Casting Shadows

[Mini_Bert]

That's a distinct possibility. No offence, but SHE comes first ^^

Anyway, you guys are about caught up....then you'll have to wait for me to write them like everyone else xD

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Chapter 12 - Where the Road Splits
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"He WHAT!?" Zent yelled at Gaia as everyone awoke that morning. Gaia stuck his finger in his right ear and rubbed around, as if it had deafened him. Veron arose, yawning, he turned and jumped to see Carissa, just waking up. Darren slept soundly, even with the loud yelling of Zent.

"He chased after DarkFire." Gaia explained, pulling his finger out of his ear. Zent threw his arms into the air.

"I spend a nght healing his wounds, and he goes off to try and kill an asassin. He's going to end up like his parents!" Zent yelled loudly, Veron and Carissa looked at him, shocked. Gaia shook his head.

"Something wasn't right, DarkFire ran when Idris came. Meaning DarkFire has no intention of killing him." Gaia explained, his voice still the same. He went over to Darren and flicked his forehead to wake him. "We should get moving. It would take days to find Idris and DarkFire. If we're to reach our destination--"

"You mean YOUR destination." Darren interrupted Gaia, everyone turned to look at him. His arm bandaged, his mace still against the tree. "Carissa, and myself need to return to our king. We must inform him of our victory. Our remaining warriors have no doubt already prepared the boats." Darren explained, picking up his mace and strapping it in its case. Carissa nodded as she looked at Gaia, then Veron. Veron set a sad look on his face, then loked at Gaia.

"I'm going too." Veron said, as he shifted his look to the ground. Gaia looked suprised at Veron, then he looked over at Carissa, then Darren, then the sky.

"Veron...." Gaia started, Veron opened his mouth, but Gaia cut him off. "I understand. I am the only one who needs to be here anyway. Zent and I will continue to Belaria. I hope we meet again, Bladen Knight." Gaia said, as he nodded to Zent, and began to walk off. Zent waved good bye to the three warriors and caught up with Gaia. The three warriors turned, and walked in the opposite directionm to the boats.

The sun beat down heavily on the town in a small meadow. The houses were made of wood, tightly tied together. All made with materials directly from nautre. The residents of this village appeared to all be deeply tanned, making their skin fairly dark. Children ran around playing with vine whips and sticks, pretending to be warriors in a battle. The adults talked lightly, about random things. Some others did a few errands, improving the houses, retrieving water from the nearby river. A peaceful and small village. Beyond the small, sun bathed village, stood the Belarian mountains. Cold and desolate structures, standing tall. Englufed in a cold wind and a snowy blanket, it was hard to believe that there were still people there. A tall teenage man, with tanned skin and brown eyes walked out of the forest. His fiery red hair stood in spikes upright, some occasionally draping over his headband. He wore loose clothes, with what seemed to be claw marks painted on. Similar markings came in on both sides of his smiling face, covering his cheeks. He was dragging a dead creature with his left hand, and carried a bloody spear in the other. The spear wasn't normal though, it's handle was made of very thick wood, decorated with multiple carivings and paint. The wood curved into a crescent moon covering some of the spear, lined with a sharp metal for cutting. The bloody spear head was thick, and blood dripped from its point. He walked towards the village, dragging the large creature.

Gaia and Zent walked quietly, knowing the group they once had they might not see again. Zent began to stare out into the sky between the treetops, wondering what became of Idris. His thoughts were interupted as he triped over a rock and stumbled out into the small meadow. Gaia shook his head and went to help Zent. Zent sat upright, looking at the beautiful village, as Gaia came out. Gaia looked at the pleasent village, then looked at the Belarian mountains beyond it.

"We're almost there...." Gaia said quietly, then he shook his head snapping back into reality. He offered his hand to Zent, who used it to pull himself up. Zent nodded, and began to walking to the village.

"Yep. We can spend the night here and then head off to the mountains." Zent said as he made his way closer to the village, Gaia grabbed him by the shoulder.

"We're going to get there, today." Gaia commanded, Zent brushed his hand off.

"Fine, then lets at least eat." Zent said, as he looked at the meat cooking over hot coals in the middle of the village and walked forward. Gaia looked at the meat, shrugged and walked with him.

The teenage boy with the spear looked up as he ate his piece of meat. He waved to Gaia and Zent happily. "Afternoon strangers. What brings you here?" the boy asked playfully, as he grabbed to pieces of meat for them. They both sat down, and Gaia took a chunk of the meat.

"Oh we're just passing through. We're heading to the mountains right after my friend Zent here fills his greedy stomach." Gaia explained, eating a piece. Zent used one of his claws to cut the meat into small pieces and began to use it to pick up and eat the meat.

"Those mountains?" The teenage man laughed, "You go up there now and you'll freeze!" The man laughed again, "Not to mention you'll get lost and buried in snow!" The man continued to laugh. Gaia and Zent looked at the light hearted man.

"Who do you think you are?" Gaia said angrily, the man held out his hand.

"Iiar Dragurez. At your service." He smiled innocently as he held his hand out, Gaia shook his hand.

"Well, Iiar, it's nice to meet you. But we'll be gone in the morning. To you have a place we can stay?" Gaia asked, as Zent stuffed more meat in his face. Iiar smiled and stood up, pointing to a rather large wooden house not far from where they were.

"You can stay at my place. Just no messing it up." Iiar explained. Gaia got up to examine the home, Iiar stopped him. "You're going to need a guide to lead you up the mountains." Iiar said, his voice still care free. Gaia nodded in approvement, and went off to examine his resting point, and to gaze at his destination.