Disclaimer: I do NOT own Diablo or any of its components. If I did I'd be working on some other cool and amazing game. All I own is my own characters, their personalities and everything else that I can come up with, like cities and weapons.

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Headache-with-pictures: I can see why you would think that they are going towards the Rouge Camp... I tell you they're not... Wait and see... And, yes, the rouges most certainly has moved into the monastery, but my story takes place about a thousand years after the Prime Evils were Killed, so the world has changed a bit and new villages, and cities will occur. A Carver-camp you say? Maybe not yet, but they are attacked in this chapter... Thank you for reviewing and I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Act 3 - They arrive late

"Awaken."

Amiko open her eyes. She was sure she had heard something. She looked around but couldn't see anything. She heard Connor sleeping by the other side of the remains of the campfire. However she could not see him. The moon seemed to have disappeared and no stars were up either. "Strange. It is still dark, but there should at least be some light from the moon." Amiko sat up. She rubbed her eyes and tried to focus a bit more. But it didn't help much. It was still pitch-black darkness in front of her. She gave up and lied down again. "I'm sure I heard something. Maybe it was just Connor talking in his sleep." She closed her eyes and felt how sleep came over her.

"Watch out!"

Amikos ayes flew wide open and she sat up.

"Who's there? Answer!"

No one answered. All Amiko could hear was Connors slow breathing. She slowly looked around, listened and tried to focus. Her breathing was uncontrolled and her heartbeats had increased and she could hear her own pulse in her ears. She drew a deep breath and exhaled. "What's wrong with me? There's nothing out there. There's nothing out there." Her breathing slowly came back to normal. "Of course there's nothing out there. My mind is playing games. It must be because of Connors stupid fairytale. It's just my imagination. Nothing more."

Unexpectedly she heard a sound coming from the forest. A faint rustling sound, as if someone was sneaking around. Amiko slowly put herself in a crouching position, focusing her hearing to the direction of the sound. Without noticing her right hand grab after her gun, only to realize it wasn't there. Pictures passed by in Amikos head. "Shit. I put it down when I was treating that boy. Shit!" She searched the ground to find anything to fight with. A rock, a stick, just anything. She found some small stones, picked them up and placed some in her left hand. The sound had stopped. Amiko slowly exhaled, making as little sound as possible. The sound started again, but somehow more cautioned this time. What ever it was it seemed to be able to see better then she did. It had obviously noticed that she had stood up and made herself ready. Amiko cursed silently in her mind.

Suddenly she heard from afar galloping horses. "What is happening?" She turned around and saw a faint light far away, moving towards her. Her eyes widened. She focused on the light and tried to make out something of it. But it was to far away and she suddenly remembered the sound she heard earlier. She turned and what she saw then made her eyes open wide in shock and she screamed.

"Damn! That scream can only mean the demons got there first. Faster men! There is still a small chance. We're close now."
"I-It's grotesque. It's awful. It's..." Amiko could feel how her heart rate increased and she was shaking uncontrollably. What ever it was she was looking at it wasn't a friend. It was standing only centimetres from Connor with its blade drawn. Amiko drew a deep breath. "What should I do?" Connor moved in sleep. He rolled over to the side, closer to the beast. Amiko gasped in surprise. "How can he sleep? Damn you Connor. I can't believe you." Amiko saw how the creature lifted its blade higher, preparing for an attack. "What am I going to do?" Amiko couldn't get any control over her thoughts. Her body had frozen and she could only watch as the creature's blade went toward Connors sleeping body in a deadly strike.

But all of a sudden Connor rolled away in the last second, leaving the creature surprised and its blade deeply pierced into the ground. Connor drew his pocket-knife and stabbed the creature in its throat. Amiko released her breath. She had forgotten she ever inhaled.

"Are you okay?" Connor asked and moved up to Amiko. She only stared out in the blue. "Amiko? Hello?" Connor waved in front of her face with his hands. Amiko snatched backwards and blinked a few times with her eyes.

"I-I'm s-sorry. I-I didn't know w-what to do. I…"

"Amiko. I don't blame you. I just asked if you were alright."

Amiko nodded slightly. She didn't know if her voice would hold if she spoke. As the tension dropped she felt how tears began to form and silently fall.

"Hey, don't pretend to be okay when you're not. Come here." Connor drew Amiko close and embraced her. Amiko let go of her restrains and clang onto Connor. Tears fell and she wailed and sobbed loudly.

"Now, now. You've seen several people die before. You can say you're upset 'cause I killed that monster. Or maybe you're the type that pretends not to believe in fairytales and still checks under her bed before you go to sleep. Is that it? You're afraid of monsters?"

Amiko pushed away Connor and was grateful that it was so dark, since her face was all red of anger and embarrassment.

"Hey, hey. I'm sorry. I just asked."

"Well it was a silly question."

"Well maybe a little. Let me try again. What was it you found so scary? You must have seen worse things than this."

"I… I just didn't know what to do. That was what was so scary. I've always been able to act, no matter the circumstances. But this time I just froze. I saw that creature lean over you and I thought you were sleeping and I thought that if I tried to attack it would kill you and I was so scared that it would attack and I wouldn't be able to stop it and…"

"Whoa, whoa. Hold it right there. It's okay. You were surprised by it. I get it. Sorry I couldn't tell you I wasn't sleeping. I just figured it would be a good idea to pretend and surprise it. As we can see by the results I was right. I didn't mean to scare you though."

Amiko wiped away the tears and smiled.

"Don't worry. I'm used to you scaring me. You always find away to scare me with your stupid ideas on how to solve problems."

Connor laughed

"I'm going to let it slip this time. But I'll counterattack next time. However, we shouldn't let our guard down. There might be more out there. Makes you wish you had your gun in your hands."

Amiko nodded. Then she remembered the light and quickly turned to face it. It had gotten closer and was still moving.

"I don't know but that light seems reassuring. Don't you think?"

"How should I know? But it can't be worse than this."

"Should we light a fire? So they will see us."

Connor nodded and piled up some of the wood they collected before nightfall. He lit it with little problem and after that he lifted the dead body of the creature and dumped it further away from them. Amiko felt relieved by this. She really didn't like the thought of looking at it. Not that it was frightening, really. It was just that it reminded her about how she had felt unable to act. Connor stepped into the light again and sat down by the fire.

"Thank you."

Connor nodded. Amiko felt really eased by the silence that followed. She didn't feel like talking and the silence some how seemed comforting and calming. Not like it had done for some minutes ago. She placed herself nearby the fire and looked into it. The flames reminded her about her dream, but this time she wasn't frightened by it. She remembered some words that some one had spoken to her. "Don't despair. You will prevail." However she could not remember who had spoken them to her.

Time past by slowly. They waited patiently by the fire, not moving a muscle more than needed. Connor suddenly stood up.

"Here they come. Pray to whatever God you believe in that they mean no harm."

Amiko stared at Connor. "Was he for real?"

"Hey, what's with that look? I just thought a prayer might be good. You know, just in case. You never know when a good prayer can save you."

"They never saved me from your stupidity before."

Connor copied Amikos stare, but he didn't have the time to return it long for he was interrupted by the men on horses.

"Thank all that's holy, you're still alive," one of the men exclaimed as he dismounted the horse and moved up to Amiko and Connor. "We were afraid that we lost you when we heard that scream earlier. If you don't mind I would like to take a little look on the thing that attacked you."

Connor looked a little shocked and then pointed at the direction of the beast. The man gave Connor a smile and moved in the direction Connor had pointed. Meanwhile another man moved up to them.

"You have to excuse our squad leader. He's a little eccentric. Anyway, are you hurt anywhere?"

Amiko shook her head.

"You don't say much. Maybe the demon cut of your tongue and you're too embarrassed to tell me? Or maybe you think I'm scary?"

Amiko felt how her blood heated up and her sight was red.

"I would stop there if I were you. That is if you wish to keep your body parts as they are," Connor said calmly. He smiled and turned to the man. "But then again, I'm not you. It's just a little advice which I think you will follow, if you know what's best for you." Then he turned to Amiko and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Calm down. He was just joking."

"Yeah, your friend is right. Just a joke. Don't you have any humour?"

"He's even worse then you," exclaimed Amiko and glanced quickly at Connor, then turned away.

"Your friend has a fiery temper."

Connor nodded and smiled.

"By the way, I'm Cane. And you two? Might I have the pleasure, or is the lady still too angry with me?"

"I'm Connor and this…"

"I can speak for myself Connor. If you don't mind."

"Okay then. Might I know your name?" the man smiled and placed himself next to Amiko by the fire.

"Why would I tell you my name?" Amiko turned her face away and hoped that Cane would see the hint.

"What's the point in speaking for yourself if you're not going to say anything anyway?" Connor asked and sat down by the fire. "I think he's right. You're still upset."

"Still! It has only been a few minutes since he insulted me. Of course I'm Still upset. Now why don't you go and drown yourself or something?"

"Amiko. He was only joking. What's with you today?"

"Amiko? That's your name?"

"Yeah, so? You gonna make fun of that also? Get lost." Amiko buried her face in her knee. "I won't cry. Please, I don't want to cry. Please."

"I think I've crossed the line. Hey, I'm sorry. Actually I think it's a beautiful name."

"Don't mock me. I told you. Get lost. I don't want to see you."

Connor put his hand on the newfound comrade's shoulder and pointed at the other men. "Introduce me. Let her sulk alone." Cane nodded and they walked away.

Why do I feel so left out? I told them myself to get lost." Amiko looked into the fire. Flames burning anything they touch. Beautiful, deadly. "Don't worry. You have your ancestor's blood and spirit. You will prevail." The thoughts twirled round and round. "Where are we? Who are they? Who am I?" Amiko felt how the tears again came up to the surface and slowly ran down her cheeks. There was no point in stopping them or wiping them away. There would only be more. "Why am I here? Who brought me here? Why did they bring me here?" She wiped away some tears and proved her own statement. More tears ran down.

Suddenly the squad leader came back from investigating the dead body. He sat down by the fire quietly and warmed his hands. He did not say anything. Amiko wiped away some more tears, but it was no use. They just kept coming. She wiped away some more.

"It's no use. Let them come out."

Amiko looked up at the man, who had just spoken. The squad leader looked gently at her and smiled. "It's only worse to keep them inside. You'll only feel worse." He smiled again. "He has a nice smile, at least." For some time they just sat there. No one spoke. They could hear the laughter and voices of the group of men standing by the horses.

"The name's Antara," the leader suddenly said and held out his hand. Amiko place her hand in it carefully. He pressed it lightly and let it go.

"Amiko." Her voice was trembling. Still hoarse from crying, and also taken by the harshness and softness combined in the man before her.

He handed her a piece of bread. "Here. You've probably not eaten much these last days."

Amiko nodded and accepted the bread.

"You'll have to excuse Cane. He's special. I swear that tongue of his gonna get him into some serious trouble one day and there won't be anyone there to save him." Antara smiled and handed Amiko a piece of dried meat. Then he sighed and looked up. "He gets a little overconfident sometimes. Thinks he's invincible or something, just because he's a priest. You'd never guess that by looking at him."

"A priest?"

"Yes a priest. Don't know how he got there. Probably flashed his family tree or something like that. His family is full of them. Priests, holy men, scribes, wise men. I guess he's the exception which confirms the rule." Antara laughed and Amiko caught herself smiling.

"Maybe he just needs a little guidance. A hit or two in the head might not be that wrong," Amiko said. To this Antara only laughed louder and Amiko couldn't help but get caught into the feeling. The two of them broke the silence of the night, laughing.

"I think I'm going to like you," Antara said, slowly trying to regain some seriousness. "Well, well. The fun really can't last forever. In fact we best be going soon. The night does not promise anything but death and misery. Let's move out."

Amiko nodded and they rose to their feet. Amiko watched as Antara carefully put out the fire and then they both walked silently towards the others. At this time they were safe. But from the forest a pair of eyes was watching them. Observing every move, waiting.

Amiko rubbed her eyes and tried to stay awake. But it was almost impossible. They had been riding the whole night and morning, only rested for half an hour, at sunrise, by the river. Amiko felt how sleep was lurking about and she wanted no more then to lay her head down and sleep a whole day. But that was impossible on the horseback. If she even closed her eyes and relaxed a little bit, her body would slowly glide of. Her jaws felt like breaking after all the yawning.

"Hey, Amiko."

Amiko turned to her right, and saw Connor smiling.

"You seem a little tired. I got good news. Cane says we should be arriving at the village by nightfall. They'll have dinner and beds prepared. Now that sounds like something to look forward to."

Amiko smiled and tried to look a little more alert. "It would be a lot easier if someone would talk a little more. It's the silence that makes you think it's in the middle of the night."

"What freaks me out is this deafening silence. Are they awake or are they sleeping? They could at least talk a little," Connor said and looked a little irritated.

Amiko smiled at his statement. "Are you reading minds now, Connor?"

At noon they made another pause. Amiko fell asleep as soon as she placed herself in a comfortable position on the ground. Her dreams were a muddle of pictures and sounds. She couldn't even separate them and tell which one were memories and which were made up. Fires, screaming children, gunshots, crying mothers, laughter, birthday parties. All so real, yet still so distant.

"Awaken."

Amiko opened her eyes. To her left stood Cane. He smiled and offered her his hand. She pushed it away and rose to her feet.

"I don't need your help." This sure wasn't the most pleasant way of waking up.

"Still holding a grudge. Can't say I'm surprised, really. You are after all a woman."

"And what does that has anything to do with it? Why won't you just shut up and go to hell." Absolutely not the best way of waking up.

"You slept badly?"

"Leave me alone."

"Why can't you be cute and harmless like other women?"

Amikos anger suddenly took over her body. She slapped him in the head. The sound seemed to echo for minutes and the silence after could make one go insane. When Amikos anger slowly faded, she also slowly realized what she had done. She backed away slowly, staring at Cane's shocked face.

"I told you, you'd get in trouble if you'd keep up with your attitude."

Both Amiko and Cane turned quickly and faced Antara. His whole face was smiling and behind him stood the rest of the men, silently laughing.

"But never in my life had I thought it would be a woman that would bite of. They usually like your attitude, strange as it sounds." The men laughed louder.

"I-I'm sorry. I d-didn't mean t-to…" Amikos voice faded.

"Hey, you have nothing to be sorry for. He had it coming. I really think I'm going to like you," Antara said between the roars of laughter.

Amiko turned back to Cane. He was looking down on the ground with a sad look in his eyes. "Hey. I'm sorry. I don't know what got in to me. I'm really…"

"I'm fine. Really, Antara is right. I guess I really deserved that one. Honestly it's me who should be apologizing. I've said some cruel words to you, yet you have not hit me before so I thought you were okay with it. I thought you were just playing along. Guess I was wrong. I… I'm sorry."

"See, it wasn't so hard, was it?" Antara asked with a smile on his lips.

"If you don't leave him alone I'll hit you next."

Everyone's faces turned toward Amiko in surprise.

"You're defending him now?"

"She quick in changing sides it seems."

"He just said he's sorry to me. He apologized! And then you go and make fun of him? You're all the same. Of course he won't learn to be nice, with you as his teacher."

Antara snatched backwards.

"Hey, Antara. That girl got some claws."

"Yeah. I beginning to think I might not like her that much."

"So. Are you going to apologize to him, or do I have to hit you to," Amiko said with an evil grin. "This is rather fun."

"Amiko, where does this lead. Why can't we just forget about it all?" Connor stepped closer.

"Shut up Connor! You should apologize to."

"Me! What have I done?"

"Connor I've had it with you. Eleven times you messed things up. Eleven times I had to take the blame. ELEVEN!"

"Amiko, are you still upset because of that. Why won't let bygones be bygones? But if it makes you feel better… I'm sorry. Okay. Now drop all of this."

"He's right. We need to drop this. It's not actually the safest place. It doesn't matter that we're a group. The demons travel in large groups. You were lucky to only meet one."

"Apologize."

"Amiko…"

"No, Connor. I think she's right. Cane, I'm sorry. I might have said some things about you, and done some things that weren't all that nice. Sorry."

Canes eyes opened wider and his jaw dropped.

"Come on now, men. We're not far away from home. If we reach home by nightfall the first round at the inn is my treat."

The men shouted out in joy, and soon everyone was ready to continue.

When Amiko finally sat in the saddle, she felt refreshed and alert. Even tough she hadn't slept for so long, the fight sure had warmed up the blood. She smiled.

"Is it okay if I ride by your side?" Amiko look to her left and found Cane walking up next to her. "It was getting kind of boring before we stopped. No one wanted to talk, and I almost fell asleep."

"Me to. Sure, it's okay. If you answer some questions."

"Like?"

"Tell me about yourself, and about this village we're going to. And about this world, about the demons."

"Looks like you have some questions. It's going to be an amusing ride back home then."

End of Act 3

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