'The town of Rimmington was completely destroyed, and nearly everyone had perished in the attack. A few people that survived were unhurt, and the others were in the hospital. It was Sin again. That bastard was destroying everything at it's own will, and now it was hiding in the wilderness.

That was what I thought to myself when I heard the news. It just tears at me that I had the dream of it...how I knew it was going to happen, and I let it happen anyway.

Like they say, there's not much you can do about things like that.'

Chronicles of Runescape

Chapter 2 "Encounter in the Wilderness"

By Artamis Ryu

The sun was setting into the far distance, just beyond the mountains, and a little past the forest. Life as it seemed was going to sleep, and quiet. The streets were still bustling with trade, but the yelling was down, and it was quieter, people talking in hushed voices or whispers.

The news was everywhere. Rimmington was a quiet town near the ocean, and it had been completely been destroyed by Sin, a creature that seemed to be made of negative energy and discontent.

"It's getting late you know..." One man said quietly, fingering his glass of ale. His hair was silver, but short at the same time, and stuck to his neck from the humidity in the air.

"Yes...I know..."

The tavern was rather slow that evening, several customers leaving. The usual yelling and commotion was down to a minimum, most of the people inside whispering. Even the usual peppy bartender was quiet, cleaning the inside of a beer mug gently.

"It came at the moment it was two AM. Nobody knew about it Artamis. Nobody," the man said, "but us..."

Artamis nodded in agreement, lowering his chin and sighing heavily. "I know Cooper...but even if we did get there to warn them, there would have still been loses..."

The one he called Cooper stroked his chin thoughtfully. "So you're going after Sin...right...?" he asked quietly, "And will you ever change your mind?"

Artamis shook his head, looking rather upset. "That thing has killed so many innocent people, and it must be stopped!" His voice rose, and soon the entire tavern was looking at him in a grave silence. But his determination was clear, and nobody wanted to argue.

"So if you get killed, then what will everyone else do, didn't you think of that?" Cooper started again, narrowing his green eyes.

Artamis stood from his chair, slamming his fist down on the table. "Dammit Cooper, if we don't start doing something, then a million other people will die. That thing killed my brother, and everyone else I've ever cared about. I won't let it get away with killing anymore!"

His expression softening, Cooper took Artamis' fist and held it tightly. "Then I wish you luck my friend. I am not going to help you. You have a brave heart and I admire that, so do not die."

Artamis grinned. "Then you don't die either okay? You promise?"

"Yes, I promise." Cooper laughed, then stood. "I have to go for now. I will see you tomorrow to discuss this further." With that he was out the door and running down the busy streets of Varrok square. He continued to watch his friend run until he was out of sight, closing his eyes and speaking in a soft voice.

"You are my only friend Cooper. Take care of yourself." He then left the tavern and headed for his 'home'.

It only took a short while before he was in a remote part of Varrok, near the cornfields and the pasture. There was a little fenced in building which had a sign hanging off of it, reading 'Lloyd And Brothers Inn'. Several other smaller shack-sized buildings surrounded the Inn, and in all of them, lights were off.

A relatively small lake was shining in the moonlight, the calm surface moved only when the wind blew. It was his favorite time to change, to release himself from his 'human' body.

Walking to the water's edge, he let his boots slip off and then his clothes. His hair was released from the ponytail, and he dove deep into the lake. The water was cool against his skin, and it made him smile. The lake was deep, man made of course, but nobody ever bothered going near it. And when they did it was to fish, or wade along the beach end. But the deep water was Artamis' domain.

He swam carelessly, then let the warmth overtake him. He glowed, before feeling his transformation come. His body changed quickly, and soon he was as what he was on the inside.

Two big, beautiful crystal blue eyes opened on their new body, the body of an Ice Dragon. His body was slick, with fur-like scales instead of hard, rough ones like earth or stone dragons. Perfect for swimming in cold water, and for staying warm. He had two sets of wings on his back, light blue feathers lined the wings' flesh.

He spun deep underwater contently, chasing the creatures that lived in the water. He swam along the bottom of the lake, rubbing his body along the smooth, moss covered rocks, then darting across the lake to the opposite end. He soon found the other wall, and swam with all his might around the exterior of it.

It would nearly be a sin to take such a happy creature from what he loved. An hour passed, and then two, before he finally surfaced, tired and wet (obviously). His snout poked out of the water, and then he glowed, his human body taking over again. He grabbed his clothes and left the water, drying off, then walking over to one of the shacks, opening the door, and entering.

It was very cozy inside. He smiled, falling down onto a makeshift bed of pillows and blankets, and looking at his ceiling. It was covered in a painted image of the sky, with stars and a black infinity behind it. The moon was just out his window, and he felt at peace with these little surroundings.

He smiled once before closing his eyes and thinking to himself, "It isn't much, but it is home none the less."

Next Morning

There was pounding on the door. Loud and obnoxious, like the innkeeper usually does. Artamis turned over. "Go away..." he muttered angrily, growling.

The knocking continued, frantic. "Mr. Ryu sir! Please come outside!" Came the voice of his innkeeper, low and gruff, yet full of worry for some reason.

He sat up, rubbing his eyes. His hair was a mess, and still damp from the night before, but he tied it back, slipped on his clothes and peeked outside. "What is it old man?"

"Mr. Ryu! It's Varrok! It-It's nearly destroyed!"

As Artamis looked to the town he so loved, he could see smoke billowing from where the city lay. It was absolutely shocking to see the most busy town of all in all of Runescape so devastated. He ignored the fact his shirt was still unbuttoned, or the fact he was not wearing shoes, and took off towards Varrok.

That Evening

He couldn't remember much from the day before. From what he heard, Sin had come into the mainland, released about a zillion of his spawn all over Varrok, destroyed half the city, and sent about two hundred people into a "MIA" (missing in action for those of you who don't know) paper.

Several people explained that the Sinspawn attacked Varrok around sunrise, and nobody was prepared. Most of the survivors were in trauma, others were in critical condition, while others were just missing.

Cooper was one of them that went missing.

He had hoped his friend was just running and hiding, even though that wasn't like Cooper. If he knew right, Cooper was probably there trying to defend everyone, and maybe had died...

"No, don't think that," Artamis said aloud to himself. He walked alone on the trail leading north. Everything was going so fast now, events and history being made, people dying, another one of his friends probably dead, "Cooper please be alright..."

Artamis stopped. He was on the border of 'Wilderness', the trees all dying and green grass was dead or dirt. The air smelled of death, and he knew once he went in, another person could easily attack him. But he knew that Sinspawn loved to hide in Wilderness, and it was his best chance to look for Cooper.

His clothes were fairly average today, not carrying anything of real value besides his Holy Symbol of Saradomin. His trusty Iron Longsword was at its normal place at his side, sheathed in a bamboo wood holder, painted red and carved with an ice dragon.

Several hours past and still he found nothing, give or take the few scorpions; no Sinspawn, no Cooper, not even any people. It was getting late, and already he found he was in level 48 Wilderness. It was too deep, even for him. All he could do now was head south and try again tomorrow.

The sunset's rays burned down upon the land hotter than ever before. As he walked south, he turned a little west, just to see if he could find anything. And even though he didn't see anything, he felt the hair on his neck rise. Artamis could feel fear overtake him, his stomach now in his throat. The stillness of the dead forest could mean Sinspawn, or that something worse was to come.

He held his hilt like a vice, the dull edge of the iron blade peering out. A twig snapped, and he turned so fast it hurt when his hair hit his face. His stomach was churning, his heart pounding, his senses on the fritz, and in the darkness and heat, a chill fell.

Artamis turned, heading deeper into the woods, deeper into the wilderness. The mist had risen, and the trees seemed to reach out to him. Another crack sent him into a run. He knew whatever was there in the wildly was near. He growled, zoning in on the spot where the trees moved more. His sword in place, he lunged. But...

The sword went deep into a limb above him, taking Artamis by surprise. His legs flew out, his balance thrown off, and all he could do was dangle there, then fall onto the cracked dirt, dazed. As he lay there, he heard the crackling, and he forced himself up.

There before him in the bushes, he saw two hazel eyes looking back at him. As his vision cleared, he saw not a Sinspawn, but a girl. A beautiful girl, strands of her auburn hair in her face, her shirt must have been white, but it was torn and strained red. He saw why, for long wires wrapped around her ankles, and her wrist. Aside from that, she was absolutely beautiful.

Words didn't find their way out as he sat there in complete awe. She looked scared, and angry at the same time. Of course he knew why. She was deep into wilderness, and anyone could come around and kill her, taking any possessions she had.

But that may not have been the only thing they would want. He moved a little closer to the girl, but she recoiled, glaring slightly and tugging her wrists deeper into the wire. She let out a meek yelp, then continued to glare.

"I'm not going to hurt you..." Artamis whispered to her, and moving closer to where she was trapped. She growled at him, glaring and tugging more on the wires. "I'm just going to help you," he started to say, when he reached out for her and she suddenly brought out her hand and scratched at him. "Hey!" he yelped, falling back. She glared, then stuck her tongue out at him. He was going to scold her, but he heard voices.

"I found her over here guys. Come on! She fell into a trap, and I wasn't sure if she was strong or not, so I wanted to find you!" The voice said faintly in the distance, and now they were coming closer.

The girl looked terrified, and started desperately tugging on the wires. Artamis knew there was no time left, reaching into his pocket and pulling out his Mithril dagger. The girl gasped, unsure of what to expect, but he grabbed her good arm, freeing her wrist, and then her ankles.

The voices were close, almost to their location. He knew there was no time for introductions, so he scooped up the girl, earning a gasp and a cry. He heard shouting, and beams of light were peering through the trees at them.

It was time to run. As quick as the wind, he darted through the wilderness, his grip on the girl firm, his mind focused on where he was going, so that he would hurt neither of them. Her arms were thrown across his neck, holding onto him tightly, fear glimmering in her eyes.

The sky was as red as blood, golden rays cast upon the ground. The wind blew fiercely, and the light was fading. The trees creaked, the dust churned, and for a few moments in time, it seemed to not be real.

Artamis let his thoughts wonder away, to the glow on Ice Wolf Mountain in the distance, to the marshlands to the east. The chill sent his mind and body numb, the only warmth coming from the girl in his arms, pressed against his chest as close as she could be, her hazel eyes looking at no particular point in the distance.

It was a mistake for him to have forgotten their pursuers. For in a matter of moments, there was a loud noise, a crackle and a whistle, and it grew louder each second.

The half-breed had no time to turn to see what it was. The searing heat lapped at his skin so suddenly his entire back felt as if it were on fire. He cried out, losing his footing and feeling his body fall.

His HP dropped an entire quarter of what it was (and it was already low to begin with). His breathing labored, he scowled, then forced himself on his feet again. Head spinning, he ran with whatever energy he could muster. He heard another loud crackle and whistle, and tried to duck down, but it only hit him harder, sending him off his feet, and onto the ground with such force, he left a line of his impact.

Now, his life was dwindling. He looked in his arms, the girl was huddled close to him, face pressed into his shoulder. She was not injured any further than what she was before, but as he sat up, she also followed him, her eyes wide and filled with horror. He started to speak, but she put her finger to his lips, then hopped elegantly on her own two feet, despite her wounds.

She began to chant. As he listened, he found her voice to be beautiful, calm and quiet, kind yet stern and sure of itself. She let the words flow out, watching the clearing. Shadows from the other people were close. The girl closed her eyes, then focused all of her energy on her right pointer finger. The tip of it seemed to glow a bright neon green, and she pressed her other hand to her heart.

Artamis had no idea what was happening, but instants later both of the players were completely blown down and unconscious on the ground a few feet away. The wind went silent, and the trees went still. The sun sent the last of its light to reflect in her eyes. So beautiful was the crimson and hazel as they met, shining as if on water.

It was completely overwhelming, and as Artamis tried to stand, he found he could not. The blood he had figured was from a previous battle on the ground was his, the wounds he underestimated were worse than before, and his fatigue was so great it took all he could to keep them open.

She turned to him once the sun had vanished, blinking slowly. As she neared him, his energy gave out and he started to fall backwards. She was there in an instant, catching him, and holding his torso close to her. She was so gentle, running her fingers through his hair as though she had known him for eternity.

Her expression was sad, yet thankful. He made himself grin, maybe slip in a laugh, before the darkness of sleep took over.