Siege of a Castle

"Curious...I have never heard of a being able to transmit thought..." He rubbed his chin a bit and pondered, "I shall look into it another day, as for the meeting, I suggest bringing a few friends along. Only a fool would go alone."

He nodded. "Thanks for your words of advice. Perhaps you should become a leader of sorts one day. For now, would you be willing to accompany me? You are the strongest warrior I know and as for your friend, she seems strong as well. " He hoped he would accept but if not, Hinin figured he would take a few random soldiers along because as for friends, he had none. The General and captain are just friendly because they have helped raise him from being orphaned.

Fallen nodded and his blue eyes glinted with the sunlight as he exited the tent. After this he went and spoke with Lorana. Once everything was sorted out, the two of them prepared to leave.

Hinin simply strapped his swords to his side and the bottom of his chain mail. After he saw that he was ready he eagerly awaited the return of the two. He wondered who this man was and why he wanted to meet Him.

Fallen and the Elf were now walking in the direction of where they were supposed to meet up with Hinin. Sora would be walking around near by listening to the two talking through their short trip. "So, Lorana, how long exactly have you been searching for me?" Fallen asked as he straitened out his chainmail.

She smiled, "Maybe since I was nine or eight. Us Elves start our adventures at a young age."

"Truly? That is the age I was when I left my 'home'." He smiled a bit, the more they talked the closer he felt to her.

Before they could talk anymore they came across the area Hinin wanted to meet them.

Hinin would already be waiting for them, ready for a battle if they so needed. As he saw them, he smiled and nodded. "So are you two ready to move? I honestly wouldn't want anyone hurt if this were a trap so make sure your ready. " HE didn't want them to take offense because he knew he had come off a bit strong but He also didn't want anyone being harmed because he was curious.

"She is an elf and I am a WereChild, I'm positive we can handle ourselves. Are you prepared?" Said Fallen is somewhat of a mocking tone before Lorana nudged him with her elbow.

"Be nice." She said with a morbid tone that would frighten any normal man.

Fallen's lip curved in a smile, "If you say so."

He chuckled at that. "I was prepared when I received the message but of course logic should play a role in my reasoning. " He stretched his arms up as high as he could then let them fall. "So shall we? " With this, he led them to the edge of the forest he was told to meet this mysterious messenger. At first, all that could be seen was trees. Hinin thought it interesting that a forest would just simply stop. The grass was wet with moister. He examined the bark with a interesting tone. There was absolutely no sign of anyone. Then, a man seemed to drop from the darkness of the trees trunks above. Hinin noted that it seemed as if he had just seemed to appear. The man wore a black hooded cloak that shadowed his features but a thin strand of gray hair popped itself out of the cloak. The man looked to the three and smiled under the shadow of the hood. "Who are you," Hinin said with a battle ready tone. "And why are you contacting me?"

"Such harsh words young one. Have you taken a liking to consuming large amounts of ale?" The man seemed to take a comical tone and let out a chuckle. "You know, that stuff has been known to make even the most seasoned of men to turn to angry fools."

"Enough this isn't a game. Who are you?" Hinin seemed to growl the words at him. He hated having his time wasted and that was precisely what this man was doing.

Fallen and Lorana simply passed a glance but otherwise kept to their silence.

The man smiled again and said "Hinin. One day soon, I will come for you. When I do, you won't have a choice to come along, less you be prepared to be outcast and made an example. " The man's voice was no longer a playful comical tone. It was serious. He nodded as if confirming the information to himself and folded his arms over his chest. "If and when you do come with me, I will be training you as my pupil. It is nye time you learn your birth right and I will see to it that it is yours. " With this the man turned in a 180 degrees turn and started walking back into the forest. After he got about ten feet away, he crouched down and leaped into the trees, disappearing from sight. Hinin hadn't gotten a chance to say anything. He just stood there with an awestruck look on his face.

"Um. Any ideas?" He said this, turning his attention to the two standing behind him. He still had a amazed look on his face. "What do you say? Dangerous or not?"

"I doubt we could, his scent is fading and fast. What swift movements he has..." Said Fallen after sniffing the air.

Lorana placed a grip on her sword and nodded, "I agree with Fallen then, if he is moving that fast it wouldn't be wise to chase him anyways..." She glanced a bit with arising suspicion. "What was this birth right he spoke of? It was as if he knew you."

He shook his head. "I have no birth right. I was an orphan my entire life. Grew up as a soldier and the sun of the captain. " He lifted his thumb and index finger to his chin and rubbed lightly, pondering this question. "Well anyway. I suppose I will know more when he next contacts me. Until then, I advise against arousing any suspicion. "

"Arousing suspicion?" Lorana croaked with a mockingly humorous tone, "Nothing says suspicious like an Elf and a secret WereDog. Perhaps me and Fallen should take leave then? I would hate seeing Fallen get caught.

Fallen scratched his scruffy chin, "I hate the idea of leaving but it might be for the best. If anyone found out I was working under you and figured that you knew my secret, you would be punished and I would be exiled...again." A chuckle came next before he sniffed the air and eyed at some rodent that was shifting off in the bushes. "Before we do go...if we go...I will require some meat and other foods. For, you know, consumption." He grinned to once again reveal the jagged line of pointy teeth sticking from his gums.

He nodded. "I will personally supply you with anything you need. You have risked yourselves for me, it would only be right for me to do the same. " With this, he went back to the camp, in secret, and gathered just enough supplies that would last the two a week. He led them to his tent where he sat the supplies down on a table he had set up. "I will say that your father took ill and you had to see to him as quickly as possible. And as for the elf, as far as I know, we found no survivors. Sound good?"

His words particularly seemed to insult Lorana as she glared and took a few steps off to gather her own thoughts. Fallen continued to watch and waited until she was out of hearing distance for looking to Hinin, "Rather open about your thoughts are you? Her entire family was just murdered after all." He picked at his teeth and pulled a random chunk of horse meat out and flicked it away. "Anyways, I think that two weeks would be fine."

As soon as he said this a feminine, 'Ahem' could be heard as Sora the she-spirit stepped from the shadows, "Might as well make it three weeks, I do need to eat as well Fallen dear." She sat and eyed them, some part of her appeared to be unsettling and almost seemed as if she was trying to make everyone uncomfortable on purpose. A sly smile crossed her wolfish muzzle.

After saying his good byes, he returned to the camp, acting as though the meeting never happened. He was drastically moved by the man's words. He wondered about the warning but decided to put it out of his mind. Finally, he gathered up all the men in a group and told them to gather their supplies and move out. He did the same. HE returned to his tent, tore down his tent, and packed his things. After about three hours, he sighed and smiled, preparing to depart back to the original camp.

After all the fires were taken down and all the men were standing before him, he stood in front of them and roared "OK men, it is getting late but I am sure we can start our departure now. Same as before. Line up and march and I'll call out names. " As the men marched Hinin called out names. Each man, one after the next, raised his hand in ordinance. He finally led the men back down the path they had came and only stopping once it became too dark to actually see without torch light.

Fallen had gathered his own belongings from the camp but much more silent than the others. Lorana did the same and when I was finished the two set off to night to meet up with Sora. Then they would all head toward South Talera in order to introduce Lorana to Fallen's Master, Sen.

The journey took roughly three weeks to return to camp. It was hard work and the travel was tiresome but in the end, they made their journey safe and sound. They were welcomed as heroes when the arrived but Hinin felt anything but a hero. During the entire trip, one single thought had been wearing down on his tired mind; "What did the man mean by you will leave willingly or unwillingly?" Lost in thought, he didn't notice when the whole camp stopped and stared at him waiting for the full report of events. He snapped out of it quickly and stood at attention. "Sorry sir, I was recapping on the events. " The captain smiled and motioned his hand for Hinin to follow. He was led into the man's tent. The captain sat down behind his desk and placed his hands on the surface.

"So you gonna tell me what happened now?" Hinin felt shocked by the accusing tone the captain had been taking with him.

"We got there, the demons had ravaged a group of elves, no survivors, I used archers to draw them out and the bulk to wipe the remaining forces out. " He waited for the response, trying to keep Fallen's name out of the conversation.

"Ok and what of the boy you brought with you?" Hinin's eyes lit up. He swore under his breath then sighed.

"He left without notice."

"Do not lie to me boy! I am not a common fool. Something happened out there that was enough to shake you into a fright. Now damnit tell me the truth. "

Hinin looked down, a bit shaken now and said "I have told you the tr-" He didn't get the words out of his mouth before the captain leaped from his chair and snatched the boy by his collar.

"Fine you wanna do this the hard way, we can play this game. I will have you whipped until the truth is out. Now go back to your tent to await your punishment. " Hinin scowled under his breath. A deep rooted hatred for himself now seated itself within him. He didn't know why but he felt that lieing about Fallen was the best course of action. He went back to his tent to think. He then came a strange realization. He would have to leave.