TALES OF A UNFORGIVABLE SINNER

PART: ONE

CHAPTER: FIVE

Chapter: 5

Location: Luin, the city of hope/weapon shop

Time: 1:00 AM.

Orion put the wooden top over a crate that is supposed to be shipped to Palmacosta in a few days. He had a tall order to do, and going back home was now out of the question; he needs these to move out before sunrise. He promised Anna that he'll be back somewhere around 11:00, 12:00 being the latest. Now past 1 AM, he doesn't think that's going to happen anytime sooner and on how the looks of things. Maybe 2 or 3:00 AM is more likely for him to return home.

"Sorry, Anna." He mumbled.

"Grandpa is gonna be late again. Hope you won't be too upset with me kiddo." He sighed not wanting to disappoint his granddaughter on their first day without them here, maybe he can make up to her with some ice cream in the morning, or something else she'd love to do. Anyway, he will think of other things to do with her once everything is already done.

Orion was placing some more items into a box when the front door opens making the bell rung. He instantly went back on the day when the Desians had a month ago. Why now? He had already sent over the other shipments plus with interest three weeks ago. He even gives them enough health potions that will last them for a while until the next shipment comes. They don't have the right to come into his shop demanding more.

"You must be out of your mind!? Showing your face here once again!" He said turned to face the Desian and his comrades but was shocked to see Pietro was the one standing there. "Pietro?... Why are you doing here? Better yet, why are still doing up at this hour?" He asked walking over to him.

"I...had..to run...because my...mother told me too." He said in between huffs. Orion sat him on a chair and went to the back area to pour him a glass of water. Pietro accepted and drunk the entire glass and hand back to him. "Feel better?" Orion asked. Pietro shocked his head and thanked him.

"Alright. Can you tell me the reason why your mother told you to run all the over here? Especially at this time of night." He asks him. "She wanted me to come and get you because she had heard from a friend that they said something about seeing two Desian men walking around town. After hearing that I'd come here as soon as possible to tell you." He said huffing out some breath.

"What do you mean your mother's friend saw them? Where? When?"

"Just over 15 minutes ago, but there is no doubt about that it is them. Mom said they were at the water fountain and there was a bunch of people there right now. I had to take the long route in order for me to get here without them spotting me." He explained.

Why would the Desians be here now? He had already given them what they needed and plus getting these boxes ready for shipment starting first thing in the morning. Had they change their minds and decided that his offer wasn't good enough for their boss to be accepted? If not, what other reason could there be for them to go back on their deal if he was giving them what they wanted?

Just then a bright orange glow illuminated from off the walls. "What's that light?" Pietro question. Orion went over to the window and peek outside, What he had saw made his heart went up to his throat. The house nearby was set up in flames. "Mr. Irving? What's going, what is it?" Pietro asked.

"The house in front of me is on fire. Which means that we're under attack," Orion replied. He moves out of the window once he saw four Desian men running past the shop. "Attack!? Why? What did we do?"

"We need to gather everyone and evacuate them quickly before someone gets hurt if they aren't already." He whispered.

"But, Mr. Irving? How are we going to evacuate everyone when they are Desians everywhere we go? It took a lot for me to go unnoticed by them and I don't think I will have that much luck going forward." Pietro stated. Orion went over to him kneeling down at his level as he would do for his own grandkids. "I know you can't take everyone out of here by yourself and that is why I am going to find some people that are able to help us get them out to safety." He replied.

"Don't worry about the townspeople, I will handle them. But I do need your help, it's just isn't the way you think." Orion stated.

"What it is?" He asked.

"I need you to go contact Asgard for me and tell them we need any help that they can provide. They own me a long time ago for helping them and they said if we ever needed their help to get in contact with them. And that's why I need you to go there and tell them we're being under attack by the Desians. Anything they can help with food, a place for these people to stay until we rebuild our town. Most importantly, I want you to go to my house and get Anna and take her with you and run as fast as you can." Orion ordered.

"But Asgard is four days away from here. We won't make it in time to bring help to everyone." He said.

"And you will make it there just fine. Sending someone there will increase our chances of survival very high than too not have any help at all." Orion told him. Seeing what Orion was saying, Pietro agrees with the idea of going to Asgard. "Now you go on ahead and go to my place and get Anna and make a move to Asgard. I'm going to try to sneak around to see where all, if not, most of the Desians are located. So I can make a plan on which bridge to use for our escape. You mentioned that they were at the fountain, right?" He asked.

"Yes, but I don't know if they are still there right now?"

"Alright. You better get going before the Desian come this way." Orion told him.

Pietro nodded and stood up going towards the windows next to Orion. He looks to make sure there wasn't any Desians waiting to ambush him once he steps outside. Seeing that it was clear Pietro went to the door and put his hand on the handle. "Before I go can you tell my mother that I love her and didn't expect to leave without saying goodbye? And that I wall sent a letter once we make to Asgard." He asked.

"You have my word that I will," Orion replied.

"Be safe Pietro. Tell my granddaughter that everything will be fine and to stay strong for her grandpa."

"I will. Don't worry about her too much. I'll make sure no harm comes to her." Pietro promise. He pulls open the door and poke his head through it and quickly stepped out and head for a shortcut where he knows that will bring him to Orion's home quicker.

Orion went to the back of the shop and took two short swords from off the wall. The Desian went back on their deal to not cause trouble on this town so there is nothing holding him back now. This time they're going to pay or everything they had done.

Location: Fountain

Time: 1:35 AM

"Alright listen up!" Said one Desian holding a metal staff in his hands.

"Lord Morgan is about to speak and he wants direct answers to the questions he is about to ask. Anyone here that wants to be smart mouth will be dealt with in the most painful way imaginable. You will not speak over him or without being told. The one who had given our lord the answers that will aid us in our search will be spare and able to leave. Those who try to play hero will face the exact way as this worm." He said directing his finger to a man lying face down on the ground. "Do we all understand?"

Everyone in the crowd responded by nodding the heads.

"Good. Lord Morgan, they're yours now." He said turning to him.

Before speaking Morgan did a quick clearing of his throat and proceed soon after. "I'm going to say this once, and only once. Two days ago a large number of Prisoners had escaped our facility. We haven't yet located them but we're looking at every city in the short radius they could have possibly come too. As you have already known, The Asgard Ranch isn't that far from here that it makes it possible for them to travel here in short notice." Morgan explained. "So my question is; have any of you humans had seen something out of the ordinary? Like someone wearing beige color dresses, and matching pants & shirt walking around late at night. They should still be wearing their handcuffs if someone hadn't helped them take it off. And the most important detail is the piece of jewelry on their hands and someone of them has on their necks." He carried on.

"Or maybe some of you might have them hiding somewhere in your homes and you don't even know it. That's all that I needed to be said. Now, your turn. Have anyone saw these prisoners." Morgan asks.

Everyone was silent looking at the person next to them to speak up. A minute past but still no one had come forward. "Nothing eh?" Said another Desian who is slowly getting tired of the waiting. "Give it time Marco. You're rushing things I swear." Another Desian stated.

"Hmm...No one is coming forward? I guess it leaves me no choice then-"

"Wait, wait! I saw them." An older man in his 40s said among the crowd. "When and where did you spotted them? Speak human, my patience is wearing thin at the moment." Morgan said. The man in question hesitated a little before speaking again. "Yesterday morning, I went to the store to grabbed a few things and while I was there I taken notice of a woman wearing the same beige color dress that you describe and she was stealing some treats and food. After I call her out from stealing the items she ran away. I really thought it was a homeless person at first before today." He said.

"Anyone else likes to add?".

Another one raised his hand. "I saw them earlier today at the Inn that she owns!" Said a man in his 20s pointing at the woman. "My Inn since when?" The woman spoke.

"Yes, yours! I've seen them at your bed and breakfast yesterday and I told a friend of mine about it and she said you had a room that you wouldn't sell. Plus I saw one of them, was a child that was asking the front desk about getting another blanket. If anyone knows where those filthy people are is this woman in front of me. So you can start with her!" The man continues on with his accusing.

"No! You are wrong! Don't listen to him, he speaks nonsense." The woman argued.

"Go to this woman Inn and search head to toe. Don't leave anywhere unsearched. Got it?" Morgan whispers to the Desian standing close to him. "Yes, sir! Let's go men." The Desian salute and heading toward the inn.

"Well, whatever he is lying or not we will find out soon enough," Morgan stated.

10 minutes later a Desian came running down back to Morgan and whispered in his ear. He nods his head and tells the man to go back and help. "How seems like this young man is telling the truth. We had located two of the missing prisoners at this woman's bed and breakfast. Sure enough, it is a mother and her child just like this man had said. "I'll think you sir for your honesty and you can go. As for the ones who had also spoken, we will check that information and will let you know. But until then you are also free to go. As for the rest of you worthless humans you can all pay your silence with your very lives." He said leaving the area.

"Seize them all but the ones who had given us information, they might be willing to help later on. Take anyone who can be brought to the Ranch alive. If we can't find the rest of the prisoners then they will be good replacements for lord Kvar. Whoever that doesn't cooperate kill them." He telling a small group of Desians.

"Let me know when you find any more of the captives. I'm going to go back to the Ranch and make my report." He says proceeding out of the town.

"Yes, sir."

Location: The Irving's household.

Time: 2:00 AM.

It took Pietro longer than normal to get to Orion's house. He had to stop every few seconds because there was a Desian at every corner whenever he turned. By the time he made it to the residence, the house was already set on fire. "Oh no, Anna!" He yelled and sprinted the rest of the way to the burning home.

He tried to open the door but it was a lock. Pietro then started to look for a secondary key to unlock the door but couldn't find anything which left him no choice to break a window with a stone that was near the walkway and moves some of the glass with his sleeve and pushed himself inside the burning home. "Anna!" He shouted.

He climbing the stairs and head for the hallway that leads to her room and stopped at the door knowing it was hers and kick open the door. He saw a figure lying down one of the bed and he quickly went towards the bed and remove the blanket that was covering her. "Anna... Anna! Wake up. Come on, Anna." He said while shaking her awake. He continues to shake her and stopped doing so when she wasn't responding to him. Pietro picks her up with a couple blankets from the bed and head back the down towards the stairs and carried her outside and went behind another building to prevent any Desian from spotting them and lay her down on the ground.

"Okay... You're going to be fine. Come on, Anna, breathe." He mumbled to her.

He didn't have to check to know that she wasn't breathing, her chest was moving and her color was slightly off. He started to do chest compressions. 1...2...3...4...5...6...7...8...9...10...11...12...13...14...15...16...17...18...19...20," He continues to do chest compressions til he'd reach 30 and then started giving her two rescue breaths and check her pulse. Seeing that she didn't have one, Pietro continue on with another round of 20 and two more rescue breaths.

"Come on, Anna. Don't you give up on me." He said doing more compressions. Once he did the two more rescue breaths Anna started to cough. Pietro quickly turns her on her side so she wouldn't choke on her own saliva. "Atta-girl." He commented by rubbing her back. "You had me worried for a minute there. Here, I got some water in my bag." He said and digging inside his bag and pulling out a bottle twisting it open. He helps her sit up and put the bottle to her lips. "Drink slowly, I don't want you to choke on it." He tells her as she nodded and took small slips.

After she was finished Pietro took the bottle away and put back in his bag. "...Wha...What happened?" She asks voice coming out a little raspy.

"Your house is on fire and your room had a lot of smoked. I had to do CPR on you because you weren't breathing..." He replied.

Anna coughed some more. "F...Fire? Why...*Cough* W-was...my *Cough* House...*Cough* *cough* On fire? How?" Anna wheezed. Pietro took out the bottle again and handle back to her. She accepted the water and drunk some more to clear her throat. "There's no easy way for me to say this... but Anna, We're currently being under attack right now by the Desians and they were the ones who had set your home on fire and many others. There's a large gathering at the fountain area." Pietro says.

"Desians... *Ahem* Are here? Why?" Anna asked clearing her throat again.

"We don't know yet. Your grandfather went to help the townspeople evacuate from here to neighboring towns. And he told me to go to Asgard and tell them we need help from the Desians; he also tells me to get you so we can flee to Asgard together. But we have to go now before the Desians find us."

"But I don't want to leave Granpa to deal with them alone. We should help him with the evacuations instead of leaving, Pietro." Anna said trying to reason with him. "Anna, your grandfather gave me an order and that is to take you with me to Asgard. That's how we can help everyone by getting help." He said.

"Don't worry he'd be fine. Anna. And got everything we need to take on this journey." If her grandpa said to go she couldn't really argue over with that.

"Alright, I'll go," Anna said coughing again.

"Good. Come on I will help you stand up." Pietro said coming a little closer to help her on her feet. "There we go, easy now. Can you walk?" Pietro asks.

"Yes, I'm fine. Thank you, Pietro." Anna replied.

"No problem. Let's go." He said.

Pietro quickly runs to the other side of the house as Anna follow not far behind him. He stopped to look for any Desian that could be waiting for them at the corner, When he didn't saw anyone there they proceed to the next area. "Okay, Anna. We're going to through the same area that I use to get to your grandfather's shop. It should keep us from being in the main locations since that's where must of them are at. I need you to stay close and don't go anywhere unless I told you too." Pietro tells her.

Anna nodded.

"Okay, let's go."

They continue walking and made it past the weapon shop. Pietro looks through the window and saw all of the lights that were on before are all off and empty inside. "Is grandpa in there?" Anna asked over his shoulder. "No, don't see him. He might have already left after I did." Pietro explained.

"Come on. We don't have much time." He said walking ahead. Anna quickly catches up to him and stop only when he held up his hand. "What is it, Pietro?" She whispered.

"I see someone. I think it might be a Desian but I'm not sure of it." He replied turning his head back to look. The person was walking back and forth before deciding to walk towards the same area as they were currently hiding at. Pietro didn't stand and wait for this person to come to find so he quickly took Anna's hand and take her to an area that has a hole in the wall small enough for a small child to fit inside. He removed the flat piece of wood that was being used to block the hole. He had taken notices of this yesterday when his mother told him to help do some work for a neighbor. He'd thought that this will make a perfect spot to hide something in the near future, but now it is going to be used for someone he'd look to be a little sister.

"Anna quick get inside before someone comes," Pietro ordered.

"Okay..." Anna went down on her hands and knees and crawl her way inside the tight dark hole." Pietro grabbed the broad again and was about to cover the hole with before calling out to him. "Aren't you coming in too?" Anna asked. "Sorry, Anna. There is only enough room for one but don't worry, I'll be fine." He said covering the hole back again ignoring her protest and walk away.

"Pietro... Pietro, wait, please come back." She whispered.

Her voice was silent when she heard footsteps walking past the hole that she resides. She immediately quiets it down and duck herself further inside and peek through the crack on the wooden board. Anna didn't see much, only a shadow passing back and forth. She heard the same pair of feet walking back to the right until those same feet stopped where she was hiding. Lightly, the person left the piece of wood. Anna closes her eyes not wanting to see them finding her. But before this person could lift up the wood she hears a yell and a loud tackle that came with it.

There was a struggle and then silence.

Anna closes her eyes again when the piece of wood was removed. "I told you that I'll be fine," Pietro said with a smile on his face.

Anna uncovered her eyes and crawl out of the hole and hugged him. "I'm glad you are okay," Anna said burying her face to his chest. Pietro returns her hug and patted her on the back. "Alright, we need to hurry." He said letting her go and grab her by the hand to run. Anna looks at the Desian who was knocked out cold and wonder how did he manage to handle him alone. "Pietro?" She called.

"Yes," He said still running.

"How did you handle that Desian?" She asked.

"I'll just ambush him when he was too focus on you." He replied. "Plus he wasn't all that strong, to begin with so taking him down was pretty easy," Pietro stated with a little cockiness After spending 20 minutes of walking and mix of running they finally made to the exit point.

"Anna just a little longer we're almost there," Pietro said once he had seen Anna starting to lag behind. Anna nodded and continue to push herself to the badge to finally cross into the open field of Sylvarant.

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Sylvarant field.

Time 5:00 AM

They have been walking for hours, hardly anytime to stop for a short break and rest. She knows the Desians were attacking Luin and they're supposed to head to Asgard in order for them to seek aid but this whole walking none stop is making her exhausted.

Anna looks at Pietro who is in front of her walking ahead. There was a pretty good distance from where she is now; she would like to catch up to him but her feet won't let her run on this rocky road. "Pietro?" Anna called. "How long until we reach Asgard?" She said, her voice a little winded from the never-ending walking.

"Anna you already ask that question minutes ago." He replied.

"We're no closer than what we were earlier, Anna," Pietro said still walking ahead of her. "Come on let's keep moving then I promise that we will stop and rest, and find something to eat." He told her. Anna tearfully nodded but continue to walk nonetheless. Although she was quiet he could still hear her whimpering behind him.

Pietro took a glance at her and notice that she was wiping her face which he assumed that was her tears that she was wiping away. Pietro took his eyes back on the road but Anna's constantly sniffing was making him feel really guilty for how he had been pushing her since leaving Luin. He looks back at her again and notices that she was barefoot and probably have been when they left.

Seeing that she was not only tired but obviously in pain.

So he decided to stop for the night so she can rest after seeing her like that. "Hey Anna, you're right we should stop and rest for a while. Plus I think we're away from Luin enough that I don't think they could find us." He said.

He saw her face went from a sad and disappointed to a happy and relieved one. "I don't think we are going to find a cave anytime soon, and sleeping out in the open is out of the question. We might as well sleep in the woods for tonight and head out first light, and let me bandage your feet so you don't have to walk barefooted anymore." He said.

"Okay," Anna replied. She didn't care where they rest as long as they can get too.

Pietro walks ahead with Anna not that far behind and went into the dark woods.

"Careful where your step, I'd almost tripped over those tree twigs there." He said stepping over them and then extended his hand to help her over the small twigs. She thanked him for helping her as they walk further inside the woods. Pietro stopped at an area that was wide enough to set up camp far enough from the main road. "I guess this do for now." He started putting his backpack down as Anna did the same with her own. "first we need to start a fire, It's a good thing I got some matches with me." He said patting her breast pocket.

"Do you want me to come with you?" Anna asked.

Pietro shakes his head. "No, I got it. You just wait here awhile I'd get some wood for the fire. Besides, I don't want you to stand any longer than you already have and when I come back I'm going to bandage your feet for you after I start the campfire." He said walking but into the woods. Not knowing what she could do, Anna decided to sit and wait on the ground for Pietro to return back.

Anna looks skyward to the stars as they're shining above. She has never seen so many stars at once like this. Her grandfather once told her he was named after a star. Well, not really a star but a constellation that connects the brightest stars together to makes shapes in the night sky.

Anna spends a long time looking at them thinking of her family. She thought about her family and what everybody is doing now? Have her grandfather left in time, did everyone else made out. Just how many people that lost their lives today. She knew that something felt off right before she went to sleep but couldn't place what. Now, she knows that the feeling was linked to the Desians.

Now she feels like it was her fault because she'd didn't warned anyone of her worries...

Suddenly a light orange glow was coming from between the trees

Anna jumped on her aching feet and looking for a place to hide. Pietro never tells her in case of a Desian or more came into the woods. Before she made a decision on what to do, Pietro came out of the woods holding a pile of sticks and carry a bag over his shoulder with a stick in flames in the air.

"You spoke me?" Anna said holding her chest.

"Sorry about that." He replied.

Pietro dropped the pile of sticks and the bag on the ground. "Here hold this for me." He said giving her a makeshift torch and lay the stick in a organize matter. Anna carefully holding the torch away from her so that Pietro could see what he was doing. After he'd arranged the pieces of wood to be satisfied enough to lay some leaves down for the fire have something to burn before the sticks. "Okay, I think that will do it." He said dusting off his hand. He then took out some matches and lit up to throw it in the pile-up sticks and leaves.

The fire was starting to burn, Pietro was starting to blow on it slowly.

The fire grew bigger within seconds allowing Pietro to step back and added some more stick to the fire. "There hand me that please." He said.

Anna carefully hands him back the torch as he places it inside the fire.

"Now that we got the fire going let me handle your bandages." He said. Pietro went over to get his backpack and unzipped, taken out some bandages and a bottle of antiseptic to clean the wounds and a pair of shears to cut the gauze. Pietro went back over to her and sat back down and gently place Anna foot on his lap. "Okay, this is going to sting a little," Pietro said as he poured the liquid on a clean cloth and gently put the cloth on her wounds.

Anna jumped for the burn and coldness of the liquid that touches her skin.

She tries to keep her foot from jerking but later pulled back from his lap. "Anna quit it, I know it hurts but I need to clean the wounds before wrapping them." He explained. "But it hurts..." Anna cried. "I know that but I really need to clean these wounds so they won't get infected. The quickly you like me finish this, the quicker it is over." He said.

Anna pouted but give her foot back on his lap for him to continue to treat the wounds.

After cleaning the cuts and bruise underneath her foot. He then grabbed the gauze and begins wrapping her foot around with it until completely covering the wounds, and took his shears out to split in half to tie it in a knot together. "Okay, that is done, Now time for the other one." He said switching to the other foot and proceed to do the same as the first one.

"I didn't know it was this bad, Anna I'm sorry for not paying any attention to you." He said dressing her foot with the gauze.

"I'm not mad at you Pietro. Besides, there wasn't anything you could do. You were only trying to get us safely away from Luin and for that, I'd thank you." She said smiling down at him. Pietro nodded his head and continue to wrap her foot tightly enough for it to stay in place and split the tip, tying it together into a knot. "There all done. When we get to Asgard I will redo them again. Oh, plus get you some shoes while we are over there." He said setting her foot down and getting up.

Pietro put back the stuff inside his backpack and zipped up after he was done. He then reached for a sack and went back to Anna taking a spot next to her in front of the fire. "When I was out collecting firewood, I'd stumble across a few trees with some fruits and berries. I even found some mushrooms, that I'd promise isn't poison." He said holding out the sack for her. Anna reached in her hand inside the bag to get an apple and rubbed into her nightgown before taking a bite.

Pietro reaches for one as well taking a bite out of it. "As for the mushrooms, I was thinking of cooking them by the fire enough to take that earthly taste out. There a steam not too far from here that I can clean them with." He said taking another bite of the apple.

"That sounds good. But wouldn't the mushroom taste bitter?" Anna asked.

Pietro chews on the remaining of his apple. Before putting the core inside the bag. "Well, I found some saltbushes a while ago that I haven't used from the last time going camping with my Dad." He said taking out another apple to munch on. He gives Anna the sack for her to get another piece of fruit.

Anna took another apple from the sack. "Thank you." She says taking a big bite.

Pietro finished eating the apple and throw the core inside the bag. He wiped his hands down on his clothes and stood up to walk towards the tree, taking a few sticks from off it. "We can use these to cook the mushrooms on." He said walking back to her. "Here, you clean these while I'd get the mushrooms clean ready for cooking," Pietro told her and handing the sticks. Anna took them and went inside Pietro bag to take out his bottle of water. She wet the sticks as Pietro come over with the now rinse mushroom and retake his spot on the ground by the fire.

He took out his saltbush leaves rub them over the raw mushrooms, adding a little water to bring the salt out more. Anna then took the now season mushrooms and kabob them for Pietro to put in front of the fire. She continues to kabob the mushroom until they were completely skewering on the sticks.

"Alright, everything is ready." She said handing them to him. Pietro takes the mushrooms sticks and put them in front of the fire for cooking.

"Now we wait until they're done." He said leaning back on his hands.

Anna put her knees up to her chest and hugged them. She silently watches the fire embers going up in the air. It reminded herself of her grandfather working on some swords before, and how he would pour the very hot liquid into the molding while flames going high towards the ceiling.

"I'll think they're done," Pietro said leaning over to grab one of the cooked mushrooms. "Here ya go, Anna." He said handling to her.

"Anna, Hey here's your food...Hello, earth to Anna." He said waving his hand in front of her. Anna snapped back for her daydreaming and look at Pietro who still had the mushroom in his hand wiggling it at her face. "Oh, sorry was deep in thought. What were you saying again?" Anna asked.

"I was handing you your mushrooms but you got your head in the clouds. What's up."

"Oh, it's nothing. Just thinking that's all." She replied covering it up with a smile on her face. "Thanks for the food, Pietro. it looks good." She said taking the kabob from him took a bite out of it. "Anna, I know you long enough to see that something is bothering you. Is it because of what happened in the last hours?" Pietro asked. She sighed and places her head down.

"I was thinking about my grandfather and how watching this fire reminds me so much of the time when everything alright. But now it reminded me that things are not alright." She replied.

"And I'd can't help but to feel like is my fault that the Desian attacked Luin." She stated.

"Why do you say that?" Pietro asks and reached over for his own kabob. "Before all of this, I had a feeling that something wasn't right. I couldn't sleep, I thought at first it was because Ryan and Mom were out there and that grandpa went to the shop and I was home alone by myself. Although, I know that they're fine I still have that same feeling. So I sing myself to sleep thinking that will help me. it did, but when I woke up I saw your face in front of me and I was outside as my home was burning to the ground. I can't help but... but think if had warned everyone or tell my grandpa that something might happen, then maybe we could have prepared for the outcome and none of this what have happened." She said.

"Anna, you wouldn't have stopped this even if you tried. You just had a six sense and that why you were feeling the way you were." Pietro replied.

"And you really need to stop blaming yourself. None of this is your fault as much as mine. The Desians are to blame for all of this and no one else, I don't want you to ever think that way and I'm sure your grandfather will say the same thing if he was here. And don't you worry, Anna. We're going to stop the Desians and rebuild our town." He said determinedly holding up his fist.

Anna now looks at him and smile, thinking that he was right and everyone will be fine. As long they get to Asgard sooner rather than later everything will be okay and then they can start to rebuild again. "Your right, Pietro. Thank you." Anna thanked him.

"Don't mention it." He replied.

"Now can we eat? We don't have a lot of time before the sun starts to rise." He said.

"Yeah." Anna took another bite of the kabob mushroom as Pietro did the same of his own.

After they were finished eating their food, Anna and Pietro started getting out their sleeping bags from the backpack and laying it down on the ground. "Thank you for the meal, Pietro. I'd really like it. It's different from what mom will normally make for dinner, she will never let me eat a wild mushroom unless it is bought from the store, I'd never eaten an apple from out of actions trees in the forest neither." Anna said cheerfully. "Hey Anna," Pietro said laying down on his back. "I didn't know you know how to sing?" Pietro said to her turning over to his side.

"Yup. I'd sing a lot with Mommy."

"Usually, Mommy would sing me a song whenever I couldn't sleep," Anna told him turning onto her side. "Wow. I really like to hear you sing a song if you don't mind." Pietro asked. "Hmm...How about some other time. I'm starting to get sleepy." She replied trying to suppress a yawn but failed, letting one out.

Pietro chuckle at her and settle back down on his back. "Okay, I hear you. And you're right we should get some sleep." He responds with a yawn of his own pull the cover over to his chest. "Goodnight, Anna." He said. "Goodnight." She replied snuggling into her blanket and close her eyes.

Four hours later; She woke up to see the fire going out and the sun was starting to rise. Anna glance at Pietro who was still in deep sleep; not wanting to wake him she carefully got herself up and went over to Pietro's backpack and grabbed some napkins. She took out a small amount and got up to go to the woods. After doing her business, she decided that getting some more firewood will be good, plus she saw some oats inside a plastic bag that she can cook for breakfast, and oh, she can add some of those berries in it too. Anna thought over the process in her head while she's gather wood but first would use the bathroom.

After she was done, Anna started picking up a few sticks that she immediately spotted.

Having the morning sun helps to make it easy for her to spotted sticks. Anna remembers that Pietro also had use some leaves to fuel the fire so she started to pick some leaves of a nearby tree also. "There, I'd think that will do it," Anna said putting the leaves inside a sack that she brought with her. She continues to collect some more sticks when she heard the bushes rustling behind her; thinking that it was Pietro coming to look for her Anna wasn't going to acknowledge his presence until she was done collecting the sticks.

"There all done, Okay, Pietro let's get back to camp so I can start with breakfa-" Anna yelped as she was suddenly yanked up in the air and into a pair of arms. "Well, well. Lookie here?" The man said holding onto her tightly against him. "So this is where you humans decided to hide. I knew some of you had managed to escape but I haven't expected that you will choose the woods for a hiding place." The Desian said.

"That's just dumb on your part."

Anna struggles against the man trying to break his hold but he tightened his hold on her. All she could do was scream for Pietro but the Desian quickly shut her up by covering her mouth. "I wouldn't do that if I was you. You wouldn't want to wake your friend up now will you?" The man said. Tears fall down from out her eyes and down to her cheeks while her muffled cries can be heard through the man's hand. "Hey, guess what I found!" An another Desian came shouting to meet with the one holding Anna up. "He was sleeping at what looks to be a camp area. You should have seen the look on his face when he saw me standing over him, poor thing try to even run away so I knocked him over the head." The Desian said.

Anna saw Pietro with a bloody trail falling down from his head and over his eye. The Desian holding him up by his forearm because at this point couldn't stand on his own two feet. "Oh, I see that you found someone as well. Nice, we should head over to the ranch and informed lord Kvar on our founding." He mentions as he was dragging Pietro over to stand near his partner. "Maybe he even gives us a promotion for locating more humans for him. And don't forget about the remaining prisoners that we caught not too long ago, I'd think we might get a bonus for that alone." The Desian said.

"Yeah, you're right. We should get going before Captain Morgan sends a search party for us." He replied.

"I'm going to put you down, and once I do you better not try to run away or you know what's good for ya." The Desian said treated her. Anna slowly nodded her head as he put her down back on the cold ground. He tied her wrist with some rope and then did the same with Pietro's wrist as well. "There, that should do it." He said making sure that the knot was tight enough.

"Let's get going. I want to close my eyes before going on the next shipment." Said the other Desian as he started walking ahead. "Come on, get moving." The Desian starts to push Anna and Pietro out from the woods and ahead for the direction of Asgard Human Ranch.

Yggdrasill orders him to check on the aftermath of the Desian raiding the town, Kratos agreed to come down and scan the area of the damage. He walked through the now deserted town looking into every home and buildings and to see if somehow there were any survivors.

He checks the area and saw how bad that Desian had destroyed this town. There wasn't a building that Kratos has passed that wasn't in shambles, if not they were badly burned and unsafe to live in. When Yggdrasill told him that he gave the order to raided Luin because that what Kvar had wanted. For a while, the prisoners of the Asgard Human Ranch have been escaping and they will go to Luin for refuge. He guesses that Luin had welcomed them in their town which later on lead to the destruction.

He knew Orion Irving had made deals with them, in order to keep Luin safe from something like this. When Orion told him that his son in law was being blamed for the Desians coming into town that's when he knew that his son in law wasn't the one but Orion himself was giving the Desians everything they wanted, health items in all. His son-in-law was just a good person to place the blamed on someone by the townspeople because he was working outside the town.

Kratos walk through the fountain area seeing the remaining bodies laying all over the ground. Bodies of men, women, and children were among the dead. It was something that Kratos have seen all too well in his very long life. He continued to walk through the area and start to head for the direction to Orion house. The last time he was here it was months ago. The house wasn't in shambles like the rest of them but have a lot of fire damage. The rain that is pouring stop most of the fire, only small spots of flame left that hadn't gone away yet.

Kratos went inside and saw the completely burned remains of the downstairs. The couch he was sitting on months ago was now burnt down to its skeleton and the coffee table was no longer there anymore. Picture frame on the fireplace of Irving's family with smiles on their faces; the picture has soot all over it but not enough to make it impossible to see.

There's a hole above that's letting rainwater falling inside creating a puddle on the floor.

Kratos then went upstairs to check the damage up there. The rooms had the same percentage as downstairs and the smoke was made it difficult for him to sometimes breathe.

He enters a room he seems to be a children's room due to the few stuff animals at the corner of the room. "Must be his grandchildren's room," Kratos said. He looking around the room he hasn't seen any bodies around so he could assume that everyone had made out in time.

Thinking that he had enough of analyzing this town, Kratos turn to leave so he can make his report back to Yggdrasill of his findings but when he was about to go he notices something shining near one of the beds. Kratos walked towards the bed and bend down to pick up the shining piece on what looks to be a locket. "A locket... His granddaughter probably didn't have the time to get before all hell broke loose. Kratos wondered. He doesn't know where he can find the lost family but until he meets up with them again he'll keep it with him. But for now, he should get back to Derris-Kharlan and give his report to Yggdrasil.

Kratos head out of the burned remains of a once lived town and back into the pouring rain where he starts his journey back to Derris-Kharlan.

What should I say for being late with an update? Well, I haven't really had the best 2018. My grandma dies in September and my Dad dies in December. Is been hard because my Dad's death was totally unexpected for me and my family. I couldn't finish this story because everything was happening at once. Holidays, Storms, People coming over and everything you name it.

But I am back now and ready to put my mind on something else; like these stories for one. If you like reading Naruto fanfiction I made on a month ago was going to post it soon. As for this story, I was going to write until chapter 12 to focus on other stories and one-shots. So until then, see you next time.