past two days. However, no matter how hard he looked he could not see anyone. Whoever was following them was good, no doubt about it.
"I know you're out there." he whispered to no one in particular. "It's only a matter of time."
----
Stratus sat in his tent, the form of his wife, Gale Strife huddled up next to him, her legs drawn up to her chest like a small child. She had a habit of doing this, not that he minded, he always thought she looked very cute like that. He looked over at her and smiled, then stood and left the tent, to find Piper Jardel sat on a nearby log, his eye's drifting around the area.
"Can't sleep?" he asked as he stepped forward into the dim light.
Piper just ignored him and continued scanning the area. Stratus shrugged to himself and sat down on an adjacent log, staring it the ever dwindling flame. After a few seconds a sound broke the silence:
"Be quiet." Was all Piper said.
Stratus looked at him confused, but decided to humor him and remained perfectly still, not making a sound. Stratus soon got bored however and stood.
"What's going on?"
"Just go back to sleep." Piper said of handedly.
"You shouldn't shut people out Piper." Stratus informed. "Tell me what's wrong?"
"Fine!" Piper grunted. "If you would just shut up for a second. I have the feeling we are being followed."
"Followed?" Stratus asked.
"Yes." Piper said, almost shouting at the interruption. "You know, when someone walks the same path we do, but makes sure we don't see them."
"No need to be sarcastic."
"Enough talk." Piper said, holding up his hand. "I can't confirm this if you keep hounding me."
Stratus huffed at this then left Piper to his devices, the cool night breeze getting to his topless form.
----
The next day passed without much interest, the odd monster attacking but nothing too vital. The camp was in a clear opening, surrounded by tall grass, with three burnt logs placed in the center. It was on this night that a small, quick and almost invisible form in the dark of night sneaks into the camp. The entire group had gone to bed early, wanting to make the journey as short as possible so the camp was deadly silent. The figure crept towards the nearest tent, gazing in with hungry brown eye's. Stratus and Gale laid cuddled together, facing away from the sneaky figure, whilst the Ultimate Buster and Freedom sat propped up against the tent's side. With a quick snatch the weapons disappeared.
----
Piper turned in his sleep, letting out a stifled moan into his pillow before rolling over onto his back and looking up at the tent's roof. No matter how much he tried he just couldn't sleep, his thoughts always turning to his avoided death. He sat up with a huff and climbed out of the tent, looking around the area as a cool breeze blew past him. Sure is cold, he thought before strolling into the middle of the campsite. A small crack caught his attention and he turned his head in the direction of the noise. What the? His eye's scanned the area, seeing nothing but the black of night. Without another thought he rushed to his tent and went to grab his Oblivion, only to find it missing.
"Shit!" he cursed out loud. He ran to the Stratus's tent and went to grab his Ultimate Buster, only to find that missing too.
"Hey Stratus!" he shouted into the tent, kicking Stratus for good measure. Stratus groaned and then turned over to look at the man with a frown, his eye's half open, as if some un-godly force was trying to pull them shut.
"Wah?" he asked, confused. "Piper?"
"Get up!" he ordered. "We have a thief. My Oblivion is gone, and if you'll open your eye's for a second you'll find your Buster missing too."
"Gone?" Stratus asked, still half asleep.
"Yes," Piper roared. "Gone! As in not there! Missing!"
"Gone?" Stratus asked again, out of it.
"Just get up!" Piper fumed and kicked him again.
Stratus finally got his act together and climbed out of his bed, dragging his half asleep body after Piper. They quickly lit a fire in the center of the camp, lighting up the area. They searched the area but came up empty handed, which is until Red wandered out of his tent and noticed them.
"What's going on?" he asked.
"Thief." Stratus said without looking up from his task. "Stole Weapons."
"Really?" Red said, not really asking, before taking a big sniff. "This way."
And with that he began to walk off, continually sniffing and changing direction.
"Let's go." Stratus said, before walking after Red. Piper just followed.
----
Sophus Xun ran quickly, hugging his recently acquired weapons to his chest like they kept him alive, his feet not even leaving a print in the dirt below him. His long mane of raven hair slowing wildly behind him, as his eye's scanned the area for a place to hide and check out his goods. He spotted a rock in the distance and quickened his pace. In a few seconds he ducked behind the rock and put the weapons to the side. He grabbed the first blade, a long and thick black blade topped of by a small red handle. With a tug the blade flew into the air, surprising the boy at it's feather light weight. With a quick swing the blade cut the rock behind him in two, neatly.
"Woah." his voice was barely above a whisper, but sounded quite feminine. In his shocked state he failed to notice the three figures slowly approaching him from behind.
----
Red had sniffed his way to the boy's location, making sure Piper and Stratus didn't rush the thief. Piper lost his patience first and lunged at the boy, jerking him back roughly by the neck and slamming him to the floor, placing a boot under his chin and almost chocking him.
"Stratus!" Piper called. "Get our weapons."
Sophus gasped for air below and Piper brought his attention back to the thief. Red edged closer, using the flame on his tail as a light to reveal the thief's identity. That of a Boy with black bushy eyebrows and equally black hair. The boy had dark skin and an even darker attire, consisting of all pitch black, helping him blend into the night.
"So that's why i couldn't see him." Piper mused.
"A-air!" the boy managed to gasp out. Piper loosed his hold slightly, enough to allow the boy to breath but not enough for him to escape.
"Got em'" Stratus called as he approached with said weapons, handing the Oblivion back to Piper.
"What should we do with the thief?" Piper thought out loud.
"What's your name kid?" Red asked.
"Sophus Xun." he replied. "And I'm not a kid! I'm Fifteen years old! See! Teenager!"
"Kid." Piper snarled, jamming his boot into the boy's throat slightly.
Sophus chocked back a sob at the pain but remained silent, not wanting to show his fear.
"Let him go Piper." Red said. "If he promises to do no more thievery."
"Yes sir!" Sophus beamed.
"Your serious?" Piper asked.
"Perfectly." Red replied.
Piper groaned a little as he released his boot and allowed the boy to get to his feet. Once on his feet the group were finally able to take in his full appearance. He wore a blue undershirt, his shoulders covered by a black cloth that hung around his form and finally dark black pants. His feet were completely bare, covered with dirt, much like his skin.
"Now get the hell out of here before I change my mind!" Piper roared, kicking at the boy as he ran away at great speed.
"You really think it was a good idea to let him go Red?" Stratus asked, assessing for any damage done to his weapon.
"Yes." Red began. "He's only a kid. We couldn't exactly kill him."
"Could have." Piper whispered as the group began to head back to camp.
----
As the group began to walk away a pair of brown eye's peered out from behind a rock, before coming into full view, revealing a smirking Sophus Xun.
"Whose weapons are awesome!" he mused out loud. "And would probably fetch a lot of money."
He scratched his head a little and then stood, with a new determined expression on his face.
"You may have thwarted me once, but not again!" he shouted. "I, the Great Thief Sophus Xun will get those weapons if it's the last thing I steal! Well, with the money they'll get me it will be the last thing I'll steal."
----