Author's Note: Never have I found a chapter so difficult to write. Why? I'm writing a story about survivors in a ruined city searching for their loved ones, essentially, and right now there are tens of thousands of survivors in a ruined city for real, thousands dead, all starving without food or water. I'm referring to the flooding of New Orleans. I can say 'my thoughts go out to all those involved', but it really doesn't sum it up, does it? What can I say? I can't even comprehend the suffering those people must be going through. I want to hope everybody's okay, but with possible thousands dead already, that's hardly likely is it? I just hope everybody who survived can get out before it gets too bad. I feel really guilty writing a story like this for my own enjoyment at a time like this, but I did it anyway. I guess it just proves I'm very selfish.

To make matters worse, a thousand people have died in a stampede in Iraq. It's a very sad time for everybody all over the globe. Never have I felt luckier to be safe and unharmed than I do today. And I'm English, I don't live in either of the countries affected, or know anybody who was, but I still can't help but feel really bad, and just hope for the very best to happen now. I hope the people who have lost loved ones can find peace, and I hope everybody can escape New Orleans before anymore lives are lost.

Sorry for the depressive author's note, but I really felt I should say something. Here's the chapter, at least.

BACK TO THE WALL

Maialin grumbled to herself, the huge pack still on her back. She was confident that Vahlahn was going to volunteer to carry it, but apparently he had decided not to. It was blackened by tar, it had been on her back after all when she fell in, but luckily the contents had been unharmed. Leine was also grumbling, but only because it was in her nature to complain at just about every given moment, or so it seemed to Maialin at least. Vahlahn was leading the party, and Maialin was surprisingly relieved, while she liked being in charge and the feeling of experience she had, it was nice to have the responsibility lifted. Besides, if she was honest, she wasn't entirely confident in her abilities to lead, whereas she believed in Vahlahn. He had travelled with Arziel enough, and seemed to know what he was doing.

The Northern Wall fell into view and Leine let out a sigh.

"Finally!" She cried, only to be met by stares from the others. "What?" She asked. Vahlahn just sighed and continued walking. Maialin turned away, but Leine had a funny feeling she was rolling her eyes. Leine hurried after them, her feet pounding with pain and her body feeling exhausted. The heat seemed less than the previous days, but it was still tough to bare.

"I suggest we stop for a rest at the-" Vahlahn begun.

"Yes!" Leine cheered, cutting him off. She was met by more stares. "Sorry." She muttered, looking to the floor. Vahlahn shook his head in confusion.
"-at the wall." He continued. "We can eat food under the cover of the guards, and once we pass through the wall we'll be against Charr, and need all the energy we can get." Leine gulped and Maialin nodded. Vahlahn continued towards the wall, and the two women followed.

It was mere moments before they were sat around on the rocks, the Ascalon Guards doing their best to ignore them. Leine had taken off her boots (still stained black from the tar) and was rubbing her own feet. Maialin smirked.

"Somebody's feet hurting?" She asked.

"Yes. I know. You told me so." Leine sighed, looking at the boots. "I'm still better off than Vahlahn!" Vahlahn looked over his own clothing, grey and brown from dirst, full of holes from different injuries, scorched in places from close contact with lightning and fire spells, and now he was minus his jacket, part of which was still stuck to Maialin's armour and part which had been thrown away after she ripped it trying to get it off.

"It's okay. I've collected quite a few trinkets over the years." Vahlahn smiled. "You'd be surprised what you can find in a wasteland like this." Vahlahn dug through the beaten satchel he had been carrying (it was such a common sight the two women hadn't noticed it until that point). "This, for example." He pulled out a diamond necklace, a golden chain hanging from the immaculate jewel. Leine's blue eyes suddenly seemed to sparkle. "I guess some poor woman was trapped outside during the Searing." He sighed. "Must be worth…" He trailed off, slightly disturbed by how Leine's eyes followed the jewel wherever it went. "…quite…a….lot." He said slowly, distracted by Leine. He closed his hand around it and Leine let out a disappointed murmur, before he slipped it back in his satchel. "And that's nothing. Old weapons, pieces of armour. Stuff I've found make that seem worthless."

"If it's worthless, can I-" Leine began with a smile.
"No, you can't have it." He said simply. Her face fell. "It's not that worthless."

"Can we at least eat?" Leine asked miserably.

"Now that isn't a bad idea." Maialin input. Vahlahn pulled the pack over to him and began to dig through it.

"Fine. Do I have to cook again?" Vahlahn asked with a sigh.

"I'll do it!" Leine volunteered, although Vahlahn was certain she was just trying to get on his good side so that she could have the diamond necklace.

"Leine, can you even cook?" Maialin asked sceptically.

"Are you kidding? I'm as good at cooking as I am at acting!" She replied. Maialin's face dropped in horror. Leine grinned slightly, knowing that that was the perfect way to get out of it. This way she'd volunteered, but didn't have to do any of the work.
"Please! Vahlahn! Keep her away from the food!" Maialin begged. Vahlahn sighed.

"I miss being in solitude." He muttered. Leine looked up as she noticed an Ascalon guard approaching them.

"We are allowed to be here, right?" Leine asked Maialin with a gulp.

"Of course." Maialin sighed.

"You three." The guard spoke. "You heading past the wall?"

"That's the plan." Maialin said confidently.

"Why?" Vahlahn sounded suspicious. "A problem on the other side?"

"More like a lack of it." The guard explained. "We haven't heard anything from the Charr. Not for a good week now. Unlike them to be playing things peacefully."

"You think they're planning something?" Vahlahn assumed.

"Don't be silly." Leine laughed. "They're beasts. What could they plan?"

"They destroyed this city, didn't they?" The guard shot. Leine's smile faded and she fell silent, feeling rather guilty. She looked to the floor as her cheeks burnt red. "I don't know. But consider it a warning. Where you headed?"

"To Shiverpeak, in the long run." Vahlahn answered.

"You'll be stopping by the Duke, I assume?" The guard guessed. "Please, if you find out what they're up to, tell him. This city can't stand another Charr attack."

"Now, I'm sure the Ascalon Guard could easily handle that little issue." Vahlahn said with a slight smile. "What aren't you telling us?" The guard paused, surprised by Vahlahn's intelligent guess.

"Our guard are scattered thin, and the risk of the Charr is too great." The guard explained. "None of us want to go and get butchered by those monsters." Leine turned a literal white upon hearing how feared the Charr were, even by the guards.

"I've seen the guard handle Charr before." Vahlahn commented. "It's nothing to be afraid of."

"Perhaps, but we're losing soldiers all the time. We can't risk anymore losses." He paused. "Just the other day a devourer got one sleeping on the job, before that, we disgraced some twisted necromancer who thought it was okay to resurrect her own comrades, you get the idea." Maialin's face suddenly turned an unusually bright shade of red and she looked away. "We're losing troops all the time, and if we're going to face another Charr attack, we need everybody we can."

"So you get us travellers to do your dirty work." It was a statement, not a question.. Vahlahn had already figured it out.

"Your headed that way anyway, aren't you?" The guard smiled under his crimson helmet. Vahlahn sighed heavily.

Leine didn't have a chance for a dramatic slow step through the gate as Maialin was behind her, and moving quickly. They stepped outside of the wall, the solid brown ground and devastated wasteland spread out before them. Apart from the lack of shards of the city, it looked the same as the rest of Ascalon. Leine seemed overly anxious to pick up the pace and keep moving, wanting to get to the safety as the captured area belong to the Duke as soon as possible. Of course, this just meant she soon tired out and was lagging behind.

It was almost an hour later that Vahlahn threw his hand up, motioning to them to stop.

"We're being hunted." He said simply.

"W-what?" Leine stammered.

"You sure?" Maialin asked curiously.

"Look, the rocks behind us, to the right." He said. Maialin and Leine turned, realising he meant a rock on the raised ground above them. They both looked curiously.

"I don't see anything!" Leine said far too loudly. The scowl Vahlahn gave her made sure she would be quiet.

"You sure?" Maialin whispered. Vahlahn didn't respond. For a moment, Maialin thought she saw something behind the rock, but it quickly hid itself. "Your right."

"W-w-what do we do?" Leine sounded as if she was going to cry.

"Keep moving. Be prepared." Vahlahn told her. "If it attacks, be ready to run or fight." Leine whimpered and Maialin nodded. The three continued onwards.

Leine wasn't the most observant, and she was now utterly petrified, her hands squeezed tightly together, her whole body shaking, and her eyes constantly fluttering around, watching everything. Despite her lack of observation skills, even she was now painfully aware of the odd scuffling noise from behind. Something was following them. She was so scared she felt sick. A stray tear escaped and ran down her face, and she quickly became glad that neither Maialin nor Vahlahn were paying her any attention.

The beast locked its eyes onto the female straggling behind the group. The woman dressed in green, her tiny figure shaking like a fragile leaf. She was the least threatening, and easily removed. The other female was dressed in metal, she would be problematic. The male seemed to carry himself with a confidence, a hidden power that even the beast could sense. Its eyes narrowed. Humans were predictable. If he assaulted the weak female, the others would come to her protection. They would come in close. Neither were warriors, the beast could tell. He would lure them close and then rip them to shreds.

"Maia." Leine whimpered, getting left behind again. Her fear was wearing her down and she was becoming tired. Vahlahn and Maialin were moving faster now too, and she was beginning to struggle to keep up. "Maia. Wait." She sounded now as if she was sobbing she was so scared. "Maia, I can't keep up with-" Leine's voice drowned out as a massive roar pierced the air. She shrieked in pure terror. A huge monster leapt out and grabbed her, pinning her against the ground.

Vahlahn turned slowly, his grey eyes locking onto the massive beast. Horns stuck out of the top of its head, gigantic teeth jutted out of its monstrous wolf-like jaw, its deadly yellow eyes beamed with rage, its hunched body covered in fur brimmed with muscle. Spikes stuck out of its back and it wore a belt and padding around its wrists and ankles forged from the skins of murdered victims. He recognised it instantly. He had seen enough of them.

It was a Charr.

Leine continued screaming so loudly Maialin felt the urge to cover her ears. The Charr snarled, lifting her up and pinning her against the wall. Maialin ran towards it, but a hand on her shoulder held her back with an amazing strength.

"No, Maia." Vahlahn stated.

"We need to get it off of her! It's killing her!" Maialin protested.

"It's trying to lure us close." He explained. "I'll sort this one out." Vahlahn took a confident step forwards. "Beast. Set her down. Now." The Charr just growled at Vahlahn. He seemed un-phased. "The winds are my ally, beast. The whirlwinds shall set her down if you do not." A great wind picked up, blowing Maialin's purple hair in front of her eyes. The Charr stood, tensing its muscles and trying to stand its ground. It was picked and blown away, crashing down while Leine was sent flying from its grip, crashing down some distance away. The Charr quickly scrambled to its feet, but lighting struck it, tearing through it and causing it to fall backwards. Maialin began sucking away the Charr's life energies as she always did, but it didn't seem to be affected it. The Charr sprung to its feet and charged Vahlahn.

Vahlahn didn't move. It continued to approach before skidding to a stop. It looked down at him. His grey lifeless eyes met the deadly yellow of the beast. It let out a curious whimper, and fled. Maialin suddenly looked at Vahlahn in shock. He kept his fixed stare until the Charr had gone, and then strode towards Leine.

"What was that about?" Maialin inquired in shock.

"Not now. Leine's hurt." Vahlahn snapped. Maialin ran after him, suddenly seeming very concerned.

"Is she alright?" She asked quickly. Leine may annoy her at times, but she was still her friend.

"It hurts!" Leine whined from the ground. She leant forwards to clutch her ankle, but her head started pounding as soon as she did and she collapsed again. She brought a hand to her head, and felt sticky blood.

"Are you alright?" Vahlahn asked in a business like matter.

"No! It hurts! My ankle! My head!" Leine sobbed. Vahlahn sighed.

"I know a few healing spells. Give me a moment." Maialin said quickly, bending down and placing a hand on Leine's head. A white light washed over her. "I trained with the monks for a bit." She explained. "Part of my military training, you can never have too many healers." Leine's head and ankle still hurt, but it became bearable.

"I'm sorry for causing that, Leine." Vahlahn told her. "It was necessary, but I'm still sorry. You're unlucky for landing on your head."

"You're telling me." Leine grumbled. "That blood has totally ruined my hair!" Maialin laughed.

"Least she's not too badly hurt." She smiled. "It's when she forgoes her fashion sense I'd be worried." Vahlahn broke a smile.

"Come on." He decided. "Leine? Can you stand?" Leine got up, and swayed a little, putting her weight against Maialin. She tried to put weight on her ankle, but winced.

"Not really." She decided. Vahlahn looked at Maialin, who had the pack still on her back. He sighed and lifted her arm around his shoulder. He was taller than her, so had to hunch slightly so that she could still walk easily.

"This might be easier if you carried me." She suggested with an innocent smile, her hair falling down across her face. Vahlahn smiled, pushing it back. When he withdrew her hand, she noticed the diamond necklace was now hanging around her neck. Her eyes lit up. "Forget I said anything!" She beamed. Vahlahn laughed.

Maialin suddenly paused as she remembered the events with the Charr, and how it had run as it saw Vahlahn. Vahlahn turned to her, and her eyes met his. She felt a chill run down her spine.

"C'mon, Maia!" He called. She nodded, and hurried after him.