The moon was high in the sky before the people stopped. Aries was weary and
wanted to go to sleep badly. As they settled on the grounds, he propped
himself up against a tree farther away from his companions. Aries looked up
at the stars and it was the last thing he saw before he fell asleep.
Aries woke up all of the sudden. He couldn't breathe! Someone was choking him. Aries struggled wildly and the person chuckled. It was Higara. "Not so cocky now, huh?" he scorned. Aries kicked him and his foot made contact. Higara grunted and loosened his hold. Aries reached for his dagger, but Higara quickly recovered. He punched Aries and the young man fell back. Higara dragged him up and tried to make him stand. Aries kicked him again and shook out of his grasp. Aries turned and pulled out his dagger. He tried to stab Higara, but the man grabbed his arm in mid-air. Higara twisted it and Aries had to drop it in pain. Higara hit him over the head and Aries slumped to the ground, unconscious. Higara laughed softly. He dragged Aries's body over to the river and pushed him in. "Have a nice swim," Higara said, grinning evilly as Aries drifted down the river. Higara turned away and started walking back to camp. Aries would certainly drown and he would be rid of the tiresome fool.
Tobias woke up. It was nearly dawn and the soldiers were packing up and getting ready to leave. He got up and stretched. Tobias glanced towards the direction of the tree his best friend had spent the night, but did a double take. He wasn't there.
Tobias tried to calm himself. Aries could've gotten up earlier and went for a walk. But as he strode towards the spot where Aries had laid, he couldn't help remembering Higara's threat. Tobias reached the tree and looked around. He found Aries's dagger. He wouldn't have left it there for nothing. Tobias studied the ground. There was no mistake, a struggle had taken here. Tobias sensed someone behind him and found himself facing Higara.
"You," Tobias breathed. "You killed him, didn't you?" Higara smiled horribly. "I heard wolves howling last night. Maybe he became a midnight snack for them." Tobias clenched Aries's blade. "You liar!" he yelled. "What have you done to him?" Higara smiled at Tobias's fury. Then, he left. Tobias stood there, at lost for words. Higara killed Aries. He was sure of that. But what can he do? Everyone would believe him, but they wouldn't stand up to Higara. He was dangerous. Tobias wiped his wet cheeks and went over to his bag. He wrapped his best friend's dagger with a piece of clothing and stowed it safely into his pack. His best and only friend was gone.
It had started raining and Isabel pulled the hood of her cloak over her head. The 3 girls were soaking wet. Finally, Taja stopped. "I think we should stop for the day!" she yelled through the rain. Raine nodded to show that she had heard. "I'm going to find shelter!" she yelled back. "Stay here!" Raine hurried away, searching for anywhere that was dry. After a few yards, she found stone. Circling the natural stonewall, She found an opening. She unsheathed her sword and started towards the cave slowly. Then, her strange sixth sense kicked up.
All sounds of rain faded away and all she heard was soft footsteps behind her. Before she could react though, Raine felt the tip of a sword on her back. "Turn around."
There was a light. It shone bright against the blackness that surrounded Aries. Then, the light grew larger and larger. Aries jerked awake and he coughed immediately. The water that had filled his lungs was dispelled from his body. Coughing violently, Aries sat up, his head aching badly. Suddenly, all his memory came back. Higara. Aries looked around. He had been swept up on the riverbank. It was a miracle that he had not drowned. Aries realized that he was clutching something tightly. Unclenching his fist, he found a black feather. "The Raven," he whispered. "The spirit saved me." Aries got up with difficulty, the raven feather still in his hand. Aries unsheathed his own sword and looked around. He had no idea where he was. Cursing Higara, Aries started in a direction that he hoped was right. It had started to rain hard.
Aries reached the stone barrier and started to follow it. Suddenly, he heard something. He looked around. His keen eyesight took in every detail. Then he saw him. A figure was standing before a cave, his sword unsheathed. Aries walked slowly towards him, his sword raised in defense. The figure tensed suddenly and made a motion to turn around. Aries touched the figure with the tip of his sword. "Turn around," he ordered. The person slowly turned to face him.
Raine turned slowly to face the man. She held up her chin defiantly, her hand gripping her sword. The man started. "You're a girl?"
"So what?" she said, flipping her damp red hair to the side. "You against girls?" The man didn't lower his sword. "Who are you?" he demanded. "How 'bout you tell me who you are," Raine flung back. The man smiled, but it wasn't a humorous one. "I'm sorry. Who's the one with the sword? Who's the one cornered here?" Raine glared at him. "Who are you?" he repeated. Finally, Raine answered it. "Raine." The man nearly dropped his sword. "What?" "Raine!" she said again, getting impatient. While he was standing there being a pain in the butt, her friends were under a tree somewhere, soaking wet. Any minute a lightning bolt may come crashing down and strike her friends. The man's mouth was halfway open. "Close your mouth," Raine said. The man didn't answer her. Finally, he got some words out. "Can I see your arm?"
"What," Raine asked disbelievingly. She wasn't expecting a specific answer, but this was one reply she had not expected. "Let me see your arm!" Raine shook her head. "No." The man took a step forward, his sword lowered. Raine had her sword at his neck in a flash. "Stay away from me," she ordered. The man looked at her long and hard. "I mean no harm. Let me see your arm." Raine looked at him suspiciously. "What for?" "Do you have a birthmark?" Raine wasn't expecting this for an answer. "What?" she gasped. "Do you?" Raine quickly recovered. "Look, it's none of your business if I have a birthmark or no."
She was still denying it, but Aries could tell from her reaction that she did have a birthmark. If this was actually Raine... he had to know for sure. Aries thought furiously. How can he trick her into revealing something? His best chance was to shoot questions at her and catch her off guard.
"Is your birthmark some strange symbol?" Raine fixed him with an icy glare and scowled. "I told you, it's none of your business." Okay... so she recovered over the birthmark questions. He should question her with other things. "Are you alone or are you with companions? Coincidentally, are there two others with you? Young women?"
Raine began to feel panic inside her. How did this man know so much about her? "What's your name?" she asked, trying to keep her alarm hidden. "I told you mine, it's only fair if you tell me yours." Raine hoped he didn't hear the fear that was beginning to show in her voice. Who was he? The man smiled. "Yes, I suppose. My name's Aries." Raine continued to fix him with an eagle eye glare. Aries... where had she heard that name before? The man sighed. "I'm not sure if you realized this, but it's pouring out here and we could easily die from pneumonia or something." Raine continued to stare at him, trying to recall reminiscence from the back of her mind. Suddenly it clicked. "Aries. You're one of the soldiers that attacked Wizsengard!"
"What?" Aries was taken by surprise this time. "How do you know that?" He demanded. "So you are a soldier." Raine looked at him. "Why'd you attack my kingdom?" "Your kingdom? You don't belong there! Not if you really are Raine! You belong with---"He stopped abruptly. He had said too much. "What----?" she started but was interrupted.
Taja led the way, Gracie's hand held tightly in hers and the reins of her horse in the other. "Where do you suppose Raine is?" Isabel called from behind. Taja shrugged, but realized that Isabel couldn't see her. The mare was blocking them. "I don't know. Maybe she got lost."
"Well, We're making it worst right? What if she went back and we weren't there? Or if she got hurt and we're going the wrong way? Or if-----," Isabel said, biting her lip.
Taja sighed. She let go of Gracie's hand and the horse's rein for a second. She turned around to face the worried girl. "Isabel, stop worrying. She's fine. We've only known each other for 2 days, but we can both tell that she can definitely take care of herself. It's okay. "Isabel smiled at Taja, glad she wasn't alone. Taja turned and grabbed the rein of the horse. Wrapping the thin rope around her wrist several times, she looked up at the sky. It was beginning to get dark. The raindrops hit hr face. "At least the rain seems to be letting up." Taja noted. She took Gracie's hand again and began to start forward. "Wait."
Taja turned. Isabel was standing behind her. Her brow was furrowed and her eyes filled with wary. She was standing still, as if listening to something. Taja sighed again. "Isabel, you can't be serious. I told you that Raine's fine--."
Isabel held up one hand, her head turned towards the side, listening. "Do you hear that?" Taja looked around and listened hard. She didn't hear anything, only the soft pitter -patter of the relenting rain. "What? I don't hear anything."
"It's not really a sound. More like a feeling." Taja looked at her with great concern. "Isabel, you're tired. Maybe you haven't recovered from your fall." Isabel shook her head. "I feel something. It's a great emotion. It's fear and confusion. But... it's not mine."
Taja looked alarmed. "Isabel..." But Isabel already started walking to the right. The rain had fully stopped now, but neither of the girls has noticed this. Isabel was concentrating on her call, and Taja was worried about her new, but already very close, friend. Isabel stepped from the foliage and into a clearing. "Raine, we've been looking all over for you, I..." She trailed off. Taja couldn't see Raine because Isabel was blocking her. She stepped to the side and saw what had made Isabel stop.
Taja saw Raine first, or rather, the back of Raine. But as she turned to the side, Taja realized that she wasn't the only one standing there. A man was standing before Raine, his sword drawn, but dangling uselessly to the side. Raine had her sword to his neck. When the man saw Isabel and Taja, he did something that surprised them both. He smiled. "So..." he said, turning back to Raine. "You are not alone as I have guessed?"
Raine gripped the hilt of her sword. She really didn't like this man. He knew too much about hr for comfort and was way to perky. "Raine, what's going on?" It was Isabel. Raine didn't take off her steely gaze from Aries's face. "Nothing," she muttered. "Nothing?" It was Taja speaking this time, her voice filled with disbelief and confusion. "Nothing? We come and find you threatening a complete stranger with your sword and u call this nothing?" Raine didn't answer. She continued, this time, her tone playful. "Either we're about to witness a murder, or you're trying to flirt in a very strange way."
At this, Raine finally released her piercing glare from Aries's face. She whipped her head around, hair swishing and eyes flashing. "Taja!" Aries took advantage of her distraction to grab Raine's sword arm and twist it, making her drop the sword. Raine knelt and tried to grab her fallen sword, but Aries put his foot on it. Raine glared at him. "Sorry about that, mi lady, but I had to," he said, cracking a smile. Raine didn't smile back. On the contrary, she shot him an icy look.
Isabel looked at the man. He seemed vaguely familiar to her. Wait... The smile and tousled hair. "Aries?" she asked. Aries jumped and turned quickly to face her. "What?" Taja's eyes lit up with recognition. "Your voice! You were the soldier who talked back!" Aries stared at them. "How do all of you know about me---."
"---How do you know so much about us?" Raine cut in, getting to her feet. "Well?" She demanded, hands on her hips. Her pride was bruised and she wasn't going to forgive him that easily.
Aries stalled. He looked at all three girls, taking in their similarities. He can tell which one's which. His city was forever talking about the tale of the Lost Ones. He knew it by heart. It was everyone's favorite story, next to the Quest of the Fellowship. There was Isabel, the fair, Taja, the Kind, and Raine, the fiery. He smiled. He can tell that Raine was indeed fiery. But there was another young girl. Who was she? She was young, probably only five or six. Her brown hair was dirty and her eyes were aqua blue. This girl stared back at him, curiously. Probably some orphan, he guessed. They must've found her during the battle. Aries looked up to see the young women again. It struck him how alike they were.
They probably couldn't see that they looked alike, but he can tell. All three of them had a deep forest green eyes, silky hair, and sensitive pale skin. They were all tall and slender. But there were differences as well. Isabel had straight, darker than midnight black hair. Her hair was long and tied back with a ribbon. Her hair fell down her back to her waist. Out of the three young women, she was the most elegant looking. Isabel had a quiet, shy look about her. Taja was good-natured. He can just tell. Her lips were turned up at the edges, like she was forever smiling. Her hair was long, but not as long as Isabel, and had lightened to a brownish shade. Her hair was slightly wavy and curled slightly at the edges. And last but not least, was Raine; He had yet to see her smile. She was pretty, but didn't look friendly. Aries looked at her. Raine's eyes were always cold and distant, well, to him, and she looked like she had a permanent scowl fixed on her face. Raine's hair was brown with red streaks in it. Obviously she had been out in the sun a lot. Her waves were around the same length as Taja.
"Well?" Raine was getting impatient. Was this man going to answer her question or not? Finally, he heaved a sigh. "Okay, you win. I'll tell you all I know. I was meaning to anyways, let's find shelter." Raine remembered the cave. She turned and started towards it, but someone stopped her, by grabbing her arm. She turned. Aries shook his head.
"It's too dangerous. I'll go check it out first." Raine pulled out of his grasp, glaring at him. Aries stared back, unaffected, and started towards the cave, his sword raised. Raine walked back to Taja and Isabel. Taja immediately threw her arms around Raine. Raine was surprised. "I'm sorry," Taja said in a muffled voice. "I was just teasing." Raine stood there awkwardly. "Uh... it's okay," she said after a while. Taja stepped back and looked at Raine. "You don't like him don't you?" Isabel laughed a little. "That's an understatement." Raine scowled. "I don't trust him. He attacked me with his sword."
Isabel looked at Raine. She remembered before she had seen Raine, what she had felt. Was it Raine's fear she had experienced? Stop it! She ordered herself silently. Quit scaring yourself. Isabel came back to the present. Aries was coming out of the cave.
"It's okay, but a bit drafty. And we can't exactly build a fire in it," he added, looking at Raine. Taja answered before Raine could. "That's fine. We can build a fire outside of the cave and warm up. When we want to go to bed, we can just go in." She looked nervously at the cave. "Are you sure there's no bats?" Aries shook his head, slightly amused. "No."
"What about spiders?" she asked, not taking her eyes from the mouth of the cave. Aries looked at Isabel, his eyebrows raised. Isabel smiled back. Raine watched the exchange with a stony silence. "No spiders, "he said. "Good, because I loathe spiders," Taja said, not noticing the laugh in Aries's voice.
Aries woke up all of the sudden. He couldn't breathe! Someone was choking him. Aries struggled wildly and the person chuckled. It was Higara. "Not so cocky now, huh?" he scorned. Aries kicked him and his foot made contact. Higara grunted and loosened his hold. Aries reached for his dagger, but Higara quickly recovered. He punched Aries and the young man fell back. Higara dragged him up and tried to make him stand. Aries kicked him again and shook out of his grasp. Aries turned and pulled out his dagger. He tried to stab Higara, but the man grabbed his arm in mid-air. Higara twisted it and Aries had to drop it in pain. Higara hit him over the head and Aries slumped to the ground, unconscious. Higara laughed softly. He dragged Aries's body over to the river and pushed him in. "Have a nice swim," Higara said, grinning evilly as Aries drifted down the river. Higara turned away and started walking back to camp. Aries would certainly drown and he would be rid of the tiresome fool.
Tobias woke up. It was nearly dawn and the soldiers were packing up and getting ready to leave. He got up and stretched. Tobias glanced towards the direction of the tree his best friend had spent the night, but did a double take. He wasn't there.
Tobias tried to calm himself. Aries could've gotten up earlier and went for a walk. But as he strode towards the spot where Aries had laid, he couldn't help remembering Higara's threat. Tobias reached the tree and looked around. He found Aries's dagger. He wouldn't have left it there for nothing. Tobias studied the ground. There was no mistake, a struggle had taken here. Tobias sensed someone behind him and found himself facing Higara.
"You," Tobias breathed. "You killed him, didn't you?" Higara smiled horribly. "I heard wolves howling last night. Maybe he became a midnight snack for them." Tobias clenched Aries's blade. "You liar!" he yelled. "What have you done to him?" Higara smiled at Tobias's fury. Then, he left. Tobias stood there, at lost for words. Higara killed Aries. He was sure of that. But what can he do? Everyone would believe him, but they wouldn't stand up to Higara. He was dangerous. Tobias wiped his wet cheeks and went over to his bag. He wrapped his best friend's dagger with a piece of clothing and stowed it safely into his pack. His best and only friend was gone.
It had started raining and Isabel pulled the hood of her cloak over her head. The 3 girls were soaking wet. Finally, Taja stopped. "I think we should stop for the day!" she yelled through the rain. Raine nodded to show that she had heard. "I'm going to find shelter!" she yelled back. "Stay here!" Raine hurried away, searching for anywhere that was dry. After a few yards, she found stone. Circling the natural stonewall, She found an opening. She unsheathed her sword and started towards the cave slowly. Then, her strange sixth sense kicked up.
All sounds of rain faded away and all she heard was soft footsteps behind her. Before she could react though, Raine felt the tip of a sword on her back. "Turn around."
There was a light. It shone bright against the blackness that surrounded Aries. Then, the light grew larger and larger. Aries jerked awake and he coughed immediately. The water that had filled his lungs was dispelled from his body. Coughing violently, Aries sat up, his head aching badly. Suddenly, all his memory came back. Higara. Aries looked around. He had been swept up on the riverbank. It was a miracle that he had not drowned. Aries realized that he was clutching something tightly. Unclenching his fist, he found a black feather. "The Raven," he whispered. "The spirit saved me." Aries got up with difficulty, the raven feather still in his hand. Aries unsheathed his own sword and looked around. He had no idea where he was. Cursing Higara, Aries started in a direction that he hoped was right. It had started to rain hard.
Aries reached the stone barrier and started to follow it. Suddenly, he heard something. He looked around. His keen eyesight took in every detail. Then he saw him. A figure was standing before a cave, his sword unsheathed. Aries walked slowly towards him, his sword raised in defense. The figure tensed suddenly and made a motion to turn around. Aries touched the figure with the tip of his sword. "Turn around," he ordered. The person slowly turned to face him.
Raine turned slowly to face the man. She held up her chin defiantly, her hand gripping her sword. The man started. "You're a girl?"
"So what?" she said, flipping her damp red hair to the side. "You against girls?" The man didn't lower his sword. "Who are you?" he demanded. "How 'bout you tell me who you are," Raine flung back. The man smiled, but it wasn't a humorous one. "I'm sorry. Who's the one with the sword? Who's the one cornered here?" Raine glared at him. "Who are you?" he repeated. Finally, Raine answered it. "Raine." The man nearly dropped his sword. "What?" "Raine!" she said again, getting impatient. While he was standing there being a pain in the butt, her friends were under a tree somewhere, soaking wet. Any minute a lightning bolt may come crashing down and strike her friends. The man's mouth was halfway open. "Close your mouth," Raine said. The man didn't answer her. Finally, he got some words out. "Can I see your arm?"
"What," Raine asked disbelievingly. She wasn't expecting a specific answer, but this was one reply she had not expected. "Let me see your arm!" Raine shook her head. "No." The man took a step forward, his sword lowered. Raine had her sword at his neck in a flash. "Stay away from me," she ordered. The man looked at her long and hard. "I mean no harm. Let me see your arm." Raine looked at him suspiciously. "What for?" "Do you have a birthmark?" Raine wasn't expecting this for an answer. "What?" she gasped. "Do you?" Raine quickly recovered. "Look, it's none of your business if I have a birthmark or no."
She was still denying it, but Aries could tell from her reaction that she did have a birthmark. If this was actually Raine... he had to know for sure. Aries thought furiously. How can he trick her into revealing something? His best chance was to shoot questions at her and catch her off guard.
"Is your birthmark some strange symbol?" Raine fixed him with an icy glare and scowled. "I told you, it's none of your business." Okay... so she recovered over the birthmark questions. He should question her with other things. "Are you alone or are you with companions? Coincidentally, are there two others with you? Young women?"
Raine began to feel panic inside her. How did this man know so much about her? "What's your name?" she asked, trying to keep her alarm hidden. "I told you mine, it's only fair if you tell me yours." Raine hoped he didn't hear the fear that was beginning to show in her voice. Who was he? The man smiled. "Yes, I suppose. My name's Aries." Raine continued to fix him with an eagle eye glare. Aries... where had she heard that name before? The man sighed. "I'm not sure if you realized this, but it's pouring out here and we could easily die from pneumonia or something." Raine continued to stare at him, trying to recall reminiscence from the back of her mind. Suddenly it clicked. "Aries. You're one of the soldiers that attacked Wizsengard!"
"What?" Aries was taken by surprise this time. "How do you know that?" He demanded. "So you are a soldier." Raine looked at him. "Why'd you attack my kingdom?" "Your kingdom? You don't belong there! Not if you really are Raine! You belong with---"He stopped abruptly. He had said too much. "What----?" she started but was interrupted.
Taja led the way, Gracie's hand held tightly in hers and the reins of her horse in the other. "Where do you suppose Raine is?" Isabel called from behind. Taja shrugged, but realized that Isabel couldn't see her. The mare was blocking them. "I don't know. Maybe she got lost."
"Well, We're making it worst right? What if she went back and we weren't there? Or if she got hurt and we're going the wrong way? Or if-----," Isabel said, biting her lip.
Taja sighed. She let go of Gracie's hand and the horse's rein for a second. She turned around to face the worried girl. "Isabel, stop worrying. She's fine. We've only known each other for 2 days, but we can both tell that she can definitely take care of herself. It's okay. "Isabel smiled at Taja, glad she wasn't alone. Taja turned and grabbed the rein of the horse. Wrapping the thin rope around her wrist several times, she looked up at the sky. It was beginning to get dark. The raindrops hit hr face. "At least the rain seems to be letting up." Taja noted. She took Gracie's hand again and began to start forward. "Wait."
Taja turned. Isabel was standing behind her. Her brow was furrowed and her eyes filled with wary. She was standing still, as if listening to something. Taja sighed again. "Isabel, you can't be serious. I told you that Raine's fine--."
Isabel held up one hand, her head turned towards the side, listening. "Do you hear that?" Taja looked around and listened hard. She didn't hear anything, only the soft pitter -patter of the relenting rain. "What? I don't hear anything."
"It's not really a sound. More like a feeling." Taja looked at her with great concern. "Isabel, you're tired. Maybe you haven't recovered from your fall." Isabel shook her head. "I feel something. It's a great emotion. It's fear and confusion. But... it's not mine."
Taja looked alarmed. "Isabel..." But Isabel already started walking to the right. The rain had fully stopped now, but neither of the girls has noticed this. Isabel was concentrating on her call, and Taja was worried about her new, but already very close, friend. Isabel stepped from the foliage and into a clearing. "Raine, we've been looking all over for you, I..." She trailed off. Taja couldn't see Raine because Isabel was blocking her. She stepped to the side and saw what had made Isabel stop.
Taja saw Raine first, or rather, the back of Raine. But as she turned to the side, Taja realized that she wasn't the only one standing there. A man was standing before Raine, his sword drawn, but dangling uselessly to the side. Raine had her sword to his neck. When the man saw Isabel and Taja, he did something that surprised them both. He smiled. "So..." he said, turning back to Raine. "You are not alone as I have guessed?"
Raine gripped the hilt of her sword. She really didn't like this man. He knew too much about hr for comfort and was way to perky. "Raine, what's going on?" It was Isabel. Raine didn't take off her steely gaze from Aries's face. "Nothing," she muttered. "Nothing?" It was Taja speaking this time, her voice filled with disbelief and confusion. "Nothing? We come and find you threatening a complete stranger with your sword and u call this nothing?" Raine didn't answer. She continued, this time, her tone playful. "Either we're about to witness a murder, or you're trying to flirt in a very strange way."
At this, Raine finally released her piercing glare from Aries's face. She whipped her head around, hair swishing and eyes flashing. "Taja!" Aries took advantage of her distraction to grab Raine's sword arm and twist it, making her drop the sword. Raine knelt and tried to grab her fallen sword, but Aries put his foot on it. Raine glared at him. "Sorry about that, mi lady, but I had to," he said, cracking a smile. Raine didn't smile back. On the contrary, she shot him an icy look.
Isabel looked at the man. He seemed vaguely familiar to her. Wait... The smile and tousled hair. "Aries?" she asked. Aries jumped and turned quickly to face her. "What?" Taja's eyes lit up with recognition. "Your voice! You were the soldier who talked back!" Aries stared at them. "How do all of you know about me---."
"---How do you know so much about us?" Raine cut in, getting to her feet. "Well?" She demanded, hands on her hips. Her pride was bruised and she wasn't going to forgive him that easily.
Aries stalled. He looked at all three girls, taking in their similarities. He can tell which one's which. His city was forever talking about the tale of the Lost Ones. He knew it by heart. It was everyone's favorite story, next to the Quest of the Fellowship. There was Isabel, the fair, Taja, the Kind, and Raine, the fiery. He smiled. He can tell that Raine was indeed fiery. But there was another young girl. Who was she? She was young, probably only five or six. Her brown hair was dirty and her eyes were aqua blue. This girl stared back at him, curiously. Probably some orphan, he guessed. They must've found her during the battle. Aries looked up to see the young women again. It struck him how alike they were.
They probably couldn't see that they looked alike, but he can tell. All three of them had a deep forest green eyes, silky hair, and sensitive pale skin. They were all tall and slender. But there were differences as well. Isabel had straight, darker than midnight black hair. Her hair was long and tied back with a ribbon. Her hair fell down her back to her waist. Out of the three young women, she was the most elegant looking. Isabel had a quiet, shy look about her. Taja was good-natured. He can just tell. Her lips were turned up at the edges, like she was forever smiling. Her hair was long, but not as long as Isabel, and had lightened to a brownish shade. Her hair was slightly wavy and curled slightly at the edges. And last but not least, was Raine; He had yet to see her smile. She was pretty, but didn't look friendly. Aries looked at her. Raine's eyes were always cold and distant, well, to him, and she looked like she had a permanent scowl fixed on her face. Raine's hair was brown with red streaks in it. Obviously she had been out in the sun a lot. Her waves were around the same length as Taja.
"Well?" Raine was getting impatient. Was this man going to answer her question or not? Finally, he heaved a sigh. "Okay, you win. I'll tell you all I know. I was meaning to anyways, let's find shelter." Raine remembered the cave. She turned and started towards it, but someone stopped her, by grabbing her arm. She turned. Aries shook his head.
"It's too dangerous. I'll go check it out first." Raine pulled out of his grasp, glaring at him. Aries stared back, unaffected, and started towards the cave, his sword raised. Raine walked back to Taja and Isabel. Taja immediately threw her arms around Raine. Raine was surprised. "I'm sorry," Taja said in a muffled voice. "I was just teasing." Raine stood there awkwardly. "Uh... it's okay," she said after a while. Taja stepped back and looked at Raine. "You don't like him don't you?" Isabel laughed a little. "That's an understatement." Raine scowled. "I don't trust him. He attacked me with his sword."
Isabel looked at Raine. She remembered before she had seen Raine, what she had felt. Was it Raine's fear she had experienced? Stop it! She ordered herself silently. Quit scaring yourself. Isabel came back to the present. Aries was coming out of the cave.
"It's okay, but a bit drafty. And we can't exactly build a fire in it," he added, looking at Raine. Taja answered before Raine could. "That's fine. We can build a fire outside of the cave and warm up. When we want to go to bed, we can just go in." She looked nervously at the cave. "Are you sure there's no bats?" Aries shook his head, slightly amused. "No."
"What about spiders?" she asked, not taking her eyes from the mouth of the cave. Aries looked at Isabel, his eyebrows raised. Isabel smiled back. Raine watched the exchange with a stony silence. "No spiders, "he said. "Good, because I loathe spiders," Taja said, not noticing the laugh in Aries's voice.
